As the global business landscape continues to witness unprecedented changes and challenges in 2023, entrepreneurs across various industries are taking charge of changing the game, playing a critical role in driving innovation and shaping the economy. Every year, Forbes recognizes the most influential and successful entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing their respective fields, and Forbes Brunei’s Powerlist 2023 is no exception. This exclusive list features entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, each with their own unique approach to solving complex business challenges, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, a passion for innovation, and a commitment to creating a better future for their industries and the world. Let’s take a closer look at the journeys of these inspiring entrepreneurs and explore the impact they are making in their industries.
1. Sam Altman
Sam Altman is a dynamic entrepreneur and investor who has made a significant impact on the startup world. As the former president of Y Combinator, one of the world’s most influential startup accelerators, Altman has helped to launch and grow some of the most successful companies in recent years, including Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe. He is also the co-founder of OpenAI, the research organization that created the wildly popular AI language model, ChatGPT.
Altman’s passion for technology and entrepreneurship has been evident throughout his career. He co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking app, while still a student at Stanford University. Since then, he has been an active investor and advisor, supporting startups across a wide range of industries.
Altman is also a committed philanthropist and political activist, advocating for causes like universal basic income and criminal justice reform. With his innovative ideas and tireless work ethic, Sam Altman is a true game-changer in the world of entrepreneurship.
2. Alex Hormozi
Alex Hormozi is an entrepreneur, speaker, business consultant, and YouTuber known for his expertise in scaling businesses from the ground up. He is the founder of Acquisition.com, a company that specializes in helping businesses increase revenue and profitability through targeted acquisition strategies.
Hormozi’s inspirational success story started from being a personal fitness trainer. But soon, he realized his true passion was in helping businesses scale. He founded Gym Launch, a fitness business consultancy that helped gym owners around the world achieve profitability. The company became a massive success, earning over $100 million in revenue in just four years.
With Acquisition.com, Hormozi uses his expertise to help businesses across diverse industries achieve similar levels of success. He is also a highly sought-after speaker and consultant who has worked with some of the world’s leading businesses and organizations. He is a regular guest on podcasts and other media outlets, where he shares his insights on entrepreneurship and business growth.
3. Alex Lehman
Alex Lehman is an accomplished entrepreneur who’s the CEO and Founder of Drip Digital Media. With over 8 years of digital marketing experience and 2 years as a Social Media Analyst at Facebook, Alex has honed his skills and expertise in executing unparalleled growth strategies for clients across various industries.
Alex’s exceptional team at Drip Digital Media comprises a combined experience of over 50 years in digital media and content management. Alex and his team are adept at creating growth strategies for all social media platforms.
Currently, Alex is working on developing innovative software that enables his clients to harness the full potential of social media. His visionary approach to marketing has earned him a well-deserved reputation as a respected industry leader committed to driving businesses to unprecedented heights. With his expertise and forward-thinking mentality, Alex is sure to continue making waves in the digital industry for years to come.
4. Mo Kumarsi
Mo Kumarsi is a blockchain expert, investor, and advisor with a passion for helping people reach their full potential. With 6 years of experience in crypto and over 14 years of marketing experience, Mo has helped several technological innovators, including ICOs, IDOs, and IEOs, disrupt the industry. As a thought leader and educator, he has managed and led teams globally into the hundreds of thousands.
Mo is an advocate for blockchain technology and decentralization and provides value by enhancing projects through strategic relationships. Currently, he is the CEO of REV3AL Technology, which provides distributed ledger and data database protection services to protect creators, brands, and IP owners while ensuring the authenticity of digital media assets through licensing of patent-pending digital watermark systems.
Mo is well known for his expertise in blockchain advisory, Metaverse, DeFi, NFTs, and crypto, as well as for his philanthropic efforts and giving back to the community.
5. Guillermo Aharom Abendaño Duque
Guillermo Aharom Abendaño Duque is an Ecuadorian serial entrepreneur. Guillermo started his journey in America as an immigrant who did not know any English; fast forward to today, and he is a 6-figure business owner and investor.
Guillermo’s main business, Exotica Hookah, has tripled its revenue since its inception in 2021. He also has a marketing agency called “AYVI” that helps companies automate their marketing strategies with AI.
