Bateriku.com closes US$7.4 mil Series B round to enhance roadside assistance and accelerate environmental goals

• Funds will go towards advancing tech, enhancing Vehicle Ownership Experience
• Plans to expand in SEA, with Indonesia & Singapore as the 1st international markets

Bateriku (M) Sdn Bhd (Bateriku.com), Malaysia's leading connected roadside assistance solution provider, has raised US$7.4 million (RM34.7 million) in its Series B funding round. This landmark investment attracted strategic backing from Kumpulan Wang Persaraan Diperbadankan (KWAP), Gobi Partners, VentureTech SBI Capital LP, and VentureTech Sdn Bhd, solidifying Bateriku.com’s position as an industry trailblazer.

Building on the success of its Series A funding, led by Malaysia Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) in 2022, Bateriku.com is poised to take bold steps forward. Over the next 18 months, the Selangor-based tech firm will channel these funds into advancing its technology and enhancing the Vehicle Ownership Experience (VOE). The company aims to seamlessly integrate the automotive verticals of Battery, Breakdown, “Bengkel” (car workshops and auto parts shops), and Bazaar (auto parts marketplace) into one cohesive ecosystem.

Bateriku.com founder and CEO, Azarol Faizi, said: “Securing this funding in our tenth year is an honour, and it reflects the unwavering trust our investors place in our vision. This investment will fuel our mission to transform roadside assistance and reshape the automotive ecosystem.”

“Our journey began as a traditional battery retailer, but our vision was always to build an integrated ecosystem catering to every vehicle owner’s needs. By harnessing technology, we’ve scaled our gig technician and entrepreneurship platforms to deliver unmatched customer experiences,” he added.

In alignment with its social responsibility, Bateriku.com launched Akademi Bateriku in 2022. This accredited institute, recognised by the Department of Skills Malaysia under the Ministry of Human Resources, provides reskilling and upskilling programmes for automotive professionals within its ecosystem. The startup claims that to date, nearly 2,000 Malaysians, including Bateriku.com’s internal ecosystem members (BHero gig mobile technicians and BPreneur entrepreneurs), workshop owners (such as Petronas AutoExpert), individual mechanics, and the general public, have attended these classes.

The startup added that its network includes nearly 200 Pitstop outlets across Malaysia and its first international outpost in South Jakarta, Indonesia. Additionally, its robust ecosystem comprises over 1,000 trained gig technicians (BHero), 78 entrepreneurs (BPreneur), and close to 3,000 workshop and auto parts partners (BBuddy), all coordinated through a 24/7/365 Contact Centre, which seamlessly connects customers to the nearest service providers.

According to Bateriku.com, while the battery business remains at the heart of its operations, environmental sustainability is a core priority. The company’s “Go Recon Save The World” initiative focuses on reconditioning and recycling batteries, ensuring they are reused, repaired, or responsibly recycled. This initiative supports its nationwide warranty and after-sales programmes, with non-reconditionable batteries processed by licensed smelters approved by the Department of Environment.

Azarol stated, “To give some perspective, approximately 500,000 car batteries are replaced every month in Malaysia, which indicates roughly 10,000 tonnes of used batteries are being disposed of each month.”

“Bateriku.com collects slightly less than 1,000 used car batteries every month from our customers across the nation, and it’s our responsibility and in our best interest that our customers are educated on the impact of proper used battery disposal on the environment, particularly through our ‘Go Recon Save The World’ initiative,” he added.

Gobi Partners co-founder and chairperson, Thomas Tsao, said, “Bateriku.com’s ‘Go Recon Save The World’ initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to invest in ventures that not only deliver strong returns but also make a positive impact on the environment. Their approach to battery reconditioning and recycling sets a new benchmark in the automotive industry.”

This new capital infusion is set to propel Bateriku.com’s growth across Malaysia and throughout Southeast Asia, with Indonesia and Singapore as the first international markets targeted for expansion and replication of its innovative business model.