It is once again the leaders in our country that will make the difference – those with the drive and determination to succeed.  CM Trading is facilitating this South African entrepreneurial spirit by introducing the Business Referrers programme which enables individuals with vision, spirit and resolve to either make a successful part-time business or a booming full time enterprise.

“As well as providing the largest retail online trading platform for individuals and companies, we have also seen the need to provide opportunities for individuals to grow their wealth in other ways – hence the development of the Business Referrers programme,” says Daniel Kibel, CM Trading.  “Since we started trading in 2012 we have become one of the most trusted trading sites in the world, boasting our presence all over the world and winning many awards including the Best Performing Broker in Africa by Africa investor (Ai) at a function at NASDAQ in New York.  People are beginning to learn that trading can be as simple or as complicated as you make it, and we pride ourselves on making it simple, transparent and profitable.”

“Being prepared for various market scenarios is often a key part of a business’ success – the better prepared you are, the better your performance will be,” Kibel continues.  “However, a trader should always be responsible and we pride ourselves on good business practice and on ensuring that we educate both the experienced online trader as well as the new online practitioner – we are here to assist.  Our Business Referrers programme teaches our business partners to be disciplined, to think of the long term and most importantly to be patient.  This is just one of the reasons we started the Programme.”

“The point of entry is low – in fact all an individual needs to become a Business Referrer is someone who can introduce a minimum of five clients looking to invest with a company that provides full back up support and continued maintenance through an established trading company.  There is no capital outlay, just a determined spirit and a basic knowledge of the CM Trading platform – all of which is provided by CM Trading through webinars, through seminars and also through our call-in and walk-in centres.   This programme is really taking off – beyond what we ever imagined – after all, who doesn’t want to make an extra income with the backing of an international company!”, says Kibel.

At a recent Business Referrers workshop held, some of the comments received included:“I am a new Business Referrer and this seminar has shown me exactly what I can expect and I just can’t wait to get started.  I have been told exactly what I can expect from my online trading and marketing experience with CM Trading.  I am excited and they actually understand the exact direction that I want to take my company - this is all very exciting for me!”

Another delegate said:

“This is the first Business Referrers workshop that I have been to, but I understand from other delegates and Entrepreneurs here that they are really good at helping to generate more business and that their level of engagement is always top notch.  The team at CM Trading are very hands on and very involved and they always follow up – it really feels like they want us to succeed, they want to create a new breed of entrepreneurs, this is something I am so privileged to be involved in.”

Kibel concludes: “The World Wide Web has made it a new world, a small world but a beautiful world and we can’t wait to build up our entrepreneur base here in South Africa and invest in an entirely new breed of successful independent business people.”

Anyone interested in signing up to the Business Referrers Programme can contact CM Trading on www.cmtrading.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Small Business Awards launched on 24 April 2018

Hyde Park, Sandton – June 4, 2018 – A couple of weeks back, Smartcom had some rather thrilling news to share. They launched the Small Business Awards – an exciting opportunity where Smartcom will be giving small business owners and entrepreneurs a chance to showcase their business, and stand a chance to win a coveted title and exceptional prizes.

Promoting budding entrepreneurs has always been something that Smartcom has supported, but they want to delve deeper into this complex, but exciting venture. And so the Small Business Awards were born.

Smartcom collaborated with a vast range of established and successful companies, like BlackBerry, Nippy Print, The Social Media Company, From Me, and more. After careful deliberation with the various companies, they announced the competition, and prizes of up to R50 000!

To make this a fair fight, three categories were introduced – The Smartcom Small Business of the Year, The Smartcom Informal Business of the Year, and The Smartcom Youth Entrepreneur of the Year – each focussing on a specific group of entrepreneurs and businesses.

To enter, you will be required to complete the relevant application form, and upload photos that will showcase your business, team, products and/or services. Entries for all categories in the Smartcom Small Business Awards officially open on Monday, 23 April 2018, and entries will close on 30 June 2018.

Small businesses are the backbone of their communities and a driving force of the South Africa economy as a whole. Smartcom believed that initiatives like the Small Business Awards will encourage small business owners in this vitally important endeavour. By kick-starting this initiative, Smartcom is giving you a head start in the cutthroat business world we have come to know. Don’t waste time – be part of the movement and let us help you and your business be a force to reckon with.

