This May, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated with the theme “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together.” It is a reminder that progress happens when communities are connected, supported, and seen.
At AmPac, that idea shows up every day. We work to uplift communities, strengthen families, and advance entrepreneurial dreams by financing and fostering business success from cradle to legacy. For the AANHPI entrepreneurs we serve, that access is not always easy to come by, and that is exactly why the work matters.
A Community of Builders
AANHPI entrepreneurs have the highest rate of entrepreneurship of any group in the country, at roughly 1 in 10 adults. According to the SBA Office of Advocacy, AANHPI entrepreneurs own more than 3 million businesses nationwide, employing 5.2 million people across industries from food service and healthcare to logistics, retail, and professional services.
These are not just economic statistics. They represent families who built something from nothing, communities sustained by local enterprise, and a legacy of perseverance that defines the AANHPI experience in America.
The Financial Reality
Behind the impressive numbers lies a more complicated picture. AANHPI-owned businesses have historically faced significant barriers to accessing outside capital, and many have adapted by turning inward.
The 2026 Federal Reserve Small Business Credit Survey chartbook shows that 78% of Asian-owned firms facing financial challenges responded by using personal funds. Reliance on personal savings and cash reserves has become the dominant survival strategy, not by choice, but by necessity.
The same chartbook also shows that Asian-owned firms were most likely to cite increased costs of goods, weak sales, and difficulty paying operating expenses as their top financial challenges. When outside capital felt out of reach, many businesses absorbed those costs internally or passed them on to customers, compressing margins and limiting growth.
This pattern of self-reliance speaks to resilience. It also points to a gap between the financing options that are available and the options that are actually accessible.
Women-Owned AANHPI Businesses: A Force of Their Own
Asian American women entrepreneurs represent a particularly significant force within the AANHPI business community. According to Wells Fargo’s 2025 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses report, Asian American women own 1.4 million businesses, representing 9.8% of all women-owned firms despite accounting for about 7% of the adult female population. From 2019 to 2024, these businesses increased employment by 28.4% and revenue by 40.9%. Asian American women are also more likely than other minority groups to operate employer firms, making them a particularly important driver of job creation.
At AmPac, we are deeply committed to ensuring that women-owned AANHPI businesses have the financing, resources, and networks they need to thrive at every stage of growth, from start-up through succession.
Why CDFIs Matter: Access as a Pathway
Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) like AmPac exist to close the gap between capital that is available and capital that is accessible. And the evidence shows that the impact of a CDFI loan reaches well beyond the initial transaction.
A study by the Urban Institute tracking more than 22,000 small-business CDFI borrowers found that business owners’ credit scores improved after receiving a CDFI loan, with the largest gains among those who started from the lowest baseline. Business credit visibility increased. Borrowers accessed more financing over time.
A CDFI loan is not just a transaction. It is a pathway into the broader financial system, one that too many AANHPI entrepreneurs have been shut out of for too long.
When a business owner can access fair credit, build a credit history, and grow their enterprise, the benefits flow outward. Jobs are created, families are stabilized, and communities are strengthened. This is the multiplier effect of mission-driven lending.
Unity in Action
The theme of this year’s Heritage Month, “Power in Unity,” is not just an aspiration. It is a call to action for lenders, policymakers, community organizations, and neighbors alike.
For AmPac, unity means showing up for entrepreneurs that traditional financial institutions have overlooked. It means offering not just capital, but also guidance, connections, and the belief that every business owner deserves a fair shot.
At AmPac Business Capital, this commitment is central to our mission. Through our Entrepreneur Ecosystem, we work to connect business owners with the resources and relationships that help them move forward, alongside our tailored financing options designed to support businesses at every stage of growth, from cradle to legacy.
AANHPI entrepreneurs are already building the businesses that power their communities. Ensuring they have the support to grow will help turn today’s momentum into lasting success.