Aaron Tan

Aaron Tan co-founded Carro in 2015 with Aditya Lesmana and Kelvin Chng, setting out to bring greater transparency to the used-car industry at a time when buying and selling vehicles was opaque, fragmented and largely offline. Today, the Singapore-headquartered company has grown into one of Southeast Asia’s largest automotive marketplaces, operating across Asia-Pacific. It has raised more than S$700 million from investors, including SoftBank Vision Fund and sovereign wealth funds. In FY2025, Carro posted record revenue of S$1.2 billion and gross profit of S$149 million, while maintaining positive Ebitda of S$43 million.

Once described by Tan in a Gen.T interview as the “Alibaba of cars”, Carro has developed proprietary technology spanning vehicle inspections, pricing, financing and ownership transfers. Its AI-powered inspection system analyses vehicle images to detect potential issues before human mechanics carry out further checks, reducing human error by 80 per cent and shortening transaction times by up to 20 per cent.

As artificial intelligence reshapes how companies are built and operated, Tan has become increasingly focused on how the technology can transform the way organisations hire, operate and create value. Under his leadership, Carro has embedded AI across functions including finance, operations, marketing and human resources through internally developed applications. Beyond the business, he is pursuing a doctorate in artificial intelligence, exploring how machine learning can identify traits such as ambition, perseverance and “hunger” in future talent.

Tan is also a founding member of BLK71, Singapore's startup ecosystem, and serves in a number of public and non-profit roles, including as patron of the Toa Payoh East CCMC, a board member of the National Library Board, a trustee of the Singapore University of Social Sciences, and a board member of SMU's Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Recognised for his entrepreneurial spirit, Tan has received numerous accolades, including being named Singapore Computer Society’s Tech Leader of the Year 2024.