If you are an entrepreneur keen to enter, please visit this link:

https://www.smartcom.co.za/smartcom-launches-smartcom-small-business-awards/ 

PRESS RELEASE: A NEW PREMIER BUSINESS MAGAZINE IN SOUTH AFRICA

We are the Royal Family of AbaThembu Nation. Our company Thembuland Royal Treasury Holdings Ltd is the Corporate Entity of Thembuland Royal Empire [The Nation of Thembu]. Our company’s main task is to Industrialize the Eastern Cape Province as it appears more fully on our website. We also provide Specialist Business Consulting Services as more fully set out on our website.

We are now launching a new magazine to expedite the Industrialization Program aforesaid, and mainly to create business mentality among our constituencies. Our constituencies are located in all 9 South African Provinces. The Thembu Royals Magazine will be a Premier South African Business Magazine of a very high caliber.

Our Target Market is the Business community at large across all sectors. The Thembu Royals Magazine will be an authority in Business Matters in South Africa. The aim of its content is to educate, inform, inspire and to give opportunities to the public about business matters at large. Specifically, how to run a successful business.The Thembu Royals Magazine will be released in phases, commencing with an online version on the 12th February 2018, followed by a print edition in on the 1st March 2018. It is anticipated that on release, the print Magazine version will be released and made available in all 9 South African Provinces during the course of March 2018.

Best Regards
Thembi Qondy Tembe
Director: Stakeholder Relations

0812892046
Office of the Emperor [0822195195]; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;

Eastern Cape Free State Gauteng KwaZulu-Natal Limpopo Mpumalanga Northern Cape NorthWest Western Cape Lesotho Swaziland

Thembuland Royal Empire(dedicated diligent developmental services to the nation)

www.thembulandroyals.co.za

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Address: Stegman Road

BASSONIA

JOHANNESBURG

[Banking; Insurance; Energy-Oil & Gas; Mining; Business Consulting]

8/02/2018

All Inquiries to : 0812892046

Everyone knows something that the next person doesn’t thus it is important that everyone shares their experiences with the world.

Spurred by a deep yearning for freedom of expression and for the African story to be told from the African perspective, Edzai Zvobwo, founder of NdiribhoTV set out to create a video hosting and distribution platform primarily geared for Africans to share their knowledge with world and stand a better chance at optimally monetizing their video assets.

Coming from Zimbabwe, a country that has seen its ruling elites trample upon basic liberties like freedom of speech and association, Edzai sought to correct the wrongs that have been committed by politicians in the country and the continent of Africa as a whole by facilitating p2p knowledge transfer through video. The name NdiribhoTV came out of need to proclaim that even as the people’s rights have been denied, people are still fine and live another day to fight for justice and development of the continent. “Ndiribho” is a Shona statement that translates to “I am fine”.

NdiribhoTV currently has offices in Johannesburg and will be opening up feeder offices across Sub-Saharan Africa during the course of 2018. The feeder offices will serve as client liaison centers for content developers. NdiribhoTV will strive to sign up all the influencers in the video content development space as anchor creators whilst also harnessing the power of the ordinary African citizen. As long as an African has a device with a camera then they are welcome onto the NdiribhoTV platform.

The platform is a user generated vehicle that connects video content creators and consumers by providing an easy to use live streaming and video on demand platform.NdiribhoTV lets anyone with a channel broadcast live videos and upload videos straight from their camera device. This allows African people to share or watch in real-time when news is breaking, visiting a new place, or meeting people and sharing interests - all in real-time.NdiribhoTV seeks to add value to Africans and differentiate itself from YouTube by:

• Focusing on African continent.
• Monetizing live video streams using a pay-per-view model which enables content creators to earn a living.
• Monetizing video on demand content on behalf of content creators through channel-centric micro-subscriptions.
• Integrating with ERP and CRM systems such that it is easier for corporate clients to integrate video into their workflow.

NdiribhoTV is currently in talks with several established platforms like Kwese play to help distribute content across the continent. 31 January 2018 is the date that NdiribhoTV will officially launch. "Once we solve the speed and latency issues with a reputable CDN and finalised our algorithms for our reccommender systems then it is a done deal", said Edzai Zvobwo.

Currently there is a beta version on https://ndiribho.tv which you can test out and give feedback on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Thank you for following the 2017 ENGEN Pitch & Polish entrepreneurial workshop and competition. The final was held in Johannesburg on the 30th of November and the winners announced. First place went to Bruce Diale, from Polokwane, second place went to Refilwe Matsaneng, from Welkom/Bloemfontein and third place to Renschia Manuel, from Cape Town. 

