This New Reality TV Series Features Your Favourite Homegrown Brands Fighting For RM250,000
The BizSmart Challenge 2018 is Malaysia’s first business reality TV programme by a financial institution.
By Gowri Chitra — 23 Nov 2018, 11:31 AM
Love watching business themed reality TV shows à la 'The Apprentice' and 'Shark Tank'? Here's a new one for you to check out - the 'BizSmart Challenge 2018'!
If you think the name sounds familiar, that's because it's an iconic local business competition that takes place every year. This year, it's back in a whole new format as Malaysia’s first business reality TV programme by a financial institution.
Brought to you by Alliance Bank in collaboration with EcoWorld, and in partnership with Astro Awani and BFM89.9, the series features 12 rising Malaysian SMEs as they challenge each other in real-world business tasks. Special thanks to VISA, Manulife, and Essenso for the support too.
Taking place at popular locations like Ardence Labs and 1Utama, these challenges definitely pushed the participants to their limits.
You know those promoters in malls that everyone always ignores? Imagine being one of them and having to get the most sign ups to win! Or how about having to not only create but also pitch two entirely new products just based on materials found at Jaya Grocer?
The final 12 participants along with BizSmart Challenge 2018 hosts Freda Liu of BFM 89.9 and Luqman Hariz from Astro Awani.
Image via Astro AwaniMeet the 12 finalists:
- Andrew Ngo, Founder of IDOTSHIRT
- Eugene Tan, Founder of Carput
- Karine Low, Founder of Offspring Natural
- Kelly Low, Founder of Breakout
- Keong Chun Chieh, Founder of IGL Coatings
- Dylan Lee Tek Loong, Founder of Salad Atelier
- Mandy Leong, Director of Chriszen
- Muhamad Shahril Bin Sidek, Founder of Klezcar
- Noor Diyana, Co-Founder of OhMostWanted Cosmeceuticals
- See Chaur Yih, Founder of Food Market Hub
- Stephen Lim, Co-Founder of JuiceLab
- Wirdalina Tauhed, Founder of Wirdora
Throughout the Challenge, these participants will be observed by Advisors such as Christy Ng, Founder of Christy Ng Shoes, Azran Osman Rani, CEO and Co-Founder of Naluri Hidup Sdn Bhd, Branden Kuan, Founder of NutriBrownRice, Amy Zheng, Founder of Amazin’ Graze, Lee Yen Beh, COO and Co-Founder of Happy Bunch, and Puan Fozia Amanulla, Chief Business Development Officer of Alliance Bank.
These Advisors will then report their observations of the participants’ progress each week to the Judges.
The Judges, Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin of EcoWorld, Ernest Kwong of Alliance Bank, and Malek Ali of BFM89.9, will then make a decision on who stays or leaves based on the Advisors’ observations.
So what are are the participants all fighting for? There are some pretty amazing prizes up for grabs!
Grand Prize: RM 250,000 from Alliance Bank
First Runner Up: RM 200,000 from Alliance Bank
Second Runner Up: RM 150,000 from Alliance Bank
Media Award: RM 200,000 worth of media package from Astro
Retail Award: RM 100,000 from Visa
Sustainability Award: RM 100,000 from Manulife
The Top 20 finalists will also all be able to apply for non-collaterised financing of up to a total of RM5 million from Alliance Bank.
There are four episodes out so far, so it's the perfect time to start watching and catch up before the next three episodes are released
You can catch the latest episodes on Astro Awani (Channel 501) every Saturday at 9pm or on AXN (Channel 721) every Friday at 8.05pm. As for the previous episodes, you can watch them on the Astro Awani website.
There will be a special live finale episode to reveal the winners of this year’s BizSmart Challenge, so make sure to stay tuned!
Who will make it through all the exciting business challenges and make it all the way to the final round to take home the big win? Keep watching the 'BizSmart Challenge 2018' to find out!
