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.

SME INNOVATION CHALLENGE PUBLIC VOTING FOR TOP 7

Its 3 days counting down before the announcement of the top 7 companies from the list above. The 20 finalists had pitched and presented their 12 months planning of how they will use the award money on 26 November 2015. As stressful as it was for the founders of the 20 companies to present their business plan, it is even harder for the judges to decide and pick the top 6 best that they had to add another company to make it the Top 7 instead of six.

To view for the 20 finalists, click at the link: https://www.facebook.com/AllianceBankMalaysia/app/785251741601466/.

Then click on each company to read the synopsis.

This is also the link where the top 7 will be announced and shortlisted on 2 December 2015. On 3 December, the public can start voting for the top 7 to be shortlisted to top 3.

CHIEF'S ORIGINAL BOOTCAMP "NO BETTER FRIENDS, NO WORST ENEMY" ~ BATTLE OF PLATOONS 4.0

The battle of platoons is an annual event organised by the Chief's Original Bootcamp to foster the spirit of camaraderie between recruits from their own battalion and among others as well as to compete in a friendly manner. The strongest and the best teamwork battalion will be crowned the Champion. There are 5 battalions at the Chief's Original Bootcamp at Ampang, Bandar Utama, Cyberjaya, Damansara Heights and Subang Jaya.

For the first time in COBC history, Damansara Heights was disqualified for insufficient enrollment but in good spirit, recruits from Damansara Heights enjoins Bandar Utama. Damansara Heights platoon, codenamed the Highlanders was crowned Champion twice in the 4 years the Battle of platoons were organised. We also have a new battalion from Maxis whom have been under corporate training with COBC for almost a year. MAXIS is the first corporate company that promote and emphasizes health and fitness for their employees all year through and even sponsor their employees to keep fit. All was from the effort and dedication from Asni Afzah and her team from Maxis Employees Engagement department.

Captains were selected for each team and the Captains in charge were Jason Lee for the Spartans, Aston for the Barracudas, Shahrul for the Maxis-Titans and Amri for the Legends. There were 152 participants in the event; Spartans 39pax, Barracudas 36, Maxis Titans 37pax and the Legends 40pax. Those that participated in the Battle of Platoons 4.0 are as follows:

(list to be updated)

This year there were 4 battalions competing under their own team banner as follows:

ECHELON THAILAND A WOW..

Our new tech start up, Carbengkel was recently shortlisted as the top 10 qualifier a the Echelon Thailand 2015 but unfortunately, it was on the same date as the SME Innovation Challenge 2015 Top 6 pitching date. We had to split our team with me pitching in Kuala Lumpur and, Anny and Amnan in Bangkok.

Our main purpose and objective for participating in the Echelon Thailand was to have some preliminary market validation for us to launch CarBengkel in Thailand next year. We have a booth attended by Amnan and the feedback we received was very encouraging and positive. Our booth was like pasar malam packed with so many people. Thailand automotive market is huge and the biggest in the region. Thailand automotive market was not new to me. My former company, Jackspeed was a tier-1 vendor in Thailand to various automotive manufacturers. While we cant wait to launched CarBengkel in Thailand and have even translated our apps in Thai but we are not rushing. We want to thoroughly understand the consumer behaviour there first and Amnan took the first step with gathering feedback.

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.

PEDA MOURNS FOR THE FAMILY OF PROTON EDAR'S 10TH APPOINTED CEO.

Inna lillahhi wainna ilaihiraji'un. To Allah swt we belong, to Him we shall return. The Proton Edar dealers network mourns for the families of Proton Edar 10th appointed Chief Executive Officer, Azmi Idris.

The Proton Dealers Association Malaysia has worked closely with Azmi for many years and closer when he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer prior to Norzahid Mohd Zahudi. During his short tenure as the Chief Executive Officer, Azmi's main focus was on dealer's resilient and the disorderly network. The network has been ailing for many years for various reasons and some were due to the punitive policies implemented within the company itself which he wanted to restructure. The dealer's network are forever indebted for his contributions.

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. 

