Investing & Raising Capital Salon: Authentic Insight on Business

Join TAA for an intimate salon-style Fireside Chat in Venice, LA featuring a thought-provoking panel on Investing and Raising Capital with Joan Nguyen, Ellen Chen, and Ruffin Mitchener, moderated by Mary Moses.
Celebrate the launch of Bennie, a new AI family assistant, from Bumo Co-founder and CEO Joan Nguyen.
Guests will indulge in:
Exclusive discussion and live Q&A with leading entrepreneurs
Complimentary refreshments and a continental breakfast
Meaningful connection with thoughtful, ambitious community members
Join us to celebrate Bennie’s launch and connect with fellow parents and founders!

About our Hosts:

Ellen Chen
The co-founder of Mendocino Farms, a fast casual restaurant brand she helped scale into one of the most recognized concepts in Southern California.

With a background in consulting at Accenture and early stage startups, she brings both strategic and entrepreneurial expertise to the business. She has been recognized on Nation’s Restaurant News Power List and serves on multiple industry and nonprofit boards.

Connect with Ellen
Website | Instagram

Joan Nguyen
The founder of Bumo, a venture-backed company that launched Bennie, Bumo's first AI Family Assistant — designed to help modern families manage child care, appointments, camps, and more with ease.

A serial entrepreneur (two-time INC5000 founder and TEDx Speaker) and former educator, Joan has built her career around expanding access to opportunity, and today applies that passion to transforming the $60B child care industry through technology, community, and care infrastructure.

She is a sought-after voice on the future of care, women's workforce participation, and AI-adoption and a fierce advocate for building a world where families no longer have to choose between career and care. 

Connect with Joan
LinkedIn | Website | Instagram

Ruffin Mitchener
The founder of Brydge Club, a media and investing community empowering more than 200,000 women to access angel investing and entrepreneurship.

She has led and participated in investments across early stage companies alongside leading venture firms and is a trusted partner to major brands in the startup and finance ecosystem.
Connect with Ruffin
LinkedIn | Website | Instagram

About our Moderator

Mary Moses
The marketing and creative leader that scaling founders need in their corner.
Drawing on her experience as a former buyer at Macy’s and Head of Marketing & Creative for Tender Greens, she brings together sharp strategy and elevated brand taste.
At the stage when founders are too busy running the company to run marketing, Mary takes the reins — aligning teams, creating accountability, and building a strategy that actually moves the business forward.
She becomes the steady hand that allows founders to lead again.
Mary is also the host of the Tradition Breakers podcast, where she interviews Asian American leaders who chose purpose over expectation.

Connect with Mary
LinkedIn | Tradition Breakers Podcast | Website

Important Details:
RSVP via Luma is required and strictly capped at 15 guests to keep it intimate and conversational.
Dress code: Business Casual
Guests are encouraged to check local parking apps or rideshare options.
The salon starts promptly at 10:30 AM (arrive before 10:30 AM to settle in).
Space is limited, so RSVP to save your spot!

Not a member of The Authentic Asian?
To join the waitlist for our next cohort, please fill out our application!
Apply here

Please note that this a space that centers women and those who relate to their lived experience.
If you do not identify with this and would still like to support or engage with the community, feel free to reach out to The Authentic Asian team.
We’d be happy to explore other ways to include you.