Gobi Partners Backs Malaysia’s Deep Tech Startup nSWX to Drive Global Innovation

Gobi Partners, a venture capital firm with a focus on Asia, has invested in NanoSkunkWorkX (nSWX), a Malaysian deep tech startup specializing in graphene-based systems built for real-world performance. Its innovations target green hydrogen, semiconductor development, and diagnostic technologies, aiming to provide advanced solutions across diverse industries.

The deal, with the amount undisclosed, marks Gobi Partners’ first deep tech investment in Southeast Asia. The firm stated that the deal is expected to strengthen Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem by supporting startups at the forefront of science and technology with potential for global competitiveness.

The funding comes via the Gobi Dana Impak Ventures (GDIV) Fund, which supports Khazanah Nasional’s Malaysia Investment Strategy under the ‘A Nation That Creates’ framework. GDIV targets promising Malaysian startups that can scale internationally while driving significant national impact, especially in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and semiconductors.

According to Gobi Partners, the move also supports Dana Impak’s goal of enhancing Malaysia’s position in the global semiconductor and advanced manufacturing value chain. The investment in NanoSkunkWorkX (nSWX) is viewed as a step toward nurturing homegrown deep-tech ventures that can compete internationally.

In the semiconductor field, nSWX develops solutions designed to boost chip efficiency while simplifying production and lowering costs, supporting the growth of Malaysia’s electronics and chip sector. The startup is also developing a durable biosensor platform with the Ministry of Health and Universiti Malaya’s TIDREC, aimed at advanced field diagnostics for use in health and security environments.

nSWX was founded by Iqbal Shamsul, a computer scientist together with Dr. Amani Salim, a former NASA principal investigator. The company is dedicated to converting advanced scientific research into real-world, high-performance technologies. Their return to Malaysia underscores the growing maturity of the country’s tech ecosystem and the importance of retaining top local talent.

Dr. Amani said the company is committed to turning orbital insights into ground-level solutions, noting that “science discovers, engineering delivers.” Iqbal added that the investment validates Malaysia’s ability to lead in deep tech and reflects the startup’s focus on building hard tech that performs under real-world conditions, rather than hype-driven innovation.

Gobi Partners said nSWX embodies the vision behind GDIV, supporting homegrown innovation that aligns with national priorities in chips, energy, and health. Thomas G. Tsao, co-founder and chairperson of Gobi Partners, described the firm as the kind of bold deep tech Malaysia must nurture, while ASEAN managing director Hisham Ibrahim highlighted the role of backing visionary founders in building a resilient innovation ecosystem and positioning Malaysia as a hub for deep tech and materials science.

Image credits: NanoSkunkWorkX