Arus Oil Secures Investment from 1337 Ventures to Expand Sustainable Recycling Efforts

Malaysian venture capital firm 1337 Ventures has invested in Arus Oil, a startup that converts waste into renewable energy. 

Established in 2017 by Syazwan Majid in Subang Jaya, Arus Oil began as a community initiative focused on collecting used cooking oil (UCO) through centralized drop-off points. Seeing its potential as a renewable energy source, Syazwan, along with co-founders Dr. Chatichai Chong and Louis Ong, shifted the company’s focus to oil recycling. Since then, Arus Oil has gathered over 2 million kilograms of UCO, repurposing it into biodiesel to minimize waste and support cleaner energy alternatives.

With backing from 1337 Ventures, Arus Oil has expanded its network by securing over 20 corporate clients, strengthening its presence in both B2C and reseller markets. The startup has also introduced mobile collection systems to streamline operations and improve accessibility for customers looking to recycle used cooking oil (UCO).

Arus Oil partnered with TNG eWallet to encourage wider participation, enabling users to recycle their UCO and receive direct payments via the platform. This initiative simplifies the recycling process and incentivizes households, food businesses, and hotels to dispose of their waste responsibly.

In May 2024, it launched a dedicated drop-off center in Subang, providing residents with a convenient way to recycle their oil while contributing to cleaner energy solutions.

Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO and Founding Partner of 1337 Ventures emphasized the importance of supporting sustainable startups. He stated, “Investing in startups like Arus Oil highlights the importance of sustainability in the startup ecosystem. By helping them forge key partnerships and scale their operations, we’re enabling them to create a lasting environmental impact while building a scalable and robust business model.”

Majid credited 1337 Ventures for not only providing essential funding but also facilitating strategic connections that have accelerated the company’s growth. “1337 Ventures has provided us with not just essential capital but also strategic connections that have been crucial to our growth. Their belief in our mission has enabled us to secure partnerships that are fueling our expansion,” he added. 

The 1337 Accelerator Fund I, co-founded by angel investor Asgari Stephens and former JobStreet.com COO Suresh Thiru, was created to close the seed funding gap in Malaysia. It focuses on backing high-potential startups like Arus Oil, which emerged as a standout from 1337 Ventures’ Alpha Startups Pre-Accelerator program.

Beyond funding, 1337 Ventures supports the startup ecosystem through initiatives like Leet Capital, its SC-licensed equity crowdfunding platform, and Muru-ku.com, a resource hub featuring over 1,100 Malaysian startups, investors, and grants. The firm also invites entrepreneurs to join Pitch Tuesday and Alpha Startups Online, providing opportunities for founders to refine their ideas and connect with investors.