Enterprising individuals who operate multiple businesses can look forward to tapping into OCBC Malaysia’s first-of-its-kind Serial Entrepreneur programme, which was officially launched this month following a year-long pilot phase.

Premised on a keyperson-centric model with an emphasis on the visionary behind the businesses rather than the entity as a standalone unit, the programme is dedicated to supporting serial entrepreneurs as they establish and grow new businesses.

OCBC Malaysia Managing Director and Head of Wholesale Banking Mr Jeffrey Teoh said the latent impact of the programme is immense considering the sizable potential base of the serial entrepreneur segment.

“Our research showed that a Serial Entrepreneur programme proposition combined with a structured engagement approach was not available in the market. Traditional banking models often treat each venture as a separate entity, leading to fragmented support and financial solutions that fail to consider the bigger picture. So, we decided to develop the Serial Entrepreneur programme to help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of managing multiple businesses with ease, flexibility and speed.

“About 1 in 3 entrepreneurs who were offered our principal loans during the pilot phase signed up for the programme. This involved about 300 companies taking up more than RM850 million worth of loans, which tells us that the market is certainly ready for what we are offering,” he said.

The OCBC Serial Entrepreneur programme, which draws on the success of a similar programme launched in 2019 by the OCBC Group in Singapore, reimagines how banks engage with the key players in the business world. Through data analytics and customer feedback, the bank gained deep insights into the behaviours, funding needs, and growth trajectories of entrepreneurs managing multiple businesses.

The bank supports serial entrepreneurs through dedicated Group Relationship Managers, who assist and advise the keyperson through a comprehensive financial and banking roadmap tailored for their business growth, with a focus on their entire business growth portfolio rather than evaluating each business in isolation.

This holistic group-based approach allows OCBC Malaysia to view the entrepreneur’s portfolio as a cohesive unit, which allows them to leverage the strength and credibility of their existing businesses. The programme is also centred on assisting the serial entrepreneur from the get-go, without imposing the usual condition for a new venture to operate for up to two years before being eligible for financing.

This approach allows for easier access to funds and strengthens credit history, making it simpler for entrepreneurs to secure financing for new ventures and larger expansions.

Besides providing capital financing, the OCBC Serial Entrepreneur programme equips entrepreneurs with the tools and support they need for their next business venture and to help them grow confidently. From payment and collection services to industry-specific banking solutions, OCBC Malaysia provides customised support at every stage of the entrepreneur’s journey to enable the serial entrepreneur to focus on growing their businesses without the burden of navigating a fragmented banking landscape.

Through the OCBC Velocity business banking platform, customers gain access to a single login that offers a comprehensive overview of all their financial activities across all their ventures, simplifying operations and enhancing efficiency.

For more information on the OCBC Serial Entrepreneur programme, please visit www.ocbc.com.my/serial

OCBC Malaysia comprises OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad and its Islamic banking subsidiary OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad.