On May 14, at the recent TAAF Heritage Month Summit held in New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Renaissance Managing Director Jessie Lee participated in a panel titled "The Asian+American Dream in Action: TAAF Cities." Also on the panel were Gregg Bishop, Executive Director of the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation's Social Justice Fund; Renaissance client Matt Vuong of Brooklyn's Pho Table restaurants; and Brian Myers, owner Tabletop Village, a Seattle gaming store with a focus on Pokemon cards.
The discussion, moderated by WABC-TV reporter CeFaan Kim, centered on the powerful role that Asian American and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs play in driving local economies and strengthening community resilience. The discussion highlighted how immigrant- and family-founded businesses contribute billions of dollars to cities like New York through job creation, neighborhood revitalization, and cultural influence, while also addressing the ongoing challenges many founders face around access to funding, visibility, and sustainable growth.
Panelists emphasized that entrepreneurship extends beyond personal success — serving as a vehicle for intergenerational wealth, representation, and long-term community prosperity. Jessie discussed how her inspiration to assist business owners like Mr. Vuong is rooted in her own parents' struggles with predatory financing when they were small business owners themselves. The panel also underscored the importance of investing in local business ecosystems through mentorship, collaboration, and community support, recognizing small businesses as essential contributors to both economic development and cultural identity.
The NYC Elevating Business Loan Program is funded in collaboration with the Joe & Clara Tsai Foundation Social Justice Fund and The Asian American Foundation.
Learn more about NYC Elevating Business Loan Program here.
