IMPACT REPORT 2025
2025 IN REVIEW: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On behalf of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE), we extend our sincere appreciation for your continued partnership and dedication to uplifting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and broader small business community. 2025 marked a pivotal chapter for National ACE. We tackled pressing challenges facing entrepreneurs by launching five new small business accelerators designed to empower earlystage startups, Pacific Islander entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, technology founders, and small business owners leveraging AI. Our advocacy efforts remained strong as we convened Small Business Roundtables and held 40 in-person meetings on Capitol Hill, creating meaningful bipartisan dialogue between small business owners, policy makers and elected officials. To address the persistent data gap in our community, we collaborated with a diverse range of partners on research exploring the intersection of small business and artificial intelligence. In addition, the Small Business Fund celebrated its fifth anniversary, awarding nearly $1 million in grants to entrepreneurs navigating today’s economic challenges. Since 2021, National ACE has proudly distributed over $10 million in grants to help small business owners where support is needed most. With the support of our network of over 130 affiliate chambers and partner organizations across the country, we have continued to amplify initiatives that empower entrepreneurs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Your support has made it possible for countless business owners to access capital, participate in virtual training programs, and advocate for policies that strengthen the small business ecosystem. We would also like to express our deep gratitude to our Board of Directors for their steadfast leadership and guidance. Your vision and commitment continue to drive our mission forward. As we look to the year ahead, we recognize that our work is far from done. We invite you to continue this journey with us. Together, we can create lasting impact. Thank you once again for your invaluable support.
Chiling Tong
Garrett Gin
President & CEO National ACE
Board Chair National ACE Board of Directors
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 1
MISSION The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) represents over 3 million AAPI-owned businesses and advocates for the broader small business community across the United States. Through strategic partnerships with more than 130 affiliate chambers and organizations, we empower small businesses with advocacy, collaboration, and impactful programs. National ACE is dedicated to removing barriers to growth, fostering entrepreneurship, driving economic development, and promoting leadership in the public and private sectors. By supporting capacity-building, expanding access to funding, providing technical assistance, and increasing visibility in policy discussions, National ACE helps businesses thrive and strengthens the economy. Our mission is advanced through three core pillars: the Small Business Innovation Center, Community
Three Pillars
Engagement, and Advocacy. The Small Business Innovation Center serves as National ACE’s hub for economic development, offering roundtables, technical assistance, and accelerator programs for entrepreneurs. Community Engagement strengthens local and national networks through
SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY INNOVATION ENGAGEMENT CENTER
ADVOCACY
impactful programs and events, while Advocacy amplifies the voices of entrepreneurs in policy and legislative arenas. Together, these pillars foster opportunity and growth for small businesses.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 2
SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION CENTER The Small Business Innovation Center is National ACE’s hub for economic development that offers economic roundtables, technical assistance, and grant opportunities. The Center hosts a range of virtual accelerator and in-person tracks, including but not limited to: early-stage startups, Pacific Islander entrepreneurs, restaurateurs, technology founders, and small business owners leveraging AI.
Impact by the Numbers
$68.4M in funds connected to small businesses in the first year
1,600+ entrepreneurs in the program
10 virtual accelerators with over 800 graduates
70+ in-person events throughout the year
2025 ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 3
ACCELERATOR PROGRAM IMPACT Kapono Faitau Owner of Pacific Island Cleaning Kapolei & Hilo, Hawaii "The Accelerator gave me tools I could use right away. Learning about business credit and how to better manage my expenses helped me rethink and restructure how I run my business. What really stuck with me was how every facilitator emphasized mindset and how much it shapes success. More than anything, I left the Accelerator knowing that there are resources and support out there to help us keep growing and thriving."
Victoria Tuiono Owner of VictoriaTuiono HairStylist & Esthetician of DoneByVictoria San Francisco Bay Area, CA "The NHPI Accelerator completely transformed how I run my business. Learning about business credit and expense management gave me the confidence to rebuild my approach with clarity and purpose. What resonated most was the focus on mindset. It reminded me how powerful belief and support can be. I left knowing that with the right tools and community, we can all continue to grow and thrive."
