Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd announced two new SME-focused initiatives under its BizSmart® platform. The initiatives aim to support Malaysia’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector through a broader, ecosystem-driven approach. The first initiative is a feature-length film titled “The Ultimate Elevator Pitch.” The film focuses on the contestants of the 2024 BizSmart® Challenge.
It is Malaysia’s first feature-length film about SME business pitches, inviting the public to witness the grit, vulnerability, and determination of Malaysia’s SME founders. Alliance Bank Group CEO Kellee Kam said, “The movie is a portrait of resilience and ambition — and a celebration of the changemakers building our future.
The film was produced in collaboration with local creative agency Ampersand Advisory. It aims to highlight the realities of entrepreneurship while providing greater visibility to early-stage companies.
The film will premiere on iQIYI on July 18. The 2024 edition of the BizSmart® Challenge received a record 593 submissions, narrowed down to a final 13 through intense competition.
SMEs rise on the big screen
The top three winners in 2024—BioLoop, Gula Cakery, and HiiVolt—shared RM550,000 in cash prizes. All finalists received mentorship and access to funding networks, including 1337 Ventures, 5X Capital, Cradle’s MYStartup, and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia (CGC). The second initiative is an upcoming conference named BizSmart® Business Conference, scheduled for October 7 in Kuala Lumpur.
The conference will feature over 35 speakers, including founders, investors, and alumni of the BizSmart® Challenge. Discussion themes at the conference include cross-border growth, digital disruption, brand-building under pressure, and navigating volatility in SME operating environments. Since its inception in 2013, notable names that have emerged from the BizSmart Challenge include Christy Ng, myBurgerLab, BloomThis, and Signature Market.
Several alumni are preparing for initial public offerings with the bank’s support. Bikesh Lakhmichand, founding partner of venture capital firm 1337 Ventures, emphasized BizSmart® Challenge’s role as a deal discovery platform for venture capital and private equity players. He estimated that about RM2 billion in private capital is available within Malaysia’s VC and PE ecosystem — capital that programmes like BizSmart® Challenge help unlock by improving founder visibility, investor readiness, and business structure.
