1337 Ventures, Malaysia’s pioneering venture capital firm and accelerator, is excited to announce its strategic investment in DesignPro, an AI-powered startup transforming usability testing and product optimization.
Founded by Mohammed Abdoolcarim, a seasoned product expert with extensive experience—including roles at Google and as part of the early team at Siri—DesignPro tackles a major challenge in product development: the high costs and long timelines associated with usability testing and product refinement.
DesignPro is an AI companion that conducts usability testing in seconds, dramatically reducing costs and time-to-market while maximizing a product’s success rate. More than just a testing tool, DesignPro’s product optimization model transforms product analytics and user insights into market-validated designs, cutting product launch cycles from months to minutes.
The platform integrates seamlessly with key tools like Figma and Chrome, enabling designers, product managers, and marketers to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration. With a growing user base that includes professionals from Google, Salesforce, Miro, and Workstream—as well as 25 startups—DesignPro is rapidly establishing itself as an essential tool for product teams.
Backed by $1.3 million in pre-seed funding from notable investors such as Stanford Angels, Google Alumni, Hustle Fund, Character Labs and Sequoia Scout Fund, DesignPro is now focused on increasing usage and solidifying its position as a must-have AI tool in product development.
Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO and Founding Partner of 1337 Ventures, expressed his enthusiasm for the investment:
“AI is not just a buzzword; it’s a fundamental technology reshaping industries. DesignPro exemplifies how AI can drive real impact by optimizing product development in ways that were previously unimaginable. Their AI-powered approach streamlines processes, reduces human error, and accelerates time-to-market—exactly the kind of innovation we’re excited to support at 1337 Ventures.”
Mohammed Abdoolcarim, CEO of DesignPro, shared his vision for the future:
“We are honoured to have 1337 Ventures on board. Beyond financial support, their expertise in strategy, talent acquisition, and preparing for future funding rounds has been invaluable. Their hands-on approach aligns perfectly with our mission to redefine how teams design and launch products. With their backing, we are well-positioned to reach our next milestones.”
This investment reinforces 1337 Ventures’ commitment to backing visionary founders and supporting startups that push industry boundaries. The decision to invest in DesignPro through 1337 Capital 1 reflects the firm’s belief in AI’s growing role in shaping the future of tech.
The 1337 Capital 1 is a sector-agnostic fund focused on seed-stage startups across various industries. Designed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs, this fund is backed by seasoned industry professionals like Suresh Thiru, former COO of JobStreet, and successful founders who have achieved significant milestones.
As 1337 Ventures supports visionary startups, we invite founders to pitch their ideas. With the launch of the 1337 Capital 1, we offer funding and strategic guidance for early-stage companies.
We’re also dedicated to helping aspiring startups, particularly first-time founders, through our free Alpha Startups Online programme, https://1337.ventures/asda which equips them with essential skills to navigate the startup landscape. If you’re ready to disrupt the market, we want to hear from you! Book a spot to pitch to us at Pitch Tuesday, https://1337.ventures/pitch-tuesday
UPDATE: Design Pro have rebranded to Beacon AI
