KUCHING: Homegrown entrepreneur Aaron Nagai has launched an AIpowered fuel intelligence platform after securing backing from a Silicon Valley investor in a pre-seed funding round.
The startup, PetrolPrice (pic), tracks and analyses fuel prices across 196 markets worldwide.
It was valued at US$2 million (about RM8.18 million) following the investment by Balaji Srinivasan through the Balaji Fund.
Founded by Nagai, PetrolPrice uses artificial intelligence and automated data collection to track, verify and analyse the prices of essential energy commodities, including petrol, diesel and electricity.
The platform aims to make energy price information more transparent and accessible for consumers, businesses and policymakers by consolidating data that is often fragmented across different markets.
“Fuel prices influence the daily lives of billions of people, yet global pricing data remains fragmented and difficult to access.
“We’re building the world’s most comprehensive energy intelligence platform, making energy pricing as accessible and transparent as financial market data,” said Nagai in a recent statement.
Srinivasan, founder of Network School and former chief technology officer of Coinbase, invested in the startup through the Balaji Fund.
The fund has previously backed high-growth technology companies, including OpenSea, Luma and Polymarket, as well as startups building on blockchain ecosystems such as Ethereum, Solana and Polygon.
According to the company, the investment reflects growing international confidence in Malaysia’s technology startup ecosystem and supports the country’s ambition to become a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital innovation.
PetrolPrice said it aims to demonstrate that Malaysian entrepreneurs can develop globally relevant technology products while strengthening the country’s position in the international innovation landscape.