Please support the growth of entrepreneurs in this country by sharing this good news with your audience. Below is the release with images attached. Please let me know if there is anything else I can assist you with. On a personal note, I wish I could encapsulate the electricity, magic and excitement from the night, which is the culmination of months (and years) of building entrepreneurs, for the future of this country. Thank you for coming on the journey with me, I so look forward to hearing from you. 

Become the number one pitch hustler

The word “hustle” comes from a Dutch word that means “to shake things up”. Traditionally, the English word “hustler” was used to describe a dishonest person, who would do anything to make money. Hustling is, however, no longer a dirty word; nowadays, a hustler is someone who makes things happen. Hustling is about movement, activity and shaking things up in a positive way – the very things that entrepreneurs need to succeed! 

Successful hustlers exist everywhere, and all entrepreneurs have much to learn from those who have mastered the art of the hustle! Whether they are building a business, selling a product or offering a service, hustlers focus on their goal and do whatever it takes to achieve the goal. Hustlers put in the hours and don’t waste time doing things that don’t contribute to their success in some way. 

Hustlers grab every opportunity to pitch their business to potential funders and clients. They are seasoned pitch artists, and having secured the opportunity to pitch, know exactly what they want to say. Hustlers present a polished pitch! For this reason, the ENGEN Pitch & Polish programme, hosted by Engen Petroleum Ltd and Nedbank, powered by Raizcorp and supported by national media partner, Caxton Local Media, is based on teaching entrepreneurs to present a winning pitch that is clear and focused. “With us you are number one”, the headline sponsor Engen’s slogan, could just as easily apply to the hustler’s attitude towards his clients and business. Hustlers put their clients first. Their elevator pitch is ready to go and hustlers, always thinking on their feet, can adapt their pitch to meet the needs of different audiences.  

Nedbank, a co-sponsor of ENGEN Pitch & Polish, encourages people to “make your money hustle for you”. Hustlers know how to do this. They think carefully about their pricing model, know how to calculate profit, and make their money work for them! 

Hustlers do not give up when they hear “no”. They see rejection as an opportunity to be overcome, not a roadblock. At ENGEN Pitch & Polish, entrepreneurs are subjected to many “no’s” as they learn to perfect their pitches. Those who learn to use this feedback to their advantage - are the hustlers! 

The pitch that was delivered from the heart, with the greatest ease, confidence, and precision - as well as energy and enthusiasm - were the qualities that caught the eye of the judges, and resulted in Bruce Diale, from Polokwane, winning the 2017 ENGEN Pitch and Polish programme, at an exclusive and prestigious event, held in Johannesburg, on 30th November. Bruce’s Agri-consulting business has developed, and patented, Gardenizly, an innovative vegetable gardening product, which is both water and space efficient. 

This was not the only reason for his victory. “We chose Bruce as this year’s winner,” says Joe Mahlo, GM for Sales and Marketing, from Engen Petroleum Ltd, who was one of this year’s judges, “because he was clear on the value that his product and business will add to his clients and, indeed, to the world.” This is yet another indispensable quality of the hustler. Watch this space. A hustler has been born! 

Second place was awarded to Refilwe Matsaneng, from Welkom, for her hair products business, GloLooks. Third place went to Renschia Manuel, from Cape Town, for her portable urban veggie growing boxes, GrowBox, business. 

“It’s intimidating and unnerving to ask for money,” says Grace Govender, Head of New Business and Support for Relationship Banking, Nedbank. “To overcome this, entrepreneurs must focus on being properly prepared and authentic.” 

To further help the entrepreneurs, Caxton Local Media, with over 140 publications, whose roots, too, are deeply embedded in the country, awarded the winner with R20,000 in advertising. “Caxton is firmly established in, and supportive of, local communities in South Africa and the partnership with ENGEN Pitch & Polish, along with Engen, Nedbank and Raizcorp, is a natural fit. We all believe in building small business, from grassroots up,” explains Dejane Poil, Head of Innovation at Caxton. 

There was magic on the night as esteemed guests offered these three entrepreneurs further opportunities for growth and expansion. 

