KOTA KINABALU: Borenos Fried Chicken won second place and RM200,000 in the Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Innovation Challenge 2016 final on December 9.

The SME Innovation Challenge is an annual programme that started in 2013, and organised by Alliance Bank BizSmart Academy to assist high potential young SMEs to break through the next phase of growth in business.

Experienced and reputable advisory panels consist of CEOs, co-founders and top management, who are Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin (chairman of Eco World Development Group Bhd), Gho Hann Jaa (Manulife Insurance Bhd), Malek Ali, (BFM89.9 – The Business Station), Victor Khor (Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd), Hazel Hassan (Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre), Roshan Thiran (Leaderonomics), Jeremy Kung (New Media TM) and Christy Ng (ChristyNg. com).

Back in September, Borenos Fried Chicken was selected among more than 300 SMEs nationwide to participate in the challenge.

Only two companies from Sabah were selected. This made Borenos Fried Chicken, in some exigence, determined to take the chance in fulfilling its wish to be the pride of Borneo.

Its aim was to gain ample experience and exposure to introduce itself as a local brand that supported local businesses and developed local talents through comprehensive trainings.

The challenge took three months; many were eliminated as the panels chose top 36, top 20 and finally the top six in November.

Pleasantly surprised, Borenos Fried Chicken strived to win as it understood that this was the time for a Sabahan brand to excel and grow nationally and hopefully internationally.

Throughout the invigorating programmes and discussions held, Borenos representative Janice Yeo, co-founder, did her pitches reflecting the company’s mission: ‘To deliver fresh and quality product through service from the heart.’