Anthony Tan

🚖 From Harvard Notepad to Nasdaq Listing

Anthony Tan, born in 1982 in Kuala Lumpur, is the co-founder and CEO of Southeast Asia’s leading super app, Grab. He grew up in the automotive world, working on the family assembly line and joining his father in union meetings. Shaped by the industry, he ultimately chose his own path.

In 2011, he wrote the business plan for a taxi app at Harvard together with his classmate Tan Hooi Ling. Ten years later, Grab made its Nasdaq debut via SPAC.

AI-first strategy: 98% of Grab’s engineers use AI coding tools, driven by an internal “Generative AI Sprint” culture. Tan himself says:

🦾 “Humans who don’t embrace AI will be replaced by AI.”

At the same time, Tan is crafting a new job narrative for thousands of drivers, for example as remote safety operators, LiDAR technicians, or data labelers.

💡 Lessons Learned:

We also keep stressing the same point: AI isn’t here to eliminate people or jobs. It’s here to boost efficiency and create entirely new roles.