{"id":256804,"date":"2026-01-15T13:55:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T05:55:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/?post_type=editorial&p=256804"},"modified":"2026-01-16T10:15:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T02:15:33","slug":"inside-grab-podcast-ep-1","status":"publish","type":"editorial","link":"https:\/\/www.grab.com\/sg\/inside-grab\/stories\/inside-grab-podcast-ep-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Grab podcast ep 1"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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When Grab CEO Anthony Tan sits down for a chat with Group Head of Marketing, Sustainability, Loyalty & Support, Cheryl Goh, it feels less “boardroom” and more “family dinner.”<\/p>

They\u2019ve worked alongside each other for 13 years, from the scrappy startup days in a tiny storeroom office in Malaysia, to the high pressure of the Grab public listing on NASDAQ.<\/p>

In this first episode of the Inside Grab podcast, Anthony shares the raw stories of Grab\u2019s beginnings. It\u2019s a look at the “Hokkien heritage” that shaped his view of money, how he convinced early investors of their ability to execute a bold vision, and how they orchestrated Grab\u2019s listing in New York City all the way from Singapore.<\/p>

(Listen to the full podcast on Spotify<\/a>, Apple<\/a> and YouTube<\/a>)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\"Ideas are a dime a dozen. Investors don't just look at the model; they look at whether the founding team has the tenacity to grind it out for the long run.\"\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnthony Tan<\/cite>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Fundraising in the early days<\/b><\/h5>

Inside the episode, Anthony explains “Jiak Kor”, the Hokkien mindset of “eating bitter” which he grew up with. It means the ability to take pain and grind through the hardest years of a startup. [02:53]<\/span><\/p>

He reveals the early difficulties of getting investors to believe in Grab\u2019s potential, and how Grab\u2019s board of directors evolved over time. He recalls a high-tension board debate where a crucial decision on driver supply passed by just one vote\u2014saving the company from a potential collapse.<\/span> [28:00]<\/p>

Grab\u2019s path to public listing<\/b><\/h5>

Anthony\u2019s perspective never changed, even when Grab was out of its early fundraising stage and on its way to a public listing. \u201cInvestor money is the public\u2019s money\u201d. The mindset helps Anthony gain clarity on spending decisions and is one of the guiding principles for sharing Grab\u2019s thought processes. [34:39]<\/span><\/p>

Whether you’re a Grabber, a budding entrepreneur, or just someone who loves a good underdog story, this episode is a lesson in stewardship and tenacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

You can find the Inside Grab Podcast on:<\/span><\/p>

\u27a1\ufe0f Spotify<\/a><\/p>

\u27a1\ufe0f YouTube<\/a><\/p>

\u27a1\ufe0f Apple Podcasts<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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