Sala Afeaki Rock Bottom Construction & Junk Removal Salt Lake City, UT "The NHPI Accelerator has helped me elevate my business by providing the tools, training, and support I needed to grow with confidence. The mentorship, resources, and community they offer has allowed me to level up professionally and move toward my goals faster than I could on my own."
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ACCELERATOR PROGRAM IMPACT Jennifer Tsay CEO & Co-Founder of Shoott.com Jennifer was connected with Virtual Work World through the ACE NextGen Accelerator and has since added 4 offshore resources to her team, helping Shoott continue to scale its operations in a cost-effective way. Furthermore, Jennifer was able to refine Shoott's SEO strategy and marketing strategies and cross off franchising from their list of possibilities - all a major win for the brand! "I was absolutely blown away by how robust the curriculum was for the ACE NextGen Accelerator program. The accelerator excelled at covering topics that directly impact the entrepreneurship journey from legal and accounting to SEO and outsourcing (and everything else in-between!). It was a true treasure trove of resources of all types of topics.”
Joyce Talag Founder of Joyful Transformations® Joyce Talag immigrated from the Philippines in her mid30s and immediately started her coaching business, Joyful Transformations, to serve emerging leaders in large companies primarily through a B2B2C model. As a direct result of the combined services within the Accelerator, Joyce was able to develop her core business enterprise following a clear model that guided her business decisions in the course of her business pivot. She came up with an SEO marketing strategy, as well as secured sponsorship from one of the Accelerator’s partners, Amazon, to develop a 30second promotional video that has already resulted in a new client for her high-ticket offer within two weeks of implementation. Most of all, Joyce had a newfound confidence in her capabilities as an entrepreneur while growing with a community where she felt a sense of belonging.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 5
SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS National ACE partners with organizations to provide
Impact by the Numbers
targeted grants that support small businesses. In
$10.3M
2025, National ACE partnered with Grubhub’s Community Fund Grant to invest $485,000 in
in grants distributed since 2021
restaurateurs, operators, and managers, combining vital funding with practical business education to accelerate operational strength and long-term
$985,000
growth. Additionally, the Verizon Small Business
in grants distributed in 2025
Digital Readiness program awards $50,000 to small business owners who complete two educational courses on topics such as money management,
1,166
operations, branding, and marketing, providing both
grants given since 2021
funding and essential skills to help businesses thrive. How confident are you in your ability to achieve all of your business objectives? Extremely confident
36%
Very confident
36% 20%
Somewhat confident
7%
Neutral/Unsure
1%
Not confident 0
10
20
30
40
“The National ACE and Grubhub grant program has been a tremendous success. Besides the obvious benefits that the grant money provides, the program has been great for community engagement but also as a resource for small businesses for strategy, support, and ongoing advice.” - Ronald Hsu, Chef-Partner & Culinary Director, Lazy Betty Atlanta, GA “I'm so honored to have been awarded funds from the National ACE and Grubhub grant program. It's such an important program that uplifts the Asian American restaurant community with essential funds to help us continue to thrive in a very challenging industry.” - Beverly Kim, Co-Chef & Co-Owner, Parachute HiFi and Anelya Chicago, IL
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 6
BUSINESS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT NATIONAL ACE AT THE WHITE HOUSE National ACE had the honor of being invited to the White House in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. The evening began with heartfelt remarks from Second Lady Usha Vance, who paid tribute to the vibrant cultural heritage, achievements, and enduring contributions of the AAPI community. She was joined by several key leaders from the administration, including: Steven Cheung, Assistant to the President and White House Communications Director Lynne Patton, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Minority Outreach May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist Brette Powell, Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the Office of Public Liaison
CAPITOL HILL DAY During Capitol Hill Day, 62 business leaders from National ACE and its partner organizations met with 40 Congressional offices, including 20 direct meetings with U.S. Representatives and Senators, to champion support for federal small business programs and to advance policies that empower small business communities.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 7
BUSINESS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SMALL BUSINESS & AAPI HERITAGE MONTH RECEPTION At the Small Business & AAPI Heritage Month Reception, we were honored to be joined by Senator Andy Kim, Representatives Young Kim, Ted Lieu, Grace Meng, and Dave Min, whose powerful remarks affirmed their commitment to supporting small businesses and the communities they serve.
