Anthony Tan, co-founder and CEO of the multinational super app Grab, was born into privilege but driven by purpose. As the youngest son in one of Malaysia’s wealthiest families, Tan could have comfortably joined the family business,
Tan Chong Motor, a multinational automobile distributor founded by his grandfather in the 1950s. However, Tan had a different vision: to create something meaningful that would be “a force for good.”
Grab, now a ride-hailing and super app giant, went public in the U.S. in December 2021 and generated over $2 billion in revenue by 2023.
Today, the platform offers services ranging from ride-hailing and food delivery to financial solutions such as digital banking and lending.
Grab serves over 35 million customers and provides 13 million gig jobs across eight Southeast Asian countries.
“Grab literally changed the unemployment numbers nationally,”
Tan recalled during a meeting with President Marcos of the Philippines.
A Mission Born at Harvard
Tan’s journey began at Harvard Business School in 2009, where he met Hooi Ling Tan, his future co-founder. Both shared a passion for improving lives in Southeast Asia.
During a 2011 conversation about Malaysia’s unsafe taxi system, particularly for women, they envisioned a solution.
Their idea, aimed at making transportation safer, earned second place at a university startup contest, along with a $25,000 prize.
This seed funding, combined with support from Tan’s mother, who became Grab’s first individual investor, helped them launch MyTeksi (the original name for Grab) in June 2012.
Overcoming Family Expectations
While growing up in the family business instilled a strong work ethic in Tan, it also came with expectations to return and contribute to Tan Chong Motor. When Tan pitched the idea of Grab to his father, he was met with skepticism.
“My father said, ‘I don’t think it’s going to work,
Tan recalled
Despite the initial pushback, Tan refined his pitch and sought support elsewhere, eventually using his contest winnings, personal savings, and his mother’s investment to launch the business. “I wanted to create something that solved real societal problems,” Tan explained.
Building from the Ground Up
The early days of Grab were far from glamorous. Operating from a small, poorly ventilated office in Kuala Lumpur, the team lacked basic amenities like air conditioning and WiFi, often tethering to mobile hotspots to stay connected.

Courtesy of Grab
With limited funds, Tan hit the ground running, personally recruiting drivers across Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, he handed out coffee at gas stations at 4 a.m. to pitch Grab to taxi drivers.
In Manila, he connected with drivers over inexpensive beer during their shift changes to understand their challenges.
It was very intense… I was probably doing 15, 18, sometimes 20 hours a day, and it was a Monday to Sunday thing.
Anthony Tan
A Turning Point: The Uber Deal
Grab’s growth reached a pivotal moment in 2018 when Uber agreed to sell its Southeast Asia operations to Grab in exchange for a 27.5% stake.
The deal solidified Grab’s dominance in the region, with Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi joining Grab’s board of directors.
Transforming Lives at the Bottom of the Pyramid
What started as a mission to improve taxi safety in Malaysia has evolved into a transformative ecosystem for Southeast Asia.
Beyond transportation, Grab provides micro-financing programs, enabling individuals to purchase smartphones and earn income as drivers.
“That’s what differentiates us,” Tan explained. “Understanding their problems and serving them as an ecosystem nobody else can.”
Despite facing antitrust allegations and regulatory challenges, Grab continues to reshape the region’s infrastructure and empower underserved communities.
Looking Ahead
Grab’s journey, driven by Tan’s relentless dedication, has left an indelible mark on Southeast Asia. By addressing real societal needs and creating opportunities for millions, Tan’s vision of being “a force for good” has become a reality. Grab’s success story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership.