Dinesh Balasingam

At 22, Balasingam took a leap of faith by joining Chope, an online dining discovery and reservation platform and app, instead of attending a prestigious arts university, having opted for a gap year due to his parents’ concerns about the practicality of an arts degree. It was then that he met his co-founder, Chope’s executive chairman and former CEO Arrif Ziaudeen. Surrounded by peers with prestigious degrees, he struggled to feel like he belonged. “I was 22 when I started [as a founding member],” he reflects. “Everybody around me had these amazing degrees and pedigrees that I didn’t.” His determination helped him push through self‑doubt, eventually allowing him to trust his own instincts.

Over the years, Chope has grown significantly, partnering with over 5,000 restaurants and expanding its reach to major cities including Bali, Jakarta, Shanghai, Bangkok, Phuket, and Hong Kong. Beyond restaurant reservations, it has also ventured into e-commerce and marketing.This success eventually led to a milestone many start-up founders only dream about: acquisition.

In July, Chope was acquired by Southeast Asian superapp Grab as part of its omni-commerce strategy for an undisclosed amount. While the competitive market and challenges in securing funding made scaling independently difficult, Balasingam sees the acquisition as a turning point. Though it meant sacrificing some autonomy, it also opened up new opportunities for growth, providing Chope with the resources to continue expanding its platform and services.