MAI-CARBENGKEL INTRODUCE YOUR FAVOURITE WORKSHOP CAMPAIGN

CYBERJAYA, 18 JANUARY 2016. “The campaign was launched to recognize trusted workshops in Malaysia as part of MAI’s effort to modernize and improve the services in the automotive aftermarket sector”, said Dato Mohamad Madani Sahari, Malaysia Automotive Institute Chief Executive Officer.  “There are RM5,000 prizes to be won by the public and as well as the car workhops.

1)            The Grand cash prize RM1,000 will be awarded to the public that successfully introduced the most workshops. The first runner-up will win Cash Prize RM500 and 2^nd Runner up cash prize RM300.

2)            The public that shared his/her selfie infront of the referred workshops on either Facebook or Instagram with a hashtag: #carbengkelworkshop and have the most like will win cash prize RM300 each (Facebook and Instagram), RM200 for 1^st runner-up and RM100 for 2^nd Runner up.

3)            Workshop that is referred the most on facebook and Instagram will win RM1,000 advertising credit on CarBengkel.

4)            There are many drivers in Malaysia with their own trusted mechanics and workshops and there are more drivers, mostly ladies whom are completely ignorant on where to bring their car for service or repair. With this campaign, we can enroll more trusted workshops in addition to the the 2,800 workshops that had already registered with CarBengkel mobile application for the benefits of other drivers.

5)            There are 15,000 car workshops registered with local authorities nationwide servicing more than 23 million vehicles on the road.

6)            Public can introduce any car workshop, tyre outlets, accessories shop as well as tow truck.

7)            All workshops introduced will received a sponsored CarBengkel training on how to increase traffic & profit and a credit worth RM1,000 for advertisement on CarBengkel.

8)            Public can also refer any OEM authorized workshop such as Proton, Perodua, Toyota, Honda, Nissan or any other OEM authorised workshops to cater to more than 2million cars on the road that is still under the manufacturer’s warranty.

9)            This campaign is launched in conjunction with the forthcoming Chinese New Year festive season as we expect many will visit the workshop for their car maintenance and repair before going on holiday. This is the best time for the public to refer the respective workshops.

10)         CarBengkel mobile application provides a more convenient way to service, repair and/or obtained a cost estimate for any repair or spare parts. This will enable the public to save time, reduce expenses for car maintenance and have a better experience dealing with mechanics and workshops.

11)         In 2015, CarBengkel won the prestigious VISA Retail Innovation Award in December, selected as Top 7 best startup at the SME Innovation Challenge and won Top 5 best at the Echelon Thailand.

12)         Expenses for car maintenance are never budgeted by any household unlike housing and car loan and can be a big burden to the public.

13)       Public only need to download CarBengkel App which is available in three languages (Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin) and is compatible on both Andriod and iOS handphones and introduce their favourite workshop by tapping on referral button in the app.

14)         The workshop will then receive an SMS with a link to download. The workshop needs to tap on the download link and follow a simple step by step guide to register. Once the workshop had registered, the referral will get a point.

15)         Those with the most points for successfully referring the most car workshop, tyre outlets, accessories shop or tow truck combined, will win RM1,000 cash reward.  

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.

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: