Latest news with #ForbesUnder30
Newsweek
23-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Curated, Affordable Private Flights Appealing to Experience-forward Gen Z
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Flyblack has a very modern tech startup story. Its success today as one of the country's leading private aviation companies can be traced back a decade to when CEO Sami Belbase started the company out of a WeWork with a phone and an idea. "Within a year, we had over 30 brokers working under our roof, many of them twice my age and from Wall Street. From an office in the heart of SoHo to speaking at Forbes Under 30 and hosting charity events on Richard Branson's island, the journey has been anything but typical," Belbase told Newsweek. What also makes Flyblack unique is its approach to private aviation. Belbase saw major inefficiencies in the business model and looked to change that with Flyback. "I saw a huge gap: traditional private aviation was stuck in the past. Manual bookings, inaccessible pricing, and a system that left thousands of jets flying empty every day. Flyblack was built to re-engineer that system - to create a digital-first platform that finally makes flying private more efficient, sustainable, and accessible to a broader market," he said. Typically, when a customer wanted to book a private jet, they would have to call a broker and schedule a trip. Yet, if they wanted to book a yacht, villa or top-tier travel experience, they could use an app that worked like a concierge service. Flyblack App displayed on an iPhone. Flyblack App displayed on an iPhone. Flyblack "That disconnect drove us to build a platform that matched today's digital expectations. Launching our Shuttle by-the-seat flights and One Way Deals was game-changing — finally offering curated, affordable private flight options for high-spending Millennials and Gen Z who value experiences over ownership," Belbase explained. Flyblack has access to 3,000 private aircraft worldwide, with the ability to use technology to fill seats rather than require clients to rent an entire aircraft for use. The company's Shuttle service can cost as little as a first-class ticket would on a commercial flight, but without the hassle of having to experience the surroundings of a commercial airport. Its One Way Deals option helps to sell seats on planes that would otherwise be deadheaded to their next destination. Members can book flights from months in advance to same-day travel. If there's a seat, you can book and fly within 15 minutes, about the same style of operation as a traditional commercial flight. Artificial intelligence (AI) helps the company operate. "We use AI and data modeling to predict demand around events, seasons, and trends. We have compiled years of big data focused around private jet flights and corresponding demand and fulfillment. From Coachella to Aspen ski season, we can pre-position jets and crews ahead of time. Operators also benefit. Our tools help them reduce waste and boost fleet efficiency. It's luxury powered by tech- smarter for flyers, and better for business," the CEO said. Flyblack sells seats on six different types of planes: turboprop, entry-level, light, mid-size, super mid-size and heavy. When browsing flight options, the type of plane you're booking (for example, a Citation X or Learjet 45XR) is shown prior to committing to the booking. The company is the new kid on the block, but Flyblack is seeing quick success. In the first few weeks of 2025, the Flyblack app, "had thousands of downloads and hundreds of applications within weeks, all before our public release. Our sold-out shuttles to events like St. Barths and Coachella validated that we were solving a real problem: people wanted private flight access without the full buy-in," Belbase said. Those users are tech-savvy and after luxe experiences that go beyond traditional travel, a trend that extends to yachts, villas and on-the-ground cultural immersions. "Younger travelers aren't just looking for exclusivity, they want smart luxury, value-driven experiences, and sustainability baked in. Flyblack hits all those notes. They're not booking just for status; they're booking because we offer shared jet seats to Aspen with Erewhon catering and caviar-topped In-N-Out burgers - a vibe they actually relate to," he said. "This is the next evolution of status travel: access without ownership, community without compromise. And with memberships unlocking flights at up to 75 percent off standard pricing, it becomes more about lifestyle alignment than a show of wealth." Flyblack first launched in Los Angeles and has a waitlist that is "already thousands deep." Next, the company plans to expand to New York and South Florida, followed by Europe in 2026. A private plane that is part of the Flyblack fleet. A private plane that is part of the Flyblack fleet. Flyblack "We're demand-driven, if enough members want a new route, we can launch and test new routes. We listen to our audience, and this will always give us insight on growth opportunities. Our vision is clear: give members the ability to fly major routes without ever entering a commercial terminal," the CEO said. What comes after that? "Ultimately, we will launch the world's first full-fledged, private jet airline," he divulged.
