COURAGE OF CONVICTION

Tatler speaks to Bing Chen, Prabal Gurung and Kevin Lin to discuss how their non-profit Gold House is changing the future of the Asian diaspora

- Tara Sobti

In the ever-evolving landscape of social and cultural institutions and initiatives, Gold House stands out as a beacon of advocacy and empowerment for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the US. At the heart of this non-profit group are three visionaries: Bing Chen, the founder and president, who is known for spearheading the launch of YouTube’s multi-billiondollar influencer ecosystem; his co-founder Kevin Lin, renowned co-founder of video live-streaming platform Twitch; and respected fashion designer Prabal Gurung, who serves as CEO.

The foundation was formed in 2018 with 500 successful A-list AAPI founding members, who each contributed US$ 25,000 worth of material assets—whether through mentorship, donation or investment. By connecting executives across industries, financing new ventures and reshaping AAPI portrayals, the team aimed to promote positive depictions of AAPI people onscreen, in boardrooms and in the media; today, Gold House has become the first call for anything Asian in Hollywood because of its finger on the pulse of the community—either for its access or to ensure cultural authenticity.

Its collective efforts have not only fostered a sense of unity within the AAPI community but also catalysed systemic change across industries from entertainment to tech. Through initiatives like the Gold House Gala—which broke the internet in May, when the community’s best and brightest convened to celebrate the 100 most impactful AAPI changemakers in culture and society over the past year—it continues to uplift and celebrate the contributions of Asians, ensuring that future generations are supported and recognised.

“There is this amazing renaissance of Asian creativity,” says Chen. “We had the most awarded film of all time with Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022); the most watched Netflix series of all time with