Phion Sdn Bhd’s SME Growth Circle also featured two strategic agreements and the launch of its NexERP business management platform.
By H.P. AHMAD
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19, 2026 — Malaysian entrepreneurs gained direct access to banking, government grants and specialist business advice at Phion Sdn Bhd’s SME Growth Circle, where a corporate “speed-dating” format turned conventional networking into focused consultations on the challenges affecting their businesses.
Held recently at the Renaissance Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the one-day programme on July 31 brought together SME owners, financial institutions, government agencies and industry practitioners to address issues ranging from bookkeeping and taxation to marketing, operational systems and business expansion.
Organised by Phion in strategic collaboration with MindGuard Neuro Intelligence Sdn Bhd, the event also featured the signing of two strategic agreements and the official launch of NexERP, Phion’s web-based bookkeeping and business management platform.
TNS News was the event’s official media partner.
Phion chief executive officer Phubieyas Ahmad said the SME Growth Circle was designed to narrow the gap between entrepreneurs and the expertise, financial guidance and business networks needed to support sustainable growth.
Dato’ Mohammad Sahar Mat Din, President of Dewan Perniagaan Islam Malaysia giving his address at the officially launch of Phion’s SME Growth Circle in Kuala Lumpur.
Official Opening Highlights SME Development
The SME Growth Circle was officially launched by Dato’ Mohammad Sahar Mat Din, President of Dewan Perniagaan Islam Malaysia.
The opening ceremony was followed by a keynote address titled “MindGuard For Prudent Undertakings Of SMEs Leadership” by YB Senator Dato’ Seri Professor Dr Noor Inayah Yaakub, chairman of the Education Cluster at Musyawarah Nasional.
Her address focused on leadership, governance and prudent decision-making, setting the direction for discussions throughout the programme.
Phion chief executive officer Phubieyas Ahmad, Al Kauthar Eduqids Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Dato’ Captain Bakhtiar Aliff Ibrahim and Dato’ Dr Mohamad Rameez Yahaya, Director, Centre for Leadership, Negotiation and Public Diplomacy (LNPD)
Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were also present, alongside business leaders and industry representatives.
Muhammad Haziq Haimee, Founder and managing Director of Brozkey also delivered a talk on social media branding, sharing insights on how SMEs can strengthen their brand identity, engage their target audiences and expand their digital presence through social media platforms.
Haziq Founder and managing Director of Brozkey sharing his insights to participants of SME Growth Circle in Kuala Lumpur.
Two Strategic Agreements Formalised
The event marked the formalisation of two strategic collaborations involving Phion.
Phion Sdn Bhd, MindGuard Ethical Intelligence Sdn Bhd and Eurasia Educational Dynamics Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding for the Oxford and Cambridge SME Business Leadership Programme, aimed at strengthening leadership, governance and business readiness among Malaysian SMEs pursuing sustainable growth.
YB Senator Dato’ Seri Professor Dr Noor Inayah Yaakub, chairman of the Education Cluster at Musyawarah Nasional, delivers her keynote address, “MindGuard For Prudent Undertakings Of SMEs Leadership,” at the SME Growth Circle 2026.
A separate memorandum of agreement was signed between Phion and Al Kauthar Eduqids Sdn Bhd, extending the collaboration into the early childhood education sector.
The agreement brought together Phion chief executive officer Phubieyas Ahmad and Al Kauthar Eduqids chief executive officer Dato’ Captain Bakhtiar Aliff Ibrahim as the two companies moved to develop their collaboration in the sector.
Phion Sdn Bhd chief CEO Phubieyas Ahmad and Al Kauthar Eduqids CEO Datuk Capt Bakhtiar Aliff Ibrahim exchange a commemorative plaque marking the formalisation of a memorandum of agreement between the two companies.
NexERP Launched To Strengthen SME Financial Management
Phion also officially launched NexERP, its proprietary web-based bookkeeping and business management platform.
NexERP is intended to help SMEs organise their financial records, strengthen regulatory compliance and improve their readiness when approaching banks, investors and other funding providers.
For many smaller businesses, incomplete financial records and weak internal reporting can become significant obstacles when applying for financing or preparing for expansion.
The platform forms part of Phion’s broader range of SME services, which includes bookkeeping and financial management, business consultancy, campaign management, and exhibition and event management.
Business Owners Meet Specialists Face-To-Face
The centrepiece of the SME Growth Circle was “Speed Dating, The Corporate Way!”, a series of rapid and structured consultations between participating entrepreneurs and specialist advisers.
Instead of relying solely on general presentations, business owners rotated between advisory stations according to personalised schedules. Each consultation focused on a specific aspect of the participating company’s operations or growth plans.
The six advisory areas covered corporate banking; government grants and capital; bookkeeping infrastructure; audit and corporate taxation; strategic marketing and media; and operations, standard operating procedures and business scaling.
Siti Nur Aidah Ahmad of Hong Leong Bank led the corporate banking desk, while Nur Farah Emeilia Riswan of SME Corp Malaysia advised participants on government grants and capital support.
The bookkeeping infrastructure panel featured Jassen Raj of Jassen Raj & Co and Richard William a/l Wilfred of RW William PLT.
Jassen Raj of Jassen Raj & Co (right) and Richard William a/l Wilfred of RW William PLT with a business owner during a face-to-face specialist consultation at the SME Growth Circle 2026.
Phion representatives Mike Paul and Ahmad Hafiizh Putera handled discussions on audit and corporate taxation, while Nor’Ashikin Jamil and Nurul Farhana Ab Halim of Eurasia Educational Dynamics Ltd led the strategic marketing and media panel.
SME Corp Malaysia’s participation gave entrepreneurs an opportunity to obtain direct information on government-backed SME programmes and the support mechanisms potentially available to their businesses.
Dato’ Mohammad Sahar Mat Din, president of Dewan Perniagaan Islam Malaysia (fourth from the left), with members of the Phion Sdn Bhd board at the SME Growth Circle 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
Advice Based On Actual Business Records
Participants were encouraged to bring their business proposals, bookkeeping records and audited accounts to the consultations.
This allowed advisers to examine their actual business positions and provide more specific recommendations instead of broad or generic guidance.
Findings from the advisory stations were to be consolidated into personalised Business Health Reports, providing participants with an overview of their business strengths, operational gaps and recommended next steps.
Participants exchange ideas during a networking and consultation session at Phion Sdn Bhd’s SME Growth Circle 2026 in Kuala Lumpur.
Participating businesses were also offered an executive podcast recording and a 60-second social media video for use across TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn.
By combining access to advisers, financial institutions, government support information and practical business tools, the SME Growth Circle highlighted an important priority for Malaysian SMEs: building the financial discipline, governance structures and operational systems needed to scale sustainably.
- TNS NEWS