Asian Business Association San Diego

What Asian Business Association San Diego does

The Asian Business Association San Diego (ABASD) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered at 7675 Dagget Street, Suite 340, San Diego, California. The organization serves more than 30,000 Asian and Pacific Islander (API)-owned businesses across San Diego County through three primary service lines: no-cost small business advising delivered via the federal Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network, tiered membership programs with five price points from Individual ($250/year) to Diamond ($15,000/year), and recurring signature events that function as both programming and sponsorship inventory. ABASD operates an affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation that extends its capacity to accept philanthropic capital and administer programmatic grants.

The association's business model rests on three revenue pillars: corporate membership dues across five tiers, event sponsorship revenue from its signature gatherings, and grant funding from public and private sources including the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wells Fargo Foundation, and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate. The organization also serves as an intermediary for distributed capital — notably administering a $4.175 million COVID-19 microbusiness relief program funded by Wells Fargo in partnership with state agencies. Strategic partnerships with T-Mobile, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Mission Driven Finance extend ABASD's capacity beyond its internal team of 11-50 employees and provide analytical and capital-deployment capabilities it could not otherwise offer.

ABASD is led by President and CEO Jason Paguio, and its leadership has secured appointments to multiple California state commissions including the California Commission on API American Affairs (where Paguio serves as Chair), the California Transportation Commission, the Port of San Diego Board, and the California Travel and Tourism Commission. The organization is also engaged in place-based economic development, including partnerships around the Pan-Asian Cultural District and Convoy District revitalization in San Diego.

Name

Asian Business Association San Diego

Legal name

Asian Business Association San Diego

Website

https://abasd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Asian Business Association San Diego is a nonprofit founded in 1990 that serves 30,000+ Asian and Pacific Islander-owned businesses in San Diego County through SBDC business advising, tiered membership programs, signature events, and grant-funded programs, financed by corporate dues, event sponsorships, and public/private grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Small business consulting
• Business development services
• Nonprofit trade association
• Membership networking events
• Access to capital

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from corporate partners at multiple tiers (Diamond $15,000, Platinum $10,000, Jade $6,000, Pearl $3,000, Ivory $1,500, Get Involved $250), providing sponsorship visibility, event access, and networking opportunities.
2. Event Sponsorships: Revenue from sponsoring signature events including Annual Scholarship and Awards Gala, Lunar New Year Celebration, and Taste of Asia, with tiered sponsorship packages offering varying levels of recognition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Asian Business Association San Diego is a nonprofit business association that provides no-cost one-on-one business advising, educational workshops and webinars, signature community events, networking mixers, monthly luncheons, and access to capital programs for Asian Pacific Islander (API) owned small businesses and entrepreneurs in San Diego County. It operates the local Small Business Development Center (SBDC) under the San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network (funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration and Wells Fargo Foundation), offers tiered corporate memberships, runs the AdvanceAPI Fund with Mission Driven Finance, and supports scholarships and mentorship through the affiliated Asian Business Association Foundation.

Product overview

Asian Business Association San Diego is a nonprofit service organization (not a software product company) offering a portfolio of business development services to API-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs in San Diego County. The core offering is the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Services providing no-cost one-on-one advising, workshops, and access to capital programs. This is complemented by signature events (Scholarship and Awards Gala, Lunar New Year Celebration, Taste of Asia), monthly Rice Club Luncheons, and networking mixers. The organization also operates the AdvanceAPI Fund in partnership with Mission Driven Finance for capital access, the ABASD Foundation for educational programs and scholarships, and a Legacy Circle mentorship program. Corporate membership tiers (Diamond through Individual) provide varying levels of sponsorship, recognition, and networking access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Services No-cost one-on-one business advising and consulting services covering startup assistance, business plans, access to capital, marketing and sales, government contracting, business growth, e-commerce, and B2B/B2C support for API entrepreneurs and small businesses across San Diego County. Delivered as part of the SBA-funded San Diego & Imperial SBDC Network.
• Educational Workshops and Webinars Educational workshops and webinars providing training on business development topics for API small businesses and entrepreneurs in San Diego County.
• Signature Events Program Annual signature community events including the Scholarship and Awards Gala (fall), Lunar New Year Celebration (winter), and Taste of Asia (spring), each reaching up to 500 attendees and providing visibility, networking, and celebration of the API business community.
• Rice Club Luncheon Series Monthly speaker luncheon series featuring distinguished speakers including elected officials, business, civic, and industry leaders for discussion of economic, political, and diversity issues affecting the API community.
• Networking Mixers Social networking mixers attracting over 100 attendees per event, providing members and prospective members opportunities for business networking at various venues throughout San Diego County.
• AdvanceAPI Fund The nation's first Advance Asian Pacific Islander (API) Fund launched in partnership with Mission Driven Finance to support economic security and advancement of San Diego's API community through small business access to capital and workforce development financing. ABASD serves as advisor to the Fund Manager.
• Corporate Membership Program Specialized corporate membership program with annual tiers (Diamond $15,000, Platinum $10,000, Jade $6,000, Pearl $3,000, Ivory $1,500, Individual $250) offering benefits such as event sponsorships, website recognition, networking opportunities, visibility, and committee participation for corporate partners engaging the API business community.
• Asian Business Association Foundation Programs (Scholarships & Legacy Circle) Programs of the affiliated Asian Business Association Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit developing current and future business leaders through annual scholarships (minimum two $1,000 awards presented at the Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala) and the Legacy Circle, an exclusive group of influential past and current API business leaders and ABASD past leadership dedicated to mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,700+ small businesses assisted during COVID-19 pandemic
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, double diamond, diamond, platinum and jade.

