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From shared values and achievements to discrimination, Asian American and Jewish American communities have experienced striking parallels.

Beyond unique histories and vibrant cultural traditions, Asian and Jews share a tapestry of profoundly parallel experiences in America.

One similarity is seen in modern marriage patterns.  46% of U.S.-born Asians marry someone of a different race and 72% of non-Orthodox Jews married since 2010 are interfaith.  Of 340 million Americans 24 million are Asians and 7.5 million are Jews, giving them access to smaller in-culture dating pools.

Both cultures place a high value on educational attainment, with Asians and Jews above age 25 attaining an undergraduate education rate at a nearly 60% rate compared to a 38% national average.   A focus on academics has led to disproportionate number of breakthroughs like Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine and Min Chueh Chang’s IVF pioneering.

The shared values of self-reliance and a shared experience of discrimination have given both groups an exceptional entrepreneurial drive.   Remarkably 21% of American Jews are self-employed while 10% of U.S. businesses are run by Asian Americans, nearly twice their representation in the general population.

A mutual interest in entrepreneurship and education have afforded higher median income levels than the general population.  Asians median household income sits at $113,000, the highest of any racial group and over 40% higher than the general population.  Over half of Jewish American households earn more than $100k.

Despite achievements both groups have historically faced significant systemic discrimination. The Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese American internment serve as a stark historical example for Asian Americans, while General Order No. 11 was aimed at Jews.

More recently the model minority stereotype have minimized the unique struggles of each population, often conflating their experiences with those of white Americans.

Social media has provided a dangerous amplification of hate in the form of racist memes and antisemitic conspiracy theories, including Holocaust denial.  Online hatefests have produced an alarming rise in hate crimes for both communities, inspiring counter-messaging like the “Stop Asian Hate” movement during the pandemic and “Stand Up to Jewish Hate” in the wake of October 7th.  

An alliance of the two communities is reflected, for example, in the appointment of Jonathan Greenblatt, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO, to The Asian American Foundation board.  He is TAAF’s only non-Asian board member.  Similarly over 100 Chinese American organizations joined support for the “Show Up for Shabbat” campaign following the 2018 mass shooting at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue that claimed 11 lives.

Beyond these sociological parallels are sometimes more humorous Asian-Jewish intersectionality.   Examples include the quasi-tradition of Jews eating Chinese food on Christmas and products like “Soy Vay”, a teriyaki sauce that embodies Asian-Jewish fusion. Distinguished by resilience, achievement, and the fight for acceptance, the experiences shared by Asian Americans and Jewish Americans illustrate the truth that shared experiences reveal the depth of our shared humanity.

Behind se of the App Store’s most downloaded apps are Asian innovators reshaping digital America.

Some of the most handy, everyday apps were built by Asian minds and chances are you already have them downloaded on your phone.

Number 5: Notion

Co-founded by Ivan Zhao, Notion is the ultimate productivity app that can help anyone plan their days, journal, and create. Over 100 million college students, influencers, and even CEOs use Notion as a workspace or as a way to organize their life. Notion offers many AI tools as well as a library of templates to help improve the users’ content and overall experience. The company reported an estimated annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $500 million in 2025.

Number 4: Rakuten

This platform allows users to earn cash back when shopping online and in stores. It was founded in Japan by Hiroshi Mikitani and has grown to be one of the biggest rewards apps in the United States with over 20 million American users who have collectively earned over $3 billion in cash back. After partnering with over 3,500 retailers, including giants like Walmart and Sephora, Rakuten has made it easy for shoppers to save money.

Number 3: Lark Suite

Made by ByteDance, the Chinese tech company who made TikTok, Lark Suite is huge in Asia, but American companies are starting to catch on to this all-in-one collaboration hub. Lark gives employees easy access to AI, chatting, writing documents, and conducting meetings in one single app. U.S. businesses are looking for new ways to prevent app overload and Lark Suite is climbing the productivity app charts.

