Forbes on Wednesday removed Singapore-based tech CEO Harsh Dala from its 30 Under 30 Asia list for 2021. The 19-year-old Dalal is the co-founder and CEO of a software development company called Team Labs.
An update released by Forbes to the list said that Dalal’s “removal comes after a careful consideration of the findings of a comprehensive review of the information that was used to qualify him for the list, as well as new information that has come to light in recent days”.
Dalal was included in the list when it was released on April 20. However, subsequently inconsistencies were found in the company and Dalal's story.
Tech In Asia, a tech media company, published an article on May 12 in which it pointed out discrepancies in Team Labs' funding and investors. The article also found issues related to the number of employees in the company with different numbers being cited in different places.
“Forbes holds itself to the highest standards of journalism, and that includes the integrity of the 30 Under 30 Asia list. The information that we now know about Dalal supports our decision that he should no longer be included on the 30 Under 30 Asia list, and we have taken significant steps to further tighten our evaluation processes,” said Forbes.