“In this moment of economic and political challenges, the stakes for AAPI women entrepreneurs have never been higher. Women now comprise nearly 70% of the small business owners in Welcome to Chinatown’s network. AAPI women are not only cultural anchors, but economic drivers. With the right support, they are poised to lead. To be part of Amplify Her Foundation’s growing community of changemakers means knowing we are not alone. It means building alongside others who share our commitment to equity, leadership, and culturally responsive systems.””
— Vic Lee, Founder & CEO, Welcome to Chinatown
MISSION
Welcome to Chinatown was founded in 2020 by two Chinese American women after witnessing the compounded disinvestment of Chinatown, and by extension the Asian/Pacific Islander (“API”) community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their mission is to amplify and address the critical needs of the Chinatown community and its Asian/Pacific Islander (“API”) entrepreneurs through a robust offering of community and capacity building initiatives, grants, and resources. They seek to engage API, immigrant, and minority business owners who make up the diverse fabric of the Manhattan Chinatown community, which has historically been underserved through historical disasters, socioeconomic and language barriers, and an overall lack of government investment. At the forefront, Welcome to Chinatown is a collective voice for API entrepreneurs to reclaim their own narrative through empathy, authentic storytelling, and data driven insights. Collectively, their efforts are aimed at keeping Chinatown open for generations to come.
GRANT PURPOSE & IMPACT
Amplify Her Foundation funding will support Welcome to Chinatown’s Coach, Connect, Invest, and Innovate programs, which provide AAPI women entrepreneurs with the tools, mentorship, and networks to grow and sustain their businesses in Manhattan’s Chinatown. These programs combine technical training, leadership development, and culturally grounded support to ensure women not only build viable businesses but also thrive as community leaders.
Through a 9-week incubator and a 5-week bootcamp, entrepreneurs gain hands-on experience in business planning, financial modeling, digital readiness, and brand storytelling. Coaching and mentorship are embedded throughout, culminating in Demo Day opportunities where founders connect directly with potential customers, funders, and partners. The Connect vertical deepens this impact by formalizing matchmaking dinners and pairing women with specialized advisors in leadership, operations, and capital readiness, building the confidence and capacity needed to access meaningful investment opportunities.
Beyond individual skill-building, Welcome to Chinatown is cultivating a self-sustaining network of women founders who return to collaborate, co-create, and mentor others. By pacing growth intentionally and meeting women where they are, the organization is fostering long-term success and modeling what culturally rooted, women-led entrepreneurship can look like. With support from Amplify Her Foundation, these programs will continue to advance equity, preserve community resilience, and expand opportunities for AAPI women entrepreneurs.