CNBC
29-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
How 'mistakes' helped Hailey Bieber turn Rhode into a $1 billion skincare brand
Less than three years after its launch, Hailey Bieber's skincare brand Rhode is being acquired for $1 billion. It's a massive windfall for the 28-year-old founder, and one that she says was only possible because of her willingness to make mistakes while building her business. Indeed, Bieber explained in a 2022 appearance at the Forbes Under 30 summit that she started Rhode with the understanding that things wouldn't always go smoothly. "Be prepared for the mishaps and be prepared to make mistakes," she said. "It's OK for that to happen, and you can learn from it. It will help you to drive your brand forward." In the case of Rhode, one early problem arose when Bieber was choosing the color of the packaging of her products. Though she selected a particular shade, she didn't realize that in the production process the carton could come out slightly lighter or darker than intended. "The cartons the product came in were not the color that I exactly wanted them to be, and I was very sad about it," she explained. "In hindsight, it was actually really not a big deal and was just something that I had to learn was part of the process and that we can fix moving forward in the future." Bieber, who called herself "a crazy perfectionist," said she needed to learn to "accept the fact that there is no such thing as a perfect launch." "What I'm learning is that mistakes are really part of the process and you have to accept those mistakes," she said, adding: "I think our mistakes actually help make us better as people when we choose to learn from them. And I think when you have a brand, it helps you create an even better brand." Bieber's willingness to embrace mistakes is straight out of billionaire Warren Buffett's playbook. In his annual letter to shareholders this year, the Oracle of Omaha said he learned a valuable lesson from the late Charlie Munger about how to approach mistakes. Rather than try to cover them up or pretend they didn't happen, Buffett said Munger taught him that mistakes should be promptly recognized and corrected. "The cardinal sin is delaying the correction of mistakes or what Charlie Munger called 'thumb-sucking,'" Buffett wrote. "Problems, he would tell me, cannot be wished away. They require action, however uncomfortable that may be." Mistakes, like bad investments, are what Buffett said makes success all the more exciting. "If you played golf and you hit a hole-in-one on every hole, nobody would play golf, it's no fun," Buffet said in 2019. "You've got to hit a few in the rough and then get out of the rough. That makes it interesting." ,
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Forbes 2025 Under 30 Summit To Be Held In Columbus, Ohio Featuring 3-Time Olympic Medalist Suni Lee, Vivek Ramaswamy And More
Forbes COLUMBUS - May 29, 2025 – Today, Forbes hosted a special press event to officially announce the 2025 Forbes Under 30 Summit, in partnership with JobsOhio, and to unveil the Forbes 30 Under 30 Local Columbus List. The 2025 Under 30 Summit, taking place in Columbus from September 28-October 1, 2025, will convene the world's top young leaders, founders and creators for four days of connecting, learning, teaching and building. 'We're bringing it home to the capital of Ohio for the 2025 Forbes Under 30 Summit, our third and biggest year yet in the state as we spotlight the entrepreneurial momentum building in the Columbus area,' said Steven Bertoni, Assistant Managing Editor at Forbes. 'With a vibrant sense of community and innovation, we're proud to spotlight the city of Columbus' brightest entrepreneurs and game-changers leading the way in their industries.' Confirmed speakers for the 2025 Forbes Under 30 Summit include: ……. With additional names being announced soon. The event will kick off on Sunday, September 28, with Forbes' signature Under 30 Summit concert, with performances to be announced soon. Attendees will hear from A-list speakers, access exclusive networking opportunities, participate in industry focused excursions and experiences across Columbus, and join in on a day of giving back to the Columbus community. 'This Summit is more than a moment,' said Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. 'It's a reflection of what is possible in a place like Columbus, where partnership powers progress, inclusion fuels innovation, and tomorrow's leaders are already making moves today.' Today's press conference convened 30 Under 30 Local Columbus list makers, key city and state officials and partners. Ohio State University football safety Caleb Downs, who was recently named to the 30 Under 30 Local Columbus list, spoke in a fireside chat with Forbes' Steve Bertoni about his selection to the Under 30 list and his connection to the great state of Ohio. The first-ever 30 Under 30 Local Columbus list, which launched today, spotlights young entrepreneurs in cities across the local Columbus region. This year's 30 Under 30 Columbus list includes OSU Buckeyes football safety Caleb Downs, National Champion OSU football players Emeka Egbuka and William Howard, former OSU Women's Basketball Player Cotie McMahon, Olympic Medal-winning swimmer Hunter Armstrong and many more. "Columbus has a vibrant and growing entrepreneur and business community that continues to thrive,' said J.P. Nauseef, President & CEO of JobsOhio. 