A 2021 rising company must show credible momentum, real operating activity, identifiable market contribution, technology or business-model relevance, regional or global ambition and enough public record to be evaluated without relying on unsupported promotion.
InfluenceAsia Watch 100: Asia's Rising Companies 2021 identifies the companies that made 2021 a defining year for Asia's growth economy. The list spans consumer platforms, public-market technology debuts, fintech infrastructure, e-commerce, logistics, electric mobility, AI, semiconductors, cloud software, digital health, gaming, food technology, travel technology, agritech, cybersecurity and next-generation industrial platforms.
This ranking is an original InfluenceAsia research and editorial list. It is not a valuation table, funding league, IPO scoreboard, investor portfolio summary, media award, popularity list, revenue ranking or imported startup index. Placement reflects a composite view of 2021 momentum, product-market relevance, operating credibility, strategic importance, technology depth, commercial traction, regional consequence and long-term watch value.
In 2021, Asia's rising companies moved from niche adoption into system-level influence. Super apps became public-market stories, food delivery and beauty commerce entered the market spotlight, electric vehicles and batteries became industrial priority sectors, online travel and mobility platforms rebuilt demand, AI and semiconductor companies became strategic assets, and fintech infrastructure moved closer to everyday commerce.
InfluenceAsia reads the 2021 growth economy through public-market transitions, product-market relevance, infrastructure depth and category-defining commercial momentum.
The 2021 edition is built around The Platform-To-Infrastructure Shift: the moment when Asia's strongest rising companies were no longer only chasing users, but building the commerce, mobility, software, logistics, payments, batteries, AI and security infrastructure behind the next decade of growth.
InfluenceAsia gives exceptional weight to companies that achieved visible 2021 inflection: public listings that reset category expectations, large-scale mergers, cross-border growth, category-defining financing rounds, industrial technology breakthroughs, national platform relevance, and business models capable of moving beyond promotional demand.
The strongest companies combined growth with strategic necessity. InfluenceAsia prioritized platforms that made a market more efficient, gave consumers new access, gave enterprises new tools, deepened technology sovereignty, improved logistics or finance rails, or made climate and mobility transition more commercially credible.
The top tier spans algorithmic entertainment, regional super apps, logistics-led commerce, battery infrastructure, digital finance and software-led growth.
InfluenceAsia ranks ByteDance first because it changed how attention, creativity and commerce are distributed at global scale.
InfluenceAsia includes Sea because it became the clearest example of a Singapore-rooted platform company operating across multiple digital economies.
InfluenceAsia ranks Grab highly because its 2021 public-market transition made Southeast Asian daily-life platforms globally visible.
InfluenceAsia includes Coupang because it made logistics the main competitive moat in Korean consumer commerce.
InfluenceAsia ranks Kuaishou because its 2021 listing made creator commerce one of Asia's most important technology themes.
InfluenceAsia includes SHEIN because it became one of Asia's most powerful private consumer companies in global youth fashion.
All 100 ranked companies are shown below with their base, primary lane, 2021 watch signal, rationale and index score.
| Rank | Company | Base / Lane | 2021 Watch Signal | InfluenceAsia Rationale | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ByteDanceByteDance operates algorithmic content, short-video, creator, advertising and commerce platforms serving users across China and international markets. | China and globalShort video, content, advertising, creator tools and digital commerce | TikTok and Douyin remained among the world's most influential attention platforms in 2021. | ByteDance led the shift from social media to algorithmic entertainment infrastructure. | 99 |
| 2 | Sea LimitedSea Limited operates Garena, Shopee and SeaMoney across gaming, e-commerce and digital financial services. | Singapore and globalGaming, e-commerce and digital financial services | Garena, Shopee and SeaMoney made Sea one of Asia's most visible platform companies in 2021. | Sea represented the regional super-platform model at its most ambitious scale. | 98.7 |
| 3 | Grab HoldingsGrab operates mobility, food delivery, financial services and merchant tools across Southeast Asia. | Singapore and Southeast AsiaMobility, delivery, payments and financial services | Grab completed a major public-market transition in 2021. | Grab converted Southeast Asian daily-life services into a listed super-app platform. | 98.4 |
| 4 | CoupangCoupang operates a Korean e-commerce and delivery platform built around dense fulfillment, membership and fast delivery. | South KoreaE-commerce, logistics and same-day delivery | Coupang's 2021 public listing placed Korean logistics-led commerce in the global spotlight. | Coupang showed how dense logistics can become a decisive e-commerce advantage. | 98.1 |
