Southeast Asia is catching the eye of investors and innovators alike. From 2016 to 2017, funding raised by the region’s startups increased threefold, soaring from US$2.52 billion to US$7.86 billion.
At the heart of these opportunities are a group of smart and inspirational founders who have started companies that have gone on to fetch millions or even billions of dollars in funding.
Three years ago, Tech in Asia compiled a list of Southeast Asia’s top 30 tech founders. We’ve update this list by using the funding data and research we’ve gathered over the past two years.
Some of the founders from our previous tally remain, but new names have made it as well. Founders are only included if they’re actively running a startup, and their placement is based on two factors: their track record and their firm’s public data – funding, revenue, and valuation. They’re then placed into three groups based on their company’s size.
The up-and-comers
Aaron Tan, Carro, Singapore
Photo credit: Carro
Before starting Carro, Aaron Tan worked with Singtel Innov8, a corporate venture capital fund. He was interested in properties and cars, and he eventually chose to build a startup around the latter.
Carro is a buy-and-sell marketplace for used cars. Instead of simply being a listing platform, it offers a full-stack service, including transferring titles and warranties, and handling other tedious paperwork.
It has also started its own financing service for car buyers, Genie Financial Services.
Latest funding stage: US$60 million series B led by Softbank Ventures Korea and Insignia Ventures Partners
Akshay Garg, Kredivo, Indonesia
Photo credit: Kredivo
Garg has started an array of ventures, including an Indian restaurant in Kunming, China; digital advertising technology company Komli Media, and credit risk and consumer lending platform FinAccel.
The established entrepreneurs
The industry giants
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