At 42, Anthony Tan is a Malaysian entrepreneur, co-founder and CEO of Grab, Southeast Asia’s largest super app, offering transportation, delivery, and digital financial services. His wealth is estimated at $1 bn. (source: Forbes, March 2025)
Anthony Tan earned a degree in economics and public policy from the University of Chicago, followed by an MBA from Harvard Business School. It was during his MBA that he was inspired by the challenges facing the taxi industry in Southeast Asia: opaque pricing, uncertain security, and limited availability.
Together with his classmate Tan Hooi Ling, he developed a mobile app project to directly connect drivers and passengers in Malaysia. The project won second place at Harvard’s business plan competition in 2011.
Faced with the many transportation issues in Malaysia, MyTeksi saw immediate success. Anthony Tan aimed to offer a simple solution: booking via a mobile app, fixed and transparent pricing, real-time GPS tracking, and driver ratings and reviews to build trust. Taxi drivers quickly saw the opportunity. The entrepreneur raised funds from investors to accelerate growth and rebranded MyTeksi as Grab to support international expansion.
In 2014, he launched GrabCar, a VTC service, and adapt this offer to local regulations by collaborating with governments. This approach reassured authorities and allowed GrabCar to operate more smoothly than its American competitor Uber.
Given the immediate success of the application, Anthony Tan quickly realized that to dominate the market he had to expand rapidly and adapt to local conditions. For instance, in Indonesia and Vietnam, where traffic congestion is a major problem, GrabBike (motorbike taxis) was launched and became a huge success,.
In 2016, Anthony Tan raised $65 M to accelerate Grab’s expansion and strengthen its technology infrastructure. Aware that nearly 70% of adults in Southeast Asia don’t have a bank account but do own a smartphone, he launched GrabPay to provide accessible financial services via mobile. GrabPay later expanded to restaurant and retail payments through partnerships with merchants and banks, positioning Grab as a true fintech.
Meanwhile, GrabFood was introduced, competing with Foodpanda and UberEats across the region. In 2018, Grab acquired Uber’s Southeast Asian operations, solidifying its dominant position. The company diversified its services further with GrabFinance (offering microloans to drivers and small businesses) and GrabExpress (a fast parcel delivery service). The COVID-19 pandemic was turned into an opportunity with the launch of GrabMart for essential goods delivery and support for small restaurants in their digital transition. He positioned Grab as the digital backbone of commerce in Southeast Asia. Anthony Tan also supported drivers by providing loans to keep their businesses running and training programs to expand their skills.
In December 2021, Grab went public on the NASDAQ. The IPO valued the company at nearly $40 bn, raising about $4 bn in new capital. This milestone further cemented Grab’s position as a leading tech company in Southeast Asia, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs in the region. The IPO projected Grab onto the international stage and positioned it as an Asian technology leader, competing with American and Chinese giants.
Beyond being a remarkable entrepreneur, Anthony Tan is also recognized by his employees as a committed leader. He fostered a genuine culture of innovation, encouraging staff to come up with creative solutions.
During the pandemic, he also implemented several support measures for employees and partners, including a reduction of up to 20% in senior executive salaries (redistributed to vulnerable worker) and an emergency relief fund for drivers, delivery partners, and merchants.
Anthony Tan supports many social initiatives, notably through the GrabForGood fund, which aims to uplift communities across Southeast Asia, as well as other charitable organizations focused on helping underprivileged children.
A prominent figure in Southeast Asia’s tech landscape, Anthony Tan frequently speaks at international conferences, sharing his journey and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs.
He is married, has five children, and lives in Singapore.
In a few figures :
- Headquarter in Singapore
- Founded in 2011
- +187M users and 2.4M on active drivers
- 2024 Revenue : $2.8 bn, + 18.6% compared to 2023
- Market cap : $21 bn
- Partnership with BYD Auto to supply up to 50,000 electric vehicles (EVs) to promote EV adoption across Southeast Asia
Ecommerce in asia :
The Asia-Pacific region dominates the mobile app market, accounting for over 33% of global market share in 2024. In 2023, Indonesia attracted $47 bn in foreign direct investment (excluding oil) sector), a 13.7% increase compared to 2022.
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