[Feature] Kiap: How Two SUTD Grads Built a Remote Learning Tool Adopted by Over 20 Schools

The Corporate Snapshot

In the bustling ecosystem of Malaysian educational technology, a name has been steadily gaining traction for its simple yet profoundly effective solution to a modern classroom dilemma. The company is Kiap, a startup born not in a corporate boardroom, but from the direct, lived experience of students during the pandemic's remote learning shift. Founded by graduates of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Kiap has positioned itself as a pragmatic problem-solver for educators.

• 🏢 Entity: Kiap
• 🎯 Area of Expertise: Educational Technology (EdTech), Classroom Engagement Tools
• 📍 Market Status: Agile Challenger & Niche Solution Provider

The Scoop: What's New?

The headline news is one of rapid, organic adoption. What began as a university project to solve a personal pain point has now been integrated into the digital toolkits of over 20 schools across Malaysia. The core product, a browser-based "kiap" (a playful nod to the Malay word for "pinch" or "clip") tool, allows teachers to instantly gauge student understanding during online or hybrid lessons. Instead of fumbling with unmuting microphones or waiting for typed responses in a chat, students can simply "kiap"—click and drag—a virtual slider or submit quick visual feedback, giving the teacher real-time, at-a-glance comprehension data.

Executive Insights: The Conversation

Speaking with the founders, the narrative is refreshingly devoid of tech jargon and grandiose claims. They recall the exact moment of inception: staring at a screen of silent, black boxes representing their classmates during a Zoom tutorial. "The teacher would ask, 'Does everyone understand?' and we'd all just sit there," one founder shares, the frustration still palpable in their retelling. "There was no low-friction way to say 'I'm lost' without disrupting the entire flow."

This user-centric empathy is the bedrock of Kiap's philosophy. When asked about their go-to-market strategy, they emphasize that they never led with a sales pitch. Instead, they focused on demonstrating tangible classroom value. "We showed teachers how, in three clicks, they could run a quick poll or check for confusion. It wasn't about replacing their methodology, but about removing a technical barrier to it," they explain. The adoption in over 20 schools wasn't driven by a massive marketing budget, but by word-of-mouth recommendations between educators who saw their pain points being solved.

The founders are candid about the challenges of the EdTech space, noting that procurement cycles can be long and skepticism towards new tools is high. Their counter-strategy has been agility and customization. "We listen. If a school says they need a specific type of quiz format or integration, we explore building it. We're small enough to be partners, not just vendors."

Professional Highlights & Track Record

• Rapid Organic Adoption: Successfully deployed in over 20 Malaysian schools without a traditional large-scale sales force, relying on demonstrable utility and teacher advocacy.
• Academic Pedigree to Practical Solution: Translated a final-year SUTD design project into a commercially viable and actively used product, bridging the gap between academia and real-world application.
• Pandemic-Proof Product-Market Fit: Identified and addressed a critical gap in remote and hybrid learning engagement at the precise moment of global need, ensuring immediate relevance.
• User-Led Development: Built a feedback loop with actual teachers and students, leading to iterative improvements that directly reflect classroom needs rather than assumed ones.

The Verdict

Kiap represents a class of Malaysian startup that is easy to root for: it's smart, solves a clear problem, and grows through genuine value. While not yet a market behemoth, its focused approach and deep understanding of its user base—the teacher and student—give it a formidable foundation. The challenge ahead will be scaling this intimate model and navigating the complex educational landscape as demand grows.

• 📈 Market Impact: 7/10 (Strong niche penetration, demonstrates clear need fulfillment)
• 💡 Innovation Level: 8/10 (Elegant, simple solution to a widespread, modern problem)
• 🚀 Growth Potential: 7/10 (Solid base, but scaling in EdTech requires strategic partnerships and possibly curriculum alignment)

"Kiap proves that the most powerful educational technology isn't the most complex—it's the one that disappears into the flow of teaching, making the connection between educator and student just a little bit easier."