This year, we at 1337 Ventures were proud to serve as judges and ecosystem partners in Alliance Bank BizSmart® Challenge The Ultimate Elevator Pitch — Malaysia’s first-ever feature-length SME business pitch documentary. Launched by Alliance Bank in celebration of the 10th anniversary of its flagship BizSmart® Challenge The Ultimate Elevator Pitch, the film premieres 18 August 2025 on YouTube (free to all viewers), offering an unprecedented look into the journeys of 13 inspiring founders poised to shape Malaysia’s future.
From Pitch Competition to Cinematic Milestone
Since its inception in 2013, the BizSmart® Challenge has grown from a competitive platform into an accelerator of entrepreneurial excellence. This year’s Accelerator Edition marked a bold new chapter — featuring a six-month journey culminating in a high-stakes finale and now, a documentary capturing the full experience.
Out of 593 submissions from across Malaysia, 30 SMEs were shortlisted to participate in a rigorous four-day accelerator bootcamp, including intensive business coaching, mentorship, and pitch training.
Finalists were selected through a two-part challenge:
- A five-minute business pitch to showcase vision, model, and traction
- A 60-second elevator pitch — raw, unscripted, and filmed inside a real elevator
The top 10 contestants received “Golden Tickets” to the Grand Finale. But for the first time ever, 3 Wild Card entries impressed the judges so much they were added to the finalist pool, resulting in a total of 13 remarkable founders heading into the finals.
The Judging Panel: Where Experience Meets Vision
Each finalist had 3 minutes to pitch and 12 minutes of Q&A before a distinguished panel of judges:
- Kellee Kam, Group CEO, Alliance Bank
- Bikesh Lakhmichand, CEO & Founding Partner, 1337 Ventures
- Natalie Tan, Partner, 5X Capital
- Raymond Chui, Group Chief Business & Transaction Banking Officer, Alliance Bank
- Sean Tan, Chief Business Officer, CGC
- Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group CEO, Cradle Fund
The diversity of expertise on this panel — spanning traditional banking, venture capital, government-linked investment, and startup acceleration — ensured that each business was evaluated through multiple lenses of potential and viability.
The Champions of 2024
After months of mentoring and moments of high-stakes pitching, three winners emerged for The Ultimate Elevator Pitch:
🥇 BioLoop – Champion
Prize: RM265,000 + Cradle Partner Selection Award + CGC Category Award.
BioLoop impressed us with their biotechnology approach to addressing food security and waste management. Using Black Soldier Fly larvae to convert palm oil waste into animal feed and organic fertilizer, they’ve already demonstrated significant impact by upcycling over 10,000 tonnes of waste and preventing 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
🥈 Gula Cakery – 1st Runner-Up
Prize: RM105,000 + CGC Category Award
From humble beginnings as a home bakery, Gula Cakery has grown into a multi-brand F&B group with over 10 outlets under brands like Gula Creamery, El Ocho, and Arieni’s Roti Jala. What impressed us most was their ability to scale while maintaining strong community ties and unwavering emphasis on quality — a balance many growing businesses struggle to achieve.
🥉 HiiVolt – 2nd Runner-Up
Prize: RM65,000 + Cradle Award + CGC Category Award + 1337 Ventures’ Investor’s Choice
One of the Wild Card finalists, HiiVolt offers extended warranties and green battery regeneration for hybrid vehicles — reducing both costs and automotive waste. Their investor readiness and scalable model earned our direct endorsement.
Meet All 13 Finalists: Malaysia’s SME Diversity
These 13 companies represent the breadth and potential of Malaysia’s SME landscape:
- Asia Farms Network – Wholesale dairy supplier
- Aenon Solutions – Automation, barcode & RFID systems
- BioLoop – Biotech firm tackling organic waste with Black Soldier Fly technology
- Carching – Ad-tech mobility startup
- Flybear – E-commerce fulfilment & distribution
- Fubizo – F&B product innovation
- Gula Cakery – Popular homegrown bakery brand
- Mindhive – AI-powered enterprise solutions
- Sin Boon Kee – Traditional coffee manufacturer
- Ventamin – Skin & wellness supplement brand
- Volt Motorsports – Automotive service provider
- Xin Seng Fatt – Soya sauce supplier
- Zoey Food Supply – Healthy food for kids
Awards That Go Beyond Cash
The total prize pool was RM550,000, but the real value came in the form of resources, networks, and support. Every finalist received:
- Business training & mentorship
- Pitch coaching and brand storytelling guidance
- Direct access to VC/PE funding via 1337 Ventures, 5X Capital, Cradle Fund’s MYStartup, and CGC
- Media exposure and investor visibility
Other awards included:
- Entrepreneur Recognition Award (RM5,000 each) for all non-winning finalists
- Cradle Partner Selection Award (RM10,000) – BioLoop, HiiVolt, Fubizo, Mindhive, Ventamin
- CGC Category Award (RM5,000) – 10 recipients across various sectors
- 1337 Ventures Investor’s Choice Award – Mindhive and HiiVolt
Separately, Bikesh Lakhmichand, founding partner of venture capital firm 1337 Ventures, highlighted BizSmart® Challenge’s The Ultimate Elevator Pitch continued role as a deal discovery platform for venture capital and private equity players.
“We’ve written actual cheques to some of the past participants, and we continue to mentor and groom them for capital access. This programme gives us access to deals that otherwise would be off-radar.”
He estimated that about RM2 billion in private capital is deployable within Malaysia’s VC and PE ecosystem — capital that programmes like BizSmart® Challenge The Ultimate Elevator Pitch help unlock by improving founder visibility, investor readiness, and business structure.
“The issue is not capital — it’s awareness. Most founders don’t even know this funding exists. We use this platform to help them learn how to pitch, structure their business, and get seen,” said Bikesh.
Why This Matters to Malaysia’s Startup Ecosystem
At 1337 Ventures, we believe in betting early — on ideas, on people, and on potential.
Programmes like the BizSmart® Challenge The Ultimate Elevator Pitch offer more than pitch exposure — they build the runway. From structuring businesses for scale to connecting founders with the capital they didn’t know existed, these platforms are the bridge between ambition and action.
The Ultimate Elevator Pitch isn’t just a film. It’s proof that Malaysia’s entrepreneurial future is bold, diverse, and increasingly investable — and we’re proud to be a part of that journey.
🎬 Watch the documentary on YouTube on 18 August 2025 onwards — and see firsthand what it takes to rise to the top. Watch below or access the link: https://youtu.be/IzJxsEIvNr0