From Dancing Seniors To Digital Support For The Neurodivergent: How SEEd.Lab Turns Ideas Into Impact

Every changemaker begins with a simple question: What if things could be better?

With the right support, that spark of possibility can grow into something that truly transforms lives. That’s why SEEd.Lab, Malaysia’s first end-to-end social enterprise incubator powered by PETRONAS and Tata Consultancy Services, was created to walk alongside aspiring founders, giving them a year of mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities so their ideas become real solutions.

Take Rootin, born out of a longing to create a support system for families raising neurodivergent children. Or ArtsProud, shaped by the desire to make sure the elderly are not overlooked but instead seen, heard, and celebrated. 

Both began with lived experiences and a deep care for others. Through SEEd.Lab, they grew into enterprises that bring dignity, connection, and hope where it’s most needed.

Tech For Good: Rootin by Sejolly

Every child deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated. Yet for many parents of neurodivergent children, the journey can feel isolating – full of questions, quiet worries, and the ever-present hope of unlocking each child’s unique potential.

When a child with autism or dyslexia leaves the therapy room or classroom, the journey doesn’t stop there. Parents often wonder: How do I keep supporting my child at home? Teachers and therapists hope the same: How can progress gently follow the child beyond our sessions?

It was in these tender in-between spaces that therapist Khadijah Yunos and educator Aishah Md Nor noticed a need.  Though they didn’t know each other at the time, both were driven by the same conviction that neurodivergent children deserve a circle of care – woven between home, school, and community, that helps them grow.

That conviction became Sejolly PLT, a name drawn from “jolly” (joy) and “sejoli” (together as one). Founded in 2022, Sejolly began with a simple belief: that technology could be more than screens and lessons. It could be a bridge, bringing parents, educators, and therapists closer, so no child’s progress feels lost or forgotten.

Rootin was designed for neurodivergent children –  a digital platform that helps families and educators stay connected, so progress travels with the child wherever they go. Parents share updates, therapists offer guidance, teachers notice milestones, and together, they celebrate the quiet steps that one day become breakthroughs.

SEEd.Lab gave us a safe space to test, stumble, and learn quickly – to fail fast without fear, while also pushing us to validate our idea, work backwards from real needs, and sharpen our solutions through countless feedback sessions, including with the ‘sharks.’ – Khadijah Yunos, CEO & Co-founder of Sejolly

One story in particular has stayed with them. A mother of a child with autism once admitted that she doubted her son’s progress at school. At home, he rarely spoke, relying instead on gestures, knowing she would understand. Then, something shifted when she began using the Rootin app. In her words: 

When I started using the videos from the Rootin app and followed the models step by step, something changed. For the first time, my son spoke a few words at home. I couldn’t believe it…I cried when it happened. – Parent of a child with autism

Moments like these remind the team why their work matters. Rootin has now reached more than 300 families and is trusted by hundreds of educators. In 2024, their vision was further affirmed when Sejolly stood out among 1,000 applicants to become a finalist at the Dubai Expo Live, receiving a grant of up to USD50,000. 

For parents, it brings reassurance. For children, it opens doors to growth at home and in school. And for the co-founders, it’s a reminder of why they began.

Every time we see a parent grow more confident, or a child achieve a milestone once thought impossible, it reminds us why we’re doing this. We’re not just building a business, we’re building a better future. – Khadijah Yunos, CEO & Co-founder of Sejolly

Beyond the product, SEEd.Lab instilled something deeper: confidence. In the early days, the team’s biggest fear was that they lacked the “business strength” to sustain a startup. Over time, they realised that what mattered most was not profit margins but lives being changed.

Creative Care: ArtsProud

Music was the only way I could reach him. I couldn’t change his journey, but I hope to bring that same joy and connection to other seniors. – Peny Chan, co-founder of ArtsProud

For Peny Chan, some of her most cherished memories with her grandfather were made through music. As dementia took away his words, melodies became their bridge – a way to laugh, to remember, to connect.

Those moments stayed with her, and they shaped how she sees art: not just as a pastime, but as a way to heal, spark joy, and bring people together.

This inspired Peny, a vocal coach with 10 years of experience and an Atlantic Fellow with the Global Brain Health Institute (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland), to team up with Jeth Leang, a performance maker with 12 years in the field, to start ArtsProud. 

Grounded in performance and community arts, they had seen time and again how rhythm and movement could light up faces, stir memories, and spark laughter across generations.

Before joining SEEd.Lab, Peny and I were simply artists with a deep desire to make a meaningful difference. We had been running Ultimate Performing Art Company, pouring our energy into creative work, but despite our efforts, it never quite translated into the kind of impact we envisioned. – Jeth Leang, co-founder of ArtsProud

SEEd.Lab gave them the space to turn their passion into something lasting. What they already believed – that art and creativity can bring healing and nurture well-being was shaped into a social enterprise to serve communities with greater purpose and intention.

Through ArtsProud, they created three signature programs: DanceSpace for movement and coordination, TuneLab for memory and emotional expression, and SonicMove for social and cognitive engagement. Each programme is less about performance and more about presence, an invitation for seniors to rediscover joy, connection, and self-expression.

What you’re doing is very good. You may not be able to heal us completely, but you bring relief, comfort, and joy. It makes us look forward to the next session, because people like you are willing to spend your energy, effort and time with us. – Aunty Jo, resident of a care home

Aunty Jo’s words reflect what many seniors quietly hope for: not just care for their bodies, but companionship for their hearts. What they cherish most are the simple moments of connection that remind them they are seen, valued, and not forgotten.

In many places, however, these moments can feel too rare. Loneliness often lingers in the background of ageing, sometimes in care homes, sometimes even within families, making the later years feel quieter and the days a little longer. 

We learned to build with our community. From a solution-driven mindset, we shifted to an empathy-driven approach grounded in real needs and lived experiences. – Jeth Leang, co-founder of ArtsProud

Since then, ArtsProud has conducted over 127 workshops across 14 care centres, reaching more than 290 elderly individuals. Looking ahead, ArtsProud hopes to continue deepening its work, building partnerships that see art not as an afterthought, but as a vital tool for healing and well-being.

A Launchpad For Changemakers

Social enterprises often start as simple acts of care – someone noticing a need and choosing to respond. SEEd.Lab offers the support to help those first steps grow into something sustainable, with mentorship, funding, networks, and the encouragement to move from “what if” to “what’s next.”

Since its inception, SEEd.Lab has empowered changemakers by providing mentorship, funding, and commercialisation support. To date, SEEd.Lab has birthed 14 social ventures, including six from its third cohort, and positively touched 28,000 lives. – Aidonna Jun Ayub, SEEd.Lab’s Head & Programme Manager

SEEd.Lab Cohort 4 Is Now Accepting Applications! 

Your passion for social change has the potential to grow into a scalable solution. If you have an idea that could bridge gaps in your community but need the tools, network, and confidence to bring it to life, SEEd.Lab is ready to journey with you. 

Over 12 months, you’ll move from ideation to commercialisation to impact, equipped with guidance, support, and a community of like-minded changemakers. Whether your passion lies in technology, creativity, education, healthcare, or beyond, SEEd.Lab offers the space and support you need to bring your vision to life.

As a SEEd.ling, you’ll receive:

• A monthly allowance so you can focus fully on building your venture
• A dedicated workspace to collaborate with like-minded changemakers
• Hands-on mentorship from experts in social entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology

And most importantly, you’ll join a movement that is already transforming lives across Malaysia.