Anthony Tan
Harvard Business School (from Malaysia) · Grab
His Harvard Business Plan Became Southeast Asia's Biggest Super-App
3 March 2026
Anthony Tan grew up in Malaysia, where his family ran a car dealership business. While studying at Harvard Business School, he was disturbed by stories of passengers being robbed by unregistered taxi drivers in Kuala Lumpur.
The Business Plan That Became Real
Tan wrote a business plan for a ride-hailing app as a Harvard class project. His professor and classmates loved it. Together with co-founder Tan Hooi Ling, he launched MyTeksi (later renamed Grab) in 2012.
Beating Uber in Southeast Asia
Grab expanded across Southeast Asia, adapting to local needs — accepting cash payments, adding motorbike rides, and integrating food delivery. When Uber retreated from the region in 2018, Grab acquired its operations.
$12 Billion Super-App
Grab went public via SPAC in 2021 at a $40 billion valuation (later settling around $12 billion). It now serves over 8 countries with ride-hailing, food delivery, payments, and financial services. Tan proved that a Harvard class project, properly executed, can transform transportation for hundreds of millions of people.
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