Impulse Universe


Impulse Universe is an American fan convention organizer. Founded by Gorden Kao, it hosts a series of joint conventions of various topics around the United States each year.
The company's first and primary project was Anime Impulse, an anime and manga convention, that was first held in 2016 as part of the Asian American Expo. K-Play! Fest debuted in 2022 for K-pop and South Korean culture. Impulse Universe also puts on Collectors Expo for trading cards and memorabilia as well as Sneaker Expo for footwear. All of its conventions are organized together in the same locations, and a ticket for one event grants access to the others.

History

As the director of the CCYP Media Network, Kao oversaw the Asian American Expo at the Fairplex in Pomona, California. The expo, to celebrate the Chinese New Year, began as the Chinese American Expo at the Pasadena Convention Center in 1987 before moving to Pomona in 1992 and expanding to multiple cultures.
In 2016, Anime Impulse was created to support the Asian American Expo. Producer Kaila Yu explained such an arrangement helped Anime Impulse stand out from other conventions since "all guests have access to over 100 food vendors at the event also." Amped Asia described the inaugural AI as the "Anime Expo of the spring season". Anime Impulse grew in size over the years while continuing to operate alongside the AAE.
Kao founded Impulse Universe to oversee Anime Impulse, which he described as a more casual convention experience since "people loved anime, but didn't identify as hardcore fans. They just wanted a space to vibe, connect, and explore."
Impulse Universe subsequently organized conventions for other topics. K-Play! Fest, the first American convention focused on K-pop, debuted in 2022. Collectors Expo was intended for trading cards and memorabilia. Sneaker Expo focused on footwear.
After initially hosting solely in California, Impulse Universe held its first conventions outside the state in 2024 with events in Seattle and Phoenix. The latter was selected due to the increase in Korean artists performing in the city, turning it into a viable location for K-Play! Fest. Sik-K was the featured performer at the Seattle K-Play! Fest.
Tickets for each weekend give entry to every convention. Such an arrangement is to encourage attendees to entertain other forms of media outside of what they are accustomed to.
Toyota Motor North America is the presenting sponsor for Impulse Universe conventions.