A look into the challenges and inspirations that accompanied one man’s journey in building Southeast Asia’s leading ride-hailing platform.

#1 Solve a Real Problem

It’s crazy how ideas are born. They come to you when you least expect it and in myriad different ways. For Anthony Tan, all it took was for a friend to complain about a horrible experience grabbing a cab and voila! – he took the idea with him to Harvard (where he was studying for a Masters in Business Administration) and the rest as they say, is history.

Grab (formerly known as MyTeksi) was initiated within the humble confines of a Kuala Lumpur warehouse in 2012 and it is now, one of Southeast Asia’s most successful startups. According to The Information, Grab rakes in an estimated $80-$95 million per year in revenue.

#2 Carve Your Own Path

At just six years old, Anthony Tan wanted to be a businessman; which would probably come as no surprise since his grandfather was founder of ultra successful automobile enterprise – Tan Chong Motors. Tan often cited his grandfather as his source of inspiration.

In 2011, Anthony Tan graduated from Harvard Business School. As the youngest kid in the family, Tan Junior was expected to join in the ranks of his two elder brothers at Tan Chong Motors. Instead, he chose to carve out his own path.

All along, Tan had been working on the mobile taxi app at Harvard alongside his Harvard Business School classmate, Tan Hooi Ling. The project was submitted as an entry in the Harvard Business Plan Contest 2011 and they won second place.

It was also at Harvard Business School that Anthony Tan had become friends with Go-Jek founder and CEO Nadiem Makarim. Go-Jek is Indonesia’s fastest growing motorcycle taxi hailing service and fierce business rival of GrabBike – a ride-hailing unicorn that is an offshoot of Grab.

Upon graduating from business school, Tan was looking to start up his own company. Tan’s mom invested in his company. Curiously, his dad didn’t.

#3 Keep Innovating

On stage at Tech in Asia Singapore 2015, Tan explained the foundational principle upon which Grab was built on:

“We started GrabTaxi because the taxi system in Malaysia was a mess. Drivers weren’t making enough money and hated their jobs. Women couldn’t go around safely. We needed to do something about it.”

In an interview with Straits Times Singapore, he had this to say:

“We are creating jobs and income opportunities. We have over 500,000 drivers across South-east Asia… After joining Grab, our drivers see at least a 35 per cent increase in their daily incomes.”

Tan also added that Grab had spurred growth in the field of engineering, particularly in the tech industry. Grab, according to a very spirited Tan, is constantly pushing the boundaries in innovation and technology.

# 4 Never, Ever Give Up!

Like any superstar startup, there were hurricanes to withstand.

In its initial stages, Grab was met with discouraging remarks and from the most unlikely of sources to boot. At Harvard, Tan’s lecturers were dismissive of his idea. They told him that while it may be theoretically possible, on practical terms it would be difficult to execute. But that did not stop Tan from pursuing his dreams.

Marketing Grab also proved itself to be an arduous task. Teams had to prowl the streets in search of cab drivers and sell to them the concept. Most drivers were poor, unable to afford smartphones and worst still –  many of them were technophobes.

Simultaneously, the team approached mobile manufacturers and service providers. They struck deals to lower the prices of smartphones and internet subscriptions so that drivers can afford them.

Last year, Tan told Tech in Asia that in 2013, they were hit hard financially and employees weren’t paid their salaries. This was a rude awakening. Tan and his partners quickly realized that they had to plan things more efficiently and spend money wisely.

These were the perils that shadowed Tan and his company from the get go.

His saving Grace?

It was reported in Bloomberg Technology that Anthony Tan, who is an ardent Christian, is fond of quoting the Bible and he often analogizes the fierce competition Grab faces with that of the battle between David and Goliath.

“There are times you just go, ‘it’s time to rise up,’” exclaims Tan.

#5 No such thing as being the ‘Boss’

Tan believes in the power of forging close ties with his employees. He would often head down to Grab’s call centres to answer phone calls himself. This teaches him to empathise with call centre agents and to better understand the plight of customers. In so doing, Tan believes it boosts his company’s morale.

#6 Humility is Key

Humility is key for Tan and he contributes his success to several factors. He quips poignantly:

“My contribution is merely being a part of the right family, right schools, right partners, right PR agency, the right media, and above all, being at the right place at the right time.”

Truly humbling words indeed. We wish him all the best in steering Grab to greater heights!

YOU ROCK, ANTHONY TAN!!!