ENGEN Pitch & Polish’s power lies in its ability to identify, through their pitch, the entrepreneurs that are number one hustlers. “These are the entrepreneurs who demonstrate the ambition to excel and the motivation to put in the work,” says Allon Raiz, the originator of the Pitch & Polish concept, now in its eighth year of identifying entrepreneurs who truly understand what it means to up the hustle! 

For more information, visit www.pitchandpolish.com -

-- ENDS --

 In the group photo (left to right): Mervyn Pillay (Nedbank) Bruce Diale (Winner) Allon Raiz (Raizcorp) Joe Mahlo (Engen) 

ABOUT

The annual programme is called: ENGEN Pitch & Polish.

Engen Petroleum Ltd is the headline sponsor. Nedbank is a sponsor.

The programme is a Raizcorp initiative.

The national media partner is Caxton Local Media.

For editorial purposes, the spokesperson and project manager is Bronwyn Echardt from Raizcorp.

The PR Contact is Jodi Lynn Karpes from GreenQueen Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Transnet has long established a track record as the leader in the space of enterprise and supplier development. Transnet believes that SMMEs are the driver of the economy and hence it is part of their strategic agenda to ensure that SMMEs thrive and become successful. 

Transnet has long established a track record as the leader in the space of enterprise and supplier development. Transnet believes that SMMEs are the driver of the economy and hence it is part of their strategic agenda to ensure that SMMEs thrive and become successful. “It is important that we create an enabling environment for meaningful participation in the economy; the support and empowerment of black suppliers” – Khosi remarked as she delivered a speech at the 4th Annual Africa Enterprise Development & Entrepreneurship Investment Agenda held in Sandton on the 21st and 22nd of June.

Transnet’s Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) strategic objective is to increase the competitiveness, capacity and capability of Black Owned Suppliers through financial and non-financial support services. “With the revised Preferential Procurement Regulation coming to effect on the 1st April 2017, Transnet intends to integrate i.e. making a database of ESD beneficiaries available for contracts that are larger than R30 million  for participation in the 30% subcontracting opportunity.”  Khosi Makhosazana Masilela was one of the key speakers at the event and joined other renowned speakers including Teresiah Simelane – the General Manager at The Innovation Hub, Thozamile Gwanya – The CEO of ECRDA, Sifiso Ndwandwe – CEO of Catalyst for Growth, Dionne Kerr – CEO of Siyakha Implementation Partners and Jayshree Naidoo the Head of Standard Bank Business Incubator. “Transnet is committed to Enterprise and Supplier Development initiatives as outlined in the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Act” – Makhosazana Masilela (Khosi)– Acting Executive Manager – TransnetTo date R84m has been spent on Enterprise and Supplier Development. R38m on Enterprise Development and R46m on Supplier Development for the financial year 2016/17 has been spent.

Transnet has invested in numerous ED initiatives including the Transnet ED Hub, GODISA Fund, Transnet   Incubation Programme, Transnet- Shanduka Black Umbrellas Business Incubation, Transnet Bebold Programme, Productivity SA, Transnet Innovation and Research Centre (TIRC), GIBS Academy, Rapid Improvement Process, Bakery Project, Furniture Manufacturing Incubation, Transnet SMME Business Toolkits.“Transnet remains commited to nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship and focus in science, technology and engineering in youth” - said Calisto Kondowe, the Senior Research Analyst at Global Invest Group – an advisory company that focusses on economic growth and development. “Over the years, Global Invest Group’s forums have become largest gathering of decision-makers, investors, stakeholders, and policy makers.

“We are grateful of the support from Transnet as the leading sponsor of the 4th Annual Africa Enterprise Development & Entrepreneurship Investment Agenda. Transnet has been supporting thjis event since its launch. As a leading sponsor of the 2017 event Transnet has shown its commitment to economic transformation through its initiatives.” Calisto KondoweOver the years, Global Invest Group’s Annual Enterprise Development & Entrepreneurship Investment Agenda has become largest gathering of decision-makers, investors, stakeholders, and policy makers to discuss regarding furthering the agenda of economic growth.

One of the most influential global innovation accelerators, Startupbootcamp, launched its first African-based programme last month. Starting in September 2017 and led by seasoned innovation experts, Zachariah George, Philip Kiracofe, and Paul Nel, a 3-month intense “bootcamp” will take place in Cape Town, South Africa to scale selected top startups.Innovators and entrepreneurs around the world can apply to participate from now until 9 July 2017.

