Alliance Bank announces Top 13 BizSmart Challenge Accelerator Edition Finalists

Alliance Bank announced the top 13 finalists for its highly anticipated 2024 BizSmart Challenge Accelerator Edition.These thirteen trailblazing businesses have been selected after a rigorous process of filtration involving593 innovative applicants, 4 days Accelerator Programme and Business Coaching, 2 days of BusinessPitching and 1 day of Elevator Pitch.

The 2024 Accelerator Edition marks a landmark decade for the BizSmart Challenge, which hasevolved from a platform for entrepreneurial growth to an accelerator for industry-defining talent. As aleader in the SME sector, Alliance Bank wanted to encourage the sector by pioneering the firstBizSmart Challenge in 2013 to foster the progress and development of growing SMEs, to identify risingstars and to give back to Malaysia’s emerging entrepreneurs.Brands that are household names today like Christy Ng, myBurger Lab, Tapping Tapir, BloomThis,Signature Market, Amazin’ Graze, Chriszen, Salad Atelier, and Vanzo have come through the AllianceBank BizSmart Challenge in previous years, gaining cash prizes, loan financing and valuable businessacumen from Alliance Bank as they progress on their entrepreneurial journey.

“We are thrilled to present this year’s finalists, whose entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are trulyinspiring. They have reached our Grand Finale after months of honing their pitches, strengthening theirbusiness stories and financials, and receiving mentoring from class-leading venture capitalists likeBikesh Lakhmichand of 1337 Ventures and 5X Capital’s Natalie Tan.

Alliance Bank’s BizSmart Challenge is committed to supporting sustainable business practices and empowering the next wave of industry leaders.”

– Kellee Kam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank.

The finalists strived to impress the panel of industry veteran judges, featuring Mr. Kellee Kam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank, Mr Bikesh Lakhmichand, Founding Partner & CEO of 1337 Ventures, Ms Natalie Tan, Partner at 5X Capital, Mr Raymond Chui, Chief SME, Commercial and Transaction Banking Officer of Alliance Bank, along with Category Award sponsor representative Mr Sean Tan, Chief Business Officer from Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) and Ecosystem Partner, Mr Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle.

Entrepreneurs made literal “Elevator Pitches”

593 applicants from all across Malaysia were narrowed down into a group of Top 30 ShortlistedContestants. The Shortlisted Contestants then presented their pitches to the panel of judges with a unique format that also included a 60-second Pitch inside an elevator for the much-coveted Golden Ticket. Meanwhile, the elevator door of opportunity closed on those who failed to impress.

Impressed by the high standards in delivering their pitches, three additional wild cards were also awarded with Golden Tickets.

These 13 recipients stand a chance to win a share of the RM 500,000cash prizes, in addition to business loans at preferential rates, branding exposure and potentially,venture capital funding; empowering them to further scale their business. Total prize value exceeds RM2 million.

Here are the Top 13 Finalists for the Alliance Bizsmart Challenge 2024

In a further innovation, and another first-of-its-kind effort in Malaysia, Alliance Bank is producing afeature-length film that captures the stories and progress of the Alliance Bank BizSmart®ChallengeAccelerator Edition.

This film is set to premiere on 27 November at Aurum Theatre The Exchange TRX, KL asa private screening for invited guests. The film will also serve to announce the next winners of the BizSmart Challenge Accelerator Edition.For more information and updates on the Alliance Bank BizSmart Challenge Accelerator Edition,head over to www.bizsmart.com.my.

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