 

THE 20 SUCCESSFUL SME FOUNDERS

It was such an amazing experience being in a room full of successful founders which I was given the privilege by Alliance Bank & the sponsors. I was one of the 20 finalists shortlisted at the recent SME Innovation Challenge 2015. For more information on the SME Innovation Challenge, please read here, here and here. They all have wonderful stories to share and a good made in Malaysia business concept especially for Malaysians and the world.

When my business prospers, I will certainly join the list of sponsors for the SME Innovation Challenge. Being with new founders, really injects alot of aspiration and motivation. It is not all rosey and beauty for the founders to be where they are today. I was in one of the group that was split into 5, and one of the founders said, she had multiple nervous breakdown and almost kill herself to keep her company afloat. Another founder attended the Biz Smart Academy today and left her barely year old baby in the hospital admitted for dengue. Such were the commitment and dedication by the founders to bring their company to the next level.

We attended the first of the 8 full day training courses organised to equipped businesses with essential ingredients for success. I attended the course with a burning desire to learn, apply and starving for knowledge and success. It was great to be in a hall full of founders with the same huge appetite. The energy was exemplary.

Today's first full day was a course on Strategic Influencing by Eric Lau from Leaderonomics. There are alot of things we took for granted while running a business and Eric, in his hip and passionate presentation backed with strong references to real life case study put alot of senses to many. You should check them out at www.leaderonomics.com. 

We also had the pleasure of meeting Christy Ng whom was the 2013 SME Innovation Challenge

Champion. She was generous with sharing her success story and gave some useful tips in tackling those judges during the final pitch. Another guest speaker was Ivan Lee from The Tapping Tapir, the Top 6 finalist for last year's challenge. Victor shared his experience in getting into the top 6. The biggest challenge faced by them two was in canvassing for public votes. They actually went to Pasar Malam and into universities to get students to vote for them!! Eeek!!! I cannot remember when was the last time I went to pasar malam.

RICE BOWL START UP AWARD 2015

We are so pleased to be nominated for the Rice Bowl Start up Award 2015. The Rice Bowl Startup Awards celebrates rising startups that are worthy of regional awareness and presence, uses technology and modern business strategies to deliver their service offerings.

It is called the Rice Bowl award as rice is a staple diet among Asians, so is technology for fuelling businesses of the future. The Rice Bowl Startup Awards is the first ASEAN awards that celebrate rising startups that harness technology innovatively to propel their business regionally. Companies participating in the event are from Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei, Philippines, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Malaysia is the host for the event this year.

The media exposure for this award is massive and will provide CarBengkel with sufficient exposure to go global by year end. Please pray for us to get into the TOP 30.

YES WE MADE IT TO THE TOP 20 FINALISTS ALLIANCE BANK SME INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2015

The SME Innovation Challenge 2015 was launched on 9 July 2015 with a total RM1,000,000 cash and media prizes to be won. There are three additional category prizes to be won this year namely, the Manulife Sustainability Award (RM100,000), VISA Retail Award (RM100,000) and HyppTV Viewers' Choice Award (RM200,000). The Grand Prize for the Champion will receive Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin Entrepreneurship Award RM250,000/ First Runner-up will get RM200,000 and Second Runner-Up will receive RM150,000.

The application for the SME Challenge 2015 was closed on 1 September and those shortlisted including my new company CarBengkel was called for an interview and had to pitch 6 prominent judges chaired by billionaire and philanthropist Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin on 18 September 2015 (for more information, read HERE). From that session, twenty were selected and the TOP 20 Finalist was announced this afternoon at the Young Entrepreneurs Conference 2015 held at the Planery Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

The Young Entrepreneur Conference 2015 is a by-invitation-only event and is open to all aspiring entrepreneurs. Amnan Bazli Pahamin and I attended the YEC 2015 with a mix feeling. Nervous, excited and anxious!! We really look forward to be selected as the Top 20 Finalists. Being a new start-up, we can only imagine the mileage we will get being shortlisted. I did my best though I felt I could have done better pitching Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin and those prominent judges last week on 18 September. We had the pleasure and honour to meet the humble Malek Ali, the founder for our favourite radio station BFM 89.90 who is also one of the judges at the recent pitch. I love his inspiring life story.

