Pitch and Polish
Terms and conditions
1 Introduction
Nedbank Ltd is excited to launch the Pitch & Polish programme (Pitch & Polish), which is a blend of competition, one-on-one mentoring and entrepreneurial learning where the contestants engage in a battle of business pitches while gaining entrepreneurial skills and knowledge during the process.
2 Sponsor and promoter
Pitch & Polish is sponsored by Nedbank, in collaboration with Raizcorp, the promoter.
3 Participation
3.1 Participation in Pitch & Polish is subject to the terms and conditions (T&Cs) set out below, and Raizorp or Nedbank may change these T&Cs at their discretion at any time.
3.2 Applicants (you) who apply to participate in Pitch & Polish must adhere to these T&Cs.
3.3 If you submit an application, you acknowledge that you have read these T&Cs and agree to be bound by them.
4 Pitch & Polish period
Pitch & Polish starts on 13 May 2025 and ends on 18 November 2025. (either date is subject to change)
5 Who can and cannot apply
5.1 To apply, you must:
5.1.1 be a natural person;
5.1.2 be 18 years or older;
5.1.3 reside in South Africa;
5.1.4 have a South African ID;
5.1.4 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 ( provided that if you trade as a sole proprietor you will be required to incorporate as a company in order to benefit from the prizes, should you be selected as a winner); and
5.1.5 provide proof of all the information listed above.
5.2 You may not apply if you:
5.2.1 supply goods or services related to Pitch & Polish
5.2.2 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;
5.2.3 are the spouse, life partner, parent, child, sibling or business partner of any of the abovementioned; or
5.2.4 have previously participated in Pitch & Polish.
6 How to apply
6.1 To apply, you must complete the online application, located at www.pitchandpolish.com
6.2 You may submit only 1 application.
6.3 You may not apply on behalf of another person or entity.
6.4 All applications become and will remain Raizcorp’s property, and applications will not be returned.
6.5 Applicants are selected at Raizcorp’s discretion, and only successful applicants will be contacted.
6.6 If your application is unsuccessful, you can still watch the show at pitchandpolish.com and you may enter to participate as a wild card contestant (someone who enters the competition at a later stage and makes their first and only pitch of the competition in the final episode).
6.7 The closing date for applications is 11 April 2025.
6.8 Late or incomplete applications will not be considered,
7 Applications
7.1 You must comply with all relevant laws and regulations and/or industry requirements.
7.2 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.
7.3 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.
7.4 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.
7.5 Nedbank and Raizcorp reserve the right to reject or disqualify applications or contestants at any time, for any reason and without compensation if you are found to have provided inaccurate, misleading or untruthful information or details, are found to be cheating or for non-compliance with these T&Cs and/or violation of applicable laws, codes and/or regulations
7.6. If your application is successful, you must submit the following documents, which may be used in the adjudication process:
7.6.1 Your company’s bank statements for the past 6 months.
7.6.2 Your pitch decks.
7.6.3 Your company’s accounts and signed-off financial statements.
7.6.4 If it is found that the documents listed above are fraudulent in any way or form, you will be disqualified.
7.6.5 If you do not submit or sign the required documents by the specified deadline, you will be disqualified.
7.7 If you are selected as a contestant, you must be available for interviews throughout the Pitch & Polish period.
8 Moving to the next rounds
8.1 If you are successful and move to the next rounds, you must be available to travel to Johannesburg on the following dates (subject to change):
8.1.1 13 May to 16 May
8.1.2 4 June to 6 June
8.1.3 24 June to 25 June
8.1.4 15 July to 16 July
8.2 You will be disqualified if you miss flights arranged on your behalf, and you may not make your own alternative travel arrangements.
9 Selection of the winners
9.1 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.
9.2 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 or prizes.
9.3 The judges’ decisions will be final and binding. No reasons will be given for their decisions, and you cannot appeal against their decisions.
9.4 The winner will be announced on 18 November 2025 (subject to change).
10 Prizes
The following prizes apply:
10.1 First prize
10.1.1 Prize money of R650 000 (inc. VAT), which will be paid over a year in line with your business case and the required milestones that Raizcorp will determine.
10.1.2 The prize money will be paid into your suppliers’ bank account, at Raizcorp’s discretion, against relevant tax invoices from such suppliers .
10.1.3 Any money not claimed within 12 months of the winners being announced will be forfeited.
10.1.4 All payments will be made via electronic funds transfers (EFT).
10.1.5 A Raizcorp business development programme worth R350 000 (inc. VAT).
10.1.6 This programme is not transferable and you cannot exchange it for cash or other prizes.
10.2 Second prize: Prize money of R100 000 (inc. VAT), which will be paid into your bank account via EFT.
10.3 Third prize: Prize money of R50 000 (inc. VAT), which will be paid into your bank account via EFT.
10.4 If you win a prize and you are a sole proprietor, you must formalise the incorporation of your company and register it with the CIPC before the prize money will be paid.
11 General Acknowledgements and Consent
11.1 By entering Pitch & Polich, you:
11.1.1 agree to participating in any of Raizcorp’s promotional activities and/or to appear on their promotional material.
11.1.2 give Raizcorp and Nedbank permission to use (now and in the future) –
11.1.2.1 any photographs and video material taken during the Pitch & Polish period in printed and online publicity, social media, press releases, funding proposals, etc.
11.1.2.2 the content of your application and programme for marketing purposes; and
11.1.2.3 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.
11.1.3 By participating in Pitch & Polish you acknowledge that your businesses will be exposed to the judges, the audience, and the media. and you may be subjected to tough criticism and feedback from the judges, industry experts, other contestants or host.
11.2 Raizcorp reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate all or any part of Pitch & Polish without notice.
11.3 Personal and other information
11.3.1 Pitch & Polish is a non-confidential competition, and you will be responsible for protecting your concepts, recipes, formulas, codes and intellectual property.
11.3.2 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
11.3.3 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.
11.3.4 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.
11.3.5 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.
11.3.6 Nedbank and 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.
11.3.7 Neither Nedbank nor Raizcorp warrant, expressly or implicitly, that your entry or participation in the competition will result in your winning a prize; that a prize, or any aspect of it, will meet your requirements, preferences, standards or expectations; or that a prize, or any aspect of it, will be satisfactory, punctual, free from defects, safe or reliable.
11.3.8 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.
11.3.9 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.
11.3.10 In the event of unforeseen circumstances or causes beyond Raizcorp’s reasonable control, it reserves 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. If this happens, you will not be entitled to remuneration of any kind.