Dear readers, in a global investment climate fraught with uncertainty—ranging from ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, to the drawn-out war between Russia and Ukraine, and the persistent speculation surrounding the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy—many investors are glued to headlines and major indices in search of direction.

However, amid all the noise, one Singapore-based company has been steadily, even quietly, rallying outside the radar of many retail investors.

This company isn’t just a tech name. It’s part of the everyday lives of millions in Southeast Asia. Its name is succinct, familiar, and strikingly simple—a four-letter word that commands presence in both app stores and our streets:

.

Founded in Malaysia in 2012 under the name “MyTeksi,” the company was initially conceived as a local solution to the inefficiencies of the traditional taxi industry. Co-founders Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling were students at Harvard Business School when they developed the idea, launching a mobile app that allowed commuters to book taxis with greater safety and transparency.

The concept quickly took off. Within a few short years, MyTeksi had expanded beyond Malaysia to key Southeast Asian markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. In 2014, the company made a pivotal strategic move: it relocated its headquarters to Singapore and rebranded as .

What sets Grab apart from many other ride-hailing startups is its ambition and vision. Rather than remaining a transport-focused platform, Grab has morphed into a full-fledged —offering services that range from:

This comprehensive ecosystem places Grab in a similar category as China’s Meituan or Indonesia’s GoTo Group—multi-service platforms that have become daily utilities for tens of millions of users.

And this is no small feat. Southeast Asia is one of the most populous and digitally connected regions in the world, with a young, mobile-first population. In this environment, Grab has positioned itself as a critical platform—functioning simultaneously as a service provider, fintech innovator, and digital infrastructure layer.

Despite its success in capturing market share and mindshare across Southeast Asia, Grab’s journey in the public markets began with turbulence.

In , Grab debuted on the NASDAQ via a merger with Altimeter Growth Corp. The deal raised approximately and valued Grab at nearly , marking it the largest-ever SPAC deal on record at the time, according to Dealogic.

However, investor enthusiasm quickly deflated. On its first day of trading, Grab shares plunged by , as concerns mounted over the company’s profitability, valuation, and competitive landscape. By , Grab stock had traded as high as , but following the SPAC debut and broader tech sell-off, prices collapsed to less than one-third of that figure.

 The company’s stock continued to decline through 2022, eventually falling below , far from its peak implied valuation.

Fast forward to 2025, and the narrative around Grab is beginning to shift once again. Over the past 12 months, , climbing from around to per share.

This recovery hasn’t been fueled by hype or speculative mania. Instead, it reflects a combination of factors:

To many Singaporeans, Grab isn’t just a stock ticker on the NASDAQ—it’s part of daily life.

Despite being listed in the United States, Grab feels inherently . Its branding, service footprint, and headquarters all tie it to the island-state, and it plays a prominent role in the country’s broader digital economy vision.

Yet, oddly enough, many Singaporean retail investors have not participated in Grab’s market story—simply because the stock is not listed on the .

With Grab now on a firmer financial footing and regaining market momentum, the time may be ripe for a .

A dual listing could provide several key advantages:

Many local and regional retail investors either do not have access to U.S. stock markets or prefer not to navigate currency conversion, U.S. tax implications, or higher brokerage fees. A listing on SGX would allow thousands of investors across Southeast Asia to own a piece of Grab in their local currency and through familiar platforms.

Singapore’s equity market has, for years, suffered from a dearth of major IPOs. With multiple high-profile delistings and declining trading volumes, the SGX is in need of large, homegrown tech names to invigorate the exchange. A dual listing by Grab would be symbolic and catalytic.

A dual listing would not only increase liquidity but could also improve valuation over time by exposing Grab to a broader base of long-term investors who understand its ecosystem and regional relevance.

As Singapore pushes its “Smart Nation” agenda, supporting and showcasing digital champions like Grab on the local bourse aligns with broader national economic objectives.

Looking ahead, the road for Grab still contains challenges, but the trajectory appears promising. Areas to watch include:

Still, the groundwork has been laid. The company is no longer a cash-burning startup chasing top-line growth at all costs. It’s evolving into a more mature, strategically disciplined platform with multiple monetization levers.

In the end, the story of Grab is one of resilience, reinvention, and relevance.

From humble beginnings as a Malaysian taxi app to becoming one of Southeast Asia’s most significant digital platforms headquartered in Singapore, Grab has already defied expectations more than once.

Today, with a 44% rally in the rearview mirror and improved fundamentals at the core, Grab is no longer a speculative tech bet—it’s a maturing platform company with a powerful brand and entrenched regional network.

While U.S. investors are beginning to rediscover Grab, it may soon be time for the company to also reward the people who use its services every day—Southeast Asian retail investors—by offering them a direct stake via a Singapore Exchange listing.

If and when that happens, this four-letter stock might just find a second home right here in the Lion City.