| 5 | Kuaishou TechnologyKuaishou operates short-video, live streaming, creator and live-commerce platforms. | ChinaShort video, live streaming and live commerce | Kuaishou's 2021 listing made short video a public-market growth category. | Kuaishou stood at the intersection of entertainment, creators and commerce. | 97.8 |
| 6 | SHEINSHEIN operates a digital fashion-commerce model based on rapid product iteration, social discovery and supply-chain responsiveness. | China and globalFashion commerce, supply-chain software and social shopping | SHEIN's global fashion-commerce momentum made it one of Asia's most watched private companies in 2021. | SHEIN compressed design, supply chain and demand sensing into a new retail model. | 97.5 |
| 7 | GoTo GroupGoTo combines Gojek's mobility and services platform with Tokopedia's e-commerce marketplace. | Indonesia and Southeast AsiaE-commerce, mobility, delivery and payments | Gojek and Tokopedia combined in 2021 to form Indonesia's largest technology group. | GoTo became the clearest national-scale platform story in Indonesia's digital economy. | 97.2 |
| 8 | CATLCATL develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage. | China and globalEV batteries and energy storage | CATL's battery leadership made it central to the global electric vehicle transition in 2021. | CATL turned battery manufacturing into strategic industrial infrastructure. | 96.9 |
| 9 | ZomatoZomato operates food delivery, restaurant discovery and local commerce services in India and selected international markets. | IndiaFood delivery, restaurant discovery and local commerce | Zomato's 2021 listing opened India's consumer internet market to a new public investor base. | Zomato became a market signal for India's platform economy. | 96.6 |
| 10 | FreshworksFreshworks provides customer support, sales, marketing, IT service and customer engagement software for global businesses. | India and globalSaaS, customer engagement and enterprise software | Freshworks became a landmark Indian-origin SaaS public company in 2021. | Freshworks proved that Asian software companies could sell globally from product-led roots. | 96.3 |
| 11 | NykaaNykaa operates beauty, personal care, fashion and owned-brand commerce across online and offline channels. | IndiaBeauty commerce, fashion commerce and owned consumer brands | Nykaa's 2021 listing validated India's content-led beauty and lifestyle commerce category. | Nykaa combined commerce, trust and curation in a market long dominated by offline retail. | 96 |
| 12 | One97 CommunicationsOne97 Communications operates Paytm across payments, commerce, financial services and merchant tools. | IndiaDigital payments, commerce and financial services | Paytm entered the public market in 2021 as India's most visible fintech platform. | One97 made mobile payments and consumer finance a mass digital behavior in India. | 95.7 |
| 13 | KakaoBankKakaoBank operates an internet-only bank with mobile deposits, lending, transfers and consumer financial services. | South KoreaDigital banking and mobile financial services | KakaoBank's 2021 listing made mobile-only banking a mainstream financial category in Korea. | KakaoBank demonstrated the power of internet-native trust in regulated finance. | 95.4 |
| 14 | TrendyolTrendyol operates a Turkish marketplace with logistics, merchant services and digital commerce infrastructure. | Turkey and regional marketsE-commerce, marketplace, logistics and payments | Trendyol's 2021 funding and scale made it one of West Asia's strongest digital commerce companies. | Trendyol built a marketplace with logistics and payment depth in a large domestic market. | 95.1 |
| 15 | GetirGetir operates ultra-fast grocery and convenience delivery through dense dark-store logistics. | Turkey and international marketsUltra-fast grocery and instant delivery | Getir expanded internationally in 2021 and became a defining quick-commerce company. | Getir made speed, local density and convenience the core product. | 94.8 |
| 16 | JD LogisticsJD Logistics provides warehousing, fulfillment, delivery and supply-chain solutions. | ChinaSupply-chain solutions, warehousing and delivery infrastructure | JD Logistics listed in 2021 as a standalone logistics platform. | JD Logistics showed that fulfillment infrastructure could become an investable technology platform. | 94.5 |
| 17 | XPengXPeng designs and manufactures electric vehicles with intelligent driving features and software-led user experiences. | ChinaElectric vehicles, intelligent driving and mobility software | XPeng scaled deliveries and advanced smart-driving positioning in 2021. | XPeng was one of China's clearest EV challengers built around software-defined mobility. | 94.2 |
| 18 | Li AutoLi Auto develops family-oriented smart electric vehicles with extended-range technology. | ChinaExtended-range electric vehicles and smart mobility | Li Auto strengthened its category position with family-focused intelligent vehicles in 2021. | Li Auto showed that EV growth could also come from pragmatic product positioning. | 93.9 |
| 19 | NIONIO develops premium electric vehicles, battery swapping, charging services and a user-community ecosystem. | China and globalPremium electric vehicles, battery swap and user community | NIO deepened its premium EV ecosystem and service model in 2021. | NIO gave China's EV sector a distinctive brand, service and energy-replenishment identity. | 93.6 |
