👷♀️👨⚕️ From AI to arts: Southeast Asia shines on Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list
Indonesia and Singapore lead the list, yet its credibility faces renewed scrutiny after a series of high-profile scandals involving former members
🎯 The Main Takeaway
On May 28, Forbes released the 11th edition of its 30 Under 30 Asia list, recognizing 300 young entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders under 30 from 18 countries and territories across the Asia-Pacific, who are making an impact in business, technology, and society.
About 71% of them are founders or co-founders, with an average age of 26. The youngest honoree is just 14 years old, and together, this year’s list members have raised nearly USD 1 billion in funding.
But the list is not without its blemishes. Past editions have seen honorees removed or later implicated in fraud cases, financial scandals, and personal misconduct allegations—raising questions about how thoroughly candidates are vetted before receiving such a prestigious nod. As the list grows in influence, so does the scrutiny of those who appear on it.
📡 Why Is It on Our Radar?
This year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list includes 58 honorees from six Southeast Asian countries, ranging from entrepreneurs and athletes to entertainers, academics, and digital content creators.
All of them were recognized across 10 categories: AI; Consumer & Enterprise Technology; Entertainment & Sports; Finance & Venture Capital; Healthcare & Science; Industry, Manufacturing & Energy; Retail & E-Commerce; Social Impact; Social Media, Marketing & Advertising; and The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink).
⚠️ Why It Matters?
The list highlights the growing influence of Gen Z across the Asia-Pacific region, recognizing young innovators who are driving change, disrupting industries, and shaping the future of business, technology, and culture in the age of artificial intelligence.
🏆 How the Selection Process Works?
Forbes reporters and editors reviewed nearly 4,000 candidates aged 29 or younger as of December 31, 2025. Candidates were nominated through online applications, alumni recommendations, and industry referrals.
The Forbes Asia team, together with a panel of independent judges, selected 300 honorees based on criteria including funding or revenue, social and industry impact, innovation, product-market fit, and future growth potential.
🇮🇩 Indonesia: The Top Contenders
Indonesia recorded 18 honoree entries, representing 23 individuals across eight categories in the list. Some of the notable honorees include:
Tiara Andini: The Indonesian Idol Season 10 runner-up launched her solo career in 2020 with Gemintang Hatiku. Since then, she has become one of Indonesia’s biggest young music stars, generating more than 2 billion Spotify streams. Her hit songs Janji Setia, Usai, Merasa Indah, and Cintanya Aku have each surpassed 200 million streams.
No Na: An Indonesian girl group signed to 88rising, No Na debuted in 2025 with Shoot and performed at the Head in the Clouds Festival in Los Angeles. The group blends Indonesian culture into its music through traditional dance and local-language expressions. Its latest single, Rollerblade, has attracted more than 3.5 million YouTube views and 3 million Spotify streams.
Erika Richardo: A mural artist and content creator with more than 18 million TikTok followers. She went viral in 2021 for painting a Balinese Barong motif on a Porsche. In 2025, she designed a special mural for a Garuda Indonesia aircraft, featuring batik motifs and elements from 16 Indonesian ethnic groups to celebrate Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day.
Medy Renaldy: With more than 4.5 million YouTube subscribers and 11 million TikTok followers, He is one of Indonesia’s leading collectibles creators. Known for his toy and action figure reviews, he has collaborated with global brands such as Marvel and Disney. In 2025, his Captain America review with Anthony Mackie generated more than 1.5 million YouTube views.
🇸🇬 Singapore: A Close Challenger
Singapore earned 18 spots on the list, with 22 individuals recognized across eight categories. Notable honorees include:
Nathania Ong: A Singaporean singer and musical theater performer. She became the first Singaporean to play Éponine in the U.K. and Ireland tour of Les Misérables in 2022. She later starred as Eliza Hamilton in London’s Hamilton and will play Elle Woods in Legally Blonde: The Musical in Singapore this year.
