Grab’s path to success built on strong culture, unwavering focus on South-east Asia

SINGAPORE – The idea for Singapore-headquartered Grab Holdings first took root in 2011 when co-founders Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling came up with the mobile app MyTeksi while at Harvard Business School (HBS).

The app’s mission was to deliver safe and reliable taxi rides and connect drivers with customers, but it fell short in the HBS New Venture Competition that year, although the pair took the US$25,000 (S$33,200) grant they won as a runner-up and put it towards MyTeksi, which launched in June 2012.