| 20 | RazorpayRazorpay provides payment gateway, banking, lending and business finance tools for Indian merchants. | IndiaPayments infrastructure, banking tools and merchant finance | Razorpay became one of India's most important fintech infrastructure companies in 2021. | Razorpay helped turn digital payments into programmable business infrastructure. | 93.3 |
| 21 | CREDCRED operates credit-card bill payments, rewards, lending and premium consumer financial services. | IndiaCredit-card payments, rewards and consumer fintech | CRED expanded from payments into a wider premium consumer finance ecosystem in 2021. | CRED showed how trust, design and affluent users could define a new Indian fintech category. | 93 |
| 22 | MeeshoMeesho enables resellers, small merchants and value-conscious consumers through app-based commerce. | IndiaSocial commerce and small-seller enablement | Meesho scaled a seller-first commerce model for India's value-conscious consumers. | Meesho made entrepreneurship and reseller distribution a core digital commerce thesis. | 92.7 |
| 23 | SwiggySwiggy operates food delivery, grocery and urban convenience services. | IndiaFood delivery, grocery and local convenience | Swiggy pushed beyond restaurant delivery into broader urban convenience in 2021. | Swiggy remained central to India's on-demand local commerce infrastructure. | 92.4 |
| 24 | BukalapakBukalapak operates an Indonesian marketplace and digital merchant services platform. | IndonesiaE-commerce, digital warung enablement and marketplace services | Bukalapak became Indonesia's first listed technology unicorn in 2021. | Bukalapak brought neighborhood merchants into Indonesia's public-market digital story. | 92.1 |
| 25 | PB FintechPB Fintech operates Policybazaar and Paisabazaar across insurance comparison, lending discovery and personal finance. | IndiaInsurance marketplace and personal finance platforms | Policybazaar and Paisabazaar entered public markets through PB Fintech in 2021. | PB Fintech helped digitize insurance discovery in a complex, underpenetrated market. | 91.8 |
| 26 | LenskartLenskart operates eyewear commerce, stores, manufacturing, prescription services and digital fitting tools. | India and international marketsOmnichannel eyewear, retail technology and vision care | Lenskart expanded its technology-led eyewear platform in 2021. | Lenskart showed how digital fitting, supply chain and stores can modernize a traditional category. | 91.5 |
| 27 | DelhiveryDelhivery provides parcel delivery, freight, warehousing and supply-chain technology across India. | IndiaLogistics, fulfillment and supply-chain technology | Delhivery remained a core logistics enabler for India's e-commerce expansion. | Delhivery gave Indian digital commerce a national logistics backbone. | 91.2 |
| 28 | Pine LabsPine Labs provides point-of-sale technology, merchant payments, installment tools and commerce finance. | India and Southeast AsiaMerchant payments, point-of-sale technology and fintech services | Pine Labs deepened its merchant network and regional fintech relevance in 2021. | Pine Labs helped offline commerce move toward digital acceptance and embedded finance. | 90.9 |
| 29 | GrowwGroww provides mutual fund, stock and investment access to Indian retail users through a mobile-first platform. | IndiaRetail investing, mutual funds and wealth technology | Groww reached mass retail investors during India's investing boom in 2021. | Groww made investing more accessible for a new generation of Indian users. | 90.6 |
| 30 | Ola ElectricOla Electric develops electric two-wheelers and EV-related manufacturing capacity. | IndiaElectric two-wheelers, batteries and mobility manufacturing | Ola Electric became one of India's most visible EV manufacturing stories in 2021. | Ola Electric connected domestic mobility demand with industrial EV ambition. | 90.3 |
| 31 | Ather EnergyAther Energy develops connected electric scooters and charging infrastructure. | IndiaElectric scooters, charging and connected mobility | Ather continued to build a premium electric two-wheeler ecosystem in 2021. | Ather gave India's EV market a product-quality and charging-infrastructure benchmark. | 90 |
| 32 | OfBusinessOfBusiness combines raw-material procurement, SME commerce and credit for industrial businesses. | IndiaB2B commerce, SME financing and industrial procurement | OfBusiness scaled a procurement and financing platform for Indian small businesses. | OfBusiness turned fragmented industrial buying into a technology-enabled credit and commerce system. | 89.7 |
| 33 | BrowserStackBrowserStack provides cloud-based testing infrastructure for web and mobile applications. | India and globalSoftware testing infrastructure and developer tools | BrowserStack became a major Indian-origin developer infrastructure company in 2021. | BrowserStack showed that global developer tools can be built from Asian product roots. | 89.4 |
| 34 | ChargebeeChargebee provides subscription billing, revenue recognition and recurring monetization tools. | India and globalSubscription billing and revenue operations SaaS | Chargebee expanded as subscription models became mainstream across software companies. | Chargebee gave recurring-revenue businesses critical billing and monetization infrastructure. | 89.1 |
