Forbes has unveiled its 9th edition of the prestigious “30 Under Asia” list, recognizing young entrepreneurs, leaders, and trailblazers under 30 who are driving innovation and transforming industries across the Asia-Pacific region. This year’s list features an impressive array of Indian innovators from diverse sectors, showcasing the country’s vibrant youth science.
Entertainment: Rap and Rhythm
Two Indian talents graced the entertainment segment of the 30 Under 30 Asia list Arpan Kumar Chandel, popularly known as King, and Pavithra Chari.
At just 25 years old, Arpan Kumar Chandel, or King, has made a name for himself as a rapper of international acclaim. His breakthrough came when US pop sensation Nick Jonas covered his track ‘Maan Meri Jaan’. King’s subsequent release of several albums. Last year, Sony Audio appointed him as their brand ambassador, and he even launched his fragrance, Blanko.
Pavithra Chari, a 29-year-old trained singer-composer, has earned recognition as part of the duo Shadow and Light, alongside Anindi Bose. Their collaboration with the Berklee Indian Ensemble secured a Grammy nomination in 2023. Pavithra’s multifaceted talent extends beyond music, as she is also a Bharatnatyam dancer and known for covering film hits.
Consumer Technology: Empowering the Visually Impaired
Kush Jain co-founded ORama AI after discovering the challenges faced by the visually impaired during a volunteering stint at a Bangalore school in 2018. Motivated to help, ORama AI developed an innovative, Braille. The glove features an embedded camera and speaker, tracking finger movements and audibly identifying touched Braille dots.
Media, Marketing and Advertising: Connecting Talent with Opportunities
Kavan Antani co-founded IndieFolio, a Mumbai-based on-demand talent marketplace catering to creative professionals. Launched in 2014, the platform serves as a connection hub for designers, animators, content creators, and video producers with clients seeking talent. IndieFolio boasts a talent pool of over 70,000 individuals and counts major clients like Paytm, Ogilvy, and Domino’s Pizza.
Enterprise Technology: Revolutionizing Finance and Agriculture
Anuj Srivastava and Priyesh Srivastava co-founded OnFinsnce AI, which developed NeoGPT, a ChatGPT-like service for the finance industry to analyze data, generate forecasts, and conduct market research.
Ankit Jain and Narayan Lal Gurjar co-founded the agriculture startup EF Polymer in 2018. Their company has created a powder-like water-retention product made from biodegradable materials like bananas and orange peels. This product helps retain moisture in the soil and enhance crop yields by absorbing excess water and gradually releasing it.
Sustainability and Clean Energy: Driving Electric Mobility
Arth Chowdhary, Deyvant Bhardwaj, and Oshi Kumari co-founded InsideFPV, an Indian drone startup, in 2020. Their main product is an easy-to-use “Plug-and-fly” drone kit for aerial photography and videography.
Rahil Gupta co-founded Hop Electric Mobility, an electric motorbike startup, in 2020. The company offers three products priced between 66,790 and 1,33,580. Their premium Oxo bike, for instance, can reach speeds of up to 95 Km per hour and cover 150 km on a single charge.
Finance and Venture Capital: Empowering Entrepreneurs
Yashvardhan Kanoi heads investments at Alter Global, linking Silicon Valley with startups in emerging markets. Since 2019, he has led investments in companies across Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
Manish Maryada co-founded Fello, a fintech startup offering investment opportunities with rewards. Founded in 2021, Fello has over a million downloads and has raised over $5 million in funding.
Healthcare and Science: Advancing Medical Research and Assistive Technology
Karan Ahuja, a Google research scientist, will become an assistant professor at Northwestern University in 2024. With a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University, his work includes body-movements sensing and gaze-tracking technologies, earning him nearly 1,00 citations.
Aryan Chauhan co-founded Zivov with his mother Monika Chauhan in 2021, aiming to improve diabetes treatment with a sensor that monitors blood sugar levels, accessible via a smartphone app.
These young innovators are not only making waves in their respective fields but also inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders in India. Their achievements showcase the immense potential of India’s youth and the country’s growing influence in the global innovation landscape.
As the world continues to face complex challenges, these 30 under 30 Asia honorees are poised to lead the charge in finding innovative solutions. Their passion, creativity, and determination serve as a testament to the power of youth in driving positive change and shaping the future of the Asia-Pacific region.