Shannon Tan: Singaporean golfer Shannon Tan made history in 2024 as the first player from Singapore to win the Magical Kenya Ladies Open. She secured her second Ladies European Tour title in 2025 and became the first Singaporean golfer to win the tour’s Order of Merit.
Quek Jia Qi: Artist and educator who creates projects that turn public spaces into hubs for learning, play, and community connection. Her works, including Pharmacy of Play and BYOR: Bring Your Own Racket, encourage people to interact and engage in shared spaces.
🇵🇭 The Philippines: A Rising Force
The country recorded 9 honoree entries, with 12 individuals recognized across four categories in the list. Key names include:
Saje Miguel Molato: Founder of Siklab, a consulting firm focused on education, skills, and climate programs. Its Pathways Fellowship trains young leaders in advocacy and community organizing. Siklab has reached over 200,000 youth, supported 15,000 children with literacy programs, and helped 200 young delegates attend international conferences.
Steph Naval: A software engineer and psychology student, Steph Naval founded Empath, a mental health platform that provides affordable online counseling and therapy. Since 2020, it has supported more than 40,000 Filipinos and trained organizations in mental health support and crisis response.
Emmanuel Mirus Ponon: Founder of the ASEAN Youth Advocates Network (AYAN), which helps young people across Southeast Asia take part in policymaking and sustainable development. AYAN has reached over 350,000 youth and brought youth voices to global forums including ASEAN, APEC, TEDx, and the United Nations.
🇹🇭 Thailand: The Emerging Talent
The kingdom achieved 6 honoree entries, featuring 7 individuals across five categories. Among the standout honorees are:
Thanapong Somjai: Co-founder and CTO of Spacely AI, a Bangkok startup that uses generative AI for architecture and interior design. Its platform helps architects and real estate professionals create floor plans and realistic designs faster. In 2025, the company raised USD 1 million in seed funding. from SCB 10X.
Felix Collins: Founder of Full Circle Biotechnology, a startup that turns agricultural waste into sustainable animal feed. Using black soldier fly larvae and microbes, the company produces high-protein feed that is about 10% cheaper than traditional fishmeal.
Kunlavut Vitidsarn: A Thai badminton star who won silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Thailand’s first-ever Olympic badminton medal. He also claimed gold at the 2025 Badminton Asia Championships and became the first Thai men’s singles player to reach world No. 1 in 2025. As of 2026, he is ranked world No. 2.
🇲🇾 Malaysia: The Growing Innovators
Malaysia secured 5 honoree entries, with 5 individuals recognized across four categories. Notable honorees include:
Carin Gan: Co-founder of CoffeeSpace, a startup networking app that helps entrepreneurs find co-founders and early team members. Since launching in 2024, the platform has attracted over 25,000 users, generated 2 million swipes, and facilitated 50,000 matches.
Daniel Woodroof: Co-founder and CEO of Pandan Social, a digital marketing agency that helps brands grow through social media, content creation, SEO, and public relations. In 2023, the Kuala Lumpur-based company was acquired by global communications firm Ruder Finn, with Woodroof remaining as CEO.
Amy & Esther Tai: The sisters co-founded Machino in 2020 to create fashionable yet comfortable footwear. Working with their family’s shoe manufacturing business, they developed shoes that blend style and practicality, while incorporating Asian elements such as batik, songket, and saree lace patterns.
🇻🇳 Vietnam: The New Entrants
Though represented by just 2 honorees, Vietnam made its mark across two categories on this year’s list. The standout names are:
Duc Anh Bui: Leads AI and cybersecurity investments for Kasikorn Business-Technology Group (KBTG), the technology arm of Kasikornbank. Since joining in 2025, he has helped build a portfolio of cybersecurity startups in the United States, and supports their expansion into Southeast Asia.
Hieu Nguyen: A Knight-Hennessy Scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine, and an advisor to the World Telehealth Initiative. He works to expand healthcare access through telehealth and digital health solutions. In 2025, he contributed to a study published in Science on gene mutations linked to cancer.
🏡 Why This Hits Home?
