BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  Pandai: From Y Combinator to RM16M Funding & 1M+ Users

Pandai: From Y Combinator to RM16M Funding & 1M+ Users

Khairul Anwar Mohamad Zaki, Founder & CEO, Pandai

19-Mar-25 10:00

Pandai: From Y Combinator to RM16M Funding & 1M+ Users

A school reunion eventually led to an AI-powered edtech that raised RM16 million, and is now an 8-figure business with over 1 million users and on track for profitability in 2025.

Pandai wants to reshape education in Malaysia and beyond with its AI-powered learning platform. Founded in 2020, the edtech startup has scaled to over 1 million users, providing personalised learning, gamified assessments, and real-time teacher support. CEO and Founder Khairul Anwar shares how Pandai differentiates itself in a competitive landscape, including its curriculum integration, AI-driven tutoring, and B2B partnerships with corporate sponsors and government agencies.

A Y Combinator-backed company, Pandai has raised over RM16 million from investors like 500 Global, RHL Ventures, and Harvard Endowment, while maintaining rapid revenue growth of 2-3X annually. With eight-figure revenues and profitability expected in 2025, Pandai is pushing its expansion across Southeast Asia, navigating challenges such as localisation and market competition.

In this conversation, we dive into the company’s scaling strategy, its AI-driven student analytics, and the future of edtech in Malaysia. Is an IPO or strategic acquisition on the horizon?

Tune in to find out how Pandai is transforming learning and what’s next for the startup.

Produced by: Kishan Sivaswamy

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  educationtechnologySMEentrepreneurs

Tags:  ai-powered learningedtech startupspersonalised learningonline educationy combinator





Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Poonam Goyal, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, discusses how leading global brands are adjusting their approach to e-commerce.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Kellie Allsion Yap of Zaid Ibrahim & Co weighs in on Malaysia’s new Self-Assessment Stamp Duty System (STSDS).

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Today, we revisit conversations on notable foreign policy and ASEAN events.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Chin Chee Seong, National President, SME Association of Malaysia recaps 2025 and provides a 2026 outlook for small and medium enterprises.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) Kellie Allsion Yap of Zaid Ibrahim & Co weighs in on Malaysia’s new Self-Assessment Stamp Duty System (STSDS).

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Poonam Goyal, Senior Equity Research Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, discusses how leading global brands are adjusting their approach to e-commerce.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

Kevin Lee of CGS International discussing Malaysia’s nuclear future.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

(REPEAT) Kristy Ting, Founder, Side Gig Accelerator

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

(REPEAT) Kiron Kesav, Chief Strategy Officer, OMG Malaysia

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

(REPEAT) Selvamalar Alagaratnam, Partner & Head of Employment Practice Group, Skrine

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Today, we revisit conversations on notable foreign policy and ASEAN events.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

A feminist economist shares insights about women’s rights from the garment industry in Bangladesh, and what Malaysians can learn from it.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

In this ‘Best of 2025’ replay, we hear from three experts - who are parents themselves - about why kids are turning to AI chatbots.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday

8:00 PM

BBC World Service