TRAILBLAZERS: WOMEN INNOVATORS PITCH COMPETITION TRAILBLAZERS: Women Innovators Pitch Competition was hosted by the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce and National ACE to spotlight the next generation of visionary women entrepreneurs. Held at UC Irvine, the event brought together five outstanding finalists, each presenting innovative solutions in fields ranging from AI education and sustainable floristry to period care, children’s apparel, and culturally inspired cuisine. With Senator Steven Choi in attendance, three winners were awarded a combined $15,000 in funding, celebrating women who are reshaping industries and uplifting communities nationwide.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 8
2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Excellence in Action: Driving Business, Innovation, and Impact
The 2025 Annual Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square brought together over 700 entrepreneurs, small business owners, corporate leaders, and policymakers. The event featured inspiring plenaries, expert-led breakout sessions, impactful fireside chats, a bustling marketplace expo, and a celebratory Awards Gala honoring trailblazers. The Legend Award was presented to Dr. James S. C. Chao, Founder and Chairman of Foremost Group, who captivated the audience with his speech emphasizing public service and the importance of family. The Public Service Award was presented to Congresswoman Grace Meng for her advocacy on behalf of small businesses.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 9
CONFERENCE DEMOGRAPHICS OVERVIEW
Daytime Conference Attendees
Number of Speakers
Nighttime Gala Attendees
595
51
700
Top 10 Industries Represented 18.8%
Chamber, Business & Trade Associations
6.1%
Retail
9.9%
Government, Nonprofits & Other
4.4%
Education
9%
Finance
4.3%
Food/Beverage
7.7%
Banking
3.9%
Technology
7.4%
Consulting
3.1%
Entertainment/Media
Annual Revenue of Small Business Owners 19.7%
$10M+
13.3%
$5M-$10M
28.1%
$1-5M
23.9%
$500k-$1M
22.5%
$250k-$500k
34.5%
Less than $250K 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 10
SMALL BUSINESS ROUNDTABLES 2025 Roundtables
7 Cities Silicon Valley Chicago Washington, DC New York City Salt Lake City Dallas Houston
The Small Business Roundtables offer business owners a platform to engage with government officials and corporate leaders on critical topics such as business challenges, access to capital, language support, digital literacy, workforce development, and local market recovery. Held in partnership with our strategic chambers and corporate partners nationwide, these roundtables foster discussions that help identify and expand resources for small businesses. In 2025, National ACE hosted 7 inperson Small Business Roundtables nationwide.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 11
SOCIAL MEDIA AND PRESS Press Metrics
32 Press Mentions
Social Media Metrics
8,649 Followers
250,123 Total Social Media Impressions
10,861 Engagements
29,161 Email Subscribers
Top Performing Post:
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 12
ADVOCACY
POLICY AGENDA National ACE is committed to strengthening the business community through connecting entrepreneurs to
2025 Legislative Priorities Access to Capital Advancing Health Access & Outcomes
resources and advocating business-
Artificial Intelligence
friendly policies. Through strong
Closing the Digital Divide
partnerships with Congress, the White House, and business leaders, we advocate for the interests of small businesses,
Collection of Meaningful Data Energy
promote economic development, strengthen coalitions, and cultivate the next generation of leaders. To download National ACE's full policy agenda, visit NationalACE.org or scan the QR code.
Federal Procurement Fostering Leadership International Commerce Language Accessibility Supplier Inclusion Tax Reform Workforce Development
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 13
NATIONAL ACE ON THE HILL National ACE continues to build formidable relationships with key Congressional offices. In 2025, National ACE and its partner organizations met with 40 Congressional offices—including 20 direct meetings with U.S. Representatives and Senators—to champion support for federal small business programs and to advance policies that empower small business
National ACE NY Delegates with Leader Chuck Schumer
communities. National ACE is dedicated to strengthening relationships with Members of Congress across the aisle and sharing our policy agenda to be an effective National ACE TX Delegates with Rep. Lloyd Doggett
voice for business communities on Capitol Hill.
