Rally | Mike Chen & Lena Zhang on Redefining Retail

RALLY with Gold House Ventures is excited to spotlight exceptional Asian Pacific founders and investors through a biweekly feed of stories, funding opportunities, portfolio news, career opportunities, and events. If you are an entrepreneur looking to meet with Gold House Ventures or an investor looking to get more involved with Gold House’s Venture Network , please reach out to investments@goldhouse.org .

Spotlight | Mike Chen and Lena Zhang from Cohere Commerce

In the fall of 2023, Mike C. and Lena (Xixiao) Z. launched Cohere Commerce (Techstars ‘23) to empower independent retailers and foster a more transparent, efficient, and sustainable retail ecosystem. They provide retail buyers with verified retail insights, while helping CPG brands optimize partnerships and strengthen their market credibility. Mike and Lena previously participated in Techstars ‘23 and the Gold House Ventures Accelerator ‘24. 

What inspired you to found Cohere?

Mike: I wanted to solve a problem I personally encountered as a retail buyer—I receive more than 50 vendor pitches every week, and I had a hard time finding credible, vetted information on these vendors and making more informed and data driven decisions more efficiently. 

What makes Cohere unique? 

Lena: Cohere Commerce is the first platform to make B2B commerce transparent through verified, real retail buyer reviews. We highlight retail buyers' opinions and transform them into actionable data insights. This unique approach allows retailers to make informed, data-driven decisions when sourcing brands, offering both credibility and efficiency in a way that hasn’t existed before.

How has your API identity impacted your career and/or startup journey? Why is partnering with Gold House Ventures important to you?

Lena: Being a female Asian founder has shaped my experience in many ways, both positive and challenging. Early in my career, I often had to prove my credibility more than my peers. There were moments where my technical and operational skills were questioned simply because I didn’t fit the typical mold of a startup founder. 

But these experiences also gave me a stronger sense of purpose. I’ve learned to approach problem-solving with empathy and persistence. Instead of seeing those barriers as setbacks, I’ve used them to fuel a design philosophy rooted in understanding real user pain points, especially for underrepresented voices in the retail space. My API identity has also motivated me to ensure that our platform is built to create transparency and trust in the B2B retail world, offering a voice to smaller, diverse brands trying to break into the industry.

Gold House Ventures is particularly impactful because they are committed to breaking down barriers for underrepresented founders like myself. They provide more than just capital—they offer access to a network of mentors and peers who understand the unique challenges we face. Through Gold House, we’ve connected with other API founders and hired talent that might not have had access to traditional tech networks. This kind of support ensures that founders like me can build companies that are both successful and inclusive, helping to diversify the broader startup ecosystem.

Mike: Gold House’s mission to elevate API founders and businesses deeply resonated with us. We wanted to be part of a network that truly understands the unique challenges we face as Asian founders. They provide us not just with financial backing, but with a community that advocates for our growth and success.

What’s a small, step-change habit that has served you well, and you would recommend other founders to adopt?

Mike: One habit that’s made a big difference for me is taking 10 minutes at the end of each day to reflect and prioritize tasks for the next day. It sounds simple, but it keeps me focused on what truly matters and allows me to start each day with clarity. For founders juggling countless tasks, this daily habit ensures you’re always working on the highest-impact items and not getting lost in the noise.

Lena: One habit I’ve found useful is consistently documenting and reviewing processes, which includes making a daily task checklist and publishing weekly OKRs for myself and all team members. It sounds basic, but in the chaos of a startup, having clear processes in place helps everyone stay aligned and efficient. Whether it’s for product development, marketing, customer feedback, or operational tasks, documenting each step and tracking small progress keeps things streamlined and reduces decision fatigue.

What’s a fun fact about you other people may not expect?

Mike: Before diving into startups, I worked as a chef at high-end restaurants, including a 2-star Michelin spot, where I learned to be meticulous, thrive under pressure, and creatively solve problems. Later, I became the founding data scientist at Wynn Encore, analyzing complex, high-stakes gaming data, optimizing casino operations, and developing gambling strategies. These experiences sharpened my ability to innovate and make data-driven decisions—skills I now apply to my entrepreneurial journey.

Lena: Recently, I’ve become obsessed with woodworking and working on projects in my patio. I love working with my hands, repairing things around the house, and creating fun furniture pieces. It’s a relaxing, creative outlet that balances the mental intensity of startup life. I’ve also been picking up my piano skills again, finding moments to reconnect with music as a way to unwind.

Check out Cohere Commerce at coherecommerce.com to learn how we’re empowering retail buyers with verified data to make smarter sourcing decisions. If you're a retailer or a CPG brand, we’d love for you to join our community!

ICYMI: Gold House Ventures went to Singapore! 

