- Founder Stories
20 Founders You Need to Know for AAPI Heritage Month
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May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States, a celebration of the immense contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to American history and culture. Born from the tireless efforts of visionary founders, this observance shines a light on the rich heritage and achievements of the AAPI community.
In this article, we honor those pioneers whose advocacy has enriched the nation’s understanding and appreciation of its diverse culture. Below are 20 of the hundreds of founders you need to know.
1. Homiah
Founder(s):
Michelle Tew
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Michelle Tew is the founder of Homiah, a company that epitomizes the concept of “living the good life” through the love and care often expressed in cooking for others. Homiah offers South East Asian-inspired spice and sauce kits that add a unique touch to any meal. The roots of Homiah trace back to the 1940s in Penang, Malaysia, known as the culinary capital of the region. Here, Michelle’s grandmother, Nonie, a renowned cook, was one of the pioneers in codifying local Southeast Asian “Nonya” recipes. These recipes, cherished and passed down through generations, were a significant part of Michelle’s upbringing.
Upon moving to America, Michelle started sharing her rich cuisine and vibrant culture with friends. This deep passion for making others feel at home through her cooking led to the founding of Homiah. Today, Michelle personally crafts each product, drawing inspiration from Nonie’s cherished recipes. She collaborates with small producers in Malaysia, ensuring that only the highest-quality, wholesome spices are used. For Michelle, Homiah is more than a food brand; it’s a deeply personal endeavor that underscores the power of food to comfort and connect people to the world around them.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
2. Just Date Syrup
Founder(s):
Dr. Sylvie Charles
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Dr. Sylvie Charles’ lifelong passion for food and healing was planted at a young age in her family kitchen, where she shared nourishing, Indian meals steeped in healing, Ayurvedic tradition. She was inspired by the struggles of her diabetic father and diabetic patients at UCSF.
Just Date Syrup is a low-glycemic index sweetener made from one perfect ingredient: wholesome, organic, California dates.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
3. Karma Nuts
Founder(s):
Ganesh Nair
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Karma Nuts was founded by Ganesh Nair, who married his Masters in Health Science & Technology from MIT and 10+ years of diabetes care work with his family’s deep legacy in the cashew business. After decades of proliferation in sugary snacks and fried junk food, he saw an opportunity to develop an alternative to the oil-fried cashews that were normally seen on supermarket shelves.
Karma Nuts is a California-based startup company that sells a variety of cashew products, including roasted, raw, and wrapped cashews. The company was founded in 2014 by Ganesh Nair, who has over 10 years of experience in diabetes care and comes from a family with a long history in the cashew business. Karma Nuts’ philosophy is “Do Good. Eat Good. Feel Good.”, and the company donates 1% of total brand sales or 10% of profits annually to charities that support health, nutrition, and well-being.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
4. Pan’s Mushroom Jerky
Founder(s):
Michael Pan
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
LINK TO WEBSITE:
5. Root Elixirs
Founder(s):
Dominique Gonzales
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Root Elixirs is a small-batch cocktail mixer company based in San Luis Obispo, California, that was founded by Dominique Gonzalez, a former craft bartender. The company’s mixers are made with fresh ingredients and can be enjoyed on their own or mixed with spirits. Root Elixirs’ mission focuses on quality and creativity, and they aim to provide a unique and refreshing drinking experience.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
6. The Only Bean
Founder(s):
Brian Lai
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
The Only Bean is on a mission to unlock the potential of beans through innovative food products that are healthy, delicious, and sustainable. Founded by Brian Lai.
LINK TO WEBSITE:(s):
7. Tochi
Founder(s):
Marc Seah, Ian Seah and Dina Shi
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Tochi Means ‘Land’
We infused flavors inspired by our homeland
into functional snacks to help you look and feel your best.
As first generation Asian Americans, we love Asian snacks just as much as you do. But what about the weird funky ingredients that no one can pronounce? No thanks, no one needs those. So we took our favorite Asian flavors and packed them into crunchy, protein-packed snacks that’s heavy on the good stuff, without any of the junk stuff.
Tochi sells Salmon Chips and Popcorn inspired with Asian flavors.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
8. Twrl MIlk Tea
Founder(s):
Pauline and Olivia
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
LINK TO WEBSITE:
9. FILA MANILA
Founder(s):
Jake Deleon
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Fila Manila is a Filipino American food brand that sells sauces, condiments, and spreads inspired by Filipino cuisine. The brand was founded in 2020 by Jake Deleon, a first-generation Filipino-American immigrant and entrepreneur. Deleon’s goal is to represent the second largest Asian American community by highlighting the flavors and dishes of the Philippines that are often underrepresented.
LINK TO WEBSITE:(s):
10. Dream Tea
Founder(s):
Anney Norton
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Dream Tea offers personalized looseleaf tea, designed for each customer. The packaging even has their name on it!
