JAZRO Robotic Academy, incubated by PETRONAS Innovation Garage, received a RM1.2 million investment from Gobi Partners to expand its robotics education programmes and foster the next generation of tech innovators. This strategic investment aims to enhance digital literacy and support Malaysia’s economic growth.
4 October 2024 – JAZRO Robotic Academy (JAZRO), a pioneering robotics education startup incubated by PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING), has secured a RM1.2 million investment from Gobi Partners through the Gobi Dana Impak Ventures (GDIV) fund, backed by Khazanah Nasional Berhad. This strategic injection of funds will allow JAZRO to expand its educational initiatives and reach a broader range of students, cultivating a generation of tech-savvy innovators in Malaysia.
Founded in 2020 by Ir. Dzulfarqeish Bin Zainuddin, along with co-founders Yasser Rabanie and Khoirun Nisah, JAZRO was born out of a personal need for accessible robotics education. When Dzulfarqeish, an engineer in Kerteh, sought to enrol his son in a robotics programme, he found a significant gap in available options. This inspired the creation of JAZRO, which has since grown to serve over 50,000 students across locations such as Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu, Chukai, and Cyberjaya.
JAZRO’s programmes cater to diverse learning needs, promoting inclusivity and providing every child, regardless of background or ability, with opportunities to thrive in a technology-driven world. Their hands-on robotics and coding courses inspire creativity and have earned accolades, including awards from TERAJU SUPERB 2021 and CRADLE MYStartup MYHackathon 2022. One of JAZRO’s unique offerings includes a specialised curriculum for autistic children, designed in collaboration with occupational therapists to enhance cognitive, communication, and social skills.
As one of four employee startups under PING, JAZRO has benefited from PETRONAS’ commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial ideas. PING, launched in 2023, supports employee-driven startups by offering entrepreneurial training, mentorship, and access to resources.
JAZRO’s CEO and co-founder, Ir. Dzulfarqeish Bin Zainuddin, expressed gratitude for the investment, stating, “This investment validates our vision and empowers us to grow further. We are committed to driving innovation and ensuring every child has the opportunity to explore the exciting world of robotics.”
PING’s CEO, Zafirah Bahiyyah Zulkifli, highlighted the startup’s success, saying, “We are proud of JAZRO’s achievements under Dzulfarqeish’s leadership. Our goal is to support innovative employees in creating thriving startups, and JAZRO is an excellent example of this.”
Gobi Partners, a leading venture capital firm in Asia, focuses on supporting entrepreneurs who create meaningful social impact through technology. By investing in JAZRO, Gobi Partners Managing Partner (Malaysia), Jamaludin Bujang, emphasized the firm’s commitment to fostering startups that bridge the digital divide and drive technological innovation.
GDIV, part of Khazanah’s Future Malaysia Programme (FMP) under the Dana Impak (Impact Fund) mandate, supports the growth of Malaysia’s startup ecosystem. This investment aligns with national objectives like Dasar Pendidikan Digital, which aims to close the gap in digital literacy among students and educators.
JAZRO’s vision is to democratize access to robotics education, equipping Malaysia’s younger generation with the skills necessary to succeed in the digital economy. With this investment, JAZRO is poised to expand its reach, enhance its educational programmes, and develop new innovations, contributing to Malaysia’s broader digital transformation.