“The aim is to grow disruptive startups and connect them with dynamic corporates, providing both with an opportunity to collaborate and build the African innovation ecosystem,” shares Zachariah George.

The 10 most promising teams will be selected from a pool of hundreds of applicants and provided with EUR 15,000, 100+ highly engaged industry mentors, free office space, access to funding and a network of industry partners, investors and venture capital firms.

FastTrack Events

Ahead of the application deadline, 16 FastTrack events will be held all over the globe for the local talent to present their ideas to the Startupbootcamp Cape Town team and sponsors for pre-application advice and feedback.  The South African FastTracks will be held in Cape Town (11 May) and Johannesburg (18 May) and hosted by sponsors RCS and PWC respectively. Startups can apply now to attend. 

“RCS wholeheartedly believes in supporting initiatives such as Startupbootcamp Africa, and looks forward to hosting the very first FastTrack event on the 11 May at our Head Office in Cape Town’, said Regan Adams, CEO of RCS.  He added that, ‘There is an abundance of untapped potential that exists in Africa. As one of the leading financial services institutions in South Africa, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to improve our credit product offering for our customers and business partners and essentially improve their overall experience.”  

These FastTracks will then move to other cities within the African continent as well as Middle East and Europe. The cities include Accra, Amsterdam, Cairo, Doha, Dubai, Johannesburg, Kampalba, Lagos, London, Nairobi, Paris, and Tel Aviv. 

When and Where

Cape Town, 11 May 2017 

Johannesburg, 18 May 2017 

How to apply?

Interested teams can apply to attend a FastTrack here: http://bit.ly/capetownft

Any mentors that would like to help with the FastTrack can apply here: http://bit.ly/capetownmentor

Startups interested in applying to the 3-month Cape Town program can apply here: https://www.startupbootcamp.org/accelerator/cape-town

Notes For Editors

For more information about this press release, contact:  

Caitlin Dreyer

The Loudhailer: PR for Startupbootcamp Cape Town

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

+27 84 945 3728www.startupbootcamp.org 

About Startupbootcamp

Founded in 2010, Startupbootcamp is a global startup accelerator with 18 programs in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Chengdu, Istanbul, London, Mexico City, Miami, Mumbai, New York, Rome, Singapore. They take startups global by giving them direct access to the international network of the most relevant partners, investors and mentors in their sector in more than 30 countries. 79% of the Startupbootcamp alumni teams are still active and 71% have gone on to raise additional funding from many of the world's leading VCs and angels.For more information visit: www.startupbootcamp.org 

About RCS

The RCS Group (RCS) is a leading consumer finance business that offers its customers a range of financial service products under their own brand name, as well as in association with a number of leading retailers in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. RCS collaborates with its retail partners as BNP Paribas Personal Finance South Africa.RCS not only finances, operates, manages and promotes successful credit programmes, but also offers state of the art IT, call centre, risk management as well as financial marketing and brand building solutions.RCS continues to demonstrate growth and innovation in the credit market, offering ground breaking and accessible credit solutions to customers. The company provides more than just a technical solution and product for its partners, it also customises products that integrate people, processes and technology, creating value for their partners and customers. 

About BNP Paribas Personal Finance

BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in France and in Europe for personal loans via its activities in consumer credit and mortgage lending. A 100% subsidiary of the BNP Paribas Group, BNP Paribas Personal Finance has nearly 20,000 employees and operates in about 30 countries. Under brands including Cetelem, Findomestic in Italy, AlphaCredit in Belgium, the company offers a full range of personal credit products at points of sale and car dealerships and directly to consumers through its customer relations centres and Internet. BNP Paribas Personal Finance has added an insurance and savings offer for its clients in Bulgaria, France, Germany, and Italy.BNP Paribas Personal Finance has developed an active partnership strategy with retailers, manufacturers and automotive retailers, web merchants and financial institutions (banks and insurance companies), based on its experience with marketing credit offers and integrated services tailored to partners’ business and commercial objectives. It is also a leading player in the field of responsible lending and financial education.www.bnpparibas-pf.com 

About PwC

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We’re a network of firms in 157 countries with more than 223,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com.PwC has a presence in 34 Africa countries with an office footprint covering 66 offices. With a single Africa leadership team and more than 400 partners and 9000 professionals across Africa, we serve some of the continent’s largest businesses across all industries.PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.  