Number 2: CapCut

Also created by ByteDance, CapCut sits as one of the top video-editing apps in the United States with over 1 billion downloads on the Google Play Store as of January 2025. The app allows you to edit, split, and design clips and also features a range of AI tools. With over 200 million monthly users CapCut can help you create seamless transitions and easy captions, giving users an effortless pro-level editing app.

Number 1: Robinhood

Indian-American entrepreneur Baiju Bhatt helped develop an app that completely changed investing in the United States. Robinhood offers commission-free trading right from your phone and has even expanded into crypto options and retirement accounts. The sleek design made Robinhood popular amongst young investors sparking a craze in mobile investing. As of 2025 Robinhood’s net worth is around $107 billion and it has fully disrupted the industry making finance accessible to everyone.

The first Asian American athletic director of a Power Four school is navigating changes in collegiate athletics while safeguarding the storied Apple Cup.

In March 2024 Pat Chun became the 17th athletic director of the University of Washington, an athletic brand valued as high as $970 million, 16th among all programs.  Chun is also the first Asian American athletic director of a Power Four school.  

Chun was poached from the other side of the Apple Cup where he spent six years as Washington State’s AD.   In 2021 he received a Wazzu contract extension at a $700,000 base salary, but was lured to Seattle by the Huskies with a 6-year contract starting at $1.3 million annually and going up to $1.7 million by year five.

At Pullman Chun was recognized for both athletic and financial success.  Annual fundraising for the Cougars increased significantly from $11 million to nearly $30 million.  That enabled completion of major projects including a $27 million indoor practice facility.

Washington and Washington State shared the same conference from 1917 until the Huskies left for the Big Ten in 2024.  The realignment puts in jeopardy the continuation of the Apple Cup, a game that has been played consecutively since 1945 minus a COVID year.  While with the Cougars Chun negotiated an agreement to extend the historic football series through at least 2028.

Shortly after joining the Huskies Chun was selected to serve on the NCAA’s House Implementation Committee, a ten-member group tasked with navigating the evolving landscape of college sports. Pat Chun was raised in Strongville, Ohio by parents who had emigrated from S. Korea in 1969.  Pat played baseball, basketball and football while growing up.  In 1997 he earned a BA in journalism at Ohio State and a masters in sports leadership from Duquesne University.   He joined the Buckeye’s athletic program as an intern fresh out of college and spent 10 years there.  His first athletic director role was at Florida Atlantic where he spent over 5 years.

Get to know three powerhouse players that are setting the bar for a new generation of Asian athletes.

These three women may come from different upbringings, but all three of them are breaking barriers on the volleyball court. Not only are they making waves for themselves, but for female Asian athletes across the globe.

First up, Maggie Li.

She was born in Beijing, China before moving overseas to play outside hitter at the University of California, Berkeley. Her freshman season at Cal was a huge success as she started in all 31 matches playing in a total of 113 sets and ending with 441 kills. She was a VolleyballMag Honorable mention and was named AVCA Pacific West Region Freshman of the Year and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

As the only freshman to make the All-Pac-12 Team in 2023, it made sense why she started in all 32 matches of the 2024 season. Li had the most total kills by a Cal player since 2011 with 463 and also ranked third in the ACC in points with 512.

Li decided to take the 2025 season to UCLA to continue her legacy, bringing her elite performance to the team. She currently holds a season high of 18 kills and 19 points against Long Beach State.

Another exceptional outside hitter is London Wijay.

Before signing with the USC Trojans, Wijay attended Bishop Alemany High School in Los Angeles and was a two-time CIF Southern Section Player of the Year. She heightened her skills playing for Supernova Volleyball Club for 15 years before joining Munciana VBC and leading them to the 2023 18U national championship.

Originally scheduled to graduate with the high school class of 2024, Wijay reclassified into the class of 2023 to join the Trojans for the fall season. At just 17, Wijay was competing at a collegiate level, starting in 18 matches and recording a total of 191 kills. She solidified her spot at USC being named a part of the Pac-12 All-Freshman team and was a four-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.

