KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 13 homegrown businesses have earned their place in the finals of Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd’s BizSmart Challenge Accelerator Edition 2026.
The finalists come from a wide range of industries, including healthcare, children’s therapy and education, personal care, home and living, digital media, food and beverage as well as retail.
Alliance Bank group chief executive officer Kellee Kam said the calibre of this year’s finalists reflects the ambition, innovation and growing focus on sustainability among Malaysian entrepreneurs.
“Reaching the finals is no small feat, these founders have been tested on every aspect of their business, and they have risen to the challenge.
“Through the BizSmart Challenge, we connect promising businesses with the expertise, networks and financial solutions they need to scale sustainably and contribute to Malaysia’s economic growth,” he said in a statement.
The journey began with the 30 shortlisted contestants.
They completed a four-day Accelerator Programme and Business Coaching, led by subject-matter experts from Alliance Bank, Alliance Islamic Bank, 1337 Ventures, Cradle Fund, Sunway iLabs, Sunway Malls and OneCredit, the challenge’s credit reporting partner.
The sessions covered credit readiness, business risk, halal certification and funding, sustainability and growth strategies. It also helped prepare the founders for the pitching rounds ahead.
Next, the contestants delivered a five-minute business pitch followed by a 10-minute question and answer session.
They then entered The Ultimate Elevator Pitch, where they had just 60 seconds to summarise their business proposition and make their case for a place in the finals.
This season’s new Hot Seat Interrogation gave selected contestants a second chance to fight for a place in the finals.
The questions tested their business acumen, financial literacy, decision-making and crisis-management abilities.
Three contestants rose to the challenge and won Wild Card places in the finals.
Additionally, the new ESG Accelerator Award saw five shortlisted businesses pitch proposals showing how environmental, social and governance practices strengthen their operations and long-term profitability.
The 13 finalists will now compete for a total of RM400,000 in cash prizes for the top three placings, along with other special awards and opportunities supported by the challenge’s partners.
These include the Partner Selection Award by Cradle, with a total of RM50,000 in cash prizes across three winners, the Investor Choice Award by 1337 Ventures and the FutureX Award by Sunway iLabs, as well as RM180,000 worth of media prizes from Seni Jaya.
The winners will be announced at the Awards Presentation Night on Nov 25.
Before then, the public can also have a say.
The 13 finalists will compete for the new People’s Choice Award, which includes a RM10,000 cash prize sponsored by Alliance Bank for the finalist with the most votes.