JAZRO Robotic Academy (JAZRO), a robotics education startup incubated by PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING), has announced an investment of $280,754.26 (MYR1.2 million) from Gobi Partners through the Khazanah Nasional Berhad-backed Gobi Dana Impak Ventures (GDIV) fund.
This strategic investment will enable JAZRO to expand its educational offerings and reach more young learners, nurturing a new generation of tech-savvy innovators, according to a statement on Thursday.
Founded in 2020 by Dzulfarqeish Zainuddin, alongside co-founders Yasser Rabanie and Khoirun Nisah, JAZRO is dedicated to enabling inclusive education for all children through its specially curated robotic education program.
The company’s inception was inspired by the lack of robotics programs available when Dzulfarqeish sought to enrol his son while working as an engineer in Kerteh.
The absence of structured robotics education programs in Malaysia presented a significant gap amidst rising demand for technological advancement.
Since then, JAZRO has expanded its operations to Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu, Chukai, and Cyberjaya, providing robotic education to over 50,000 students.
The company’s engaging curriculum is designed to cater to diverse learning needs, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background or abilities, can thrive in a technology-driven environment.
The program emphasises hands-on experiences in robotics and coding to spark curiosity and ingenuity and has garnered awards from TERAJU SUPERB 2021 and CRADLE MYStartup MYHackathon 2022.
As part of its commitment to providing inclusive robotic education, JAZRO has expanded its business segment to include robotic education specifically tailored for autistic children, delivered by specially trained tutors in collaboration with occupational therapists, to help these children develop cognitive, communication, and social skills.
JAZRO is one of the four employee startups incubated under PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING), PETRONAS’ internal incubator for employees to develop ideas into investible startups.
Established in 2023, PING provides selected employees with entrepreneurship development programmes, coaching, access to resources, and funding, supported by policies that allow them to build their businesses as founders of their own startups.
JAZRO Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Dzulfarqeish Zainuddin said, “We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, discover, and explore the exciting world of robotics”.
PING Chief Executive Officer, Zafirah Bahiyyah Zulkifli, said, “We are immensely proud of JAZRO’s achievements under Dzulfarqeish’s leadership and the positive impact they are making in education.”
Gobi Partners, an Asia-focused venture capital firm, empowers underserved entrepreneurs who drive meaningful community impact and innovation in emerging markets.
The investment in JAZRO reflects Gobi’s mission to bridge the digital divide by supporting startups that provide access to quality education and essential tools for success in the digital economy.
Gobi Partners Managing Partner (Malaysia), Jamaludin Bujang said, “We are confident that with our support, JAZRO will continue to expand its reach and inspire the next generation of innovators across the region.”
GDIV is part of Khazanah’s Future Malaysia Program(FMP), an initiative under the sovereign wealth fund’s Dana Impak (Impact Fund) mandate, with the aim to support the Malaysian start-up ecosystem.
The investment from Gobi Partners will enable JAZRO to expand its reach, enhance its educational programs, and develop innovative robotics solutions.
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