Latest news with #TheUltimateElevatorPitch
Sinar Daily
02-07-2025
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Alliance Bank launches Malaysia's first SME business pitch film to inspire entrepreneurial resilience
SHAH ALAM - Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad made history with the launch of The Ultimate Elevator Pitch, Malaysia's first feature-length SME business pitch documentary, offering a cinematic portrayal of entrepreneurship. Streaming exclusively on iQIYI from July 18, the film highlights the real-life journeys of 13 entrepreneurs from the 2024 BizSmart® Challenge: Accelerator Edition. In conjunction with World MSME Day, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad unveiled The Ultimate Elevator Pitch, a pioneering feature-length documentary spotlighting the entrepreneurial journeys of 13 finalists from the 2024 BizSmart® Challenge. This milestone initiative represents a convergence of business development, cinematic storytelling and digital media, making it the first of its kind in Malaysia. The film, directed by Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ampersand Advisory, Sandeep Joseph, offers rare behind-the-scenes access to high-stakes business pitches, mentorship sessions and the personal challenges encountered by SME founders. The Ultimate Elevator Pitch is available on iQIYI on July 18. "We see entrepreneurs as heroes and that is how we approached this movie. It is raw, relatable and relevant. These are the stories of Malaysia's future business leaders, told without filter," Sandeep said. Alliance Bank Group CEO, Kellee Kam, described the film as a portrait of resilience and ambition. "It is a celebration of the changemakers building our future. For over a decade, we have supported entrepreneurs beyond financial services. This movie invites the public to witness the grit, vulnerability and determination behind Malaysia's SME founders," Kam said. The documentary also serves as a prelude to the 2025 BizSmart® Business Conference (ABBBC), scheduled for Oct 7 at W Kuala Lumpur. Themed "Boundaries Reimagined", the conference will bring together over 35 speakers, including high-growth founders, seasoned investors and BizSmart® alumni such as Timothy Tiah, Winnie Loo, Radius Khor, Mah Jun Kit, Nor Arieni and Dr Jay. Topics will range from cross-border expansion to digital disruption and resilient brand building. The 2024 BizSmart® Challenge marked its 10th anniversary with the introduction of the Accelerator Edition, drawing a record-breaking 593 submissions. It included a multi-stage evaluation; a four-day accelerator programme, a 60-second Elevator Pitch and a final pitch to a panel of industry leaders. Every finalist received a prize, with BioLoop, Gula Cakery, and HiiVolt emerging as the top three, collectively earning a share of RM550,000. Highlighting its role as a pioneer in SME financing, Alliance Bank extended its support through a suite of financial tools beyond conventional banking. These included venture capital via 1337 Ventures and 5X Capital and funding from Cradle's MYStartup and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC). In line with current digital consumption trends, the film will stream exclusively on iQIYI. Head of Brand Partnerships, APAC & Middle East at iQIYI Evangeline Song said this was the first time a bank-led SME initiative has been transformed into a cinematic experience that balances heart and ambition. "It highlights the highs, lows and spirit of local founders who are taking bold steps to shape their future," Song said. The idea for The Ultimate Elevator Pitch was sparked by a single insight: entrepreneurship is not just strategy — it is deeply emotional. "This is more than a celebration of success. It is a visual archive and story of what it takes to build a business in today's Malaysia," Sandeep added. Alliance Bank reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive entrepreneurial growth through its early bird promotion for ABBBC 2025, with ticket prices starting at RM88 until July 3. The conference aimed to facilitate networking, business matching and dissemination of strategic insights for SME development. For more information on the BizSmart® Challenge, visit To watch The Ultimate Elevator Pitch, visit iQIYI starting July 18. For details on the 2025 BizSmart® Business Conference, visit
Daily Express
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Alliance Bank BizSmart® Challenge Launches 'The Ultimate Elevator Pitch – Malaysia's First Feature-Length SME Business Pitch Film'