BATTLE OF PLATOONS 4.0

The Chief's Original Bootcamp has declared a state of emergency for all battalion to be at Defcon 3. All platoons under each battalion to form a unit ready for battle. This is the fourth war cry for battle issued in half a decade.

At Defcon 3, all recruits at all battalion to increase their training intensity and ready for deployment. Our intelligent unit speculate a war will break out with the following details:

DATE: 8 November 2015
TIME: 5:30am - 9:30am
WAR ZONE: To be advice.
THEME: No better friend, no worst enemy.

What is the Battle of Platoons?

The Battle of Platoons is a special event organized to foster the spirit of camaraderie between recruits from all platoons. Most of the time, recruits only interact with their fellow platoon mate without any opportunity to meet recruits from other platoons. During the battle, recruits from all locations will gather at the war zone. Recruits from all ranks; Rangers, Seals and Deltas would have to work together and win points for their platoon.

The Battle of Platoons was first mooted by Senior Sarge Coad; COBC Regional Master trainer & Spec Ops Coordinator in 2009. "The challenge was conducted to determine which platoon is the strongest in a friendly, enjoyable and slightly competitive way".

Who can participate?

1. Any recruits that is registered and train at COBC. 

2. To enable more recruits to join & participate in the BOP 4.0, a special fee is extended for all past, present & new recruit at only RM99.50 per month for the month of October and RM99.50 for November (The fee is conditional on registration and payment for both November & December before November intake- total RM199.00 for 2 intakes). This RM99 per month is for all recruits registered for the months of October & November 2015.
3. All WIP and special recruits can defer their WIP payment to December and pay the "special fees" instead.

PITCHING AT THE SME INNOVATION CHALLENGE 2015

I first heard of the BizSmart Academy SME Innovation Challenge 2015 from Li Lian Khaw whom invited CarBengkel to compete. We submitted our application in early August and was overwhelmed to received a congratulatory email on 11 September, being one of the 40 companies that was shortlisted for the pitching. For more information on SME Innovation Challenge 2015, click HERE. For more information on CarBengkel win~win solution for car owners and the aftersales network, click HERE.

We were given a week to prepare for the pitching scheduled on 18 September 2015 (today!!) at 9:15am slot. Logan and I worked the weekends and the whole week to perfected the pitch deck and I spend the whole 2 days rehearsing to deliver our message in the given 8 minutes timeframe!! Cradle graduates were trained to pitch in 5 minutes and the additional 3 minutes is almost a bonus but I wanted to share so much more of what CarBengkel can do that I needed more than the bonus 3 minutes. After dozens of practicing and rehearsing, I managed to hit the 8 minutes timeframe after censoring and prioritizing alot of slides and pointers.

What is the mechanic of the challenge?

THE PEOPLE'S POWER

As far back as I can remember when Tun Dr Mahathir was the Prime Minister, everyone wanted him to be replaced, leave or resigned. When he resigned, everyone felt it was a grand victory for Malaysia and evidently, Barisan Nasional under Tun Abdullah Badawi won 90% majority at the 11th general election (GE11) in 2004. People was in favour of a government without Tun Dr Mahathir forgetting all the good deeds and development he brought to Malaysia from being a third world.

Since then, Barisan Nasional under Tun Abdullah Badawi had lost 2/3 majority in the 12th General Election (GE12) in 2008 and even lost a few states. When Tun Abdullah Badawi resigned, Dato Sri Najib brought an even worst winning for Barisan Nasional at the 13th General Election (GE13) in 2013. Barisan Nasional did not even get the popular votes.

The 90% majority grand victory that the people celebrated in GE11 for not wanting Tun Dr Mahathir had brought a major catastrophe not just to Barisan Nasional but to Malaysia. The people is not always right.

The people will not make the same mistake by voting against Barisan Nasional because of their frustration, anger and hatred for Dato Sri Najib's donation, money politics, abuse of power with the PAC, MACC, AG, BNM, Police and those labelled as corrupted Ministers. The damage will be of great detriment to Malaysia.

