Pitch and Polish
Terms and conditions
1. Sponsor and promoter
The Pitch & Polish programme and competition (Pitch & Polish) is sponsored by Nedbank, in partnership with Raizcorp, who is the promoter.
2. Pitch & Polish period
Pitch & Polish starts on 21 May and ends on 19 November 2024. (subject to change)
3. Participation
3.1 Participation in Pitch & Polish is subject to the following terms and conditions (T&Cs), and Raizorp may change these T&Cs at its discretion at any time.
3.2 Applicants (you) who apply to participate in Pitch & Polish must adhere to these T&Cs. If you submit an application, you acknowledge that you have read these T&Cs and agree to be bound by them.
4. Who can and cannot apply
4.1 To apply, you must:
4.1.1 be a natural person;
4.1.2 be 18 years or older;
4.1.3 reside in South Africa;
4.1.4 have a South African ID;
4.1.4 operate a business (of which you have at least 40% ownership) in South Africa that has been registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) or trade as a sole proprietor; and
4.1.5 provide proof of all the information listed above.
4.2 You may not apply if you:
4.2.1 supply goods or services related to Pitch & Polish;
4.2.2 are a director, member, partner, employee, agent or consultant of Nedbank or Raizcorp or any other entity that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by Nedbank or Raizcorp;
4.2.3 are the spouse, life partner, parent, child, sibling or business partner of any of the abovementioned; or
4.2.4 have previously participated in Pitch & Polish.
5. How to apply
5.1 The closing date for applications is 5 April 2024. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered, and you may not apply on behalf of another person or entity.
5.2 To apply, you must complete the online application
5.3 You may submit only 1 application.
5.4 All entry forms become and will remain Raizcorp’s property, and applications will not be returned.
5.5 Applicants are selected at Raizcorp’s discretion, and only successful applicants will be contacted.
5.6 If your application is unsuccessful, you can still watch the show at pitchandpolish.com and may enter a wild card.
6. Applications
6.1 You must comply with all relevant laws and regulations and/or industry requirements.
6.2 By participating in Pitch & Polish you acknowledge that your businesses will be exposed to the judges, the audience, and the media.
6.3 Raizcorp reserves the right to reject or disqualify applications at any stage should it transpire that these applications have been submitted by illegitimate, suspicious and/or ineligible applicants.
6.4 Raizcorp also reserves the right to disqualify applicants at any time for any reason, including non-compliance with these T&Cs and/or violation of applicable laws, codes and/or regulations.
6.5 Pitch & Polish is a non-confidential competition, and you will be responsible to protect your concepts, recipes, formulas, codes and intellectual property.
6.6 If your application is successful, Raizcorp will perform criminal and/or fraud checks, which may require you to have your fingerprints taken. If it is found that you have a criminal or fraud record of a serious nature, you will be disqualified and the information may be shared with Nedbank.
6.7 Required documents
6.7.1 If your application is successful, you must submit the following documents, which may be used in the adjudication process:
6.7.1.1 Your company’s bank statements for the past 6 months.
6.7.1.2 Your pitch decks.
6.7.1.3 Your company’s accounts and signed-off financial statements.
6.7.2 If it is found that the documents listed above are fraudulent in any way or form, you will be disqualified.
6.8. Moving to the next rounds
6.8.1 If you move to the next rounds, you must be available to travel to Johannesburg on the following dates (subject to change):
6.8.1.1 21 May to 24 May
6.8.1.2 4 June to 6 June
6.8.1.3 25 June to 27 June
6.8.1.4 16 July to 17 July
6.9 You will be disqualified if you miss flights arranged on your behalf, and you may not make your own alternative travel arrangements.
6.10 If you are selected as a contestant, you must be available for interviews throughout the Pitch & Polish period.
6.11 Judges
6.11.1 The judges will select the winners at their own discretion and do not have to reveal scores or any other information about the judging process.
6.11.2 The judges will base their decisions on the information provided to them. If this information is found to be false, Raizcorp may cancel or withdraw awards.
6.11.3 The judges’ decisions will be final and binding. No reasons will be given for their decisions, and you cannot appeal against their decisions.
6.12. Winner announcement
The winner will be announced on 19 November 2024 (subject to change).
7. Prizes
If you win, the following applies
7.1 First prize
7.1.1 Prize money of R650 000, which will be paid over 2 years in line with your business case and the required milestones that Raizcorp will determine.
7.1.2 A Raizcorp business development programme worth R350 000. This programme is not transferable and you cannot exchange it for cash or other prizes.
7.1.3 The prize money will be paid into your or your suppliers’ bank account, at Raizcorp’s discretion.
7.1.4 All payments will be made via electronic funds transfers (EFT).
7.2 Second prize: Prize money of R100 000, which will be paid into your bank account via EFT.
7.3 Third prize: Prize money of R50 000, which will be paid into your bank account via EFT.
7.4 If you win a prize and you are a sole proprietor, you must formalise the company and register it with the CIPC before the prize money will be paid.
8. General
8.1 By entering Pitch & Polich, you:
8.1.1 agree to participating in any of Raizcorp’s promotional activities and/or to appear on their promotional material;
8.1.2 give Raizcorp and Nedbank permission to use (now and in the future) –
8.1.2.1 any photographs and video material taken during the Pitch & Polish period in printed and online publicity, social media, press releases, funding proposals, etc;
8.1.2.2 the content of your application and programme for marketing purposes; and
8.1.2.3 the Pitch & Polish content as well as the commentary and critique of the judges for training purposes on the Pitch & Polish website and other platforms.
8.2 Raizcorp reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate all or any part of Pitch & Polish without notice. If this happens, you will not be entitled to remuneration of any kind.
8.3 Personal information
8.3.1 By applying to and participating in Pitch & Polish, you agree to share certain personal information, which will be collected, with Nedbank and Raizcorp for the purpose of the competition.
8.3.2 This information must be up-to-date and accurate, and if your information changes at any time, you must inform Raizcorp as soon as reasonably possible.
8.3.3 Nedbank and Raizcorp and their third parties may use your information throughout the Pitch & Polish period for promotional and marketing purposes, announcement of awards or any other purposes related to Pitch & Polish.
8.3.4 Nedbank and Raizcorp will ensure that all your information is handled in line with the applicable South African legislation related to data and the protection of personal information, and that all their employees, third-party service providers, divisions, affiliates and partners (including their employees and third-party service providers) who have access to your information are bound by appropriate and legally binding confidentiality obligations.
8.3.5 Raizcorp may use or disclose your information if it is required to comply with any applicable law, subpoena, court order or legal process, or to protect and defend its rights or property.
8.4 Liability and indemnity
8.4.1 Nedbank and Raizcorp, including their associated companies, agents, contractors and sponsors will not be liable for any costs that you incur by participating in Pitch & Polish and will assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss, injury, death or damage arising from your participation in Pitch & Polish or from the fulfilment of the prize.
8.4.2 If you participate, you indemnify and agree to hold Nedbank and Raizcorp and their directors, officers, agents, representatives and employees harmless against any death, loss, liability, damage or expense of whatsoever nature that you or your business may suffer because of your participation in Pitch & Polish, except to the extent that it is caused by their wilful misconduct or gross negligence.
8.4.3 In the event of unforeseen circumstances or causes beyond Raizcorp’s reasonable control, it reserve the right to cancel Pitch & Polish, change the number or nature of the prizes at any time before, during or after the Pitch & Polish period, and change the terms and conditions at its discretion.