• San Diego & Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC) NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerABASD is an integral part of the SBDC network which provides no-cost advising and consulting services to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The network is hosted by Southwestern College and funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNaming sponsor of the Sycuan Community Room at ABASD headquarters, symbolizing collaborative spirit of San Diego's diverse communities. Sycuan is a Double Diamond corporate member.
• Mission Driven FinancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaunched the nation's first AdvanceAPI Fund (Advance Asian Pacific Islander Fund) to support economic security and advancement of San Diego's API community, focusing on small business access to capital and workforce development. ABASD serves as advisor to the Fund Manager.
• Booz Allen HamiltonsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with ABASD and T-Mobile to develop comprehensive economic study of API-owned businesses using Census data, survey responses, and economic modeling software.
• Laz Parkingdouble diamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDouble Diamond corporate member with maximum visibility benefits at ABASD events and programs.
• U.S. Bankdouble diamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDouble Diamond corporate member providing financial services support to API business community.
• Alaska Airlinesdouble diamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDouble Diamond corporate member supporting ABASD programs and events.
• East West Bankdouble diamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDouble Diamond corporate member supporting ABASD programs and events.
• Sharp Health PlandiamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiamond corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• Bank of AmericadiamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiamond corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• Cox CommunicationsdiamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiamond corporate member; Board Secretary Allen Young serves as Director of California Government Affairs.
• The Payment HQdiamondChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDiamond corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• Spectrum (Charter Communications)platinumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member; Board member Michael Hadland serves as Director of State Government Affairs.
• Seven Mile CasinoplatinumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member hosting member mixers.
• Guiltinan GroupplatinumChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• Kaiser PermanentejadeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJade corporate member; Board member Stephen Chin serves as Partnerships & Community Impact Leader.
• Scripps HealthjadeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJade corporate member; Board member Monica Montano serves as Director of Community Relations.
• San Diego Community PowerjadeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJade corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• American AirlinesjadeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJade corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• San Diego International AirportjadeChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJade corporate member supporting ABASD programs.
• Convoy District PartnershipsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for revitalization of the Pan-Asian Cultural District in the Convoy Street area, with Chris Cate serving as chair.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC): The largest minority-business development organization in the U.S., including Asian American and Pacific Islander supplier certification. Overlaps with ABASD on supplier diversity and corporate matchmaking but operates at national scale across all minority groups.
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network — America's SBDC: National SBDC network that ABASD is embedded within. Comparable as the parent program of which ABASD is a regional host partner; relevant for understanding funding flows and program scaling.
• U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: National Hispanic business chamber with the same federation model (national + local chapters) as ABASD. Comparable in structure, advocacy focus, and corporate membership programs; broader in scale and demographic focus.

Emerging players

• National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC): National LGBT business chamber with local affiliate chapters. Operates a similar corporate-certification and membership model for a different minority demographic; relevant proxy for cross-minority coalition dynamics.

Regional players

• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce: Local San Diego Chamber that competes for general corporate membership dollars and government-relations influence in the same geography. Comparable in event programming and advocacy footprint but lacks the AAPI-specific niche.
• Asian Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco: Bay Area AAPI business association. Directly comparable in mission and structure; serves as a parallel peer in a different California geography and provides a benchmark for tier pricing and programming.

Peers

• U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. National Black business chamber structured similarly to NMSDC. Comparable as a peer minority-business advocacy organization competing for the same corporate DEI and supplier-diversity budgets.

Others

• Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties: Regional nonprofit ecosystem-builder in San Diego focused on inclusive economic development. Directly comparable as a regional capacity-building partner recognized alongside ABASD (Catalyst won ABASD's Non-Profit Partner award in 2021); not a direct competitor but a close ecosystem peer.

Direct peers

• Asian Business Association of Los Angeles: Regional AAPI business association serving the greater Los Angeles area. Closely comparable in structure (membership tiers, signature events, SBDC-equivalent services) and serves as the most direct peer in California; useful proxy for what scale-up looks like in a larger API business market.
• National ACE (Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship): National AAPI business chamber that serves as ABASD's umbrella organization and counterpart at the federal level. Directly comparable in mission (AAPI business advocacy, supplier diversity, access to capital) but operates nationally rather than locally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ABASD
• Facebookfacebook.com/ABASD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3095401/admin
• Instagraminstagram.com/abasandiego

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Asian Business Association San Diego