| 35 | CarsomeCarsome operates online-to-offline used-car inspection, buying and selling services in Southeast Asia. | Malaysia and Southeast AsiaUsed-car commerce, inspection and auto transactions | Carsome became a Southeast Asian auto-commerce unicorn in 2021. | Carsome professionalized a high-friction used-car market through inspection and digital commerce. | 88.8 |
| 36 | CarroCarro provides used-car transactions, financing, insurance and technology-enabled vehicle services. | Singapore and Southeast AsiaUsed-car marketplace, financing and auto services | Carro's 2021 financing strengthened its position in regional auto commerce. | Carro combined car transactions, financing, insurance and technology in one platform. | 88.5 |
| 37 | XenditXendit provides payment APIs, disbursements, online payments and financial infrastructure for businesses. | Indonesia and Southeast AsiaPayments infrastructure and financial APIs | Xendit became a fintech infrastructure standout in Southeast Asia in 2021. | Xendit built payment rails for merchants operating across fragmented regional markets. | 88.2 |
| 38 | AjaibAjaib offers Indonesian users app-based access to stocks, funds and investment products. | IndonesiaRetail investing and digital brokerage | Ajaib reached unicorn status in 2021 as Indonesian retail investing accelerated. | Ajaib opened capital-market participation to a younger mobile-first investor base. | 87.9 |
| 39 | Ninja VanNinja Van provides parcel delivery and logistics services across Southeast Asian markets. | Singapore and Southeast AsiaE-commerce logistics and parcel delivery | Ninja Van secured major financing in 2021 to scale regional delivery infrastructure. | Ninja Van became one of Southeast Asia's key logistics enablers for online commerce. | 87.6 |
| 40 | J&T ExpressJ&T Express provides parcel delivery and logistics services across Indonesia and wider Asian markets. | Indonesia and regional marketsExpress delivery and cross-border logistics | J&T Express expanded across fast-growing Asian e-commerce corridors in 2021. | J&T Express showed how parcel logistics could scale through operational density and regional ambition. | 87.3 |
| 41 | TravelokaTraveloka provides flight, hotel, attraction and local lifestyle bookings across Southeast Asia. | Indonesia and Southeast AsiaOnline travel, local services and lifestyle booking | Traveloka remained a leading digital travel platform as regional mobility demand recovered unevenly in 2021. | Traveloka connected travel, payments and local services for Southeast Asian consumers. | 87 |
| 42 | KlookKlook provides activity, attraction, transport and destination service bookings. | Hong Kong and international marketsTravel experiences, activities and in-destination services | Klook adapted its travel-experience platform to a constrained but reopening travel environment in 2021. | Klook represented the shift from transport booking to experience-led travel commerce. | 86.7 |
| 43 | Kopi KenanganKopi Kenangan operates a technology-enabled coffee chain with mobile ordering and affordable premium positioning. | IndonesiaNew retail coffee, consumer brand and digital ordering | Kopi Kenangan reached unicorn status in 2021 with a fast-scaling coffee retail model. | Kopi Kenangan made affordable premium coffee a technology-enabled consumer platform. | 86.4 |
| 44 | PintuPintu provides app-based crypto trading and digital asset education for Indonesian users. | IndonesiaCrypto trading, digital assets and retail investment access | Pintu grew rapidly in 2021 as Indonesian digital-asset adoption accelerated. | Pintu brought simpler crypto access to a new generation of Indonesian retail users. | 86.1 |
| 45 | AkulakuAkulaku provides digital credit, installment finance and commerce services across Southeast Asia. | Indonesia and Southeast AsiaConsumer finance, e-commerce and digital credit | Akulaku remained a major regional platform for credit-led digital commerce. | Akulaku connected underbanked consumers with purchasing power and financial services. | 85.8 |
| 46 | KredivoKredivo provides instant credit and installment checkout services for consumers and merchants. | Indonesia and regional marketsBuy-now-pay-later, consumer credit and fintech infrastructure | Kredivo expanded digital credit relevance across Southeast Asian commerce. | Kredivo showed how installment finance could become an embedded checkout layer. | 85.5 |
| 47 | KitopiKitopi operates managed kitchen infrastructure for restaurant brands and delivery demand. | United Arab Emirates and regional marketsCloud kitchens, food technology and managed restaurant infrastructure | Kitopi became a major West Asian food-tech platform in 2021. | Kitopi industrialized kitchen operations for digital food brands and delivery demand. | 85.2 |
| 48 | TabbyTabby provides installment payments and checkout finance for merchants and consumers in Gulf markets. | United Arab Emirates and Saudi ArabiaBuy-now-pay-later and merchant checkout finance | Tabby expanded merchant adoption in Gulf consumer commerce in 2021. | Tabby helped make flexible checkout finance a mainstream regional retail tool. | 84.9 |
| 49 | TamaraTamara provides buy-now-pay-later and consumer payment tools in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf. | Saudi Arabia and Gulf marketsBuy-now-pay-later and consumer fintech | Tamara scaled as Saudi digital commerce and fintech adoption accelerated in 2021. | Tamara gave Gulf retailers a local, mobile-first installment finance layer. | 84.6 |