Full List of Legislators Met With:
Full List of Congressional Offices Met With:
Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto Senator Tammy Duckworth Senator John Fetterman Senator Mark Kelly Senator Jacky Rosen Senator Chuck Schumer Senator John Curtis Rep. Lloyd Doggett Rep. Laura Friedman Rep. Vince Fong Rep. Dan Goldman Rep. Kimberly King Hinds Rep. Susie Lee Rep. Celeste Maloy Rep. Sarah McBride Rep. Dave Min Rep. James Moylan Rep. Burgess Owens Rep. Delia Ramirez Rep. Nydia Velázquez
Office of Senator Angela Alsobrooks Office of Senator Cory Booker Office of Senator John Curtis Office of Senator James Lankford Office of Senator Mike Lee Office of Senator Markwayne Mullin Office of Senator Tim Scott Office of Rep. Ed Case Office of Rep. Gerry Connolly Office of Rep. Donald Beyer Office of Rep. Lizzie Fletcher Office of Rep. Kevin Hern Office of Rep. Steny Hoyer Office of Rep. Darin LaHood Office of Rep. Doris Matsui Office of Rep. Kevin Mullin Office of Rep. Robert Menendez Office of Rep. Jamie Raskin Office of Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon Office of Rep. Roger Williams
National ACE AZ and GA Delegates with Rep. Kimberly King-Hinds
National ACE UT Delegates with Rep. Burgess Owens
National ACE IL Delegates with Senator Tammy Duckworth
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 14
SURVEYS & RESEARCH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ADOPTION TRENDS & STRATEGIC INSIGHTS: SURVEY OF SMALL BUSINESSES Key Findings:
National ACE, in partnership with Reimagine Main Street and 13 other national organizations, surveyed nearly 1,000 small businesses to assess artificial intelligence (AI) adoption.
25%
Active Users – already using AI in marketing, productivity, and innovation.
51%
Explorers – testing or researching AI but not using it regularly.
24%
Non-Users – not currently using AI.
Read the full report at NationalACE.org/research
Barriers to Adoption:
Support Small Businesses Need:
Privacy concerns
Practical, hands-on training
Limited staff capacity
Affordable, easy-to-use AI
(“bandwidth”)
tools
Lack of awareness or
Tailored solutions
understanding Unclear value proposition
Access to technical support
AAPI-Owned Businesses Show High Openness to AI
33%
Current AI Users
49%
AI Explorers
18%
No Plans to Use AI 0%
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 15
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
SURVEYS & RESEARCH STATE OF AAPI RESTAURATEURS TODAY & TOP CHALLENGES In 2025, National ACE surveyed 97 restaurant owners to better understand the barriers and emerging opportunities within the industry. The following summarizes what we found.
What are your biggest barriers to growing your business? Limited / Inconsistent Cash Flow
60%
Insufficient Capital
44% 35%
Slow Foot Traffic Tariffs or Trade Environment
26%
Unable to Find Workers
26%
Lack of Digital Presence
22%
Unaware of Available Resources
20% 0%
10%
Do you think it is a good time to be a restaurant owner?
Unsure 15%
Absolutely Not 2%
20%
30%
40%
50%
What is your main source of capital for either starting, retaining, or scaling your business?
Government Grants 2%
Absolutely Yes 37%
60%
Loans/Credit 22%
Other 4%
Personal Funds 50%
Not Really 16%
Somewhat 30%
Family & Friends 22%
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 16
ACE NEXTGEN 2025 ACE NextGen Metrics
3,400 Entrepreneurs in our Network
$300M Total Member Revenue
Mission To forge lifelong connections that empower Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs to thrive in business and in life.
473,280 Total Social Media Impressions
17,154 Total Engagements
ACE NextGen is a vibrant community that empowers small business entrepreneurs to build lifelong relationships rooted in shared values of authenticity, generosity, humility, and a growth mindset. Through curated programs such as mastermind groups, mentorship opportunities, educational resources, and access to a nationwide network of members across industries, ACE NextGen helps entrepreneurs level up their businesses and thrive.
