NEW YORK CITY — A sold-out crowd of founders, operators, creatives, technologists, investors, and students came together in Manhattan for South Asian Collective: NYC, filling a rooftop venue to maximum capacity for an evening focused on meaningful connections and new collaborations.
Hosted by the American South Asian Network (ASAN) and The Asian, the gathering was built around a simple format: no panels, no formal agenda, and more time for people to meet across industries and career stages.
The collaboration brought together two organizations focused on expanding access, opportunity, community, and visibility for younger Asian Americans. ASAN is building a national platform connecting younger South Asians across the U.S. through community, professional opportunity, mentorship, media, and direct connections. The Asian brings together the next generation of Asian founders, operators, investors, and creators through media, events, and professional networks.
Connections across industries
The crowd reflected the range of people building across New York, with conversations spanning technology, entrepreneurship, consumer brands, finance, media, culture, and other industries.
For some attendees, the event also provided an immediate entry point into a new city and community.
“I moved to New York this week, and it was great to see ASAN bring the younger generation together in Manhattan. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and helpful. It made it much easier to start meeting people and feel connected to the community,” said Swati.
The goal of South Asian Collective is straightforward: create an environment where people can expand their networks, find collaborators, exchange ideas, and build relationships that continue beyond the event.
The rooftop setting, views of the Empire State Building, and perfect weather helped set the stage, but the clearest indicator of demand was the turnout: the event sold out and reached maximum capacity.
Building a larger national network
The New York gathering is part of ASAN’s broader work to connect younger South Asians across the country through events, mentorship, professional opportunities, media, and direct introductions.
For ASAN and The Asian, the event also showed what can happen when complementary communities come together around a shared goal: helping the next generation build stronger relationships, gain access to new opportunities, and find the people who can help them move forward.
