Conference Summary

The Unity Conference, hosted by ACE NextGen, is the leading event for AAPI entrepreneurs, featuring workshops, networking, and inspirational sessions over three days in New York City. The 2024 conference celebrated achievements and fostered growth within the AAPI business community, attracting 345 attendees, including entrepreneurs and leaders. With 12 panels and 42 speakers from over 15 industries, the event facilitated connection and collaboration. We hope you found valuable opportunities and look forward to potential future collaborations.

COME AS AN ENTREPRENEUR, LEAVE AS A CHANGE-MAKER

Thursday, October 3rd

On the first day of the conference, our intention is to bring attention to the businesses located in Manhattan Chinatown, which is the core of our AAPI community in New York. We will host food crawls to visit local restaurants and businesses.

Join us at Welcome to Chinatown HUB to meet other conference attendees and check out your favorite AAPI brands!
Activation by Walmart, Love, Bonito, IW Group, Kinhfolk Coffee, Baisun Candles, Reprise Health, Covry and many more.
Opportunity to meet with Walmart's Sr. Manager and Supplier Inclusion Business Partner for Food and Beverage divisions to learn about Walmart Open Call, understanding the benefits of selling at Walmart, or simply want to explore potential partnerships. Register here.
We know it’s a Thursday afternoon - you got work to do! Co-working spaces are available if you need to get work done.
Explore the vibrant flavors, hidden gems and vivid stories of Chinatown. Join us as we taste our way through the unique culinary history of Chinatown and uncover the stories of a marginalized community through one of the city's most iconic neighborhoods.
Savor the tastes of the Big Apple! This tour takes you on a gastronomic journey through New York City's diverse and delectable food scene. We’ll stop through some of the City’s iconic spots and best-kept secrets.
12:00 PM - 4:30 PM:
- Welcome to Chinatown HUB Marketplace and Gathering
- Meeting with Walmart's Supplier Diversity (Register here)
- Chinatown Business Tour with Mott Street Girls (add-on experience, register here)
- New York City Foodie Tour with Mixed Asian Media (add-on experience, register here)
6:00 - 9:00 PM: Opening reception at NOFLEX

Friday, October 4th

Join us and 30+ speakers for this reimagined conference, where attendees are just as intentional about benefiting from our programming as they are about leaving with new, lifelong relationships with fellow leaders. Contribute to collective learning and engage in meaningful discussions throughout the event.

Celebrate the achievements of AAPI millennial entrepreneurs at the Pathfinder Awards Ceremony hosted by ACE NextGen. This inspiring event honors exceptional AAPI leaders and features AAPI-owned food and beverage businesses, along with performances by talented artists. Join us for an evening of recognition, celebration, and community connection.
8:00 - 9:00 AM: Registration
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM: Workshops & Networking Sessions
7:00 - 7:30 PM: Pathfinder Awards VIP Reception
7:30 - 10:30 PM: Pathfinder Awards Ceremony

Saturday, October 5th

The purpose of the last day of the conference is to gather all the AAPI entrepreneurs to provide them with a platform for healing and personal growth, which in turn will help their businesses generate more wealth. The wellness activity is in collaboration with Othership, the largest guided group sauna and cold plunge space in North America.

1:00 - 2:45 PM: Wellness Activity with Othership (add-on experience, register here)

345

AAPI entrepreneurs, corporate executives and community leaders

42

Distinguished speakers

39

Partner brands and vendors

21

Pathfinderawardees

Thank You To Our Amazing Speakers

Founders in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry share their journeys, strategies, challenges, and triumphs. As the demand for Asian flavors continues to grow, these trailblazing entrepreneurs will offer unique insights into navigating this vibrant market.

Introduction: Joanne Tabellija-Murphy - National Director, Public Affairs-Corporate Affairs of Walmart

Moderator: Brian Choi - CEO of The Food Institute

Speakers: Jake Deleon - Founder of Fila Manila; Carol Pak - Founder of Makku; Taufeek Shah - Founder of Lola’s Fine Hot Sauce

Loud, Proud and Flavorful

Experienced investors and entrepreneurs share their expertise in determining the best funding options for your unique business needs, such as venture capital, angel investment, crowdfunding, and bootstrapping. Learn how to assess your business’s financial requirements, understand investor expectations, and make informed decisions to secure the right funding.

Moderator: Liang Zhao - CEO of Vansary

Speakers: Robin Li - VP of Investor Relations of Notable; Christine Keung - General Partner of J2 Ventures; Le Zhang - Founder of Spaceport; Ratnabali Majumdar - Vice President of JPMorgan Chase

Finding your Funding Fit

Leading female entrepreneurs will share their personal journeys, challenges, and successes in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Discover strategies for achieving harmony between entrepreneurial ambitions and mental well-being.

