Auria Abraham turned her love of Malaysian cooking into Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen, a growing specialty food business dedicated to bringing the bold and diverse flavors of Malaysia to home cooks across the U.S. What began as meals shared with friends has evolved into a brand rooted in authenticity, cultural storytelling, and a clear vision for expansion. With support from the Brooklyn Pace Small Business Development Center, Auria is now scaling her product line, creating jobs, and exploring international markets.
Assistance Provided
Business Advisor:
Rawle Brown
International Trade Advisor:
Dr. Mercedes Sanchez-Moore
In early 2025, Auria met with Pace SBDC Business Advisor Rawle Brown to prepare for the next phase of growth. Working together, they developed a loan package and financial narrative to present the business opportunity to lenders. With this guidance, Auria secured financing through Renaissance Economic Development, allowing her to expand operations and create three new part-time jobs.
In addition, the SBDC connected Auria with international trade resources through NYSBDC’s International Trade Director. She became eligible for and received a State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant and began working with international trade specialists to identify overseas customers and export opportunities.
Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen
Founded in 2013, Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen was created to introduce American consumers to the rich, layered flavors of Malaysian cuisine. Auria’s mission is to bring authentic Malaysian ingredients and recipes into the kitchens of adventurous home cooks, filling a niche rarely represented in the specialty food market.
With support from the Pace SBDC and the NYSBDC International Trade Initiative, Auria is expanding both domestically and internationally. As she continues to grow her brand, Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen is positioning itself for long-term success by combining cultural authenticity, strategic planning, and access to the right business resources at the right time.
** Our success stories focus on the work the SBDC has done with our small business clients and does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement by the NYSBDC of the company and/or their products and services.
“The Pace SBDC resources have been instrumental in moving my business forward. They are always available and eager to work with entrepreneurs and are an underutilized resource for those with entrepreneurial dreams.”
Auria Abraham
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