| 50 | Noon.comNoon.com operates marketplace, delivery and digital retail services across Gulf markets. | United Arab Emirates and Saudi ArabiaE-commerce, delivery and digital retail | Noon continued building a regional e-commerce and logistics alternative in 2021. | Noon strengthened West Asia's domestic digital retail infrastructure. | 84.3 |
| 51 | Pure Harvest Smart FarmsPure Harvest Smart Farms grows produce through climate-controlled agriculture suited to arid markets. | United Arab EmiratesControlled-environment agriculture and food security technology | Pure Harvest expanded high-tech greenhouse agriculture in arid markets. | Pure Harvest made food security and climate-resilient agriculture commercially visible. | 84 |
| 52 | Viva RepublicaViva Republica operates Toss across payments, banking, securities, credit and financial services. | South KoreaMobile finance, banking, payments and securities | Toss continued building a broad financial super-app ecosystem in 2021. | Viva Republica turned Korean fintech into a multi-product consumer finance platform. | 83.7 |
| 53 | DunamuDunamu operates Upbit and related digital asset technology services. | South KoreaDigital asset exchange and fintech infrastructure | Upbit's market position made Dunamu one of Korea's most visible fintech companies in 2021. | Dunamu showed the scale of digital-asset infrastructure in Korea's retail finance culture. | 83.4 |
| 54 | YanoljaYanolja provides accommodation booking, travel services and hospitality software. | South Korea and international marketsTravel booking, accommodation technology and hospitality software | Yanolja attracted major capital in 2021 to expand travel and hospitality technology. | Yanolja connected booking demand with hotel operating systems and regional expansion. | 83.1 |
| 55 | KurlyKurly operates a fresh-food and premium grocery delivery platform built around cold-chain execution. | South KoreaPremium grocery, fresh delivery and food commerce | Kurly strengthened its premium grocery position as home delivery demand remained elevated. | Kurly made cold-chain grocery a differentiated consumer platform in Korea. | 82.8 |
| 56 | KraftonKrafton develops and publishes games and expands gaming intellectual property into wider entertainment formats. | South Korea and globalGaming, intellectual property and interactive entertainment | Krafton's 2021 listing made Korean gaming one of Asia's leading public growth categories. | Krafton turned game IP into a global entertainment platform. | 82.5 |
| 57 | SendbirdSendbird provides chat, messaging and communication infrastructure for apps and digital products. | South Korea and globalMessaging APIs, chat infrastructure and customer engagement | Sendbird scaled as enterprises embedded real-time communications into products. | Sendbird gave Asian SaaS a global communications-infrastructure story. | 82.2 |
| 58 | MolocoMoloco provides machine-learning advertising technology for mobile apps and digital commerce. | South Korea and globalMachine learning advertising and performance marketing software | Moloco reached unicorn status in 2021 with machine-learning ad infrastructure. | Moloco applied advanced ad technology to mobile commerce and app growth. | 81.9 |
| 59 | RiiidRiiid develops adaptive learning and test-preparation technology using artificial intelligence. | South Korea and globalAI education, adaptive learning and test preparation | Riiid raised major growth capital in 2021 for AI-driven education products. | Riiid represented Korea's push to globalize AI learning infrastructure. | 81.6 |
| 60 | SmartHRSmartHR provides cloud-based human resources and employment workflow software for Japanese companies. | JapanHuman resources SaaS and workflow automation | SmartHR became one of Japan's clearest enterprise SaaS growth stories in 2021. | SmartHR digitized employment administration in a market with deep legacy processes. | 81.3 |
| 61 | SmartNewsSmartNews operates a news discovery app with algorithmic distribution and international reach. | Japan and United StatesNews discovery, media technology and mobile content | SmartNews secured major financing in 2021 to support international news discovery. | SmartNews showed that Japanese consumer software could compete beyond its home market. | 81 |
| 62 | SpiberSpiber develops protein-based materials for apparel and industrial applications. | JapanBiomaterials, protein fibers and sustainable materials | Spiber advanced the commercialization of next-generation biomaterials in 2021. | Spiber made sustainable materials a credible industrial technology watch category. | 80.7 |
| 63 | PaidyPaidy provides buy-now-pay-later and postpay services for Japanese consumers and merchants. | JapanBuy-now-pay-later and consumer checkout finance | Paidy's 2021 acquisition validated Japan's BNPL market potential. | Paidy made installment checkout relevant in a historically cash and card-oriented market. | 80.4 |
| 64 | PayPayPayPay provides QR payments, merchant acceptance and consumer financial services in Japan. | JapanMobile payments and merchant acceptance | PayPay remained Japan's most visible QR payment platform in 2021. | PayPay accelerated Japan's move from cash habits toward mobile payments. | 80.1 |
| 65 | AstroscaleAstroscale develops technology for orbital debris removal and on-orbit servicing. | Japan and international marketsSpace sustainability and orbital debris removal | Astroscale advanced commercial space-sustainability missions and financing in 2021. | Astroscale made orbital debris removal an investable Asian deep-tech category. | 79.8 |