Fernando Acafrao is the founder managing director of Mobile Satellite Technologies (MST), the market leader in the manufacturing and operation of specialised vehicle solutions in South Africa.

Originally from Angola, Fernando’s entrepreneurial drive is strong and he is acutely aware of the need to give back to others. His career started in the 1980s when he was focused on the IT industry for the most part of two decades. This, coupled with his background in computer coding and electrical studies, means he has a keen focus on the development of new technologies and utilising these to create the most affordable and effective way to reach rural and under-served communities with quality products and service. He is passionate about innovation and loves disrupting the status quo and these are two of MST’s strengths.  

Acafrao established MST in 2005 after learning the ropes of entrepreneurship in his two IT businesses and various other ventures. Since then, the company has grown to become market leaders in the field of specialised vehicles, providing healthcare, education and administrative services to underserved communities in several African countries.  

Says Acafrao: “The success of MST is like that saying: ‘It took me 50 years to get overnight success.’ I built two companies without any money and that created a base of an understanding of everything; of how to create something out of nothing. The circumstances I come from are quite unique and in a way that makes me blessed because I’ve always had to survive by making things happen. That’s one of the reasons why MST is a success. We’d never been in manufacturing when we first started doing this but if you don’t do the whole thing, you’re always at the mercy of the weakest link. You have to have the courage to be able to complete the full chain and that’s what we did, even though we didn’t have that background.”  

Acafrao has led MST to become the market leaders in mobile technology vehicle solutions and continues to identify new opportunities where MST can provide essential services to under-served communities in order to address certain social development needs in Africa. The latest, most exciting project is a full HIV solution. MST has designed and manufactured three vehicles according to spec that are in operation in Gauteng, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal, performing HIV tests and distributing ARVs. “The biggest problem we have with HIV is that everyone is doing their own thing in this fight. There are thousands of clinics but no connectivity between them. And skills are broad, you have one person who is treating HIV, Diabetes, Alzheimer’s and whatever. NGOs are getting millions of dollars to fight HIV but they have to rely on the physical clinic, the clinic has to rely on the courier company taking tests back to labs, the courier company has to rely on labs, and I don’t even want to speculate on national labs, the figures given to me of how many people are on ARVs that shouldn’t be because their results got mixed up are scary.”  

He continues and says the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said if the time between test and treatment can be shortened significantly HIV can be stopped by 2030. “So we asked, what can we do to help this happen? And we designed a solution. We’re going extreme. We do the blood test in the bus, the testing machines are there, the people with the qualifications, and the ARVs. We’ve taken a six-week process down to one day and eliminated many risk factors. We don’t mistake one person’s blood for someone else’s. We have a proper A-grade clinic in the vehicle and the whole solution is right there. From test to ARV distribution in three hours. What we’re building here is incredible.”  

Acafrao’s motto is to never assume that because someone says something is impossible, it is impossible and he has proven this belief time and again. With this current project the eradication of HIV, something that seemed impossible a few years ago, feels like it’s a lot more achievable and he won’t stop there. He closes and says: “There has been a complete change in behaviour as technology has developed and our reach has increased. This technology can help us get services everywhere and that’s what we aim to do.”

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Pitch and Polish!" 

For the past six years, these sounds have reverberated in community halls across South Africa, as entrepreneurs have presented their business ideas to audiences and expert judges. What began, in Nelspruit in 2010 with an audience of forty people – as a small idea to assist entrepreneurs to hone their business pitches – has grown into a national programme which, in 2015, saw 1680 audience members attend eight workshops and competitions from Cape Town to Klerskdorp.

Now in its seventh year, the ENGEN Pitch & Polish programme has become so successful that Engen Petroleum Ltd. is sponsoring it for a fifth year, with Nedbank coming on board as a major sponsor for 2016. “Seven is a magic number,” says Unathi Njokweni-Magida Engen’s Group Transformation Manager, “and so we are expecting big things from the ENGEN Pitch & Polish programme this year.”For Njokweni-Magida, Engen’s motto ‘with us you are number one’ dovetails beautifully with Pitch & Polish’s purpose. “The programme aims to find the number one unsung entrepreneur in South Africa. This is the person who, in Stage 1 of the competition, has a business idea that we think will succeed. The question is whether the entrepreneur has what it takes to learn the lessons offered by the workshops, and polish their pitch to such a point that success is inevitable,” says Njokweni-Magida.

