Alliance Bank expands SME support with new business pitch film, conference

KUALA LUMPUR (June 26): Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd (KL:AMBM) announced two new SME-focused initiatives on Thursday under its BizSmart® platform, with the aim to support Malaysia’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector through a broader, ecosystem-driven approach.

The initiatives come in the form of a feature-length film entitled “The Ultimate Elevator Pitch” that focused on the contestants who took part in the 2024 edition of the BizSmart® Challenge, and an upcoming conference, titled BizSmart® Business Conference, to be held here on Oct 7.

“The movie is Malaysia’s first feature-length SME business pitch film that invites the public to witness the grit, vulnerability, and determination behind Malaysia’s SME founders,” said Alliance Bank Group CEO Kellee Kam. “It’s a portrait of resilience and ambition — and a celebration of the changemakers building our future.”

Produced in collaboration with local creative agency Ampersand Advisory, the film aims to highlight the realities of entrepreneurship while providing greater visibility to early-stage companies. The film will premiere on iQIYI on July 18.

According to Kam, the 2024 edition of the BizSmart® Challenge received a record 593 submissions, which were narrowed to a final 13 following an intense competition.

“We only planned to select 10, but three wildcard entries were too promising to ignore,” Kam said, adding that even among the judges, “it [the wildcards] sparked debate — a sign of just how strong the field was this year.”

The top three winners in 2024 — BioLoop, Gula Cakery, and HiiVolt — shared RM550,000 in cash prizes, while all the finalists received mentorship and access to funding networks, including 1337 Ventures, 5X Capital, Cradle’s MYStartup, and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia (CGC).

On the upcoming conference, Kam said the event will feature over 35 speakers, including founders, investors, and alumni of the BizSmart® Challenge, such as Colony CEO Timothy Tiah, A Cut Above founder Winnie Loo, HYGR co-founders Ivor and Meng, and the three most recent winners — BioLoop, Gula Cakery, and HiiVolt.

Discussion themes will span topics from cross-border growth and digital disruption, to brand-building under pressure and navigating volatility in SME’s operating environments.

Since its inception in 2013, notable names who have emerged from the BizSmart® Challenge include Christy Ng, myBurger Lab, BloomThis, and Signature Market. According to Alliance Bank’s group chief strategy and transformation officer, several alumni are making pre-listing preparations as they plan their initial public offerings, with the bank’s support.

“Our support for SMEs doesn’t end after the final pitch,” Sum said. “We have hundreds of alumni in our network, and some of them — like Amazing Grace and Christy Ng — have expanded regionally. We now work with some of them on IPO readiness and capital-raising strategies.”

Separately, Bikesh Lakhmichand, founding partner of venture capital firm 1337 Ventures, highlighted BizSmart® Challenge’s continued role as a deal discovery platform for venture capital and private equity players.

“We’ve written actual cheques to some of the past participants, and we continue to mentor and groom them for capital access. This programme gives us access to deals that otherwise would be off-radar.”

He estimated that about RM2 billion in private capital is deployable within Malaysia’s VC and PE ecosystem — capital that programmes like BizSmart® Challenge help unlock by improving founder visibility, investor readiness, and business structure.

“The issue is not capital — it’s awareness. Most founders don’t even know this funding exists. We use this platform to help them learn how to pitch, structure their business, and get seen,” Bikesh said.