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 17
75 Business Workshops / Events
11 Chapters: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia, Southern California, Washington, D.C., and the Bay Area
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 18
NOTABLE SPEAKERS
Founder and Chairman Foremost Group Dr. James S. C. Chao
24th U.S. Secretary of Labor and 18th U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao
Federal Transit Administration Administrator Marc Molinaro
Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Anna M. Gomez
Senate Leader Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator Andy Kim
U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng
U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu
U.S. Congresswoman Young Kim
U.S. Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland
U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu
U.S. Congressman Ro Khanna
U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey
U.S. Congressman Vince Fong
U.S. Congressman Dave Min
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Rick Wade
New York State Senator Stephen Chan
New York State Assemblymember Lester Chang
Director of Crazy Rich Asians & Wicked Jon M. Chu
CEO of Celonis Alex Rinke
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Jackie Puente
International Singer & Actress Mary Millben
PIX11 News Anchor Kaity Tong
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 19
NATIONAL ACE CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS GARRETT GIN Board Chair, National ACE Board of Directors Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Corporate Affairs Bank of America JASON CHAN Board Member MELODY CHEN Co-President ACE NextGen JIMMY FERGUSON President, Maxtab, Inc. Owner/Operator McDonald's Asian McDonald's Operators Association (AMOA) PATRICIA FONG KUSHIDA President & CEO California Asian Chamber of Commerce
CHRIS LAW National Vice President, Asian Initiatives UnitedHealthcare
GEORGE TANAKA Senior Vice President, Head of Japan Practice US Bank
GRACE LEE President & CEO Ashford Connex, LLC
THOMAS “TONY” WALLER Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity Walmart
ROBERTO LLAMES President & CEO Enterprise Solutions ANDREW MOY Executive Vice President, Asian Segment Leader Wells Fargo & Company DR. MANUMALO MUASAU Founder ManuMental Performance Coaching
HELENE YAN Senior Vice President, Chief Client Officer, Health Interpublic Group VIVIAN YOUNG Global Head Asian & Pacific Islander Affairs JPMorgan Chase
BILL IMADA Chairman & Chief Connectivity Officer IW Group SUSAN JIN DAVIS Former Social Impact Officer Al Roker Entertainment JOON I. KIM Associate Vice President, External Affairs Comcast Corporation
NATIONAL ACE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS JIMMY FERGUSON Board Chair, ACE Foundation President, Maxtab, Inc. Owner/Operator McDonald's Asian McDonald's Operators Association (AMOA)
ANGELA CHANG Chief Strategy Officer KCAL Insurance Agency CY CHEN Chairman Global Monte Jade
KEVIN CHOW President & CEO Triple S
DENNIS HUANG Executive Director and CEO Asian Business Association Los Angeles BILL IMADA Chairman & Chief Connectivity Officer IW Group
NARUMI INATSUGU Chief Executive Officer & Chief Creative Officer Rumiville, Joysauce SUSAN JIN DAVIS Former Social Impact Officer, Al Roker Entertainment
SHAU-WAI LAM Chairman Emeritus DCH Auto Group MICHAEL TY Owner/Operator Hospitality Culinary, Inc. (HCI) BIN YU Founder & Chairman YuRise Foundation TIANYI "JOE" ZHU Co-Founder and Partner Heartland Trade Enterprises
TAMMY FUNASAKI Director Tsuha Foundation
IMPACT REPORT 2025 | PAGE 20
ANNUAL
CONFERENCE 2026
HOUSTON, TEXAS
September 18, 2026 9 AM - 4 PM: Conference | 6 - 8 PM: Gala
WESTIN GALLERIA, HOUSTON, TX (5060 West Alabama Street, Houston, TX 77056) Get ready for one of the most dynamic and influential events of the year! The 2026 National ACE Annual Conference brings together trailblazing small business leaders from across the nation for an unforgettable experience of connection, innovation, and inspiration.
NATIONALACE.ORG
NATIONAL ACE CORPORATE PARTNERS
Professional Organizations, Foundations, and Chamber of Commerce
National Asian / Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20004