During her second season USC stacked their roster, creating competition for playing time, which allowed Wijay to play in seven matches, collecting 55 kills and 48 digs. She is currently still a redshirt sophomore for the Women of Troy.

Abigail Li is a talented freshman setter at Georgia Tech.

She grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia where she played for her high school team and helped them go undefeated during her senior season, nationally ranking the team at number 6 in the MaxPreps Top 100. With 937 assists, 80 kills, and 53 aces that year, the 6’1 setter had the numbers to prove that she was not your average player.

Li was named the 2024-2025 Gatorade Georgia Volleyball Player of the Year, putting her on the radars of many colleges. She originally committed to SMU in Texas, but ended up signing with Georgia Tech for the Fall 2025 season.

NYC’s Asian nightlife scene is better than ever as shown by the action at these five clubs.

New York's nightlife never sleeps and some of the city’s most vibrant clubs are Asian hot spots that are packed every weekend. These are five must visit nightclubs that are lighting up New York City.

We’re starting this list off with Mission NYC. The city knows that this is the spot that will keep a crowd going until the sun rises. Mission is an Asian-owned nightclub with owners that have a passion for creating an inclusive space for the Asian American community. With premium bottle service, international DJs, and Asian talent, Mission is the ideal nightclub if you’re looking to celebrate culture through a vibrant and exciting night.

Next up is Den Social Lounge. It’s a unique stop on 36th street that offers the ultimate nightlife experience using technological amenities, like being able to order bottle service right from your cell phone. Enjoy a night of dancing or book a private karaoke room with your friends. The sleek and intimate interior makes this nightclub feel ultra-exclusive and the underestimated glamour is what keeps Asian Americans coming back.

Now Nebula NYC is where you go if you’re looking for something big. Being one of the largest clubs in Manhattan, Nebula will guarantee an unforgettable experience. The main floor is stacked with giant LED panels that adjust and move around and galaxy lights are flashing everywhere as world class DJs perform. Nebula is bold and futuristic and that’s exactly why it is a nightlife favorite amongst the Asian community.

Over on the Lower East Side, Highlight Room is a popular rooftop nightclub that offers breathtaking views of the city’s skyline. It’s one of the more trendier clubs in the city and also the one of the most luxurious. The gorgeous outdoor scenery and lively atmosphere makes Highlight Room an even more exciting nightlife venue. If you’re getting ready to step out in your best look, the Highlight Room is the perfect place for VIP service.

Finally, we have Tao Nightclub. The world famous Tao name is often heard in Las Vegas or Los Angeles, but New York’s Downtown Tao is equally as prestigious. The iconic Asian-inspired interior makes Tao an amazing photo-op and you can also grab some quick dim sum bites before making your way to the dance floor. Tao is home to the legendary Quan Yin statues and a celebrity-filled guest list every night, so when you step foot in here, just know you are in for an exceptional and classy nightlife experience.

The next time you are in New York City, don’t just visit Times Square. Make sure you land yourself at one of these Asian hotspots so you can experience the city’s nightlife the way New Yorkers do.

K-pop star AleXa built a unique global niche with her explosive performances, viral videos, and a win on American Song Contest.

K-pop and EDM singer AleXa has enjoyed both creative and popular success thanks to her extravagant talents as a singer, dancer and explosive performer.

Her first self-released single “Bomb” debuted in October of 2019 and reached number 7 on US World thanks to its unique intensity and futuristic cyberpunk video imagery.  In addition to being her highest charting single it’s also her most viewed video, with over 29 million views.

AleXa followed up with single albums ReviveR in 2021 featuring “Xtra” and Tattoo containing a track of the same name in 2022.  Both hits charted within the top 50 in Korea.

AleXa’s career went mainstream when she won NBC’s American Song Contest in 2022 with the song “Wonderland.”  This track is her most streamed on Spotify, boasting over 25 million streams.

In March 2025 AleXa released her first full-length album Sugarcoat including the pop-punk hit “Under the Armor.”

