doyobi Secures $2.8M Seed Funding

Doyobi Secures $2.8 Million to Empower STEM Educators

While much of the recent growth in educational technology, or edtech, has centered on student needs, the crucial role of teachers as lifelong learners is often overlooked. Doyobi, a Singapore-based platform specializing in professional development, aims to provide educators with innovative and engaging methods for teaching STEM subjects.

Funding Announcement

The company recently announced the successful completion of a $2.8 million pre-Series A funding round. This investment was spearheaded by Monk’s Hill Ventures.

Investors Participating in the Round

The funding round also saw participation from Tres Monos Capital, Novus Paradigm Capital, and XA Network. Furthermore, several prominent angel investors contributed, including Quek Siu Rui, CEO of Carousell, Oswald Yeo and Seah Ying Cong, co-founders of Glints, and Reuben Lai, head of Grab Financial Group.

Platform Reach and Impact

Doyobi’s platform, encompassing both teacher training and interactive student content, is currently utilized by approximately 2,000 teachers across over 10 countries. These countries span Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Indonesia and the Philippines represent two of the platform’s most significant markets. Doyobi has established strategic partnerships with educational organizations such as Leap Surabaya, Coder Academy, and several private schools, including HighScope Indonesia, Mutiara Harapan Islamic School, and Stella Gracia School.

Origins and Founding Principles

Founded in 2020 as a spin-off from Saturday Kids, a STEM-focused educational program, Doyobi was created to broaden its impact. According to co-founder and CEO John Tan, Saturday Kids, despite eight years of operation, was only reaching a limited number of students annually.

Addressing the STEM Skills Gap

Tan emphasized a significant disparity between traditional school curricula and the skills required for future employment. He stated that qualities like curiosity, imagination, and empathy are equally vital as traditional literacy and numeracy.

He further noted that while teachers profoundly influence learning outcomes, many edtech innovations tend to bypass the teacher’s role in the classroom entirely.

Government Challenges and Doyobi’s Solution

Despite widespread recognition of the importance of STEM skills for economic development, many governments face challenges integrating them effectively into their educational systems. Doyobi proposes a solution by empowering teachers to deliver these crucial skills to their students.

Features of the Doyobi Platform

The platform offers comprehensive professional development for teachers, including live video lessons. It also provides a dedicated virtual learning environment for educators to use with their students.

This environment features courses that connect skills to real-world applications, interactive media, and Scratch coding projects designed to reinforce classroom learning. Doyobi also fosters a supportive online community, "Teachers As Humans," where educators can connect and share experiences.

Future Plans and Funding Allocation

The newly acquired funding will be allocated towards the development of additional courses for educators. This includes the creation of supplementary teaching resources, such as videos, quizzes, and projects, to enhance the learning experience for students.