Juniper
In a unique and landmark convergence of business, storytelling, and digital streaming, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has launched The Ultimate Elevator Pitch — Malaysia’s first feature-length SME business pitch film focused on SME entrepreneurship in conjunction with World MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) Day. The movie premiers exclusively on iQIYI, one of Asia’s leading OTT platforms. Alliance Bank also announced the return of the BizSmart® Business Conference (ABBBC) — the Bank’s annual flagship event under the BizSmart® ecosystem, now in its second year.
The documentary-style movie offers unprecedented, behind-the-scenes access to the Accelerator Edition of the BizSmart® Challenge — Alliance Bank’s flagship SME development programme which celebrated 10 years in 2024. Viewers will experience the raw emotions, high-stakes pitches, intense questioning and pivotal breakthroughs that capture the real-life drama of building a business in today’s fast-paced, volatile environment.
Launched in 2013, the BizSmart® Challenge was created to empower local entrepreneurs with access to funding, mentorship, and market exposure. In 2024, the Challenge introduced the 60-second Elevator Pitch as a new and dynamic addition, reinforcing its reputation as a trailblazing platform within Malaysia’s SME ecosystem. Furthermore, strengthening its credentials as the pioneering partner of SMEs, Alliance Bank became the first bank to go beyond offering loans to SMEs and offer venture capital through 1337 Ventures and 5X Capital, as well as cash prizes through Cradle MYStartup and Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Berhad (CGC).
“For over a decade, we’ve supported entrepreneurs beyond financial services,” said Kellee Kam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Bank. “This movie is Malaysia’s first feature-length SME business pitch film that invites the public to witness the grit, vulnerability, and determination behind Malaysia’s SME founders. It’s a portrait of resilience and ambition — and a celebration of the changemakers building our future.”
The 2024 Alliance BizSmart® Challenge awarded RM550,000 in cash prizes to 13 outstanding winners. Among them, BioLoop, Gula Cakery, and HiiVolt emerged as the top three, standing out for their innovation, business acumen, and growth potential.
“These winners reflect the creativity, perseverance, and ambition that define Malaysia’s SME sector,” shared Kellee Kam. “We’ve gone beyond just providing bank funds — together with our esteemed partners CGC, Cradle’s MYStartup , 1337 Ventures , and 5X Capital, we now offer a range of financial solutions from loans to venture funding. We’ll continue to support SMEs with funding, mentoring, and visibility. As The Bank For Life, our mission is to empower entrepreneurs to make a lasting impact across industries and communities.
We’re proud to remain pioneers in this space — just as we were a decade ago when we launched the
BizSmart® Challenge.”
A Movie with Purpose, Made for Today’s Audience
The idea for The Ultimate Elevator Pitch was sparked by a single insight: entrepreneurship isn’t just strategy — it’s deeply emotional. It’s best understood through the lived experience of founders. With audiences increasingly drawn to authentic, documentary-style content, the Bank saw an opportunity to bring these stories to life in a way that’s both exciting and real, to inspire the next cohort of Malaysian entrepreneurs.
Partnering with multi-awarded local agency Ampersand Advisory, the film blends cinematic storytelling with entrepreneurial depth — capturing moments that rarely make the headlines but define the heart of business building.
“We see entrepreneurs as heroes, and that’s how we approached this movie. Our client was open-minded and the idea of a movie came in a large part from them. The audience gets a rare front-row seat to some of the struggles and high points that define a founder’s journey,” said Sandeep Joseph, Co-Founder and CEO of Ampersand Advisory, who also directed the film. “You’ll see the unguarded moments, the investor debates, and the mentorship that shapes growth. It’s raw, relatable, and relevant. These are the stories of Malaysia’s future business leaders, told without filter.”
Filmed during the intensive BizSmart® Challenge journey, the film offers never-before-seen access to mentorship sessions, last-minute pitch prep, emotional highs and lows — and the real stakes faced by entrepreneurs chasing funding and recognition, while managing personal pressures and daily business challenges. “This is more than a celebration of success. It’s a visual archive and story of what it takes to build a business in today’s Malaysia”, added Sandeep. “We’re delighted that a local home-grown bank wanted to make a heartwarming film about local entrepreneurs and picked a local agency like ours to do so. As an entrepreneur I can resonate with the journey of these courageous and diverse founders.”
Streaming Where Malaysians Watch: The iQIYI Partnership In keeping with today’s digital-first habits, iQIYI and Alliance Bank proudly partnered to host Malaysia’s first-ever film centred around a business pitch programme — a bold, original concept that celebrates the ambition, innovation, and resilience of local entrepreneurs. The documentary reinforces both brands’ commitment to supporting homegrown talent and inspiring content. Watch it exclusively on iQIYI from 18 July 2025, making it accessible to entrepreneurs, students, and aspiring founders across Malaysia, anytime and anywhere.
“This is the first time a bank-led SME initiative has been transformed into a cinematic experience that balances heart and ambition, It proves entrepreneurship isn’t reserved for boardrooms — it highlights the highs, lows and spirit of local founders who are taking bold steps to shape their future to make it more meaningful,” said Evangeline Song, Head of Brand Partnerships, APAC & Middle East at iQIYI. “We’re excited to bring such authentic, homegrown stories to a wider audience through this collaboration.”
Celebrating 10 Years of the BizSmart® Challenge 2024 also marked a milestone 10th anniversary for the BizSmart® Challenge, with the introduction of the Accelerator Edition. This 2024 edition attracted a record-breaking 593 submissions — the highest since the programme began in 2013 — reflecting the vibrancy and competitiveness of Malaysia’s SME landscape.
The finalists went through months of the programme , including a 4-day Accelerator Programme, business coaching, a 5-minute business pitch, 60-second Elevator Pitch, and the final 3-minute pitch to a panel of industry leaders. The programme ensured each entrepreneur received valuable exposure, insights, and support.
