The food and beverage industry, long dominated by men, is witnessing a transformation as a new wave of young female duos are making their mark and reshaping the sector to reflect their own vision. These inspiring women are blending their Asian heritage with a global upbringing and a willingness to take risks, showcasing the power of collaboration and innovation.

Elaine Chen and Maia Mah perfectly demonstrate this, as the regional director and creative director of Fukien Old Wine, a 181-year-old Chinese cooking wine brand. They organized a cocktail pop-up event at Soho House Hong Kong, combining traditional Chinese wine with modern trends.

Despite facing initial skepticism from their male-led head office, Chen and Mah are determined to introduce new ideas and adapt to societal changes. The success of the event surprised their colleagues, highlighting the duo’s ability to think outside the box.

Meanwhile, in Taiwan, Square Jao, a production designer, and her partner Lily Lin opened Plants Eatery, the country’s first gluten-free, whole-food restaurant. After the Fukushima disaster, Jao and Lin embarked on a mission to promote sustainable eating and raise awareness about the impact of food choices on the environment.

While vegetarianism is already popular in Taiwan, Jao and Lin’s restaurant offers strictly plant-based, gluten-free options, avoiding processed mock meats. Aside from their restaurant, they also published a cookbook in hopes to influence culinary schools to embrace plant-based and gluten-free cuisine, according to Tatler Asia.

In Japan, Eri Miyagi and Miki Nomura, both third-culture kids raised in the US, co-founded Cabi, a condiment brand aimed at introducing the flavors of Japan to Gen Z and Millennial home cooks. Cabi’s debut seasonings, including umami dashi soy sauce, sweet yuzu vinegar, and zesty sansho peppercorn miso, are designed to be versatile and cater to the modern urban lifestyle.

The rise of these female duos serve as an inspiration for a lot of underrepresented individuals, and remind us that with the proper determination and great collaboration, anything is possible.

Featured Image Source: Tatler Asia

Huang Ruo’s captivating chamber opera, “Bound,” made its highly anticipated premiere at Seattle Opera’s Tagney Jones Hall.

The opera sheds light on the enduring discrimination faced by Asian Americans, a social issue that has persisted since the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 1800s. Huang Ruo, a prominent Chinese composer, openly explores these themes, creating a thought-provoking, visually stunning, and musically intense work. Teaming up with librettist Bao-Long Chu, a Vietnamese poet, both artists made their Seattle Opera debuts, showcasing their impressive talents and expertise.

“Bound” narrates the experiences of second-generation Asian immigrants who grapple with their cultural heritage while striving to be fully embraced as Americans. Inspired by the true story of a high school student imprisoned due to truancy, the opera delves into the conflicts between individual aspirations and familial obligations. 

The characters in “Bound” are intricately bound in their own ways. Diane Tran, the protagonist portrayed masterfully by Karen Vuong, grapples with the rules and expectations of being a second-generation Asian adult, constantly torn between her family, work, and education. Khanh, Diane’s mother, haunted by guilt and memories, remains tied to her immigrant past. Judge Moriarty, who sentences Diane to imprisonment, represents an unjust system lacking empathy and understanding.

Huang shared with The Seattle Times that he aspires to fill every performance with a diverse audience, showcasing how opera reflects the lives and times of contemporary society. He firmly believes that opera is not solely for the elite few, as it reflects the diverse experiences of many.

Featured Image Source: Seattle Opera

EFishery, an agritech startup in Indonesia, has achieved unicorn status with a valuation of $1.4 billion, following a successful Series D funding round.

The company, co-founded by Gibran Huzaifah, who grew up in a disadvantaged neighborhood in Jakarta, raised $200 million in the latest funding round, led by Abu Dhabi’s 42XFund, with its value tripling from more than $410 million in 2022.

Notable participants in the funding round include Malaysia’s state pension fund Kumpulan Wang Persaraan, ResponsAbility Investments AG, 500 Global, and existing investors such as Northstar Group, Temasek Holdings Pte, and SoftBank Group Corp.

EFishery serves approximately 70,000 fish and shrimp farmers in Indonesia, providing them with technological solutions for their aquaculture operations. The recently secured funding will enable EFishery to fuel its expansion plans in Indonesia and India. Moreover, CEO Gibran Huzaifah expressed his ambition to pursue an initial public offering (IPO) in either the United States or Indonesia within the next two years.

According to Bloomberg, Huzaifah aims for EFishery to become a global leader in the aquaculture industry over the next five years, with an IPO potentially taking place as early as 2025.

Huzaifah grew up in the vicinity of slums in eastern Jakarta facing financial hardships due to his father’s job loss during his university years. With limited resources and no support network in a new city, Huzaifah found himself seeking shelter in various places, including the university campus and local mosques. At one point, he endured a three-day period without food. 

The personal story of CEO Gibran Huzaifah from poverty to building a billion-dollar startup serves as an inspiration to anyone facing adversity, showing that success can be achieved regardless of one’s humble beginnings.

Featured Image Source: CNBC

Entrepreneurship is often regarded as a skill that can be taught, but according to Jeffrey Paine, co-founder of Golden Gate Ventures, certain innate personality traits play a crucial role in a founder’s success.

According to The Peak Magazine, Paine believes that while 80% of entrepreneurship can be learned, the remaining 20% is an inherent quality. He emphasizes the importance of fluid intelligence, the ability to process information and make decisions with limited data and tight deadlines. However, he also highlights the need for founders to be disagreeable yet humble to make effective decisions.

Golden Gate Ventures was born out of Paine’s desire to solve a funding gap he observed in the South-east Asia (SEA) startup ecosystem. Alongside Vinnie Lauria, Paine launched the venture capital firm to bridge the gap between start-ups in the region and investors from the Bay Area.

Since its inception, Golden Gate Ventures has invested in nearly 70 companies across SEA, Greater China, and the US, including successful ventures like Carousell and RedMart. The firm is now expanding its operations in Vietnam, recognizing the country’s potential for growth and its pool of technical talent.

Paine identifies Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia as the region’s Startup Golden Triangle, each offering unique advantages for entrepreneurs and investors. Singapore boasts capital, talent, and ambitious founders with a global outlook. Indonesia’s large market size and potential returns make it an attractive investment destination. Vietnam, on the other hand, stands out with its technical talent and ability to tackle complex projects such as Web3 and cryptocurrency.

Looking ahead, Paine predicts that starting a business in the next decade will become more challenging due to a maturing startup ecosystem and the control exerted by a few dominant players. Entrepreneurs will need to identify untapped opportunities and build companies that can adapt to changing trends.

Golden Gate Ventures aims to support founders in this evolving landscape through its Founder First initiative, providing financial, human, and social capital to equip entrepreneurs for success.

Featured Image Source: Golden Gate Ventures