Meet the founders and business builders behind companies across Asia. Explore their journeys, milestones and ideas through original profiles grounded in public sources.
30 entrepreneur profiles
Editorial profiles · Researched from public sources
Malaysia · Education
ACE EdVenture
Anne Tham developed ACE EdVenture from English lessons at her dining table into an education group. Her approach combines language learning with analytical thinking, creative writing and the confidence to present ideas.
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Malaysia · Digital services
Grab
Anthony Tan co-founded Grab with Tan Hooi Ling, launching MyTeksi in Malaysia in 2012. The taxi-booking business subsequently expanded into transport, deliveries and payments across Southeast Asia.
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Malaysia · Food and beverage
Loob Holding / Tealive
Bryan Loo turned an interest in tea culture into Loob Holding, the Malaysian beverage business behind Tealive. His route to entrepreneurship began with biotechnology studies and a career in medical sales.
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Malaysia · Fashion and retail
Christy Ng
Christy Ng built her footwear and accessories brand around a practical question: could shoes combine appealing design, comfort and affordability? Her founder account traces the business to personal experience and modest savings.
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Singapore · Hospitality and artisan retail
Banyan Group
Claire Chiang co-founded Banyan Group and founded Banyan Tree Gallery. Her business story links hospitality with artisan retail, beginning with an encounter with cushion makers in northeastern Thailand in 1989.
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Malaysia · Automotive commerce
CARSOME
Eric Cheng co-founded CARSOME in 2015, bringing experience in accountancy, digital marketing and business development to a company focused on automotive commerce across Malaysia and neighbouring markets.
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India · Beauty and digital retail
Nykaa
Falguni Nayar founded Nykaa after a career in investment banking. Her professional background spans management education, financial services and company boards, followed by the work of building a retail business.
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Indonesia · Travel technology
Traveloka
Ferry Unardi co-founded Traveloka with a focus on helping Indonesians compare travel options. Its first flight search engine grew from a practical concern: making prices and choices easier to navigate.
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Singapore · Internet services and digital commerce
Sea
Forrest Li founded Sea in May 2009. His background combines engineering and business education, while Sea's product portfolio connects online shopping, gaming and digital services across the region.
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Singapore · Financial technology
Silverlake
Goh Peng Ooi founded Silverlake in 1989 after working at IBM Malaysia. His background in electronics engineering and banking technology helped shape the company's focus on core banking software.
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Singapore · Hospitality
Banyan Group
Ho Kwon Ping's hospitality story is connected to the restoration of a former tin mine in Phuket. Banyan Group's founders describe that project as the starting point for a business shaped by place.
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China · Digital commerce
Alibaba
Jack Ma led the group of 18 people who established Alibaba in 1999. The former English teacher's founding vision centred on helping smaller businesses use the internet to compete.
Read profileThese profiles explore entrepreneurial journeys and businesses across Asia. Editorial inclusion does not confer a Success 100 award. Business roots describe company geography.