The Gold House Ventures team recently returned from a whirlwind week in Singapore celebrating our second annual Gold Prix. Gold Prix is Gold House’s annual convening of North America and APAC-based founders, funders, creative executives, and partners in Singapore to foster greater investment and distribution opportunities across the Pacific, in multi-year partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) . Our activations included:

• F1 Kickoff Reception at COTE Singapore with 200 leading family offices, CEOs, and creatives over Michelin Korean steak, a Cedric Grolet cake, Singapore’s own jazz legend Jeremy Monteiro, and K-pop karaoke kicked off by co-host Eric Nam .
• Gold Summit with 100 top founders, creatives, and government officials in partnership with the Singapore EDB, Snap Inc. , and ImpactSG.  The Summit featured a one-on-one conversation with actor and investor Simu Liu ; a look into the lives of Hollywood power couple Manny Jacinto and Dianne Doan , moderated by superstar Eric Nam; a deep-dive into venture capital with Notable/GGV’s and GHV Advisory Board Member Hans Tung ; a Gold Business panel tackling the topic of AI with Sheila Lirio Marcelo (Ohai.ai , Care.com ), Patrick Cao (UNLOCK, GoTo, Tokopedia), Caroline Yap (Google), and Edward Chiang (Arta Finance); and rounded out by remarks from Singapore EDB Managing Director Jacqueline Poh . 
• Thought Leadership across multiple panels and events with SuperReturn featuring our very own Megan Ruan , Milken Institute Asia Summit, All That Matters, Wall Street Journal House, and Deal Street Asia.
• Founder-Funder Brunch & Pool Party in partnership with Golden Gate Ventures . 
• Private LP Dinner for our APAC-based partners.

Check out an assortment of shareable photos from Gold Prix 2024 here and here .  To learn more about Gold Bridge, check out goldhouse.org/goldbridge . 

Upcoming Gold House Network Opportunities 

October 9th in SF: “Creative Entrepreneurship and the Rise of Celebrity-Backed Funds ”, Gold House Ventures, Mantis Ventures, and EMPIRE share the stage for SF Tech Week to discuss the rise and unique value-add of celebrity-backed venture funds. Did you know 👀 Gold House Ventures LPs include folks like musician Anderson .Paak, comedians Bowen Yang and Ronny Chieng, actor/producer Daniel Dae Kim, athlete Jeremy Lin, chef/TV host Padma Lakshmi, designer Prabal Gurung, and more? We’re excited to discuss how we and our peer funds have leveraged the power of celebrity to win and support top founders. RSVP here . 

October 16th in LA: “Golden Hour with Gold House Ventures ”, please join us for an evening of innovation and celebration for LA Tech Week at a beachfront wellness club where guests can sample diverse-owned beverages, foods and conscious experiences (including a meditation room). RSVP here . 

Join our Gold House Futures Network – a curated community of the most promising next-gen API creatives, entrepreneurs, and social impact leaders! By being part of the network, founders receive:

• Amplification: Members of the Futures Network receive resources from Gold House’s corporate and cultural leadership network to accelerate their ambitions.
• Collaboration: From business partnerships to soundtrack inclusion, Futures gain access to collaboration opportunities both within the network and with industry leaders.
• Community: Exclusive events and curated programming cultivate a community of founders and creators.

Our recent survey found that 94% of founders were likely to recommend the Futures Network to other founders citing a supportive API community and expansive network. Apply to join our Futures Network here!

Recent Gold Wins

• Hasan Minhaj joins Kolkata Chai Co. as an investor and business partner as they enter their next chapter of growth: Hasan Minhaj Spills the Tea On Why His Big Kolkata Chai Co. Investment Is Personal
• AmorSui raises its Seed round to revolutionize sustainable medical supplies: AmorSui seeds $3.5M for sustainable PPE
• FLY BY JING launches not one but two noodles: Taste the noodles before they run out: Chili Crisp Noodles and Sweet & Spicy Noodles
• Functional Finance raises Series A: Functional Finance Secures $20M Series A Round Led by Walkabout Ventures
• Boomerang wins airport startup competition: Boomerang Awarded 2024 Aeroporti Di Roma ‘Call for Startups’ Program
• Boomerang recognized as a top sports startup by investors: 13 sports startups poised to shake up the industry, according to VCs and other top investors
• MìLà now found at Walmart: MìLà Drops Potsticker-Style Dumplings at Walmart
• Musely recognized by Inc. 5000: Musely is the #1 fastest growing tele-dermatology company in the last 4 years in the US
• Osmind recognized for its life-saving mental health treatments: Osmind has been selected as a finalist for The Digital Health Hub Foundation - Digital Health Awards in the Best in Class track - Mental and Behavioral Health category
• Workstream wins Gold Stevie Award for best customer service department: Customer Service Department of the Year as part of the 21st Annual International Business Awards

What’s Popping? 

• We have partnered with Nestment to offer early access to apply to their first-of-its-kind NestGen Homebuying Accelerator. The free six-week program guides first-time home buyers through every step of the homebuying process to help them house hack their way to their first home. Participants will receive an opportunity to receive up to $25,000 towards their home purchase, education from industry experts on home analysis, loan pre-approval, house hacking strategies, closing on a property, and taxes, and personalized mentorship from a Nestment team member throughout the entirety of the homebuying journey. Apply through this special link HERE.
• Check out GOLD PAPER , a curation of historical context, survey data, and industry expert insights examining cultural familiarity, stereotypes and misperceptions, and representation and visibility of Asian Pacific communities in the U.S.
• The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and AAPI Data recently released a 2024 National Overview , filled with information about population estimates, key facts, business ownership details and more. Lots of interesting information to take a look at. 

Ideas? Questions? 

Let us know in the comments below!