The same month she announced that she would be leaving her label and rebranding under the name Kim Seri, though that has yet to fully take place.

Her charting success is supported by AleXa’s digital following of over 650,000 on Instagram and over 830,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel which offers unique choreography for her tracks in addition to her music videos. The Korean American was born Alexaundra Christine Schneiderman on December 9, 1996 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.   She developed her music and dance skills in high school by covering K-pop songs on Instagram.

These five small colleges have strong Asian communities and standout programs.

We don’t usually expect to find prospering Asian communities at small colleges, but these hidden gem campuses have shown otherwise.

Number 5: Reed College

The private liberal arts school is located in Portland, Oregon and is known for its exhaustive academics and fun campus culture. 7.7% of Reed’s 1,385 students are Asian and the school has a strong Chinese Studies program. The Chinese House is an on-campus residence hall where students can engage with the culture and participate in exciting events every Sunday that include cooking demos, karaoke, and mahjong.

Number 4: Barnard College

This all-women’s college is based in New York City and Asian students make up around 16% of the 2,744 students enrolled. Barnard just recently launched an Asian Diaspora and Asian American Studies program that gives students the opportunity to study culture and identity. The school has direct access to Columbia University’s resources, so not only is Barnard an exceptional campus with a close-knit community, it is also right in reach of an Ivy League.

Number 3: Pomona College

They are nationally ranked at number 5 in Liberal Arts Colleges and have only 1,764 enrolled students. 17% of them are Asian. Pomona has a rigorous Asian and Asian American studies program and advanced Chinese and Japanese language courses. This California school is home to the Pacific Basin Institute which is a center dedicated to the study of cultural and political connections across countries that touch the Pacific Ocean.

Number 2: Harvey Mudd College

Based in Claremont, California, Harvey Mudd has just 913 total undergraduates enrolled in their 2025 Fall semester and 198, or 21% of them are Asian. The school is a great selection for STEM lovers as it is one of the most prestigious science and engineering schools in the United States. At Harvey Mudd, students are required to take Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts courses giving future scientists a balance that connects technology with impact.

Number 1: Pacific Union College

Also located in California, PUC has around 1000 enrolled students and about 192, or 23% are Asian. This school offers huge opportunities in the medical field and their International Business program helps students understand the difference between East and West markets. Because Asians make up such a large portion of the campus, PUC also has an Asian American Pacific Islander Council which helps generate awareness and support for Asian and Pacific Islander students.

Tony Tan Caktiong built an empire that outshone McDonald’s in the Philippines and is now serving customers internationally.

In America when we think of fast food chains, McDonald’s or Popeyes comes to mind, but in the Philippines the Jollibee empire is reigning supreme.

Chinese-Filipino entrepreneur, Tony Tan Caktiong, founded Jolliebee in 1975 as a Magnolia ice cream parlor. The parlor was located in Quezon City and quickly after opening Tony realized that customers were craving hot meals rather than desserts. He began to offer sandwiches and hot plates which later proved to be more popular than ice cream.

With the help of his family, Tony decided to fully expand the menu and give the streets of Manila what they wanted. In 1978 they converted the ice cream parlor into what we know Jollibee as today. Their menu focused on Filipino flavors and featured iconic items like sweet spaghetti, crispy fried chicken, and burger steaks served with rice.

Jollibee became a classic fast food stop in the Philippines and by the mid-1980s the company surpassed McDonald’s as the market leader in the industry. This was Tony’s sign to start expanding globally.

In 1985 the first international Jollibee opened in Singapore, marking the beginning of the phenomenon. Branches were established in the Middle East and Guam that same year and by 1998 the first North American store opened in Daly City, California.

Today Jollibee has over 1900 locations all over the world. Here in the U.S. you can find lines outside the door with food fanatics waiting to get a taste of ChickenJoy or the Jolly Spaghetti. Forbes has recognized Jollibee as one of Asia’s most admirable companies and parent company, Jollibee Foods Corporation, is now an industry powerhouse that owns many American brands like Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Smashburger.

