2023 List Highlights 300 Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs and Trailblazers Who Are Innovating and Thriving Across Industries in the Asia-Pacific Region

SINGAPORE (May 18, 2023) – Forbes announced today its eighth annual “30 Under 30 Asia” list, featuring 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders and trailblazers across the Asia-Pacific region, all under the age of 30, who are effecting positive change and driving innovation amid global economic uncertainty and a challenging environment. The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2023 features 30 notable honorees selected for each of the 10 categories, including The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink); Entertainment & Sports; Finance & Venture Capital; Media, Marketing & Advertising; Retail & Ecommerce; Enterprise Technology; Industry, Manufacturing & Energy; Healthcare & Science; Social Impact and Consumer Technology.

Among those featured on this year’s list are K-pop girl bands Le Sserafim and NewJeans; Thai actor Metawin Opas-iamkajorn; content creator Wonjeong Seo who has the second-most followed TikTok account in South Korea; mental health advocate Chan Sheung Yee who founded Companion HK; Hayden Marks, whose Melbourne Bushfood products feature Australia’s native ingredients; Chinese film director Chen Jianying who won the Golden Palm Award for Short Film at the 75^th Cannes Film Festival; Mayank Kale and Amrit Singh, cofounders of Loop Health which is working to change how healthcare insurance is offered in India and Lester Li, founder of Singapore’s King of Fried Rice.

Rana Wehbe Watson, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Editor, said: “Despite a challenging year marked by global economic uncertainty and a drop in VC funding, this year’s 2023 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia entrepreneurs continued to innovate and thrive across industries.”

“Some deploy AI to streamline tasks. Others promote financial literacy inclusion and craftsmanship-based and adaptive fashion. Ranging from startup founders to artists, athletes and scientists, their collective creativity and determination inspire optimism.”

Featured highlights on the “30 Under 30 Asia” list include:

• The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink): Harsh Agarwal, 27, Founder, Harago – India
• Entertainment & Sports: MC Cheung Tin-Fu, 26, Singer – Hong Kong
• Finance & Venture Capital: Seo Kyoung Lee, 28, Associate, TPG; Board Member, Kakao Mobility – South Korea
• Media, Marketing & Advertising: Simran Kaur and Sonya Gupthan, both 26, Cofounders, Girls That Invest – New Zealand
• Retail & Ecommerce: Lorin Winata, 29, Founder, Melati Drinks – Singapore
• Enterprise Technology: Bo Zhiyuan, 29, Founder, Qingflow – China
• Industry, Manufacturing & Energy: Kyosuke Shibata, 28, Cofounder, Rutilea – Japan
• Healthcare & Science: Zhao Yaran, 27, Cofounder, Veminsyn Biotech – China
• Social Impact: Emma Clegg and Molly Rogers, 29 and 28, Cofounders, JAM The Label – Australia
• Consumer Technology: Akshay Rampuria and Yashovardhan Poddar, 28 and 29, Cofounders, Openhouse – India

The 2023 list features a diverse set of 30 Under 30 honorees, with 20 countries and territories represented across the Asia-Pacific region. India leads the region with the highest number of honorees of 75 on this year’s list, followed by China with 34. Japan came in third with 33 honorees, while Singapore has 30 honorees. South Korea takes the fifth spot with 28 honorees on the list.

To source candidates for the list, Forbes Asia reporters and editors comb through thousands of online submissions, as well as tap industry sources and list alumni for recommendations. More than 4,000 candidates are evaluated by the Forbes Asia team and a panel of independent, expert judges on a variety of factors, including (but not limited to) funding and/or revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential.

Honorees were vetted and selected by a panel of accomplished and acclaimed judges in each category. They include Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCL Technologies and Trustee of Shiv Nadar Foundation; Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures; JP Gan, Founding Partner at INCE Capital; S.D. Shibulal, Cofounder of Infosys and Axilor Ventures; Kishin RK, Founder and CEO of RB Capital; Allan Zeman, Founder and Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group; Kuok Meng Ru, Founder and Group CEO of Caldecott Music Group; Nisa Leung, Managing Partner at Qiming Venture Partners; Laurence Lien, Founding CEO of Asia Philanthropy Circle; Arif Rachmat, Cofounder and Executive Chairman of TAP Group; Patrick Grove, Cofounder and Group CEO of Catcha Group; InKyung Lee, Partner at MBK Partners; David Gowdey, Managing Partner of Jungle Ventures; Paul Ronalds, Founder and CEO of Save the Children Global Ventures; Janice Lee, CEO of Viu; Hian Goh, Founding Partner of Openspace Ventures; Chandra Tjan, Cofounder and General Partner, Alpha JWC Ventures; Vinnie Lauria, Founding Partner of Golden Gate Ventures; Snehal Patel, Managing Director at Saena Partners; Meena Ganesh, Cofounder and Chairperson of Portea Medical; Nadiah Wan, Group Chief Corporate Officer of TMC Life Sciences Berhad; Ronald Akili, CEO of PTT Family; Akiko Naka, Founder and CEO of Wantedly; Hua Fung Teh, Group President of ONE; Maria Grace Uy, Cofounder and President of Converge ICT Solutions; Sonny Vu, Founder of Alabaster and Nicole Warne, Founder of Gary Pepper Girl.

For the complete Forbes 2023 30 Under 30 Asia package, visit here

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Notes to editors:

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Forbes Asia Media Contact: Catherine Ong, cath@catherineong.com or +65 9697 0007

Forbes Asia Media Contact: Chenxi Wang, chenxi@catherineong.com or cell: +65 8187 3215