Published on: Monday, June 30, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 Text Size: From Left to Right: Kelly Kam (Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad), Natalie Tan (Partner 5X Capital), and Bikesh Lakhmichand (CEO & Founding Partner, 1337 Ventures) KUALA LUMPUR: In a unique and landmark convergence of business, storytelling, and digital streaming, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad today launched The Ultimate Elevator Pitch — Malaysia's first feature-length SME business pitch film focused on SME entrepreneurship in conjunction with World MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) Day. The movie premiers exclusively on iQIYI, one of Asia's leading OTT platforms. Alliance Bank also announced the return of the BizSmart® Business Conference (ABBBC) — the Bank's annual flagship event under the BizSmart® ecosystem, now in its second year. The documentary-style movie offers unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the Accelerator Edition of the BizSmart® Challenge — Alliance Bank's flagship SME development programme which celebrated 10 years in 2024. Viewers will experience the raw emotions, high-stakes pitches, intense questioning and pivotal breakthroughs that capture the real-life drama of building a business in today's fast-paced, volatile environment. Launched in 2013, the BizSmart® Challenge was created to empower local entrepreneurs with access to funding, mentorship, and market exposure. In 2024, the Challenge introduced the 60-second Elevator Pitch as a new and dynamic addition, reinforcing its reputation as a trailblazing platform within Malaysia's SME ecosystem. Furthermore, strengthening its credentials as the pioneering partner of SMEs, Alliance Bank became the first bank to go beyond offering loans to SMEs and offer venture capital through 1337 Ventures and 5X Capital, as well as cash prizes through Cradle MYStartup and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC). 'For over a decade, we've supported entrepreneurs beyond financial services,' said Kellee Kam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank. 'This 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. It's a portrait of resilience and ambition — and a celebration of the changemakers building our future.' The 2024 Alliance BizSmart® Challenge awarded RM550,000 in cash prizes to 13 outstanding winners. Among them, BioLoop, Gula Cakery, and HiiVolt emerged as the top three, standing out for their innovation, business acumen, and growth potential. 'These winners reflect the creativity, perseverance, and ambition that define Malaysia's SME sector,' shared Kellee Kam. 'We've gone beyond just providing bank funds — together with our esteemed partners CGC, Cradle's MYStartup , 1337 Ventures , and 5X Capital, we now offer a range of financial solutions from loans to venture funding. We'll continue to support SMEs with funding, mentoring, and visibility. As The Bank For Life, our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to make a lasting impact across industries and communities. We're proud to remain pioneers in this space — just as we were a decade ago when we launched the BizSmart® Challenge.' The idea for The Ultimate Elevator Pitch was sparked by a single insight: entrepreneurship isn't just strategy — it's deeply emotional. It's best understood through the lived experience of founders. With audiences increasingly drawn to authentic, documentary-style content, the Bank saw an opportunity to bring these stories to life in a way that's both exciting and real, to inspire the next cohort of Malaysian entrepreneurs. Partnering with multi-awarded local agency Ampersand Advisory, the film blends cinematic storytelling with entrepreneurial depth — capturing moments that rarely make the headlines but define the heart of business building. 'We see entrepreneurs as heroes, and that's how we approached this movie. Our client was open-minded and the idea of a movie came in a large part from them. The audience gets a rare front-row seat to some of the struggles and high points that define a founder's journey,' said Sandeep Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO of Ampersand Advisory, who also directed the film. 'You'll see the unguarded moments, the investor debates, and the mentorship that shapes growth. It's raw, relatable, and relevant. These are the stories of Malaysia's future business leaders, told without filter.' Filmed during the intensive BizSmart® Challenge journey, the film offers never-before-seen access to mentorship sessions, last-minute pitch prep, emotional highs and lows — and the real stakes faced by entrepreneurs chasing funding and recognition, while managing personal pressures and daily business challenges. 'This is more than a celebration of success. It's a visual archive and story of what it takes to build a business in today's Malaysia', added Sandeep. 