Guillermo is also a trader and crypto investor, having kicked off his investment journey by buying BTC at $8k. He is also well-known for throwing yacht parties, millionaire networking events, and being heavily connected in Hollywood’s hospitality industry. Moreover, Guillermo is a passionate member of the Ecuadorian non-profit organization, Warmis and Karis.
In the coming years, Guillermo plans to help people reach financial freedom for free, help thousands of businesses with automation, and have multiple exotic hookah lounges around the world.
6. Jackenson Verdul
Jackenson Verdul is a renowned entrepreneur, Forex trader, and coach known for his unique “Jackpot” strategy that has turned numerous Forex novices into profitable traders in a short period. Through his company, FX Capital Online, he guides his students toward personal development, community building, and acquiring Forex trading skills.
Verdul’s strategy emphasizes understanding market trends, technical analysis, and disciplined risk management. He recently released a trading algorithm powered by AI technology called “The Jackbot,” which has made it easier for people to create passive income without manual trading.
With over 300,000 followers and subscribers on Instagram and YouTube, Verdul’s coaching and mentorship have reached a global audience, earning him a reputation as a leading figure in the Forex trading community. His platform provides the necessary tools and knowledge for aspiring traders to leverage the multi-billion-dollar Forex market while also enhancing their skills in personal development, spirituality, and team building.
7. Guy Sheetrit
Guy Sheetrit is the Founder and CEO of Over The Top SEO (OTT). His marketing acumen in the crypto, SEO, and digital marketing spaces has helped generate over $1 billion for his clients in the last five years, making him a rising authority in these industries.
As an early investor in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, Guy is one of the leading voices in the crypto, Metaverse, blockchain, and NFT spaces. He has launched 37 projects, and 14 of those sold out in 2022 alone.
Guy also dominates the organic SEO space worldwide, tailoring SEO, digital marketing, automation, AI, and cybersecurity solutions for Fortune 500 companies. He represents leading brands such as TedX, SkyScanner.com, FindUSNow.com, CryptoExchange.com, and Hot.com and has been ranked as one of the world’s top 5 SEO authorities by Forbes and Inc.
8. André Abdoune
André Abdoune is a billionaire entrepreneur whose expertise in bitcoin trading has earned him a net worth of $6.7 billion. He is a pioneer in the crypto world, and his industry insights are highly valued by investors and entrepreneurs alike.
André believes in the power of technology to create a better world for all. This belief drove him to launch a groundbreaking project that promises to revolutionize the blockchain, human, and gaming industries. With an estimated worth of $20 billion, this project is a brainchild of Andre’s vision and unwavering commitment to innovation and progress.
André Abdoune is known as the ‘pure metronome’ of the blockchain industry. His mission to make a difference in the world is rooted in a more prominent cause of benefiting future generations, as he explains, “There is nothing that makes me happier than bringing a smile to the face of a child.”
9. Manifest George
Manifest George is a Kenyan-born entrepreneur and a true embodiment of the adage, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Growing up amidst extreme adversities, he never let his circumstances deter him from achieving his dreams.
George is the founder of a successful Airbnb business and a car rental company, called The Prince Exotics, that generated $4.5 million in just three years. His next goal is to own 50 cars and 50 Airbnbs. George’s entrepreneurial success is driven by his passion for inspiring others to achieve extraordinary things and break free from the limits of their circumstances.
Despite his achievements, George remains humble and grateful for his journey. He is committed to helping others achieve their goals and shares his knowledge and experience with those starting out on their own entrepreneurial paths. George’s incredible journey from East Africa to living the American dream is a true testament to his power of perseverance and ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
10. Emily Bergh
Emily Reynolds Bergh is an experienced marketing and public relations professional. She’s the Founder of R Public Relations, a boutique PR firm based in Nashville, Austin, and New York.
Emily launched R Public Relations in 2011 after pivoting from the F&B industry and hasn’t looked back since. Her firm specializes in technology, hospitality, and business PR, but thanks to Emily’s varied interests and wide breadth of knowledge, it has clients from nearly every industry imaginable. She also holds a master’s in Psychology, which gives her firm an added boost in helping clients navigate their consumers’ minds.
Emily and her firm have been featured in publications like The New York Times, Forbes, INC., Authority Magazine, etc. RPR has also been voted the best PR firm in Nashville 3 years in a row by Upcity, Clutch, and Expertise.
When she’s not busy working, Emily enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.