Kyikyi is the owner of Himalayan Dumplings by Kyikyi. Read our interview with Kyikyi about her experience with Xcelerate Business Advising. 

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What inspired you to start your own business? 

I was inspired to start my business to keep our Tibetan story alive in the way I know best—through the lens of food. I also wanted to break the glass ceilings of representation by building the first Tibetan woman-owned (Tibetan) dumpling brand in the country.

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What were some of your key goals that you worked with Xcelerate on this year? 

With Xcelerate’s coaching and guidance, I worked on bringing a new product recipe to the retail market this year. They helped me navigate the challenges of product development and market strategy, making sure it stayed true to my brand. This is especially meaningful as it’s our first new product since launching Himalayan Dumplings by Kyikyi.

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How has your identity as a woman and any and all other intersectional identities impacted your business?

My identity as a Tibetan refugee and woman is deeply woven into my business. Growing up in India & Nepal, displaced due to Tibet's occupation, I’ve felt a strong responsibility to preserve and share our at-risk culture. As an immigrant now, building the first Tibetan woman-owned dumpling brand in the country is my American dream; my way of keeping our Tibetan story alive and reclaiming our narrative in a pocket of Tibetan culinary space where Tibetan voices have long been absent. I also have the honor of showing women like me from marginalized communities that we too can dare to dream bigger, in spite of everything.

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What were some of the challenges you faced this year and how did working with Xcelerate help you to overcome these challenges?

This year, I faced the challenge of scaling my business to meet growing demand while working on a bootstrapped budget. Xcelerate provided invaluable support by connecting me with experienced mentors and offering resources that helped streamline my production processes. Their guidance enabled me to uphold the quality and cultural integrity of Himalayan Dumplings by Kyikyi as we expanded.

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Are there any wins or achievements you have celebrated this year while working with Xcelerate? For example - hiring new employees, paying yourself, quitting a day job, achieving profitability, opening a new location, increase in sales, launching a new product. Please be as specific as possible.

For the first time in years of working 70+ hours a week, I now have one day off weekly—a milestone I’m deeply grateful for. This would not have been possible without our small but mighty team of six and our growing, loyal community, whose advocacy has helped my self-funded small business achieve a 130% organic year-over-year sales increase.

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How do you personally define success for you and your business?

Success for my business means happy guests and customers who come for a taste of Tibet and stay to learn more about our Tibetan story through the lens of my journey as a Tibetan immigrant and refugee. For me personally, success is seeing my team, my family, and my community take pride in being part of this immigrant dream journey.

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Is there anything else you'd like to share about your Xcelerate experience?

Xcelerate has been a game-changer for my small business, and I’m deeply grateful for the impact they’ve had. Their low- or no-cost one-on-one access to business coaches for accounting, financial projections, production, and strategy has given me a fighting chance to chase my immigrant dream. These are services I could have never afforded on my own, and their support has been instrumental in truly giving my immigrant dream a fighting chance.

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Find them: @himalayandumplings