Jollibee’s success came from staying true to Filipino roots while crafting them with international favorites. For Filipinos Jollibee is a symbol that embodies the comfort and joy of the culture and for everyone else, it's the perfect introduction to new flavors.

What started as an ice cream parlor in Quezon City has grown into a worldwide legacy and with every bite at Jollibee, you’re experiencing a piece of Filipino pride.

The MIT grad parlayed his finance technology startup into profitable ownership of the Sacramento Kings.

The fortune Vivek Ranadivé built pioneering technology to revolutionize Wall Street trading gave him the means to become an NBA franchise owner.

In 2013 The NBA’s Board of Governors approved a $534 million bid for the Sacramento Kings from Ranadivé's ownership group.  The acquisition made Ranadivé the first Indian American majority owner of an NBA franchise. 

Today that franchise is worth $4.5 billion, over 8 times the purchase price.  His bid also put an end to the previous owner’s relocation effort and brought a new arena to Sacramento in 2016.

Ranadivé first entered the NBA in 2010 as co-owner and vice chairman of the Golden State Warriors.  That stake had to be sold before he could become the Kings’ owner.

In 2022 Ranadivé expanded into baseball by paying $90 million for the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats.

Today, at age 67, his net worth is estimated at $700 million.

Ranadivé began building his fortune by founding Teknekron Software Systems in 1985 with $250,000 in seed money to develop trading software for financial markets.   Nine years later he sold Teknekron to Reuters for $125 million. 

In 1997 Ranadivé launched TIBCO Software to develop infrastructure software.  Its 1999 IPO raised $110 million.  Ranadivé was its CEO until 2014 when it was acquired by Vista Equity Partners for $4.2 billion. Ranadivé grew up in Mumbai.  He immigrated to the United States in 1975 at the age of 18.  His intensive studies in electrical engineering at MIT earned him simultaneous bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 1979.   Four years later he earned an MBA from Harvard.

Over-the-top energy is what you need to keep people coming back and these wacky influencers know exactly what they’re doing. 

These Asian influencers are keeping the internet wild and fans on their toes itching for their next post. Let’s meet five of the wackiest Asian influencers online.

Number 5: CantoMando

Their name pays homage to their cultural roots combining Cantonese and Mandarin and they’re a trio made up of Sheldon Ho, Edward Leung, and Mike Wu. CantoMando writes silly and over-the-top skits revolving around Asian culture, relatable situations, and ridiculous challenges like asking random strangers to cook them dinner. The trio started posting YouTube videos in 2016 and since then have garnered a total of 254 million views and 1.3 million subscribers.

Number 4: Nina Lin

Her voice is recognizable from anywhere and the internet is obsessed with her because of her strong personality. Lin’s loud and unapologetic energy draws viewers in during her live streams where she makes it evident that she is comfortable showing her imperfections, mistakes, and just chaotic moments in her life. With many viral videos plastered across platforms, Nina Lin currently has over 3.8 million followers on Tiktok and a combined 600,000 followers on Twitch and Instagram.

Number 3: Raina Huang

Whether it's fifty In-N-Out burgers or a 10 pound bowl of pho, Raina Huang can scarf it down in seconds while keeping a smile on her face. She is the queen of competitive eating and always has people wondering how much food a human stomach can truly handle and where all the food goes after she eats it. Huang does over 100 eating challenges a year and has secured over one million subscribers on YouTube and 5 million followers on TikTok.

Number 2: Tim Chantarangsu

He is better known as Timothy DeLaGhetto and he has been making waves online since 2006. Timothy DeLaGhetto began posting comedy skits relating to Asian stereotypes and pop culture. Chantarangsu’s comedic presence in this space has been so influential and ended up scoring him a place on spontaneous game show ‘Wild N’ Out’ where he competed in rap battles and improv challenges. He's grown his YouTube channel to over 4.2 million subscribers with nearly one billion views.

Number 1: Junya1Gou