From taxis to tech

• “Our calling is one that continues to be very, very clear: How do we make sure nobody’s left behind?” shares Anthony Tan, Co-founder & CEO of 500-backed superapp Grab.
• Today, the team provides day-to-day services to over 35 million users, and a source of income to more than 13 million drivers and merchants across 8 countries in Southeast Asia.
• “Providing 13 million gig jobs is probably the largest job impact and poverty alleviation on a grand scale in 750 cities. That’s what I would say makes us all really happy,” he added.
• The idea for Grab came from a conversation about the inefficiencies and dangers of the Malaysian taxi system. “The original idea was to solve safety problems for women and children, and the whole idea was basically, you can create societal benefit, environmental benefit, and you can create economic benefit at the same time. So win, win, win!” Anthony explained.
• When there were attempts to hurt and steal from Grab drivers, the team created Grab Pay, to digitize their money.
• When the team realized that drivers don’t get much work during off-peak hours, they created Grab Food.
• And when the world went into a lockdown, they launched Grab Mart to help homebound people get their groceries.
• In 2021, the company went public on the Nasdaq and brought in US$2.36B in revenue in 2023.
• Currently, Grab is focused on AI and they are set to launch a new voice assistant feature, designed with visually impaired users in mind.
• It may seem simple and straightforward, but Anthony’s journey has been far from easy. To founders, he advises, “If you’re ever to start again, or you’re starting for the first time, be very clear, it has to be your life calling.”
• “I really mean it. If you don’t, don’t do it, because so many fail. It’s that hard.”
• Watch the full interview on CNBC.