JAZRO Robotic Academy (JAZRO), a pioneering robotics education startup incubated by Petronas Innovation Garage (PING), has successfully secured a substantial investment of RM1.2 million from Gobi Partners through the Khazanah Nasional Berhad-backed Gobi Dana Impak Ventures (GDIV) fund. This strategic funding aims to enhance JAZRO's educational offerings and broaden its reach, nurturing a new generation of tech-savvy innovators across Malaysia.
Founded in 2020 by Ir. Dzulfarqeish Bin Zainuddin, along with Co-Founders Yasser Rabanie and Khoirun Nisah, JAZRO is dedicated to providing inclusive robotics education for all children. The inception of the startup was inspired by the limited availability of robotics programs when Dzulfarqeish sought to enroll his son while working as an engineer in Kerteh. The scarcity of structured robotics education in Malaysia highlighted a significant gap amid the rising demand for technological advancement. Since its establishment, JAZRO has expanded its operations to multiple locations, including Kerteh, Kuala Terengganu, Chukai, and Cyberjaya, offering robotics education to over 50,000 students.
The engaging curriculum at JAZRO is specifically tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs, ensuring that every child, regardless of background or abilities, can thrive in a technology-driven environment. The program emphasizes hands-on experiences in robotics and coding, designed to ignite curiosity and creativity among students. JAZRO has received accolades for its innovative approach, including recognition from TERAJU SUPERB 2021 and the CRADLE MYStartup MYHackathon 2022. In a notable commitment to inclusivity, JAZRO has launched a specialized segment aimed at autistic children, facilitated by specially trained tutors in collaboration with occupational therapists to help develop cognitive, communication, and social skills.
As one of the four employee startups incubated under PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING), JAZRO benefits from an internal support system that enables PETRONAS employees to transform their ideas into viable business ventures. Established in 2023, PING provides selected employees with entrepreneurship development programs, coaching, access to resources, and funding, supported by policies designed to empower them to build their businesses as founders.
Expressing gratitude for the significant investment, JAZRO Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder Ir. Dzulfarqeish Bin Zainuddin stated, “We are deeply grateful for this significant investment, which validates our vision and empowers us to accelerate growth. This milestone is a testament to our team’s hard work and the trust our investors have placed in us. We are committed to driving innovation and creating value for the communities we serve. 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 expressed pride in JAZRO’s accomplishments, stating, “We are immensely proud of JAZRO’s achievements under Dzulfarqeish’s leadership and the positive impact they are making in education. As the incubator for employee-driven ventures, our role is to support innovative employees like Dzulfarqeish by providing them with the support they need to build a thriving startup”.
Gobi Partners, a leading venture capital firm focused on empowering underserved entrepreneurs, aims to drive meaningful community impact and foster innovation in emerging markets. The investment in JAZRO aligns with 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. Jamaludin Bujang, Managing Partner (Malaysia) at Gobi Partners, stated, “Our partnership with JAZRO reflects Gobi Partners’ dedication to nurturing startups that drive social impact through technology. 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 Programme (FMP), an initiative under the sovereign wealth fund’s Dana Impak (Impact Fund) mandate. The FMP aims to support the Malaysian startup ecosystem, with Dana Impak serving as a crucial pillar of Khazanah’s Advancing Malaysia strategy. This strategy focuses on delivering socioeconomic impact across six themes: Digital Society and Technology, Quality Health and Education for All, Decent Work and Social Mobility, Food and Energy Security, Building Climate Resilience, and Competing in Global Markets.
With the recent investment from Gobi Partners, JAZRO is poised to broaden its reach, enhance its educational programs, and develop innovative robotics solutions. By making robotics education more accessible, JAZRO aims to equip the younger generation with essential skills to thrive in the digital age and contribute to Malaysia’s economic growth. This investment represents a significant step forward in promoting inclusive education and fostering innovation in the robotics sector, paving the way for a brighter future for Malaysian students.
