00:01Exactly the thing that we launched this year, today, right in this event actually, we just
00:05launched the region's first digital center of excellence for startups in the region.
00:10It's called Startup ASEAN.
00:12So last year we launched it as a networking platform, as something to track the startups
00:18within the region.
00:18But this year we've elevated to a knowledge base, to an intelligence base, to an opportunity
00:24base specifically for the region.
00:26So Malaysian startups who are already on a Malaysian startup, single window mind startup,
00:31will now have the opportunity to link with the investors, with other startups, with corporates,
00:39all the ecosystem players, any opportunities within the larger ASEAN region, all via this
00:45one digital platform that's accessible to all, the Startup ASEAN Digital Center of Excellence.
00:51Alliance Bank is actually not a stranger to startups, right?
00:55Contrary to, you know, conventional approaches of banking, right?
01:00We believe that we need to engage businesses at a much earlier stage.
01:06At Alliance, we have this principle that we call the three A's, right?
01:11So first A being advocacy, second A being advice, third A is where the answers come in.
01:19So the financing and all those come in at the last A, right?
01:23But the first two A's we believe are very important because at the end of the day, a business relationship
01:29with a bank is not just when they need money.
01:33Because often when you come to a bank only when you need money, right, the conversation
01:39is a bit too late, right?
01:40Because there could be other peripheral issues that will make it more difficult for you to
01:47get the financing.
01:49So I think that's the principle behind us engaging these businesses at a very early stage so that
01:56we help them in their business goals, their business journey, but also think about the financial
02:02discipline around running a business.