CRAVING OF A THAI

It is actually not as easy to find a good Thai food that is reasonably priced and taste very similar to the authentic Thai cooking. Naturally, when we came across a good Thai restaurant that is Halal with food menu that tastes very similar to the cooking of Thais, I had to share it with you. 

We incidentally saw the signage Aroi Thai after sending my son to his weekend Taekwondo class with Elaine Teoh and Nurul Nadia Mahamat at Kota Damansara. 

The three months old restaurant is called Aroi Thai and everything in the menu is priced at RM1.90 (before GST) ala the famous Thai Boat Noodle and Bangkok street food. We initially ordered a bowl each of the Beef Noodle but wallop in total 14 items from the menu!

I'VE GOT THE POWER!!

If only I had the Home Energy Report  report many years ago, we would have saved and substantially reduced our TNB Bills but Thumbs Up to TNB for generating the Home Energy Report which we received a few days ago. Without any bearing on the electrical consumption for energy efficient home, we have been on a utility bill reduction mode since last year.

Our TNB bill last year 2014, averages RM1200 per month and early this year we target to reduce it below RM1000 thinking it was a reasonable target. Now we know it is not. According to the TNB Home Energy Report, we uses 184% more electricity than similar home.  The last three months home electric usage comparison was was a staggering 5,765kWh for our home; similar home averages 2,031kWh and efficient home (of similar size) uses 891 kWh. We are 6x higher than the energy efficient home. The comparison was on 100 similar homes (Source: TNB).

Earlier this year we let go of a few under-utilize refrigerators and freezer, change the lights to LED energy saving lights and had successfully reduced it but RM800-RM900 per month was still on the high side. The target now was to keep TNB bill at an average RM300 a month which is the energy efficient home. So we did a bit of research on the energy savings electrical items and replaced the 8 years old LG air-condition on 3 August. 

We had it replaced with the Hitachi inverter aircond with 5 star energy saving rating. The aircond too came with a 10 years warranty. It claimed it can reduce our electricty bill by 60%. That was doubtful and we may just be a victim of advertising but heck, it cant be any worst than the current 8 years old air condition.

BOOTCAMP FOR LIFE~ 5th YEAR

Our journey with the Chief's bootcamp began 6 years ago in 2009 as a recruit at the bootcamp Padang Merbuk. Alike all others, we fell in love with the program at first sight. Prior to our training at the bootcamp, I have explored everything else from running, weight training, personal training, RPM, Body pump, swimming, triathlon, dualthon and even mountain climbing. My bootcamp partner Dr Malek Aziz too went through the same phase seeking and searching for an active lifestyle and training that can keep our mojo and fitness align with our medical history. Those who were given a second life having survived cancer would understand how nothing else matters but a good bill of great health. We love the program so much that we practically begged Chief Brabon and Gunny Hames to obtained the license to operate the program at Bandar Utama in 2010. The thought of not having the program being run in Malaysia was a nightmare having discovered the previous licensee wanted to opt out.

That was the beginning of our journey running the world's oldest military inspired bootcamp in Malaysia. When the licensee for Subang Jaya, Cyberjaya, Damansara Heights and Shah Alam too opted out from the network, we quickly took over. It was all for the passion for fitness. Not much for the money but for the network of people that shares similar passion as us. 

The Chief's Original Bootcamp is where it all started. It revolutionize the whole concept of exercising in Malaysia. That was during the period where all the boutique gym mushrooms throughout Malaysia. We went against the odd to establish the outdoor group fitness concept ala Military training. Now, the bootcamp concept had grow from just the Chief's Original Bootcamp to dozens of others but todate, the Chief's Original Bootcamp is the only bootcamp in Malaysia where the program is actually designed by former and currently serving infantry soldier, namely the Royal Australian army. Of course, the program is then customize for civilian training. At the Chief's Original Bootcamp (COBC), we deliver the program that was professionally and scientifically design to reap out the maximum results. The founder Chief Brabon and his Master Global trainers (whom design the program for COBC) establish the program way back in 1999; for already 16 years!!