VISA RETAIL INNOVATION AWARD 2015

Prashant Aggarwal from VISA announcing and crowning the winner

for VISA Retail Award 2015

"Visa Retail Award aims to recognise an innovative and young business that has high level of customer engagement, demonstrates innovation and use of technology to successfully transform their business for both in-store and online. We also look to award the retail partner for their growth in in business and investment in their people. This retail award celebrates and recognise promising young leaders in the modern-day retailers segment that provides a seamless shopping experience while maintaining the integrity of their brand".

My new technology startup, CarBengkel was one of the five start-ups that was shortlisted to pitch for the Visa Retail Innovation Award on 10 December 2015. We submitted a 13 pager pitch in-time for the 13 November 2015 deadline and was the second company to present. The other 4 companies that was shortlisted were Ash Be Nimble, Kakitangan.com, Sangkaya and BloomThis.com.

The pitching for the award was done at VISA head office, Level 32, Suite C, Menara Maxis, KLCC. We were the first to arrive being excited. These pitching for the SME Innovation Challenge, Visa Retail and previous for Cradle Fund are all new experience which I had never done before. Naturally, I was filled with anxiety and excitement. 

I have also been acquainted with other founders that was pitching for the same award namely Ashish & Hui Matthews from Ash Be Nimble, Effon Khoo of Kakitangan.com, John Isaac Ho & Sangrida Kaya from Sangkaya and Gidden Lim & Penny Choo from BloomThis. They are all truly amazing and inspirational. Their business concept are admirable and it did not feel as if we were actually competing. It felt as if we were working and was there to support each other. 

WE MADE IT TO TOP 7!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! PLEASE VOTE US FOR TOP 3.

Readers and friends, we are in!! Alhamdulillah~ Allah Huakbar!

Top 7 SME Innovation Challenge 2015!! We have made it this far with all your support and we need your support yet, once again. For us to be selected into the Top 3, we need your votes!! Yes, your vote contributes to 30% of the total scoring. We wont get shortlisted without your votes. The public voting is open from NOW, 3 December to 11:59pm, 8 December 2015.

You can only vote once!! One time only and I truly hope you will vote for CarBengkel.

To vote:
1. Please click on this link - https://voting.bizsmart.com.my/microsite/ . Public voting is open until 8 December 2015.

2. Then select and click on CarBengkel (you can view our video and I will try hard not to blush- saya seorang pemalu). See RED ARROW below to select CARBENGKEL.

HEART THROBBING MOMENT

It was almost noon and there were no calls from Alliance Bank to inform if we were shortlisted for the Top 7 SME Innovation Challenge 2015. We were told to expect a call from the Bank officials whom will be calling those who made it to Top 7. By 2pm, there were still no phone calls and we were almost certain we did not get selected. A coffee chat yesterday with Alliance Bank Executive Vice President after the mentoring session with Dato Wira Dr Haji Ameer Ali bin Haji Mydin had sank my hope to be selected. Victor gave quite a good perspective on what is deemed as bankable and what the Bank would avoid. I would recommend for Victor to take a session with the finalist for next year's SME Innovation Challenge.

After my 3rd appointment, I message Lilian Khaw from Alliance Bank. I said, please call me even if I did not get selected, I need a closure! My heart skipped a beat everytime the phone rang, the whole day. At 2:27pm, 3 minutes after I message Lilian, the phone rang and it was Lilian. My heart skipped a few (maybe a dozen) beats.. In fact, it probably stop beating for a moment. 

I was sure, Lilian called me in reply to my earlier message; that regretfully, I did not make it. She did not sound excited and asked me if I am free to talk. I was silent and my face probably already turned blue. In a slow voice, she said. Armin, Congratulation for being selected to Top 7. Suddenly, everything just stopped (not just my heartbeat)!

I was trying to digest what she meant and I said, for what?!! She said congratulation again. Then I went, are you serious? Please dont joke with me. Most of the finalists are really hilarious and everyone jokes alot. Lilian said again Armin, congratulation and I went, are you for real (again).. still in disbelief.