10+ Resources and Funding Opportunities for AAPI-Owned Businesses

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. More than three million businesses in the U.S. are owned by members of this community, and AAPI women are one of the fastest-growing demographics of entrepreneurs.

Some of the world’s most successful businesses are owned or founded by AAPI entrepreneurs, including Yahoo!, YouTube, LinkedIn, Peloton, and Zappos. BCG reports that more than 26% of all billion-dollar-valued startups over the last two decades have had at least one AAPI co-founder.

Not all AAPI businesses can access the resources necessary to reach this level of achievement, however. Many AAPI business owners face the entrenched obstacles that other minority entrepreneurs contend with. Fortunately, resources are dedicated to helping AAPI businesses overcome common barriers to entry across industries. Here are a few funding and networking opportunities AAPI entrepreneurs can use to start, grow, and run a business.

AAPI funding and grants

Funding is one of the biggest challenges for AAPI business owners. “While there are dozens of professional networks to connect these women with mentors, ‘very few’ provide the capital they need to grow and sustain their businesses in the long term,” reported CNBC.