JAZRO, a Malaysian robotics education startup, announced an investment of RM1.2 million from Gobi Partners on October 3.
The investment is made through the Gobi Dana Impak Ventures (GDIV) fund. This fund is a part of Khazanah’s Future Malaysia Programme (FMP), an initiative under the sovereign wealth fund’s Dana Impak (Impact Fund) mandate, with the aim to support the Malaysian startup ecosystem.
Founded in 2020 by Ir. Dzulfarqeish Bin Zainuddin, alongside co-founders Yasser Rabanie and Khoirun Nisah, JAZRO was incubated by PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING).
While working as an engineer in Kerteh, Terengganu, Dzulfarqeish was looking to enrol his son in a robotics programme. But he quickly learnt that there was a real lack of such courses in the market.
Realising there was a gap in the market for structured robotics education programmes, especially in more rural areas, he founded JAZRO to enable inclusive education for all children through its specially curated robotic education programme.
Since its inception, JAZRO has expanded its operations to Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu, Chukai, and Cyberjaya, providing robotic education to over 50,000 students.
The edutech startup has also received accolades from TERAJU SUPERB 2021 and CRADLE MYStartup MYHackathon 2022.
Their first VC investment
Speaking with Vulcan Post, Dzulfarqeish shared, “We are very excited for the news because this is our first VC investment. It seems that other people are looking at our work as we are impacting communities in coding and robotics.”
Rather than to address any operational limitations, it was raised strategically to accelerate the startup’s growth and expansion.
“Our vision has always been ambitious, and the new funds will help us seize opportunities to grow our footprint and enhance our digital platforms. It’s about amplifying our impact rather than overcoming a specific challenge.”
Image Credit: JAZRO
Specifically, the fresh funds will be used to open more branches and amp up marketing efforts so JAZRO can reach more students. The branches will be focused on underserved regions in the country, making robotics education accessible to a broader range of students, especially in rural areas.
The investment will also go towards expanding the educational offerings, such as upgrading the digital learning platforms, making them more engaging and interactive.
“We’ll continue training tutors and collaborating with occupational therapists to provide personalised education that helps children develop cognitive and social skills through robotics,” Dzulfarqeish added.
The startup will also invest in emerging technologies like AI and machine learning to integrate into the robotics curriculum so students are equipped with future-ready skills.
“Our ultimate goal is to develop more digital talents who will shape the future, both locally in Malaysia and on a global scale,” Dzulfarqeish said.
Standing out against the rest
Nowadays, robotics education has become quite commonplace. But Dzulfarqeish believes that JAZRO is doing a few things differently.
“First, our programmes are designed with inclusivity at the core,” he pointed out. “We cater to a wide spectrum of children, including neurodiverse with different backgrounds and abilities, and we curated a special curriculum for autistic students, delivered by specially trained tutors and supported by occupational therapists.”
The founder believes that this focus on tailored education is rare in robotics education.
JAZRO also has an experiential learning approach whereby students don’t just learn theory, but can actively build, code, and engage in real-world problem-solving through robotics.
And of course, JAZRO’s reach beyond Klang Valley is rather vital to the startup, too.
“While many robotics programmes are concentrated in urban areas, we’ve expanded to places like Kerteh and Kemaman which to be specific are in the East Coast, providing access to robotics education in underserved parts of the country,” Dzulfarqeish added.
Another unique offering is JAZRO’s Al-Jazari module, reflecting the startup’s focus on embedding Islamic teaching into its curriculum.
This integration helps differentiate the company by appealing to parents and students who value a holistic educational approach that combines technical knowledge and strong moral values.
Supported and recognised by notable names like Petronas and now Gobi Partners, Dzulfarqeish is a step closer to making JAZRO a leading robotics education provider not only in Malaysia but across Southeast Asia.
Featured Image Credit: JAZRO