JOHOR BAHRU, 7 Nov – What connects a roadside assistance provider, a digital mobility platform and an industrial robotics company? Beyond their success in Malaysia’s technology sector, all three share a common link: they were founded or co-founded by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) alumni.

Bateriku, WAHDAH and DF Automation & Robotics have been recognised in the Malaysia Top 100 Startups: 2026 Edition, published by Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia’s national startup ecosystem development agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).

Behind these three companies are five UTM engineering graduates who have translated their technical knowledge, professional experience and entrepreneurial vision into commercially successful businesses.The recognition places their companies among 100 Malaysian technology ventures selected for their commercial performance, business growth and contributions to the country’s innovation ecosystem.

More significantly, their achievements highlight the expanding role of engineering graduates beyond traditional careers, as innovators and entrepreneurs developing solutions to real-world challenges while creating economic opportunities.

Bateriku: Reinventing roadside assistance through technology

For motorists facing a flat battery or an unexpected vehicle breakdown, access to reliable assistance can make all the difference.

UTM alumnus Azarol Faizi, who graduated with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Aeronautics) in 1996, is the founder of Bateriku, a technology-enabled automotive assistance company transforming how motorists access roadside services.

Through its digital platform, Bateriku connects motorists with mobile technicians offering battery replacement, jump-start assistance, towing, tyre repair and other emergency services. By combining geolocation-based dispatch technology with a 24-hour contact centre, the company has transformed conventional roadside assistance into a more accessible, on-demand service model.

Bateriku’s growing presence has also earned recognition beyond Malaysia. In addition to its inclusion in Cradle’s Malaysia Top 100 Startups: 2026 Edition, the company was named to Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch 2026, which recognises promising small companies and startups across the Asia-Pacific region.

According to the Cradle report, Bateriku recorded revenue within the RM100 million to RM500 million range in FY2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% to 50% between 2021 and 2024.

Its achievements demonstrate how engineering knowledge, combined with digital innovation and entrepreneurial leadership, can transform an established service industry into a scalable, technology-driven business.

WAHDAH: Building a new model for mobility

For Ahmad Amran Kapi, a UTM graduate in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications) in 2002, entrepreneurship has provided an opportunity to rethink how people access transportation.

As a member of the founding team of WAHDAH, alongside Muhammad Raden Anwar, he has helped develop a digital car rental and subscription platform that offers customers greater convenience and flexibility in accessing vehicles.

Through its technology-enabled platform, WAHDAH connects customers with a managed vehicle fleet, offering rental and subscription services that incorporate vehicle maintenance, servicing and insurance. The business responds to changing mobility needs, particularly among travellers, individuals and businesses seeking flexible alternatives to conventional vehicle ownership and rental arrangements.

According to the Cradle report, WAHDAH recorded FY2024 revenue within the RM10 million to RM50 million range, with a CAGR of 100% to 200% between 2021 and 2024.

The company’s growth reflects the commercial potential of digital platforms in reshaping traditional mobility services, while demonstrating how engineering graduates can apply their technical and problem-solving capabilities to emerging business opportunities.

DF Automation & Robotics: Taking Malaysian robotics to global markets

While Bateriku and WAHDAH are transforming consumer-facing services, three other UTM alumni are contributing to Malaysia’s industrial transformation through advanced robotics and automation.

Dr. Yeong Che Fai, Ricky Yap Wee Yang and Tan Ping Hua are members of the founding team of DF Automation & Robotics, a Malaysian technology company specialising in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

Dr. Yeong, a former Associate Professor at UTM, graduated with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (Mechatronics) in 2001 and a Master of Electrical Engineering in 2005. His transition from academia to entrepreneurship demonstrates how engineering expertise and research knowledge can be applied to developing commercially viable technologies.

His fellow co-founders, Ricky Yap and Tan Ping Hua, both graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in Electrical Engineering (Mechatronics) in 2008. Together, they have contributed to the development of robotic systems designed to automate material movement in factories and warehouses.

Powered by its proprietary NavWiz navigation technology and DFleet management software, DF Automation’s solutions enable manufacturers to improve productivity, operational efficiency and industrial automation.

According to the Cradle report, the company operates in ten markets, reflecting the international reach of Malaysian-developed robotics technology. DF Automation recorded FY2024 revenue within the RM10 million to RM50 million range, with a CAGR of 1% to 20% between 2021 and 2024.

Its achievements highlight the ability of homegrown engineering talent to develop competitive industrial technologies and participate in international markets, while demonstrating the potential of technical expertise to create economic value beyond academia.

UTM : Engineering knowledge that creates economic value

Despite operating in different industries, Bateriku, WAHDAH and DF Automation share a common foundation: UTM engineering graduates who have successfully translated their technical knowledge and entrepreneurial vision into commercially viable businesses.

Their achievements also reflect the growing strength of Malaysia’s startup ecosystem. According to the Malaysia Top 100 Startups: 2026 Edition, the 100 recognised companies collectively generated RM8.5 billion in FY2024 revenue, with 58 operating internationally.

For UTM, the success of these independently established companies demonstrates how engineering education can provide a foundation for innovation, entrepreneurship and economic impact.

Building on this potential, UTM is strengthening its efforts to cultivate a startup culture through UTM ASCEND 2030and initiatives such as ICCubeX, which provides a structured pathway for research, innovation and commercialisation. This reflects the university’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship by design, connecting academic expertise with industry opportunities and market needs.

While these alumni have charted their own entrepreneurial journeys, UTM’s aspiration is to nurture the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs who will not only enter the workforce, but also create businesses, generate employment and contribute to society.

Source: Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia Top 100 Startups: 2026 Edition. Financial figures refer to FY2024 and are reported as ranges.