What Asians Are Strong does

Asians Are Strong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in March 2021 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, in response to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes following the Atlanta Spa Shootings and attacks on Asian elders in the Bay Area. The organization operates as a community empowerment and safety movement rather than a technology product company, with offerings organized around three pillars: (1) Safety Resources & Self-Defense Training, including in-person and virtual self-defense workshops, bystander intervention tutorials, and video content that has accumulated over 500,000 views; (2) Community Events, anchored by the annual Our Heritage 5K through San Francisco, the Asian and Black Unity Cookout, and the Asian Women Are Strong "Our Time" Festival; and (3) Education Programs covering AAPI history, culture, and current issues.

The organization has expanded beyond grassroots community work into corporate diversity training, having delivered talks at 17 Fortune 500 companies, and has hosted over 25 free self-defense workshops for elderly community members. Its revenue model is non-commercial, consisting of tax-deductible donations via PayPal and merchandise sales (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, caps, and accessories priced $4-$45.50) with a 2-3 week US fulfillment window; all proceeds support the nonprofit's mission. Marketing is driven primarily by earned media coverage (ABC News, NBC Bay Area, CBS News, KRON4, KTVU, KQED, San Francisco Chronicle) and organic Instagram engagement rather than paid acquisition.

Governance is led by Founder & Executive Director Hudson Liao alongside a leadership team that includes a former US Marine as Head of Safety Resources, an Amazon strategic-deals professional as Head of Operations, and a Marketing and Brand Consultant as Head of Partnerships, supported by nine associate board members. Strategic partners for the 2026 Our Heritage 5K include CAAM, TAAF, the APA Heritage Foundation, and Junbi SF. Operations are concentrated in the San Francisco Bay Area with stated intentions to extend services to additional cities; the organization does not pursue technology, AI, or software product lines.

Name

Asians Are Strong

Legal name

Asians Are Strong

Website

https://asiansarestrong.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Asians Are Strong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 in San Francisco that delivers self-defense training, community events, and education programs to empower the AAPI community against anti-Asian racism, funded by donations and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Advocacy and Safety Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

Keywords

• Community safety training
• Self-defense workshops
• Nonprofit community events
• AAPI advocacy services
• Community empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Asians Are Strong relies on tax-deductible donations from supporters. Donations are accepted via PayPal and support all organizational activities including self-defense videos, workshops, community events, and operational costs.
2. Merchandise Sales: The organization operates an e-commerce store selling branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, caps, and accessories. All proceeds from merchandise sales go directly to supporting the nonprofit organization and its mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Asians Are Strong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers free self-defense and bystander intervention training, hosts community-building events, and runs educational programs for the AAPI community. Founded in March 2021 in San Francisco in direct response to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes, the organization produces self-defense videos, in-person and virtual workshops, and signature events including the annual Our Heritage 5K, while supporting its programs through tax-deductible donations and branded merchandise sales.

Product overview

Asians Are Strong is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a community empowerment and safety movement rather than a technology product company. The organization's offerings consist of three core pillars: Safety Resources & Self-Defense Training (including self-defense workshops, bystander intervention videos, and safety tutorials), Community Events (rallies, festivals, and the annual Our Heritage 5K), and Education Programs. The organization also operates a merchandise store selling apparel items including t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, onesies, hats, and stickers, with proceeds supporting the nonprofit. The portfolio does not constitute a unified software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asian Women Are Strong: An annual event and resource fair celebrating Asian women, launched as a sub-initiative of the main organization.

Products and services

• Safety Resources & Self-Defense Training Self-defense workshops, bystander intervention training, and safety video content delivered in-person and virtually for AAPI community members seeking practical safety skills and empowerment. The service includes tutorials and workshops for elderly Asians and corporate employees.
• Our Heritage 5K

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ video views for self-defense and bystander intervention content
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• CAAM (Center for Asian American Media)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026CAAM is partnering with Asians Are Strong to film the 5th annual Our Heritage 5K event in 2026. This partnership will document the AAPI movement in action, with the route serving as the set and the finish line as the red carpet. The documentary-style coverage will help amplify the organization's message and celebrate AAPI heritage.
• APA Heritage FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026The APA Heritage Foundation is a key sponsor of the Our Heritage 5K event, designating it as the AAPI Heritage Month Headliner Event. This partnership provides institutional legitimacy and support for one of the organization's signature events.
• Junbi SFminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Community partner for the Our Heritage 5K event, supporting the AAPI landmark journey through San Francisco.
• TAAF (The Asian American Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026TAAF is listed as a partner for the 2026 Our Heritage 5K event, supporting AAPI heritage celebration initiatives.
• Other Community OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe organization partners with various community groups to host events, including Southeast Asian Community Center (SEACC), Nichi Bei Kai Cultural Center, Japanese American National Library, Korean Center, and other AAPI organizations for event collaboration.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• API Chaya: A Seattle-based AAPI organization addressing gender-based violence and community safety through direct services and advocacy — comparable in providing safety resources and culturally specific support to AAPI communities.
• Stop AAPI Hate: A leading AAPI advocacy nonprofit that tracks and responds to anti-Asian hate incidents through data collection, reporting, and community support — directly comparable as a grassroots AAPI safety and empowerment organization formed during the same 2020-2021 wave of incidents.
• The Asian American Foundation (TAAF): A high-profile AAPI foundation funding heritage, education, and anti-hate initiatives, and an existing partner of Asians Are Strong — directly comparable in AAPI community empowerment and an institutional counterpoint to Asians Are Strong's grassroots model.
• AAPI Equity Alliance: A California-based AAPI advocacy coalition advancing policy and community responses to anti-Asian racism — directly comparable in mission focus on safety, equity, and community organizing for Asian Americans.
• Hate Is A Virus: A nonprofit movement using education, storytelling, and community events to combat anti-AAPI hate — directly comparable as a peer-era (2020) AAPI anti-hate organization with grassroots, event-driven programming and merchandise fundraising.
• Chinese for Affirmative Action: A San Francisco-based AAPI civil rights nonprofit focused on community empowerment, immigrant rights, and anti-discrimination — directly comparable as a Bay Area AAPI grassroots advocacy and community-building organization.
• Korean American Coalition: A community-based AAPI advocacy and cultural organization running heritage events, leadership programs, and community safety initiatives — comparable as an AAPI community empowerment nonprofit with event-driven programming.

Emerging players

• Compassion in Oakland: A Bay Area AAPI nonprofit offering self-defense classes and community safety programming — closely comparable to Asians Are Strong's self-defense workshop focus and geographically adjacent.

Broad incumbents

• Japanese American Citizens League: The oldest Asian American civil rights organization in the US, running heritage programming, advocacy, and community education — comparable in heritage and community mission, with a much broader national footprint than Asians Are Strong.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice: A large, established national AAPI civil rights organization with broader legal and policy scope — comparable in anti-discrimination advocacy but operates at a much larger institutional scale than Asians Are Strong's grassroots community model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/asiansarestrong
• Facebookfacebook.com/AsiansAreStrong
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asiansarestrong

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Asians Are Strong