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.

SME INNOVATION CHALLENGE PITCHING FOR TOP 6.

It has been slightly more than 2 months since we pitched to be selected as the top 20 finalists on 18 September 2015. Alot had happen since. The finalists underwent various intensive, grueling and mentally challenging training that actually made us think deeper into our business, future plan and our concept. I felt really privilege to be part of these programs. These programs were really useful and relevant to the business but these are also the type of programs that we will always ignore, take it for granted and would never spare any effort to attend on our own, prioritizing business errands and work appointments. Its amazing how the organiser for the SME Innovation Challenge structured and so well planned the whole program.  It took me a few days just to digest what we went through the class for each classes. We graduated from the last program on 24 November and have not really digest it, let alone to pitch on 26 November 2015 for the Top 6 selection. It would have been perfect if we had a week after the last program to the pitching date.

26 November 2015. The pitching was held at the Grand Hyatt, Kuala Lumpur and I was scheduled to pitched at 1030am. There were the same judges as the first pitch (for the list of judges, click HERE) except for Kenny from Manulife. A lady replaced Kenny as the judge. I arrived early at 830am and had breakfast at the hotel. Tan Sri Liew arrived in full suit without his EcoWorld uniform which was quite unlike him. We had a few sessions with Tan Sri and he was always smart, clad in the white EcoWorld uniform. Perhaps this was a signal that today is going to be a really serious session! He was not so talkative as compared to his usual sharing mood when he arrived. He sat for a momnet and requested to start the pitching early. It was only at 9:30am and the first pitch was scheduled to start at 10am. Edwin Wang and John Cheng from Signature Snack was all ready. They were the first to pitch.

Alliance Bank BizSmart Academy

After a series of grounding and training at the BizSmart Academy, I am really short of words. I never knew how supportive Alliance Bank is to small businesses and new start-up but the programs conducted were truly amazing. Sadly, it is coming to an end soon. I feel the biggest failure many entrepreneurs made when they first start up, is thinking their business model was perfect. The BizSmart academy perfected it further and provide a more concrete path towards success. For more information on what other finalists feel about the whole journey, please click and read here. Mine, was extracted and pasted below.

The BizSmart Academy understands the entrepreneurs’ needs better than the entrepreneurs themselves. The programmes touch the core essentials that we often overlooked and took for granted. There are just too much and almost impossible to write and tell on this journey since we became the 20 finalists. In short, it is a wonderful, memorable and an educational journey.

We all started the training program without knowing one another but after the first class, we became a G20 sort of speak; an unbreakable group of 20 finalists. We knew each other by name on the first session itself and started sharing contacts, connections and cross-sharing products to support each other. Its kind of weird because we never take each other as a competitor to win prizes but we continue to support and inspire. I want to grow old through thick and thin with my team just like Tan Sri Liew, his CEO and the EcoWorld team. My take home from the CEO Chatroom, reputation and credibility is something we must always strongly upkeep. During a downturn, the credibility and unity will pull the company through. I am practicing what I learn from the first training to influence people to get things done instead of giving instructions. This can be done if we understand the different personality trait of the team member.

IDIOT-PROOF GUIDE TO VOTE FOR HYPPTV VIEWERS CHOICE AWARD

Its almost 2 weeks since the interactive page on HyppTV for viewers choice award was launched and it is ending on 21 November 2015!! Yes, closing in less than 72 hours!!

Please vote for our new technology start-up CARBENGKEL for the HyppTV Viewers Choice Award. How to vote? You can vote as many times as your finger and time permits and for those who vote the most (highest voter), you can win cool gadget (see below!!).

Follow the simple step by step guide below:

PHOTOSHOOT WITH THE STAR PUBLICATION

We never knew how supportive Alliance Bank is to the SMEs until we were selected as the top 20 finalists at the SME Innovation Challenge 2015. Since the announcement, we have been through various training and media exposure.  One of the many was the interview organised with the Star Newspaper.

The interview was conducted at the Bosko Restaurant, Bandar Utama Centrepoint. Amnan and I arrived early and we were greeted by Agnes Ong Poh Choo, Adrianne Emuang and Lilian Khaw. Together with us for the interview were Effon, the founder for Kakitangan, Mehedi Hassan, the founder for LYL Technologies and my Kelantan homeboys Syed Ahmad Fuqaha, the founder for Katsana.

Before the journalist Mek Zhin arrived, Agnes prepared and tip us on some Do's and Don't when dealing with reporters. After an hour of interview, we hang out abit and camwhore while taking a break before the next interview began.

INTERVIEW WITH THE START-UP FOUNDERS AT BFM 89.9

Get up close and personal with the founders of 20 successful small & medium enterprise whom was selected as the top 20 finalists at the recent SME Innovation Challenge 2015. The Top 20 Finalists whom had attended the first business training at the Alliance Bank BizSmart Academy on 2nd October 2015 will be interviewed by the business radio BFM 89.9 on stages. The interview will be done during the 'Open For Business' segment at 10am (refer to the picture above).

Tomorrow, BFM 89.9 will interview Sherlyn Tan, the founder of Twenty3 and John Ho Chee Kiong, the founder for Sang Kaya whom had recently launched 2 new outlets in Klang Valley. For more information on Twenty3 and Sangkaya as well as the 20 finalists, click HERE.

The 20 finalists are from 5 different sectors, namely fashion, F&B, Mobile Applications, E-Commerce/online stores  and online solution. 

There are 5 new start-ups in Fashion namely, (1) Ash Be Nimble, (2) KooshBoo, (3) Rent A Dress, (4) SimplyK, and (5) Twenty3. 

There is only 1 company in Floral which is the BloomThis.

5 companies in F&B and they are ChopStick Diner, Humble Beginnings, Lao PO Recipe, Sang Kaya and Signature Snack.

3 companies in mobile application but all are in different sector; CarBengkel is for automotive services, LYL Technology in content streaming apps and Servis Hero in general services. 

2 companies in e-commerce or online shopping; Freshcart Grocer offers an online fresh grocer and imported fruits and SnapSell is for the users to snap anything and sell.

There are 2 companies that provides online solution; Kakitangan provides HR data consolidation work and WOBB provides recruitments for best talent.