The Pitch & Polish platform is designed to give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to have their ideas brainstormed, tested and challenged. Through the course of the day they receive valuable feedback and insights – and win cash prizes! The format includes both a workshop and competition element.

1. Client: About Pitch & Polish 2015
COMPILED BY: GreenQueen Communications
Prepared by GreenQueen Communications
Contact: Jodi Lynn Karpes
084 876 5431 jodi@greenqueen.co.za
Page 1 of 2
About Pitch & Polish
The Pitch & Polish platform is designed to give local entrepreneurs the opportunity to have their ideas
brainstormed, tested and challenged. Through the course of the day they receive valuable feedback and
insights – and win cash prizes! The format includes both a workshop and competition element. It is very much
a lateral-thinking national business competition, exposing would-be entrepreneurs to entrepreneurial training
and thinking, helping entrepreneurs turn their business or business idea into a success. It is a unique platform
and search for the wonderful hidden entrepreneurial gems in South Africa.
Background
Allon Raiz, CEO of Raizcorp, a company deeply involved in supporting entrepreneurs, recognised the great
need to develop entrepreneurs and became committed to providing existing and potential small business
owners (SMMEs) with entrepreneurial thinking and knowledge. He designed a dynamic programme, Pitch &
Polish, which was launched in 2010 throughout the country. The prime objective for Pitch & Polish is to help
entrepreneurs in towns and cities across South Africa polish their business pitch.
Pitch & Polish Sponsors:
 Raizcorp is Africa’s only unfunded for-profit business incubator model, which provides full
service business support programmes that guide entrepreneurs to profitability. Raizcorp has created
“ProsperationTM
” – its own unique, world-renowned model of business incubation. Founded in 2000,
Raizcorp has become Africa’s premier business incubator model. In association with the Da Vinci Institute,
Raizcorp operates as a faculty of entrepreneurship, offering entrepreneurial learning approved by the
Council on Higher Education (CHE). Raizcorp is the first business support organisation in Africa to be
recognised as a Centre of Excellence by the Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative (SFEDI), the UK
government-approved standards setting body for entrepreneurial development. To find out more about
Raizcorp’s entrepreneur support programme, telephone 011 566 2000 or visit their website at
www.raizcorp.com
 Engen Petroleum Ltd. in South Africa focuses on the downstream refined petroleum products market and
related businesses. The company’s core functions are the refining of crude oil, the marketing of primary
refined petroleum products and the provision of convenience services via their extensive retail network.
For more information about Engen visit www.engen.co.za
Pitch & Polish media partner:
 SAfm is the SABC's national English language public radio station. It was established in 1936 at the same
time of the creation of the SABC. It was first known as the "A Programme", becoming the English Service
when the Afrikaans Service came into being a year later. In 1985 it changed its name again to Radio South
Africa and, ten years later, to SAfm. It was the first station to introduce “talk” format and current affairs
programming. SAfm draws its audience from LSMs 7-10 and the station actively sources a diverse
audience.
National partner:
 QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) is a co-ordinating, policy-making, governing and supporting
organisation. The Association strives to prevent spinal cord injury, as well as protect and promote the
interests of people with mobility impairments by formulating a national policy and strategy, to develop
and ensure the full potential and quality of their lives.

2. Client: About Pitch & Polish 2015
COMPILED BY: GreenQueen Communications
Prepared by GreenQueen Communications
Contact: Jodi Lynn Karpes
084 876 5431 jodi@greenqueen.co.za
Page 2 of 2
Format of the event:
 Participants take part in a free day-long competition-based workshop
 Pre-registration is required to be a participant and/or contestant
 On the day contestants “pitch” their business idea to the audience
 A facilitator gives tips and guidance, helped by the audience, to “polish” the pitch until the contestants
have a professional and in-depth presentation
 The audience are primed to role-play as bankers and investors and interact throughout the day with
valuable feedback
 The event culminates in the contestants giving their final three minute pitch
 It is a learning environment and opportunity for both the contestants and participants
 Both contestants and audience discover how to produce a compelling, well-rounded presentation
 It’s fun, stimulating and motivational
Wild Card
The Wild Card element is in partnership with SAfm. Anyone in the country can apply online, contestants are
selected from the online applications, informed of the opportunity and scheduled to pitch on the SAfm Wild
Card competition element. On the day, they are called by the radio station to pitch their idea on air, with
studio judges giving feedback, along with listeners. There are 3 on-air rounds, and a final on-air round. The
winner goes straight through to the semi-finals of the National competition.
Additional resources
 www.pitchandpolish.com
 Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pitchandpolish
 Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/PITCHandPOLISH
 YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/pitchandpolish
Registration:
 www.pitchandpolish.com
 SMS PITCH and your NAME and CITY to 45901
2015 Schedule
 Round 1:
o Saturday 15 August – Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
o Saturday 22 August – Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
o Saturday 29 August – Middelburg, Mpumalanga
o Saturday 5 September – Klerksdorp, North West
o Saturday 12 September – Cape Town, Western Cape
o Saturday 3 October – Bloemfontein, Free State
o Saturday 10 October – East London, Eastern Cape
o Saturday 17 October – Rustenburg, North West
 SAfm Wild Card: September
 Round 2: Tuesday 20 – Thursday 22 October – Raizcorp, Gauteng
 Semi-Final: Thursday 22 October – Raizcorp, Gauteng
 Final: Thursday 29 October