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Joyce Tang
Founder at Bake Sum
Joyce Tang is the founder of Bake Sum, a popular Asian American bakery based in Oakland, California.12 Here are some key details about Joyce Tang and her business:
Background and Business
Joyce Tang launched Bake Sum in 2020 as a pandemic pivot from a wholesale bakery operation.1 Initially operating as a pop-up selling pastry boxes out of a shared commercial kitchen in Berkeley, Bake Sum quickly gained popularity.
Brick-and-Mortar Success
In fall 2021, Tang opened Bake Sum's first brick-and-mortar store in Oakland.12 The store opening was met with immediate success, drawing long lines of customers and earning rave reviews.1
Culinary Focus
Bake Sum specializes in nostalgic, Asian-influenced pastries that reflect the unique backgrounds of its employees, many of whom are Asian American Bay Area natives.1 Some of their popular creations include:
- Purple pineapple buns
- Green onion croissants
- Mini mochi muffins
- Okonomiyaki danish
- Halo-halo buns (inspired by a popular Filipino dessert)
Recent Developments
In June 2023, Bake Sum received a significant investment to accelerate its growth:
- $150,000 from Bay Area small business accelerator ICA Fund
- $50,000 from investor Charles Huang
This funding will allow Bake Sum to increase capacity at their Berkeley production space, invest in upgraded equipment, and hire more employees to expand hours at their Oakland storefront.1
Entrepreneurial Journey
Joyce Tang is not only a skilled pastry chef but also a dedicated entrepreneur. She has participated in ICA Fund's Accelerator program, a 12-week intensive course focused on growth strategy, people strategy, capital strategy, and investment readiness.1 This experience has helped her develop her business acumen and connect with a network of fellow entrepreneurs.
Joyce Tang's LinkedIn profile confirms her role as the owner of Bakesum.com and operator of Bake Sum's first brick-and-mortar bakery in Oakland.2