We did the heavy lifting so you can have fun! We poured our energy into perfecting our ratios and creating a seamless experience for you to dream up your favorite cup of tea. We expertly blend your tea and get it to you in under two weeks!
LINK TO WEBSITE:
11. Copper Cow Coffee
Founder(s):
Debbie Wei Mullin
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
We aim to make high-quality Vietnamese coffee and lattes accessible to everyone. We only use 100% natural ingredients for cafe quality lattes that anyone can brew at home. Our coffee is more than just a delicious cup—it’s a self-care ritual.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
12. KRACKED SNACKS
Founder(s):
Willy Kwak
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
In 2019, I Started Krack’d Snacks (Formerly Keto Krack’d) And It Was My Mission To Create A Truly Indulgent Snack With Very Low Sugar And Carbs. I Purchased Confectionery Books, Took Chocolate Making Courses, Learned The Science Of Candy-Making, And After Years And Hundreds Of Iterations Later, We Launched Our First Product, The Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
13. Pocket’s Chocolates
Founder(s):
Chris, Young, and Lynn,
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Pocket’s Chocolates was founded by Chris, Young, and Lynn, to bring delicious Asian-inspired flavors into chocolate snacks.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
14. Yishi Foods
Founder(s):
Lin Jiang
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Named after the Chinese word for “ritual” and inspired by our founder’s childhood memories of her mother’s homemade breakfast porridge, Yishi is a first-of-its-kind breakfast brand that is reimagining your oatmeal — and morning ritual — in innovative flavors like toasted black sesame, taro bubble tea, and mango & cream, inspired by the best Asian desserts.
In two years, Yishi’s product innovation, fresh look, and inspiring story have landed it in over 3,000 brick-and-mortar retail stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Jewel Osco, and select Safeway’s. The brand has also been featured in New York Magazine, Bon Appetit, Forbes, and more media publications.
LINK TO WEBSITE:(s):
15. Paro
Founder(s):
Umaimah Sharwani
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Paro creates healthy, home-cooked south Asian foods.
I created Paro because I will always want to eat my ami’s food and Pakistani food more than anything else. When I left home for college and then to New York to start my career, my mom would send me little ziplock bags with her own special lentil and spice mix. All I had to do was add water, cook for 30 minutes, and I had my mom’s food–my comfort food.
Later I started making my own lentil and spice mixes for parties, or when I had a friend over for dinner. There’s just something about Pakistani flavors that go perfectly with good company, dinner gossip, and a lot of laughing.
With Paro (the brand), I’ve packaged these personal recipes for classic South Asian dishes so you can cook them at home and share with your friends and family. Because comfort food is meant to be shared.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
16. Fly By Jing
Founder(s):
Jing Gao
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Fly By Jing is a Los Angeles-based premium Chinese food company founded by Jing Gao in 2018. The brand is known for its Sichuan chili crisp, which Gao developed as a base for dishes during her underground dinner series. The chili crisp is made with 18 ingredients from Gao’s hometown of Chengdu, China, and has become a viral sensation on Amazon. Gao’s goal is to make Chinese food more mainstream and believes chili crisp can enhance the flavor of many foods.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
17. Brightland
Founder(s):
Aishwarya Iyer
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Brightland makes artfully-crafted ingredients to help pour on a little bit of the good life. Best known for our iconic olive oils, we source all of our products directly from small, family farms in California and Hawaii. With a passion for art both inside and outside the kitchen, we make it our mission to bring beautiful tastes, objects, and experiences to the everyday.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
18. Omsom
Founder(s):
Vanessa and Kim Pham
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Omsom sells Asian food starter kits and packaged spicy noodles. The company was founded in 2018 by Vietnamese immigrant daughters, Kim and Vanessa Pham, who wanted to bring authentic Asian flavors to home cooks. Omsom’s name comes from the Vietnamese phrase om sòm, which means “rowdy” or “rambunctious”. The company’s mission is to honor Asian cuisines, cultures, and communities that are often reduced or bastardized.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
19. Mason Dixie Foods
Founder(s):
Ayeshah Abuelhiga
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Mason Dixie Biscuit Co. was created in 2014 to provide fresh, fast, and affordable Southern comfort food to the masses. Our solution was perfecting the biscuit – making them with hormone-free dairy, real butter, and no preservatives. Through grassroots support, smart growth and investment, and growing demand, we also launched a CPG line of frozen biscuits in 2015 available nationwide and growing.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
20. Wildwonder
Founder(s):
Rosa Li
ABOUT THE PRODUCT:
Wildwonder is a San Francisco-based wellness brand that makes sparkling beverages to support gut and immune health. The company’s founder, Rosa Li, was inspired by her Chinese grandmother’s herbal tonics to create a drink that combines ancient herbal wisdom with modern flavors. Wildwonder’s drinks are made with real fruit and herbs, contain 90% less sugar than soda, and are the first beverage to combine prebiotics, probiotics, and functional herbs. Each can has 35 calories and flavors inspired by California produce.
LINK TO WEBSITE:
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