Moderator: Stephanie Seow, Head of North America of Love, Bonito

Speakers: Soo Jin Lee - Executive Director of Yellow Chair Collective; Jacklyn Lee - COO of Passion Planner; Mai Shimada - CEO of Isha Health

Balancing Business and Well-Being: Strategies for Success from Women Entrepreneurs

Join us for an illuminating discussion hosted by Adeel Afshar, Managing Director of the ACE NextGen Accelerator program. Over 150+ businesses graduated through our accelerator, and cumulatively raised over $17M in funds. We've brought three of the top founders from the accelerator to share about their journey into entrepreneurship and provide insight for others. You won't want to miss it.

Moderator: Adeel Afshar - Managing Director of ACE NextGen

Speakers: Samreen Arshad - Makeup Artist and Founder of Samreen's Vanity; John Victoria - CEO of Polianna and Blue Collar Engine Podcast

ACE NextGen Accelerator Entrepreneur Showcase

Hear from financial experts, successful entrepreneurs, and wealth advisors as they share their knowledge on creating and preserving wealth that can be passed down through generations. Topics will include smart investing, financial planning and therapy, real estate and business ownership.

Speakers: Rick Hu - Founder & CEO, Wealth Management Advisor of Midas Wealth; Dr. Lanna Cheuck DO, FACS - Founder of LC Medical LLC; Lawrence Yeh - CEO & Founder of ZoneUp, HireTable and RiceRollUp

Building Generational Wealth

This panel delves into the nuances of professional negotiation, offering strategies to navigate complex discussions, resolve conflicts, and secure beneficial outcomes. Hear from a seasoned negotiator as he/she shares techniques for effective preparation, building rapport, and maintaining control in challenging scenarios.

Moderator: Caren Khoo - Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, IP, Global Technology Solutions, Technology & Product Development of Verizon

Speakers: Katherine Lee - Senior Managing Associate General Counsel of the Verizon Business Group; Nicholas Vogt - Associate General Counsel of Verizon

Mastering the Art of Professional Negotiation: Elevate Your Influence

Learn how to unlock the potential of your personal brand from successful influencers, who will share their secrets to turning their brands into profitable ventures. Explore various monetization strategies, including social media partnerships, content creation, digital products, and personal services.

Moderator: Joanne Vo - Co-Founder of Ladies First

Speakers: Reva Bhatt - Founder and Creative Director of ROOTED; Kar-ho Leung - Co-Founder of 12Pell; Florence Shin - Co-Founder of Covry; Ani Sanyal - Co-Founder of Kolkata Chai

Bootstrap to Breakthrough: Scaling Your Brand on a Budget

You've grown 10x and made exponential jumps in how you operate and think as a person many times in life. This workshop will explore how entrepreneurs have applied 10x to their businesses and provide space for you to brainstorm your next 10x jump and what you need to let go to create space for it.

Speaker: Kevin Felix Chan - Co-Founder of Best Delegate, and Momentium

The 10x Growth Mindset

Explore the intersection of food and community impact as NYC restaurateurs discuss how they are driving social change, building connections and supporting the local economy by nourishing beyond the plate. Learn how these AAPI restaurant owners are making a meaningful difference in the community through the power of food.

Moderator: Jaeki Cho of Righteous Eats

Speakers: Winston Chiu - Founder & Executive Director of More than a Meal; Cory Ng - Owner of Potluck Club; Helen Nguyen - Owner of Saigon Social; Jennifer Saesue - Owner of Fishcheeks and Bangkok Supper Club

Food for Thought

Dive into the evolving world of institutional cryptocurrency investments. Industry experts will unravel the complexities of institutional involvement in the crypto space, covering topics such as regulatory challenges, investment strategies, and emerging trends.

Moderator: Chewy Jang - Chief of Staff of Spaceport and Owner of Seoulbap

Speakers: Kristina Tubera - Founder of Femme Finance; Lori Chen - Co-Founder & CEO of KyoVest; Kelly Ye - Head of Research of Decentral Park Capital

Unraveling the Crypto Institutional Landscape

Special Workshop

Workshop with Ha Nguyen, Co-Founder of 7Leaves Cafe

Join us for a panel with Gen Z founders from Asian Founders Club who are redefining entrepreneurship as digital natives in the age of AI. From leaving behind traditional corporate jobs to tackling unsolved challenges, these young founders will share pivotal moments, lessons learned, and how they’re shaping the future of tech.

Moderator: Jessica Shen - Co-Founder of Asian Founders Club

Speakers: Rushabh Mehta - Co-Founder & CTO of Pontus; Saumya Rawat - Co-Founder & CTO of Pharmesol