| 66 | Woven Planet HoldingsWoven Planet develops mobility software, automated-driving systems and connected vehicle technologies. | Japan and globalMobility software, automated driving and connected vehicle systems | Woven Planet expanded Toyota's software-first mobility ambitions in 2021. | Woven Planet signaled that automotive leadership was moving toward software platforms. | 79.5 |
| 67 | AppierAppier provides AI-based marketing, decisioning and customer engagement software for enterprises. | Taiwan and JapanAI SaaS, marketing automation and enterprise software | Appier listed in Tokyo in 2021 as an Asian AI SaaS company. | Appier showed cross-border enterprise software capability from a Taiwan-rooted company. | 79.2 |
| 68 | GogoroGogoro develops electric scooters, swappable batteries and charging networks for urban mobility. | Taiwan and international marketsElectric scooters, battery swapping and urban mobility | Gogoro advanced its public-market path and battery-swapping ecosystem in 2021. | Gogoro offered one of Asia's clearest urban battery-swapping models. | 78.9 |
| 69 | KKdayKKday provides activities, local tours, destination services and merchant tools for travel experiences. | Taiwan and international marketsTravel experiences and destination commerce | KKday continued building a regional experience marketplace despite travel disruption. | KKday kept the in-destination travel category investable during a difficult mobility year. | 78.6 |
| 70 | 91APP91APP provides omnichannel commerce software for brands, merchants and retailers. | TaiwanCommerce SaaS, omnichannel retail and merchant software | 91APP listed in 2021 as a commerce enablement platform for brands and retailers. | 91APP helped merchants build direct digital commerce capabilities. | 78.3 |
| 71 | 17LIVE17LIVE operates live-streaming and creator monetization services across Asian markets. | Taiwan and regional marketsLive streaming, creator monetization and social entertainment | 17LIVE remained a major Asian live-streaming platform in 2021. | 17LIVE linked creators, entertainment and monetization across regional markets. | 78 |
| 72 | SenseTimeSenseTime develops computer vision, AI platforms and applied AI products for enterprise and city use cases. | China and AsiaArtificial intelligence, computer vision and AI platforms | SenseTime completed its Hong Kong listing process at the end of 2021. | SenseTime remained one of Asia's most visible AI infrastructure companies. | 77.7 |
| 73 | Horizon RoboticsHorizon Robotics develops automotive AI chips and computing platforms for intelligent vehicles. | ChinaAutomotive AI chips and edge computing | Horizon Robotics advanced intelligent-driving chip adoption in 2021. | Horizon Robotics was strategically important to China's software-defined vehicle supply chain. | 77.4 |
| 74 | Pony.aiPony.ai develops autonomous driving systems and robotaxi technology. | China and international marketsAutonomous driving systems and robotaxi technology | Pony.ai continued developing autonomous mobility technology in 2021. | Pony.ai kept autonomous driving on Asia's strategic technology watch list. | 77.1 |
| 75 | WeRideWeRide develops autonomous driving platforms for robotaxis, urban mobility and related vehicle applications. | China and international marketsAutonomous driving, robotaxi and autonomous vehicle platforms | WeRide expanded autonomous mobility testing and partnerships in 2021. | WeRide represented a broad autonomous-driving platform approach across passenger and urban mobility use cases. | 76.8 |
| 76 | XtalPiXtalPi applies AI, physics and computation to pharmaceutical discovery and development. | China and globalAI drug discovery, computational chemistry and pharmaceutical technology | XtalPi advanced AI-enabled drug discovery collaborations in 2021. | XtalPi showed how Asian life-science technology could combine physics, AI and pharmaceutical workflows. | 76.5 |
| 77 | Insilico MedicineInsilico Medicine develops AI tools and drug discovery programs for therapeutics. | Hong Kong and globalAI drug discovery and longevity biotechnology | Insilico Medicine attracted significant attention for AI-enabled therapeutic discovery in 2021. | Insilico linked Asian biotech ambition with global pharmaceutical AI workflows. | 76.2 |
| 78 | PingCAPPingCAP develops TiDB and distributed database technologies for cloud-native workloads. | China and globalDistributed databases and cloud infrastructure software | PingCAP continued expanding TiDB and cloud-native database adoption. | PingCAP gave Asia a globally relevant open-source database infrastructure company. | 75.9 |
| 79 | Tuya SmartTuya Smart provides cloud infrastructure and developer tools for smart devices. | China and globalIoT cloud, smart devices and developer infrastructure | Tuya Smart listed in 2021 and served a broad smart-device developer ecosystem. | Tuya became a connective platform for global IoT products and consumer-device software. | 75.6 |
| 80 | LalamoveLalamove provides same-day and on-demand delivery services for individuals and businesses. | Hong Kong and AsiaOn-demand logistics, freight matching and last-mile delivery | Lalamove remained a major Asian intra-city logistics platform in 2021. | Lalamove digitized fragmented delivery demand for businesses and consumers. | 75.3 |
