What NTU does

NTU is a São Paulo-based, for-profit Brazilian company founded in 2016 that develops and operates DropS, a browser-based cloud robotics simulation platform positioned at the intersection of EdTech and Industry 4.0 training. The platform virtualizes access to robotics — removing the cost and safety barriers of physical robots — so that educational institutions, technical high schools, higher-education programs, and corporate training centers can deliver STEAM learning paths aligned with Brazil's BNCC curriculum base and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. End users (educators and students) author and distribute their own learning tracks ("Trilhas de Aprendizagem") and "Projetos de Vida" challenge packs, creating a content flywheel that connects schools with employers across logistics, agribusiness, health, and industrial segments.

Under the hood, DropS is built on a stack combining cloud computing, Kubernetes orchestration, IoT, robot simulation, AI/computer vision, SLAM-based autonomous navigation, and ROS 1 and ROS 2, with optional integration to physical robotic hardware. The technical team is small (1–10 employees) under Executive Director Flávio Yamamoto, and the company has been capitalized exclusively through three non-dilutive research grants from FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo) totaling $470,000 across 2017, 2019, and 2021. No commercial pricing, paying customers, or revenue figures are disclosed; the company's website still shows placeholder validation counters ("+ de 0 educadores," "+ de 0 estudantes") and empty partner-logo slots, indicating that commercial traction has not yet been publicly demonstrated.

Name

NTU

Legal name

Nanyang Technological University

Website

https://drops.is

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NTU is a São Paulo-based EdTech that operates DropS, a browser-based cloud robotics simulation platform enabling schools, training centers, and employers to deliver STEAM robotics curricula aligned with Brazil's BNCC standards without physical robots.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Robotics Simulation Software

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Computer Training (61142)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Labs, Simulations & Virtual Practicals (Non-XR) (EDAFACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Simulation-Based Learning & Virtual Labs (EDAGAEAG), Robotic Process Automation (RPA) & Digital Robotics (HDAAAIAI), Creator Tools & Content Pipelines for Immersive Learning (VR lesson builders, 3D asset workflows) (EDAFAJAL)

Keywords

• Cloud robotics simulation
• Robotics training software
• Educational robotics platform
• Industry 4.0 training
• STEAM learning software

Headquarters

HQ city

São Paulo

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition and Fees: Revenue from domestic and international students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at NTU.
2. Technology Commercialization: Revenue generated through spin-off companies like LAPIS Innovations Pte Ltd commercializing research outcomes including LAPIS metal 3D printing technology globally.
3. Research Grants and Industry Collaborations: Government funding and industry collaboration revenue from research partnerships such as the NTU-Aumovio automotive AI project.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

NTU offers the DropS cloud robotics simulation platform that virtualizes industrial robots to make robotics technology accessible and affordable for companies and educational centers. The platform supports rapid prototyping of real-world robotics applications, provides STEAM-aligned learning pathways mapped to Brazil's BNCC curriculum, and enables hands-on robotics training without expensive physical hardware or exposure to toxic materials.

Product overview

NTU (Nanyang Technological University) operates as a higher education institution with research commercialization initiatives. The university offers educational programs and develops technologies through research. Notable commercialized offerings include LAPIS, a hybrid metal additive manufacturing platform spun off through LAPIS Innovations Pte Ltd, and diagnostic devices using nanophotonic chip technology with AI. NTU also collaborates with industry partners like Aumovio for automotive AI systems and integrates AI competencies across 40% of undergraduate courses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DropS Cloud Robotics Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% of NTU undergraduate courses now integrate AI
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AumoviocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 April 2026NTU and automotive company Aumovio are collaborating to develop affordable AI systems for vehicle safety in Singapore. The collaboration focuses on compressing AI models to operate offline, enhancing driver assistance systems, and increasing data privacy for automotive applications.
• LAPIS Innovations Pte LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company established to commercialize LAPIS metal 3D printing technology globally. Commercial LAPIS machines are expected to be available worldwide by the end of 2026, representing NTU's technology transfer mechanism.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AWS RoboMaker: Amazon's cloud robotics development platform offering simulation, deployment, and fleet management. Directly comparable to DropS as a cloud-based robotics simulation service, but with vastly greater scale, free tier access for AWS customers, and integration into the broader AWS ecosystem.
• NVIDIA Isaac Sim: NVIDIA's robotics simulation environment built on Omniverse, providing photorealistic simulation, synthetic data generation, and AI training. Comparable to DropS in targeting robot development workflows, but competing through GPU-accelerated fidelity and enterprise reach.
• LEGO Education: Global leader in educational STEAM kits and curriculum, with robotics offerings (SPIKE, Mindstorms). Comparable to DropS in targeting STEAM learning outcomes but operates a hardware-anchored model with massive distribution.

Direct peers

• Gazebo Simulator: Open-source 3D robotics simulator widely used in academia and research, maintained by Open Robotics. The closest direct open-source competitor to DropS's simulation offering, with strong ROS integration but no built-in curriculum or learning-pathway layer.
• RobotLAB: US-based company offering educational robotics solutions, integration, and curriculum for K-12 and higher education. Comparable to DropS as an EdTech-focused robotics platform, with a more mature sales footprint in US schools.
• CoppeliaSim (V-REP): Cross-platform robot simulator used in research and education with ROS integration. Comparable to DropS in providing virtual robotics labs for learning, though it lacks DropS's BNCC-style curriculum authoring layer.
• VEX Robotics: Major educational robotics platform combining hardware kits with curriculum for K-12 and competitions. Comparable to DropS as a STEAM/robotics education provider, though primarily hardware-led versus DropS's simulation-first model.
• RoboDK: Industrial and educational robot simulator supporting 500+ robot arms from major manufacturers. Comparable to DropS as a robot simulation platform used in technical training and vocational education.

Emerging players

• Cogniteam: Cloud-based platform for developing, testing, and deploying robot applications with built-in AI and fleet management. Comparable to DropS in targeting cloud-based robotics development workflows for education and enterprise.
• Unity Robotics Hub: Unity's tools for simulating robots and generating synthetic training data, leveraging Unity's game-engine ecosystem. Comparable to DropS in cloud/simulation robotics but with much larger software ecosystem and developer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NTU