• GrabSchool is part of MyTeksi’s driver programmes to improve drivers’ and their families’ lives
• Opens up more career pathways for students in entrepreneurship

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 September 2015 – MyTeksi launched GrabSchool, an innovation workshop to encourage entrepreneurship as a viable future career for drivers’ children. As a technology startup that is revolutionizing the transportation industry in Southeast Asia, MyTeksi created GrabSchool as a platform for the taxi drivers’ children to explore new career pathways. GrabSchool is part of MyTeksi’s continuous efforts to improve the welfare of taxi drivers and their families in Malaysia.

50 children of MyTeksi drivers, aged between nine to 18 years old, attended GrabSchool on 19 September 2015. The one day workshop was facilitated by Robest Yong, Innovation Mentoring and Fellowship Organisation trainer, where he introduced the students to the process of starting up and developing their design and critical thinking skills.

“This is an opportunity to give back to our drivers and empower their children to constantly explore possibilities and fulfil their potential in life,” Vincent Tan, MyTeksi Acting Head. ““MyTeksi is a firm supporter of innovation and would like to continue to cultivate the Malaysian startup scene. We want to open up the exciting world of startups to our drivers’ children and stoke the flame in budding entrepreneurs.”

Robest Yong said, “We are looking for simple ideas which solve big problems, not innovations which require years and years of R&D to materialize. We are not teaching them what they can learn in schools. Rather we are teaching them how to apply what they have learned from their teachers, parents or families. I am very honored to work with MyTeksi who believes in promoting what the organisation was built upon.”

MyTeksi driver Thanabalan Toresingam whose daughter Thanesvari, 13, attended GrabSchool, complimented MyTeksi for the initiative. “It was a good programme. I can see that she has learnt new skills for her future, and it was a good way to start the school holidays as well,” said Thanabalan.

GrabSchool is one of the many driver-centric initiatives that MyTeksi has run. The Elite Drivers Programme was launched in June 2015 when MyTeksi invested RM4.5 million to set up a driver welfare fund for its top drivers. In May this year, MyTeksi engaged an education counselor to advise MyTeksi drivers and their school-leaving children on scholarship options and help build their education path. Last year, the Rides To Books campaign saw MyTeksi donating RM25,000 worth of Popular book vouchers to 500 of our top drivers. Other initiatives include language classes and free health checks.

GrabSchool is a regional programme. It has been launched in Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, and will be rolled out in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam by end-2015.

About MyTeksi

Founded in July 2011, MyTeksi mission is to revolutionize the taxi industry in Southeast Asia. Since the app was launched in 2012, over 126,000 drivers have been using smart phones equipped with MyTeksi sophistication to accept bookings in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. MyTeksi began as a taxi app but has diversified its product offering to include GrabCar and GrabBike; available via the GrabTaxi app. GrabCar is a private hire vehicle service currently available in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, The Philippines and Vietnam. GrabBike is a motorbike taxi booking service that was launched in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. The GrabTaxi app has been downloaded for more than 6.9 million times and is the market leader in Southeast Asia.

This application can be downloaded on smartphones and tablets with:

iOS: http://bit.ly/myteksi-iOS
Android: http://bit.ly/myteksi-Android
Blackberry: http://bit.ly/myteksi-blackberry

For more information please visit: http://www.myteksi.com.

Media Contact:

Evangeline Majawat
Tel: +6019 334 8582
Email: eve@grabtaxi.com

Caroline Wee
Tel: +6016 263 1891
Email: caroline.wee@grabtaxi.com