Forbes annually unveils its prestigious 30 Under 30 list, celebrating young innovators on the verge of significant breakthroughs. The list, spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, features 300 entries from over 4,000 nominations, meticulously vetted by a panel of judges. This year, four exceptional Malaysians have made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Class of 2024 list, demonstrating remarkable achievements and contributions across various industries.

Sivasangari Subramaniam

In the Entertainment and Sports category, Sivasangari Subramaniam stands out as a prominent squash player who has represented Malaysia on the international stage since her teens. A native of Kedah, she secured a gold medal at the SEA Games in 2017 and a silver medal at the Asian Games in 2018. While pursuing her degree at Cornell University, Sivasangari advanced from World No. 51 in 2019 to World No. 16 in 2022, all while playing for the Cornell Varsity Women’s Squash Team. Her accolades include being a four-time 1st-Team All-American and 1st-Team All-Ivy Athlete, as well as the Ivy-League Player of the Year for 2022 and 2023. Despite suffering severe injuries in a car accident just seven months prior, she won two gold medals at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023. Currently ranked No. 13 in the world, Sivasangari is setting her sights on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.


Angel Low, Principal of The Hive Southeast Asia

Angel Low serves as a principal at The Hive Southeast Asia, a $50 million fund established by Tuas Capital Partners, Sunway Group, and Palo Alto-based The Hive to invest in startups across Malaysia and the ASEAN region. Since joining The Hive Southeast Asia in 2021, Angel has also taken on the role of General Manager at AI Nusantara, an initiative by Selangor Digital School and one of The Hive Southeast Asia’s investments aimed at preparing students for the digital future.


Erica Eng, Animator and Artist

Erica Eng, a Johor-based animator and artist, gained international acclaim four years ago when her debut webcomic "Fried Rice" won the Eisner Award, the comics industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards. Notably, she is the first Malaysian to achieve this prestigious accolade.

Lee Zhe Xi, Co-owner of Eat and Cook

At 27, Lee Zhe Xi is the co-owner of Eat and Cook, an omakase restaurant that has garnered global recognition in under a year of operation. The restaurant received the American Express One To Watch Award in 2022 and ranked No. 79 on the 2023 Asia’s 100 Best Restaurants list. Additionally, Eat and Cook was named a Michelin Recommended restaurant in both 2023 and 2024. Zhe Xi, alongside his co-founder Soh Yong Zhi, opened the restaurant after losing their jobs at the start of the pandemic. What began as a small six-seater eatery in a mall quickly grew in demand, leading to its relocation to Bukit Jalil. Zhe Xi emphasizes the use of local ingredients, ensuring their culinary creations shine.

We extend our hearty congratulations to all four winners and look forward to seeing more Malaysian names on next year’s list.

Source / Image Credit : FORBES