Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Terp Businesses

By Devin Brooks ’19

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, celebrating the historical and cultural contributions of AAPI individuals to the United States. As part of your Alumni Association’s AAPI celebrations, we’re highlighting six businesses and the six Asian/Pacific Islander Terps who embody true EnTERPreneurial spirit. These businesses were sourced and selected from submissions to our Terp Referral Exchange Business Directory. If you’d like to be considered for a future #TerpBusiness feature, please sign up for the directory here.

1. Kusshi

Founded by Megan Huan ’08 and Tonne Chow ’08, Kusshi is a Japanese restaurant and whiskey bar located in Bethesda, Md. Kusshi serves up fresh modern Japanese cuisine, including sushi and other flavorful eats, as well as a wide selection of sake and whiskey. Terps can enjoy Kusshi by ordering online or dining in; Kusshi is also available to host happy hours and networking events.

Fun Fact: Kusshi is the big brother of the well-established Hanaro Sushi in Bethesda.

Learn more about Kusshi here, and follow them on Instagram and Facebook.

2. Sunday Morning Bakery

Caroline Yi ’14 opened Sunday Morning Bakehouse in north Bethesda to bring handcrafted and housemade treats to your mornings (or any other time of the day!). Sunday Morning Bakehouse offers small-batch, delicate croissants, flakey pastries, savory breakfast sandwiches and other delicacies. The bakery also crafts cakes for special occasions. 

Fun Fact: Stop by the bakery for some uniquely flavored croissants, such as matcha, strawberries and cream, and twice-baked almond.

Learn more about Sunday Morning Bakehouse here, and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

3. Amy Yip Coaching

Amy Yip ’04 is an ICF PCC, Certified Hudson Institute Coach who specializes in life and career transformation. Yip focuses on helping her clients strengthen their “mental fitness,” fostering strong mindsets and clear goals to help you be the author of your own story. Yip offers group coaching, or you can work with her one-on-one for a tailored experience.  

Fun Fact: Amy Yip is a member of the Alumni Association’s Coaches Corner program! Coaches Corner offers exclusive Terp discounts towards services with any of our coaches, all of whom are experts in their fields and industries. Learn more about working with Amy Yip through the Coaches Corner program here.

Learn more about Amy Yip Coaching here, and follow her on Facebook and LinkedIn. 

4. Kander Consult

Based out of Burtonsville, Md., Kander Consult was founded by Pallavi Agarwal ’05 in 2018 to provide Salesforce implementation services, including (but not limited to) Sales Cloud, Service Cloud, Experience Cloud, third-party integrations, data optimization and analytics, and CPQ. Kander Consult’s strategic partnerships and depth of experience can be leveraged to meet all their clients’ Salesforce needs.

Fun Fact: Kander Consult has been 100% remote since its founding.

Learn more about Kander Consult here, and follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn.

5. RASA

RASA is a testament to two families’ (and two generations’) expertise in the restaurant industry. Family-friends-since-birth Rahul Vinoid ’11 and Sahil Rahman, both sons of restaurant co-owners themselves, set out to educate diners on the rich and diverse flavor profiles of Indian cuisine. With locations in Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Va., RASA offers a menu of delicious chef selections and build-your-own-creation options.  

Fun Fact: When developing a plan for RASA, Vinoid and Rahman traveled across India to reconnect with their roots and dive into the intricacies of Indian cuisine.

Learn more about RASA here, and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

6. Crumbs and Whiskers

Did you know the famous cat cafe was founded by a Terp? Kanchan Singh ’12 and the Crumbs and Whiskers team rescue homeless felines and find them new forever homes through their interactive cafe experience, where potential pet parents can play with kittens and cats alike while enjoying sweet treats. According to their website, Crumbs and Whiskers has saved nearly 4,000 cats and rehomed nearly 2,000. Terps can book a cafe experience at locations in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. 

Fun Fact: Singh was inspired to start Crumbs and Whiskers after visiting the cat cafe Catmosphere in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

Learn more about Crumbs and Whiskers here, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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Do business with Terps in your community through the Terp Referral Exchange Business Directory. Tap into services and offerings from a #TerpBusiness by browsing all listings or searching for a specific service. If you are a Terp looking to promote your business, products or service, apply to join the Terp Business Directory today and market your business to a community of nearly 400,000 Terps.

Are you an AAPI-identifying Terp looking to connect with your community? Consider joining the Asian Pacific American Alumni Network (APAAN). Looking for opportunities with other affinities or within your region? Join your local alumni network here.

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