'This year's Forbes 30 Under 30 Local List showcases a wide range of the incredible talent that draws so many young people to Columbus. We look forward to welcoming them and the thousands of attendees later this fall." To curate the list, Forbes worked closely with local industry leaders for their expert recommendations. Candidates were then thoroughly vetted by Forbes and a panel of independent, expert judges on a variety of factors including by not limited to funding, revenue, social impact, scale, inventiveness and potential. Those who appear on the final 30 Under 30 Local List are still eligible for future Forbes lists, including the Forbes 30 Under 30 U.S. list. For the 30 Under 30 Local Columbus List and more, visit: here For additional information or to attend the Forbes Under 30 Summit in September, visit: Forbes Under 30 Summit. To join the conversation on social, follow #Under30Summit. JobsOhio is the Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Under 30 Summit. Pratt Industries is the Supporting Sponsor. Media Contacts: Laura Brusca: lbrusca@ Feryal Nawaz: fnawaz@
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Forbes Releases 10th Edition Of 30 Under 30 Asia List
2025 List Highlights 300 Outstanding Young Entrepreneurs and Innovators from across the Asia-Pacific Region #ForbesU30Asia #ForbesUnder30 SINGAPORE (May 15, 2025) – Forbes released today the 10th annual edition of its '30 Under 30 Asia' list, featuring 300 young entrepreneurs, leaders and innovators across the Asia-Pacific region, all under the age of 30, with a bold vision for the future, that is largely powered by artificial intelligence. The Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2025 features 300 notable listees selected across 10 categories, including AI; Consumer & Enterprise Technology; Entertainment & Sports; Finance & Venture Capital; Healthcare & Science; Industry, Manufacturing & Energy; Retail & Ecommerce; Social Impact; Social Media, Marketing & Advertising and The Arts (Art & Style, Food & Drink). Among those featured on this year's list are Korean singer, actor and model Cha Eun-woo; K-pop band Stray Kids; up-and-coming Singaporean singer-songwriter Shazza; Korean Chef and winner of Netflix's Culinary Class Wars Sungjun Kwon; Bollywood actress and Chanel's first Indian brand ambassador Ananya Panday; Charlotte Vieira, Cofounder of Antler-backed Australian dating app Humpday; Olympic medalist and gymnast Shinnosuke Oka from Japan; Manu Nair and Prashant Sharma, cofounders of India's spacetech startup Ethereal Exploration Guild; Xi Yue, Cofounder of Beijing-based humanoid robot maker Robotera; Australia's Andrew Pankevicius, Lucas Sargent and Alexander Valente, Cofounders of Redactive which helps companies develop generative AI-based applications; Turzo Bose and Lamia Sreya Rahman, Cofounders of Hong Kong's Vidi Labs which develops wearable cameras and "seeing" AI for the visually impaired; Singapore's Lee Ray Sheng and Ye Anran, Cofounders of A Hot Hideout, a spicy noodles and hotpot restaurant chain; South Korea's Byeoli Choi, Cofounder and CEO of Movin, a developer of AI-based real-time motion capture devices; Thailand's Kantinan Tunveenukoon, cofounder of battery-powered motorcycles Sleek EV; India's Jinali Mody who founded Banofi Leather, an alternative to traditional leather products using fiber from banana crop waste; Kazuma Kishida, who cofounded Japan's Dioseve, which develops technologies to aid infertility treatment for women and Indonesian environmental activist and social media influencer Andrew Brule. Rana Wehbe Watson, Editorial Director, Forbes Asia and Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Editor, said: 'In this landmark 10th edition of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, we celebrate a decade of exceptional talent and innovation by highlighting a new generation of entrepreneurs and young leaders who exemplify resilience and creativity as they battle tougher business conditions.' 'Many are using AI to refine their value propositions and attract investors in fields including healthcare and finance. Others are building niche businesses aimed at a local customer base as uncertainty looms over global trade.' Featured highlights on the '30 Under 30 Asia' list include: The 2025 list features a diverse set of 30 Under 30 Asia listees, with 20 countries and territories represented across the Asia-Pacific region. India had the most with 94 entries, followed by Australia (32), China (30), Japan (25), and South Korea (23). Singapore and Indonesia each had 19 entries. To source candidates for the list, Forbes reporters and editors combed through thousands of online submissions, as well as tapped industry sources and list alumni for recommendations. More than 4,500 candidates were 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 and industry impact, product-market fit, inventiveness and potential. All final listers must be 29 or younger as of December 31, 2024. Listees were vetted and selected by a panel of accomplished and acclaimed judges in each category. The judges are 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). For the complete Forbes 2025 30 Under 30 Asia package, visit here. On social media, please follow @ForbesAsia on Facebook | X | Instagram About Forbes: Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 140 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 42 licensed local editions in 68 countries. Forbes Media's brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements. Forbes Asia Media Contact: Catherine Ong, cath@ or +65 9697 0007 Forbes Asia Media Contact: Chenxi Wang, chenxi@ or cell: +65 8187 3215
