Making History: Two Korean-American Visionaries Nab EY Entrepreneur Of The Year LA Finalist Spots
The global business stage is shining a bright spotlight on Southern California’s top innovators, and two prominent Korean-American CEOs are leading the charge. Global accounting giant Ernst & Young (EY) recently unveiled its 26 finalists for the prestigious EY Entrepreneur Of The Year LA (Greater Los Angeles) region, celebrating the minds driving massive growth and disruption across industries. Among this year’s elite cohort are Eugene Kang of Archer Meat Snacks and Brandon Sim of Astrana Health.
Now in its historic 41st year, this program doesn’t just look at bottom-line revenue. Instead, it honors leaders who display relentless grit, community impact, and true entrepreneurial spirit.
From Jerky to Tech: Disruption Across Two Totally Different Industries
The two Korean-American finalists represent the beautiful diversity of the LA business ecosystem, proving that innovation can happen anywhere—from what we eat to how we manage our health.
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Eugene Kang (CEO, Archer Meat Snacks): Kang took a legacy, small-scale jerky brand founded in 1977 and completely reinvented it after acquiring it in 2011. By pivoting to a premium, 100% grass-fed, all-natural ingredient model, Kang transformed a simple gas-station snack into a massive health-and-wellness protein powerhouse. Today, Archer boasts over 30 product lines distributed across 30,000 retail locations nationwide.
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Brandon Sim (CEO, Astrana Health): On the tech front, Brandon Sim is revolutionary in the healthcare sector by seamlessly merging AI technology with medical networks. Under his leadership, Astrana Health supports over 20,000 healthcare providers and acts as a safety net for 1.6 million patients. EY recognized Sim for his futuristic, patient-centric approach and for building an AI-driven, preventative care infrastructure.
The Road to the National Championship Begins in Beverly Hills
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year LA program has a legacy of honoring business royalty, having recognized over 11,000 trailblazers since its inception in 1986.
The regional winners will be officially announced at a glamorous gala tomorrow, June 11, 2026, at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. But the journey doesn’t stop there. Whoever takes home the regional trophy will head to the national finals in November, competing against winners from 16 other regions for the ultimate title of US Entrepreneur of the Year.
We wish both Eugene Kang and Brandon Sim the best of luck—they’ve already made the community incredibly proud!