| 81 | JD HealthJD Health provides online healthcare, pharmacy and consultation services. | ChinaOnline healthcare, pharmacy and telemedicine | JD Health expanded digital healthcare relevance after its public-market debut cycle. | JD Health connected pharmacy, consultation and healthcare commerce at national scale. | 75 |
| 82 | Dingdong MaicaiDingdong Maicai provides fresh groceries through front warehouses and urban delivery operations. | ChinaFresh grocery delivery and urban food commerce | Dingdong Maicai listed in 2021 as fresh grocery delivery became a major urban category. | Dingdong Maicai represented China's intense experimentation in fresh-food logistics. | 74.7 |
| 83 | LinklogisLinklogis provides technology for supply-chain finance, receivables and trade-credit workflows. | ChinaSupply-chain finance technology and enterprise platforms | Linklogis listed in 2021 as a supply-chain finance technology company. | Linklogis made trade finance and supply-chain data a software platform category. | 74.4 |
| 84 | Genki ForestGenki Forest develops sugar-free and functional beverages for China's new consumer market. | ChinaFunctional beverages and new consumer brands | Genki Forest continued expanding China's new beverage category in 2021. | Genki Forest showed how product iteration and digital channels could create new consumer brands. | 74.1 |
| 85 | Pop MartPop Mart develops designer toy IP, blind-box retail and collectible consumer products. | China and international marketsDesigner toys, IP retail and collectible culture | Pop Mart maintained strong cultural-commerce visibility in 2021. | Pop Mart turned blind-box collectibles and artist IP into a scalable consumer platform. | 73.8 |
| 86 | BilibiliBilibili operates video communities, games, live streaming and creator content for Chinese youth audiences. | ChinaYouth media, video communities, games and creators | Bilibili's 2021 Hong Kong listing reinforced its role in China's youth content economy. | Bilibili gave community video and creator culture a durable public-market identity. | 73.5 |
| 87 | Biren TechnologyBiren Technology develops high-performance processors for AI and general computing workloads. | ChinaAI accelerators and advanced semiconductor design | Biren Technology advanced high-performance AI chip development in 2021. | Biren represented China's ambition to build domestic computing infrastructure. | 73.2 |
| 88 | Moore ThreadsMoore Threads develops graphics processing and parallel-computing technologies. | ChinaGPU design and graphics computing | Moore Threads emerged as a watched Chinese GPU company in 2021. | Moore Threads addressed a strategic gap in graphics and parallel-computing capability. | 72.9 |
| 89 | Black Sesame TechnologiesBlack Sesame Technologies develops AI chips and perception computing for intelligent vehicles. | ChinaAutomotive AI chips and perception computing | Black Sesame Technologies raised significant capital for intelligent vehicle chips in 2021. | Black Sesame supported the hardware layer behind autonomous and assisted driving. | 72.6 |
| 90 | Hesai TechnologyHesai develops LiDAR sensors used in autonomous driving, robotics and smart mobility. | China and globalLiDAR sensors and autonomous mobility hardware | Hesai expanded as LiDAR became central to autonomous and smart-vehicle perception. | Hesai made precision sensing a strategic EV and autonomy component category. | 72.3 |
| 91 | RoboSenseRoboSense develops smart LiDAR and perception systems for autonomous and assisted driving. | China and international marketsLiDAR systems and perception technology | RoboSense advanced smart LiDAR products and automotive partnerships in 2021. | RoboSense connected sensor hardware with the future of intelligent mobility. | 72 |
| 92 | MomentaMomenta develops autonomous driving software using data-driven approaches and automotive partnerships. | China and globalAutonomous driving software and data-driven autonomy | Momenta secured major backing for scalable autonomous driving systems in 2021. | Momenta was important because autonomy needed data, software and deployment partnerships. | 71.7 |
| 93 | DeepRoute.aiDeepRoute.ai develops autonomous driving systems and robotaxi technology. | China and international marketsAutonomous driving and robotaxi systems | DeepRoute.ai raised substantial financing in 2021 for autonomous-driving commercialization. | DeepRoute.ai strengthened China's competitive field in robotaxi technology. | 71.4 |
| 94 | Enflame TechnologyEnflame Technology develops AI chips for cloud data centers and training workloads. | ChinaAI chips, cloud training and data-center acceleration | Enflame Technology advanced data-center AI acceleration in 2021. | Enflame reflected rising demand for domestic AI computing hardware. | 71.1 |
| 95 | Hozon AutoHozon Auto develops electric vehicles under the Neta brand for broader consumer segments. | ChinaElectric vehicles and smart mobility | Hozon Auto's Neta brand grew as China's EV market broadened beyond premium buyers. | Hozon showed that mass-market EV challengers could gain visibility in 2021. | 70.8 |
| 96 | HepsiburadaHepsiburada operates a Turkish e-commerce marketplace and digital retail platform. | TurkeyE-commerce, marketplace and digital retail services | Hepsiburada listed internationally in 2021 as Turkish e-commerce gained visibility. | Hepsiburada gave Turkey another public digital retail platform alongside larger private-market peers. | 70.5 |