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
30 Under 30: Meet The Young Entrepreneurs Shaping AI In Asia
Forbes Asia In May last year, Jin Kim teamed up with Subeen Pang, 32, and Forbes Under 30 alums Hojun Choi (class of 2023), 31, and Chanyeol Choi (class of 2021), 33, to deliver tech-driven insights to investors, with a focus on hedge fund managers. Their subscription-based platform, LinqAlpha, 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. 'What we do is replicate the thought processes of hedge fund analysts through algorithms,' Kim says. Forbes Asia Kim is one of the entrepreneurs on the newly created AI category of the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia list, who are utilizing the cutting edge technology to innovate across industries. Based in Seoul with an office in New York, 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. Kim, a former quant researcher with a master's degree in financial engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, heads LinqAlpha's fundamental research engineering team. 'We are on the pioneering edge of what we're doing' The startup, which says its customers have combined assets under management of more than $100 billion, faces hefty competition in the AI-powered research space, including from financial information giant Bloomberg. Kim says LinqAlpha stands out from other equities-focused AI models by covering more companies outside of the U.S. while working with clients to tailor searches for their specific strategies. 'We are on the pioneering edge of what we're doing,' he avers. Another ambitious AI startup on the list is Singapore-based Sapient Intelligence. Cofounded by Wang Guan in 2024, it 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 China, two listees are developing large language models(LLMs). Founded by Gao Haichuan in 2023, Beijing Qianjue Technology has developed a large language model (LLM) that functions as a brain for robots, helping machines assess the surrounding environment and respond to verbal commands. Qianjue has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from investors including Innoangel Fund and Rivercity Investment. Gao holds a Ph.D. in automation engineering from China's Tsinghua University. Gao Haichuan, cofounder of Beijing Qianjue Technology Cofounded by Chen Yuanpei in 2024, PsiBot is also developing AI models for robots. The company says its technology can allow multiple robotic arms to make complex movements such as stacking building blocks. Last year, PsiBot raised an undisclosed amount of funding from GL Ventures and Lanchi Ventures. Chen holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from the South China University of Technology and was a visiting scholar at Peking University and Stanford University, where he was advised by AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li. Entrepreneurs from across the region are using AI to provide consumer and enterprise services catering to various sectors. Jacky Koh, Daniel Palmer and Daniel Vassilev cofounded Relevance AI to help companies develop their own AI-based tools and automate tasks without coding. Using Relevance AI's online platform, companies can customize large language models (LLMs) to create email responses and handle data analytics. With offices in Sydney and San Francisco, the startup raised a series A funding round of A$15 million ($9.3 million) in December 2023. Vassilev and Koh, who met in high school, joined forces with Palmer when the trio met at the University of Sydney. Daniel Vassilev, Daniel Palmer and Jacky Koh, cofounders of Relevance AI. Cofounded in 2021 by MIT Ph.D.-holders Christian Lau and Vaikkunth Mugunthan, Dynamo AI offers software to run tests on AI programs to identify potential risks, and prevent the models from accessing sensitive data. With offices in India and the U.S., the company has attracted users including Chinese PC giant Lenovo and Dublin-based multinational Experian. It has so far raised $30 million in funding from investors including Nexus Venture Partners and Y Combinator. AI has also been revolutionizing the entertainment sector. In 2020, Wu Di cofounded Shanghai-based Deemos, which uses AI to help users generate 3D content and digital avatars. Its 3D modeling technology was used in the Chinese sci-fi blockbuster The Wandering Earth 2, and attracted investors' attention. In January, the company raised an undisclosed amount in a series A round from investors including ByteDance, HongShan (formerly Sequoia China) and the MiraclePlus accelerator. Byeoli Choi, cofounder of Movin. In South Korea, Byeoli Choi cofounded Movin, a startup that develops AI-based real-time motion capture devices. Based in Seongnam, its devices help game studios, YouTubers and entertainment companies create lifelike animations. In March, Movin raised 4 billion won ($2.7 million) in a pre-series A funding round from investors including Atinum Investment and Naver D2SF, the South Korean internet giant's corporate venture arm. In the same month, Movin established an in-house studio to collect 3D motion data to help companies develop AI-powered humanoid robots. Before launching Movin, Choi worked at Naver's metaverse platform Zepeto. –Additional reporting by John Kang Read our complete AI list here – and be sure to check out our full Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 coverage here.
