The entrepreneurs and innovators on this year’s 30 Under 30 Asia list have a bold vision for the future—one that’s largely powered by AI.
This 10th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list puts the spotlight on a new wave of entrepreneurs and innovators with a bold vision for the future—one that’s largely powered by artificial intelligence.
From automating mundane tasks such as transcribing client calls to providing sophisticated analytics for hedge fund managers and speeding up the discovery of new chemical materials, AI is reshaping how startups innovate. More than a third of those on our list use AI in some way, a trend that prompted us to create a new AI category.
Take for example Jin Kim, 28, cofounder of Seoul-based LinqAlpha. In May last year, Kim teamed up with 3 other cofounders (two of whom are 30 Under 30 alumni) to deliver tech-driven insights to investors, with a focus on hedge fund managers. Their subscription-based platform uses AI to speed up research into more than 60,000 companies in over 80 markets and in 20 languages, it says, trawling through large volumes of data, such as securities filings, financial reports and earnings-call transcripts as well as text files, PDFs and social media. LinqAlpha raised $6.6 million in seed funding last year from investors such as Korea-based VC firms Atinum, InterVest, Kakao Ventures and Smilegate Investment.
The Age of AI
For founders navigating the turbulent waters of fundraising, AI has emerged as a strategic partner that helps refine their value propositions to investors looking to back the potential of this cutting-edge technology.
Cofounded by 24-year-old Wang Guan in 2024, Singapore-based Sapient Intelligence is trying to create artificial general intelligence (AGI), or AI that can match or surpass human intelligence. The startup is combining technology from mathematics, neuroscience and machine learning in the training of AI models that can solve very complex puzzles like Sudoku. Last December, Sapient Intelligence raised $22 million in seed funding from investors including Vertex Ventures and Sumitomo Group, giving it a valuation of over $200 million.
In Japan, 29-year-old Kazuki Yumiba cofounded Hutzper which enables manufacturers to automate quality inspections to reduce costs. Food companies, for example, can use its Mekikibaito technology to check for contamination and damaged products. Customers include Tsukishima Foods and Toshiba. The startup has raised ¥883 million ($6.2 million) in funding, including from East Ventures and Hiroshima Venture Capital.
AI is also being used by our listees in almost every category including Healthcare & Science, Retail & Ecommerce, Finance & Venture Capital and even Social Impact.
Niche Business
Elsewhere on the list, reflecting Gen Z’s departure from the mantra of “go big or go home,” young go-getters are building niche businesses aimed at a local customer base. From hair products to activewear and craft beverages, they are tapping into growing demand for homegrown offerings.
Sisters Raena and Rahee Ambani, 24 and 28, launched Mumbai-based activewear company Terractive in 2023, offering innovative sportswear that is both cooling and anti-odor. Last December, Terractive raised 80 million rupees (about $950,000) in a pre-series A funding round led by Fireside Ventures and DeVC.
Creating an India-made product to pamper her curly hair also led Anshita Mehrotra to build a niche haircare brand that’s grown over the past six years. The Gurgaon-based Fix My Curls sells a range of shampoos, conditioners and gels and says it’s delivered over 500,000 orders so far across ten countries, sold directly from its website as well as through Amazon, beauty retailer Nykaa and others. It has raised $910,000 in a seed round led by Amazon Sambhav Venture Fund (ASVF). “There’s crazy potential in this business,” says Mehrotra.
In Australia, 26-year-old Annabel Hay turned a wardrobe malfunction at a Sydney nightclub in 2016 into a multimillion-dollar business. Launched in 2022, Clutch Glue is a liquid alternative to fashion tape that Hay spent four years developing. In November 2024, the company received A$1.4 million ($900,000) in pre-seed funding led by Blackbird.
Based in Bali, Putu Wiranatha cofounded craft beer brand Kura Kura Beer with his father Kadek in 2020. Kura Kura, meaning ‘turtle’ in Bahasa Indonesian, refers to the legend that Bali lies on top of a turtle’s back. Its brewery produces two types of pale ale, one IPA and a lager as well as short-term limited releases. In December 2023, the company shipped its first exports to Australia.
The final 300 entries on this year’s list were selected from over 4,500 nominations and represent 20 countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region. India has the most entries with 94 entries, followed by Australia (32), China (30), Japan (25) and South Korea (23). Singapore and Indonesia have 19 entries each.
In addition to entrepreneurs, they include venture capitalists, activists, artists and athletes, whose achievements in their respective fields stand out. They were vetted by a panel of experts from a range of industries and researched by a team of Forbes Asia reporters and editors across the region.
Check out our full Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 list here.
Methodology and Judging Process: 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. 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.
This year’s judges consist of accomplished and acclaimed investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders: Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson of HCLTech and Trustee of Shiv Nadar Foundation; Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures; Solina Chau, Director at Li Ka Shing Foundation and cofounder of Horizons Ventures; 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, Healthcare investor; Arif Rachmat, Cofounder and Executive chairman of TAP Group; Patrick Grove, Cofounder and Group CEO of Catcha Group; InKyung Lee, Partner at MBK Partners; Fang Hongbo, Chairman and CEO of Midea Group; David Gowdey, Managing Partner at Jungle Ventures; Brian Gu, Vice chairman and President of Xpeng; Paul Ronalds, Founder and CEO of Save the Children Global Ventures; Janice Lee, CEO of Viu; Tan Yinglan, Founding Managing Partner at Insignia Ventures Partners; Annabelle Yu Long, Founding and Managing Partner at Bertelsmann Asia Investments; Magnus Grimeland, Founder and CEO of Antler; Akiko Naka, Founder and CEO of Wantedly; Helen Wong, Managing Partner at AC Ventures; Hian Goh, Founding Partner at OpenSpace Ventures; Ronald Akili, CEO of PTT Family; Vinnie Lauria, Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures; Rachel Lim, Cofounder of Love, Bonito (Class of 2016); Eric Gnock Fah, Cofounder and COO of Klook (Class of 2017); Alice Chang, Founder and CEO of Perfect Corp; Meena Ganesh, Cofounder and Chairperson of Portea Medical; Snehal Patel, Managing Director at Saena Partners; Hua Fung Teh, Cofounder and Group President of ONE and Nicole Warne, Founder of Gary Pepper Girl (Class of 2016).
*In the event where judges are investors in the nominees in their category, they have recused from judging the entry and only the remaining judges’ feedback was taken into consideration.
**The birth date cutoff to make the 2025 list was December 31, 1994. All ages displayed are calculated as of December 31, 2024.
***The editors reserve the right to amend any information or remove any listees in light of new information.
This article was originally published on forbes.com and all figures are in USD.
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