Heaptalk, Jakarta – Doyobi, Singapore’s edtech startup, announced has closed pre-series A funding by raising US$2.8 million. The arrival of this fresh capital was led by Monk’s Hill Ventures (MHV), followed by a row of venture capitals, including Novus Paradigm Capital, XA Network, and Tresmonos Capital.
Additionally, lofty reputable angel investors also joined this fundraising series, spanning Co-Founder and CEO of Carousell Quek Siu Rui, the Head of Grab Financial Group Reuben Lai, CTO of Glints Seah Ying Cong, and Co-Founder of Glints Oswald Yeo.
The presence of the additional capital derives from the exceptional growth proven by the startup. Launch in 2020, Doyobis’ Virtual learning has been operated by 2,000 teachers in more than ten countries where the major markets lie in Indonesia and the Philippines.
The proven can be seen from Doyobi’s partnership that is built with several educational institutions such as Leap Surabaya, Coder Academy, and private schools, including as Mutiara Harapan Islamic School, Stella Gracia School, and High Scope Indonesia. Some schools in Africa have also adopted Doyobis’ educational program.
Adopting Doyobi’s system to the school, Ilsa Nurina, Chief Human Resources and Academic Development Officer of High Scope Indonesia conveyed her opinion, “Prospective leaders in the future need to be equipped with the provision and competence to determine the obstacles innovatively and visionary thinking.”
Moreover, she added the startup has empowered schools to advance the computational thinking skills for the students to overcome future issues by putting forward the greatest concerns of children.
The attainment of Doyobi’s remarkable growth is not entangled from the background of John Tan as its founder. Tan is known to have multiple experiences in the rapid growth startups around Southeast Asia, such as Gym Kraft and Ninja Van. In addition to its founder, the startup also is supported by Mike Michalec, Founder of EdTech Asia who plays his role as a consultant.
Closing this round, the Firm manages to launch the courses and group training to rectify teachers’ expertise. On the other hand, this endeavor is also designated to evolve the resources that are needed to assist teachers in teaching by implementing STEM-based learning approaches effectively, and to espouse Teacher as Human Association, an online community for the teacher to support each other and obtain an opportunity in self-development professionally.
“There is an extensive gap between lessons taught in school and knowledge needed by children to prepare them for facing the working environment in the future. Curiosity, imagination, and empathy are equally important as reading and numeracy skills. We assure teachers are an essential part of transforming children’s experiences in the classroom. Doyobi centralizes on empowering teachers and delivering support to advance the teaching skills required through utilizing STEM-based learning methods and the 21st-century skills,” said John Tan, CEO, the founder of Doyobi.
The platform that uplifting STEM-based learning also intended to launch a membership program for the school leaders focusing on STEM-based learning mechanisms and skills improvement in the 21st-century. The STEM Leader School membership is arranged by Doyobi and Allan Shaw, the former principal of The Knox School, one of Melbourne’s leading independent schools. This participation is intended to assist the school leaders such as the principal and head of a department to learn about the utilization of STEM practices in school effectively.
“The gap of school syllabus between the required skills in the 21st Century becomes the primary concerns of parents and teachers. We believe Doyobi is the proper team in determining a substantial gap in the educational sector. John and the team adopt some approaches of consolidating STEM-based learning scheme with the 21st Century competencies conveyed throughout a virtual learning environment will encourage the education scheme ahead,” said Peng T. Ong, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Monk’s Hill Ventures.