| 97 | Dream GamesDream Games develops mobile games for international casual and puzzle-game audiences. | Turkey and globalMobile gaming and puzzle entertainment | Dream Games became a fast-rising Turkish gaming company in 2021. | Dream Games showed how Turkish mobile-game studios could scale globally with focused execution. | 70.2 |
| 98 | monday.commonday.com provides collaborative work operating software for teams and enterprises. | Israel and globalWork management SaaS and collaboration software | monday.com listed in 2021 as work software demand accelerated. | monday.com made Israeli SaaS a mainstream global productivity platform story. | 69.9 |
| 99 | WizWiz provides cloud security posture management and risk visibility for enterprises. | Israel and globalCloud security and enterprise cybersecurity | Wiz became one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies of 2021. | Wiz addressed the security layer of cloud migration with unusual speed. | 69.6 |
| 100 | RapydRapyd provides payment collection, disbursement, wallet and embedded finance infrastructure across markets. | Israel, Singapore and globalPayments infrastructure, wallets and embedded finance | Rapyd scaled global fintech infrastructure in 2021. | Rapyd connected payment methods, compliance and embedded finance across markets. | 69.3 |
The edition is an InfluenceAsia editorial and research assessment of rising-company momentum during the 2021 annual window.
Ranking model
InfluenceAsia applied a 100-point editorial research model across seven dimensions: 2021 Momentum, Market Contribution, Technology And Product Depth, Commercial Traction, Strategic Relevance, Regional And Global Reach, and Governance And Durability Signal.
Evaluation period
The editorial record was assessed through 31 December 2021. Later market corrections, valuation resets, post-2021 failures, mergers, fraud allegations, governance disputes, bankruptcies, delistings, regulatory penalties, product pivots, recoveries or reputation changes are not used as ranking evidence in this edition.
Contribution screen
High placement requires a clear 2021 contribution: public listing, major financing, category-defining growth, product maturity, platform merger, technology progress, infrastructure relevance, enterprise adoption, consumer behavior change or regional expansion.
Evidence type
Review considered public operating records, company announcements, listing documents, product activity, market presence, commercial traction, financing and listing milestones, customer relevance, technology claims visible by 2021, geographic reach, sector impact and organizational credibility.
Comparability rule
Companies were normalized first within sector and jurisdiction, then compared across the Asian rising-company ecosystem. A public e-commerce platform, private AI chip company, digital bank, EV maker, SaaS company, logistics platform and cloud-security company are not measured by identical indicators.
Watch-list rule
Inclusion is not a declaration that a company is the largest, safest, most profitable or most valuable in its category. The list identifies companies whose 2021 momentum made them strategically important to watch.
Title and naming rule
Companies are listed under their 2021 commonly recognized company or platform name. Parent-company names are used when the listed or operating entity was more appropriate for business identification.
Integrity rule
InfluenceAsia excludes unverifiable companies, non-operating shells, pure investment vehicles, government bodies, companies selected only for rumor or valuation, and businesses whose relevance cannot be supported by public operating evidence visible in 2021.
Independence rule
InfluenceAsia does not copy, import or mechanically average external rankings, unicorn lists, funding databases, IPO tables, valuation screens, investor portfolios, accelerator cohorts, awards lists, media rosters or stock-market leaderboards.
Editorial judgment
Final placement reflects InfluenceAsia's independent editorial judgment after research normalization. The index is not a valuation ranking, investment recommendation, credit opinion, due-diligence report, endorsement product, legal certification, financial advice or definitive measure of company quality.
InfluenceAsia Watch 100: Asia's Rising Companies 2021 is an original editorial and research ranking prepared under the InfluenceAsia name. The ranking structure, annual thesis, research dimensions, written summaries, ordering logic and presentation language are original to this edition.
Inclusion does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, investment recommendation, employment relationship, legal certification, credit rating, procurement approval, customer recommendation or commercial affiliation between InfluenceAsia and any listed company, founder, shareholder, investor, employee, customer, government body, exchange, regulator, product or rights holder.
The order is not copied from any external awards body, unicorn list, valuation table, funding database, IPO league table, stock-market screen, accelerator list, investor portfolio, media list, conference roster or institutional scorecard.
The ranking is business analysis and editorial opinion. It is not legal advice, investment advice, credit advice, accounting advice, valuation advice, procurement advice, securities research or a definitive measure of company performance.