Southeast Asia’s presence on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, reflects the region’s growing pool of young talent across sectors ranging from technology and healthcare to sports, education, entertainment, sustainability, and the creative economy.
The list also highlights how a new generation of Southeast Asian leaders is combining innovation with culture, community, and purpose. They are not only driving change at home, but also strengthening the region’s influence on the global stage.
🚨 The Controversy
The Forbes 30 Under 30 list is widely seen as a prestigious recognition for young entrepreneurs and professionals. However, several former honorees have later become embroiled in major fraud cases and corporate scandals. Some of the most notable examples include:
Gokce Guven (2025 honoree), founder of fintech startup Kalder, was arrested in November 2025 and charged by U.S. prosecutors with securities fraud, wire fraud, visa fraud, and identity theft. Authorities alleged that she used false revenue figures and fake business partnerships to raise about USD 7 million from investors.
Caroline Ellison (2021 honoree), former CEO of Alameda Research, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2024 for her role in the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Prosecutors said she helped use about USD 8 billion in customer funds taken from FTX to support Alameda’s trading operations and other activities.
Sam Bankman-Fried (2021 honoree), founder and former CEO of FTX, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024 after being convicted on multiple fraud-related charges. Prosecutors said he defrauded FTX investors of more than USD 1.7 billion, misled Alameda Research lenders out of over USD 1.3 billion, and misappropriated billions of dollars in customer funds.
Do Kwon (2019 honoree), co-founder of Terraform Labs, was arrested in 2023 following the collapse of the company's cryptocurrencies, TerraUSD and Luna, which wiped out an estimated USD 40 billion in investor value. He was later sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2025.
Charlie Javice (2019 honoree), founder of student financial aid startup Frank, was sentenced to prison in 2025 after being convicted of fraud. Prosecutors said she falsely inflated the company's customer numbers to help secure its USD 175 million sale to JPMorgan Chase.
🇮🇩 Indonesia:
Gibran Huzaifah (2017 honoree), former CEO of eFishery, was arrested and detained by Indonesian police in July 2025. He was charged with alleged embezzlement of nearly IDR 9.74 trillion. Investigators found that he allegedly inflated revenue figures by up to USD 600 million during a technology company acquisition process in 2024. The company had previously announced a profit of USD 16 million, but an investigation revealed an actual loss of USD 35.4 million.
🇸🇬 Singapore:
Harsh Dalal (2021 honoree), co-founder and CEO of Singapore-based Team Labs, was removed from the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list less than a month after being named. The 19-year-old entrepreneur claimed to run a USD 25 million tech start-up, but investigations found inconsistencies in several of his claims, including a purported USD 9.8 million Series A funding round from a venture capital firm with little online presence. Forbes removed him after a comprehensive review, stating that his claims could not be verified.
🇻🇳 Vietnam:
Ngo Hoang Anh (2022 honoree) was removed from the Forbes Vietnam 30 Under 30 list shortly after his inclusion. The decision came after multiple former female students from his high school accused him of sexual harassment, alleging that he had sent them “sensitive and sexually explicit” messages. His former school removed a congratulatory post and issued a public apology for being “careless” in publishing the information.
These cases have fueled criticism, that high-profile recognition lists can sometimes celebrate rapid growth and fundraising success before a company's long-term sustainability and governance are fully tested.
📌 The Bottom Line
The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list is not only a celebration of youthful ambition, innovation, and entrepreneurial success—it is also a reminder that influence comes with responsibility.
This year’s Southeast Asian honorees show how young leaders are building AI startups, advancing healthcare, empowering communities, creating global entertainment brands, and shaping the future of the region long before turning 30.
Yet the list is not only a showcase of potential; it is also a test of what happens after the spotlight. The falls of former honorees highlight that rapid growth, fundraising, and recognition do not always translate into long-term integrity and success.
In that sense, the 30 Under 30 list is both a snapshot of promise today and a reminder that the true measure of leadership is what endures tomorrow.
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(NGO/ELS)