SonoBee Ultrasound raises undisclosed funding from Artem Ventures

• Funding to further expand into postnatal services and baby products in Malaysia
• Training arm, DACAS Education to provide TVET training to aspiring sonographers

Artem Ventures announced its investment, without disclosing the amount, in SonoBee Ultrasound Sdn Bhd, a sonography chain in Malaysia. The investment from TIM Ventures was made in partnership with Hong Kong based insurer, FWD.

Sonography is a diagnostic medical test that uses high-frequency sound waves, or ultrasound waves, to create images of tissues, glands, organs, and blood or fluid flow within the body. The test is also referred to as an ultrasound or sonogram.

SonoBee Ultrasound is a subsidiary of Sono Holdings Sdn Bhd which claims approximately 20% of the market share in sonography and is poised to further expand into postnatal services and baby products.

“We are incredibly proud to support Sono’s visionary team as they embark on this journey of innovation and growth. With our investment, we hope to propel the accessibility of pre-natal and post-natal care for Malaysians provided by highly trained sonographers,” said Low Zhen Hui, Managing Partner of Artem Ventures.

Jezzlyn Siu, CEO of Sono Group, which includes DACAS Education and BeBee Baby Food and BeBee Apps, said, “Our group has produced professional sonographers and provided essential prenatal and postnatal services to our community, serving over 150,000 pregnant women each year, offering the best, most affordable ultrasound services and the Bebee app enhances our care by tracking baby growth and monitoring mothers' conditions. Our vision is to ensure every mother and baby in Malaysia have access to top-tier ultrasound services and support throughout the prenatal and postnatal periods. Our mission is to combine advanced technology, comprehensive education, and compassionate care to improve health outcomes for families nationwide.”

The Group’s training arm, DACAS Education, will also focus on providing technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to aspiring sonographers — in line with the government’s recent announcement to produce 100,000 TVET graduates over the next 5 years. Additionally, the Group will also aim to address the protection gap in Malaysia by working with the FWD Group to provide takaful insurance to young and growing families.