'We're delighted that a local home-grown bank wanted to make a heartwarming film about local entrepreneurs, and picked a local agency like ours to do so. As an entrepreneur I can resonate with the journey of these courageous and diverse founders.' Streaming Where Malaysians Watch: The iQIYI Partnership In keeping with today's digital-first habits, iQIYI and Alliance Bank proudly partnered to host Malaysia's first-ever film centred around a business pitch programme — a bold, original concept that celebrates the ambition, innovation, and resilience of local entrepreneurs. The documentary reinforces both brands' commitment to supporting homegrown talent and inspiring content. Watch it exclusively on iQIYI from 18 July 2025, making it accessible to entrepreneurs, students, and aspiring founders across Malaysia, anytime and anywhere. 'This is the first time a bank-led SME initiative has been transformed into a cinematic experience that balances heart and ambition, It proves entrepreneurship isn't reserved for boardrooms — it highlights the highs, lows and spirit of local founders who are taking bold steps to shape their future to make it more meaningful," said Evangeline Song, Head of Brand Partnerships, APAC & Middle East at iQIYI. 'We're excited to bring such authentic, homegrown stories to a wider audience through this collaboration.' Celebrating 10 Years of the BizSmart® Challenge 2024 also marked a milestone 10th anniversary for the BizSmart® Challenge, with the introduction of the Accelerator Edition. This 2024 edition attracted a record-breaking 593 submissions — the highest since the programme began in 2013 — reflecting the vibrancy and competitiveness of Malaysia's SME landscape. The finalists went through months of the programme , including a 4-day Accelerator Programme, business coaching, a 5-minute business pitch, 60-second Elevator Pitch, and the final 3-minute pitch to a panel of industry leaders. The programme ensured each entrepreneur received valuable exposure, insights, and support. In a first, every finalist from last year walked away with a prize — reinforcing Alliance Bank's commitment to inclusive growth and support for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. A Prelude to the 2025 BizSmart® Business Conference (ABBBC) Taking place on 7 October 2025 at W Kuala Lumpur, this year's BizSmart® Business Conference (ABBBC) conference is themed 'Boundaries Reimagined' and will feature over 35 speakers, including high- growth founders, visionary investors, and BizSmart® alumni who've scaled their businesses across sectors and regions. This year's line-up includes industry leaders such as CEO of Colony Timothy Tiah, Founder of A Cut Above Winnie Loo, HYGR Co-founders Ivor and Meng, Kee Nguyễn Vietnam Coffee Co-founder and director Radius Khor and , past BizSmart® Challenge winners finalists BioLoop CEO Mah Jun Kit, Gula Cakery founder Nor Arieni and HiiVolt Founder Dr. Jay . The agenda will cover real-world topics such as cross-border business expansion, digital disruption, brand- building under pressure, business model evolution, and how SMEs can thrive through change. Participants can also look forward to curated networking, business-matching opportunities, and access to industry-shaping insights. To mark World MSME Day, a special early bird ticket price of RM88 is available until 3 July 2025 — underscoring the Bank's commitment to making high-impact knowledge and access more inclusive for entrepreneurs at every stage. For more information about the Alliance Bank BizSmart® Challenge visit To watch The Ultimate Elevator Pitch movie, visit [insert the link for iQIYI} which goes live on 18 July 2025. Tickets information and other insights to the BizSmart® Business Conference (ABBBC) 2025, visit * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
BusinessToday
27-06-2025
- Business
- BusinessToday
Alliance Bank Releases Malaysia's First SME Business Pitch Film In Conjunction With World MSME Day
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, The Ultimate Elevator Pitch , Malaysia's first feature-length SME business pitch film, will premiere exclusively on streaming platform iQIYI on 18 July 2025, marking a bold convergence of business, documentary storytelling and digital streaming. Produced around the 2024 Accelerator Edition of Alliance Bank's BizSmart® Challenge, the documentary offers unfiltered, behind-the-scenes access into high-stakes pitches, mentorships, and the journey of Malaysian entrepreneurs in building their businesses under pressure. The Challenge awarded RM550,000 in cash prizes to 13 winners, including BioLoop, Gula Cakery and HiiVolt. The 2024 programme introduced a new 60-second Elevator Pitch format and received a record-breaking 593 submissions, the highest since its inception in 2013. This year also saw Alliance Bank becoming the first bank in Malaysia to offer SMEs venture capital through partnerships with 1337 Ventures and 5X Capital, beyond its regular financing and grant collaborations with CGC and Cradle's MYStartup. Streaming the documentary on iQIYI reflects a push to reach new audiences, including students and aspiring entrepreneurs, by showcasing the real-world struggles and triumphs of Malaysian business founders. Related
