The Internet has single-handedly changed the way the world operates, from the way we look for information to how we purchase our goods. This rapid progress, however, would not have been possible without the efforts of the innovative minds who make use of the online platform to address the needs and requirements of various sectors in an effort to promote a seamless environment for transactions to take place smoothly. In this issue, Top 10 of Asia takes a look at its list of the region’s most admired technopreneurs (presented in no random order) who are resourcefully leading in the online revolution.
Kei Chun (CEO & Co-founder of TripVi)
The man behind TripVi, the leading social travel mobile application that allows users to sort pictures and automatically convert them into videos, Kei Chun currently serves as the CEO of the Korean web platform. One of Apple’s darling applications, the mobile application that lets members share their travel stories was featured in the App Store of more than 31 countries under the ‘What’s Hot’ category. Currently based in his company’s headquarters in Seoul, the techie studied digital media at Hyper Island University in Sweden and was previously an employer of 9Fruits Group. TripVi is currently one of the most-downloaded travel applications and was selected as Top 10 innovative startups by Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC).
Koki Tsubouchi (CEO of ChatPerf Inc)
No longer limit yourself to just sending emojis and start sending scents, thanks to the dream team of Koki Tsubouchi and Masaru Tange. Respectively the CEO and founder of ChatPerf Inc., a scent technology startup founded in 2010, they launched the prototype product in Japan’s most famous social funding site in January 2013, before receiving 200 per cent funding in only 6 days and being ready for mass production. Masaru’s creation builds a scent 4D communication platform that extends beyond mobile applications to include game development as well, while Koki’s entrepreneurial skills has landed him in Time magazine as a next frontier entrepreneur for smartphone gadgets.
Koki Tsubouchi
Ganesh Kumar Bangah (Founder & CEO of MOL Global)
The founder and CEO of MOL Global, under which lie MOL AccessPortal Berhad and world’s pioneering social network Friendster, Ganesh Kumar Bangah made history as the youngest chief executive officer of a public listed company in Malaysia when he listed MOL AccessPortal Berhad on Bursa Malaysia at the age of 23, cementing him a place in the Malaysia Book of Records. Today, MOL Global is one of Asia’s biggest internet-based corporations in terms of revenue and user-penetration. The technopreneur’s visionary outlook at business ventures has earned him numerous awards, including the Ernst & Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young of Malaysia in 2012.
Ganesh Kumar Bangah
Lap Man (Founder & CEO of DYXnet)
Hong Kong’s booming Internet industry has much to thank Lap Man for, as the Founder and CEO of DYXnet, he is one of the pioneers responsible for making the company as the leading ICT Service Provider for Greater China and other major Asian cities. One of the first generation entrepreneurs to enter the IT market in 1995, Lap Man then headed LinkAGE online, which is among Hong Kong’s first and far-famed corporate ISPs prior to founding DYXnet. The graduate of Chinese University of Hong Kong with a Bachelor’s Degree in Japanese Studies is also the recipient of countless prestigious accolades. He was honored as “Who’s Who Chinese Business Leader” Honor Certificate by Asian College of Knowledge Management in 2014. Apart from that, he was named “Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards 2012 Hong Kong – Outstanding Entrepreneurship Awards”, “2011 The Excellence in Achievement of World Chinese Youth Entrepreneurs” & “Capital Leaders of Excellence 2009” by Capital Magazine.
Raju Ramesh (Co-founder and CEO of Finesse)
A great combination of finance and technology, Raju Ramesh boasts more than 30 years of experience in the business realm, with a focus in international markets. Although he only began his entrepreneurial life as a seed investor for businesses run by friends, the industry veteran is currently the co-founder and CEO of Finesse, a company spread across the world that provides technology solutions and services to various sectors, namely banking,education, energy and healthcare. A qualified Cost Accountant, Raju is also a contributing author for various publications both in print and internet media.
Jonathan Giesen (Co-founder and CEO of Transterra Media)
The Middle East is a constant source for hard-hitting stories and reporting from the site gives Transterra Media’s Jonathan Giesen the upperhand his tech media company deserves. Based in Lebanon, Transterra Media revolutionises the way digital media is bought and sold by empowering independent journalists to reach out to news outlets looking to purchase media from raw footages to photo essays that match their budget requirements. The visual tech firm was recently recognised by Red Herring Top 100 Asia award as one of the leading Asian technology startups in 2013 and was the only company to be chosen from Lebanon.
Agus Tjandra (CEO of Lojai.com)
Online department stores are now a dime a dozen in Southeast Asia due to the region’s fast-paced penetration of internet. Lojai.com, however, is one of the few online retailers who are able to stand their ground thanks to its CEO AgusTjandra. Capitalising on two different business models – online purchasing and credit advance – the website allows credit card users to buy their desired items first and worry about paying for it later. The Binus University graduate’s instalment method of buying via Internet has proven to be a success in Indonesia, with the exorbitant numbers to prove it.
Sandeep Chawda (Co-founder & CEO of Clarice Technologies Pvt Ltd)
With over 18 years of experience under his belt, Sandeep Chawda has spent most of his working life with various global software development setups and firms. Hence, it was only natural that Clarice Technologies was formed using these expertise accumulated over the years. Before the inception of the IT management company, Sandeep served as a Senior Director at Symantec India where he led the Server Management Group both as a general manager as well as an engineering manager. Meanwhile, prior to Symantec, the Indian Institute of Technology graduate was responsible for offshore product and application development for Tata Technologies.
Dr. Gideon Ho (HistoIndex Pte Ltd)
One of the leading names in medical laser applications and bio-imaging development, Dr Gideon Ho is an acclaimed researcher-turned-entrepreneur with 4 filed patents and 25 peer-reviewed journals in his repertoire. Prior to becoming the CEO of HistoIndex – the premier medical diagnostics service provider of Singapore – the medical researcher was the Assistant Vice-President at Exploit Technologies, the commercialisation arm of the Singaporean Agency for Science, Technology and Research. For its rapid achievements in the nation’s medical field, HistoIndex under the helm of Dr Ho was listed in the Red Herring 2013 Top 100 of Asia.
Xiaodong Wang (Co-founder & Chairman of BeiGene (Beijing) Co. Ltd)
An ingenious international platform that is focused on discovering and developing immuno-oncology drugs, BeiGene is overseen by two equally formidable forces of the entrepreneurial world. Besides serving as the chairman of the company, Xiadong Wang is also the director and architect of the National Institute of Biological Science in Beijing (NIBS). John V. Oyler, on the other hand, was the former CEO of BioDuro, a 700-person integrated research CRO in Beijing. Under their helm, BeiGene was one of the Red Herring Top 100 Asia Award recipients and also the winner of Asia’s Best Employer Brand Award of 2013.
Issue 7/2014