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Mar 5, 2026
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Aonic Secures 10 Million Dollars to Expand Malaysian Drone Technology Globally
NewDecoded
3 min read
Image by Aonic
Malaysian Engineering Goes Global
Kuala Lumpur-based Aonic has secured 10 million dollars in Series A funding led by Kairous Capital. This investment, supported by Jelawang Capital under Malaysia's National Fund-of-Funds, aims to accelerate the company's global expansion. The capital will specifically target research and development and the scaling of its locally manufactured drone ecosystem. Founded in 2016 as Poladrone, the company rebranded to Aonic in 2022 to reflect its evolution into a comprehensive drone solutions provider. It provides high-tech tools designed to modernize the agriculture and industrial sectors throughout Southeast Asia. By replacing manual labor with automated systems, the company helps industries overcome persistent worker shortages.
Aonic develops proprietary drones and software in-house to maintain full control over product performance and costs. Their specialized drones use advanced sensors and smart technology to navigate complex plantation environments for precision spraying. These systems are supported by a proprietary software suite that optimizes flight paths for maximum efficiency and data collection.
Data from participating farms shows that Aonic's agricultural drones can increase farmer income by 50 percent. Farm output has been shown to rise by approximately 54 percent while reducing water usage for spraying by 75 percent. These measurable gains have helped the company reach over 60 million dollars in annual revenue.
The company operates a unique 3S network, which stands for Sales, Service, and Spare Parts, across more than 50 centers. This infrastructure ensures that users in remote rural areas have access to immediate technical support and maintenance. This localized approach differentiates the firm from foreign competitors who often lack a physical presence in the field.
Aonic has been profitable since 2023 and currently sells its technology in over 15 countries. According to the official announcement, the new funds will allow the company to grow its reseller network. Founder and CEO Cheong Jin Xi noted that the funding enables global scaling with the same reliability achieved in Southeast Asia.
The investment in Aonic signifies a major shift for Malaysia's tech landscape, moving from simple hardware distribution to high-value intellectual property ownership. By securing backing from the national fund-of-funds, Aonic is validated as a national champion capable of addressing critical regional issues like agricultural labor shortages and food security. This funding highlights the growing importance of the full-stack model in specialized robotics, where hardware is integrated with financial services and on-the-ground support to ensure adoption in traditional sectors. As a profitable entity since 2023, Aonic proves that asset-heavy drone ecosystems can be financially sustainable while delivering measurable productivity gains for smallholder farmers.
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