Nhlakanipho Shange was one such entrepreneur. Armed with a dream, he entered ENGEN Pitch & Polish in Wentworth, in KwaZulu-Natal, in 2013. Although Shange did not win the competition, he attributes his success to the experience he gained as he proceeded from the first to the semi-final round of the competition. “At ENGEN Pitch & Polish I learned that preparation is the key to success,” says Shange. “As an entrepreneur, you never know when someone will ask you: ‘What does your business do?’ If you are unable to answer this question clearly, in less than 3 minutes, you will not be able to access the resources to grow your business,” he states with the self-assurance of an entrepreneur who has integrated the lessons he learned at the workshop. The competition gave Shange the confidence to transform his idea into a fully-fledged business. AD.IT Solutions is fast becoming a pioneer in disruptive digital media technology in South Africa.  And it all began when Shange dared to enter a competition! This year, AD.IT Solution will be providing advertising services for Pitch & Polish. The competition, which started as his teacher, has now become his client. “I understand now that entrepreneurship is a journey, not a destination,’” says Shange.

From ‘Dragon’s Den’ to ‘The Apprentice’, we have become accustomed to watching entrepreneurs pitching their ideas. Pitch & Polish is different in that it uniquely combines training, audience participation and a competition to ensure as wide a reach as possible. Because it is not possible for everyone to participate in the actual competition, every Pitch & Polish Day begins with a workshop in which the entire audience is provided with knowledge and skills to equip them to translate their ideas into businesses, or to take their existing businesses to greater heights. The workshop, based on the best-selling book, ‘Lose the Business Plan’ by Allon Raiz, CEO of Raizcorp, teaches entrepreneurs that starting a business is not about funding. Rather, it is about having a product or service for which people are willing to pay.“Without a paying customer,” says Raiz, “you don’t have a business. Yet, from workshop to workshop, when asked who their target market is, the standard answer given by entrepreneurs is: ‘Everyone’. Pitch & Polish forces entrepreneurs to question deeply and to find answers to the key questions: ‘What do you sell?’ and ‘Who’s buying?’ If you cannot answer these two questions, you do not have a business,” says Raiz. Raiz continues, “Pitch & Polish provides a safe environment for entrepreneurs to learn the lessons – before they have to face the dragons!”Nedbank, one of the sponsors of Pitch & Polish, continues to support SMEs as well as aspirant entrepreneurs through practical solutions. ‘Through our ongoing engagement with small and medium enterprises, we understand the enormous responsibility business owners face in starting up and running their businesses. The Pitch & Polish workshops are a perfect platform to empower businesses with simple tools aimed at refining their ideas and building their confidence for the journey ahead. This is another way we continue to make the things that really matter for businesses happen,’ says Tracy Afonso: Head of Strategy, Small Business and Professional Banking at Nedbank.

Every one of the 1680 people who attended ENGEN Pitch & Polish workshops last year learned something, both about themselves and about business. “If each participant implements one of the lessons in their business, or passes on the lesson to another, the ripple effect of Pitch & Polish on the economy is enormous,” says Raiz.

For a list of this year’s workshops, and to experience the magic of Pitch & Polish for yourself, visit www.pitchandpolish.com.

Cape Town, South Africa 4Elements Media (now 4EM), a full service PR & Media Agency for both established, emerging companies and high-profiled individuals, announced today that it has secured the financial and strategic backing from Venture Capital Company Kristan Group. This partnership shall solidify 4EM’s position as a leading PR company and continue its expansion into the media industry in South Africa. 

“After nearly six years in business, it was time for a strategic collaboration that can take 4EM to the next level,” said Lorinda Voges, CEO and Founder of 4Elements Media. “Our new services allow more room to excel at our passion; delighting and elevating our clients by solving their unique PR & media challenges. In addition, through this partnership, we have welcomed a number of new clients and created jobs for a number South Africa’s PR and Communications experts”, continued Voges.

Kristan Group, who is headed up by media veteran and investor Kasper Kristoffersen, will be assisting with strategic and financial support and direct the expansion into new business areas. 4EM will benefit from the full backing and 20 years of media connections from the Kristan Group of media companies. This strategic partnership will cater to the evolving needs of South African clients, by expanding services to include a bespoke solution to fit the right media mix according to the strategy required. 

4EM is a national public relations and events company speclialising in (but not limited to); public relations, social media & digital marketing, celebrity/influencer relations & management, event management & creation, reputation & crisis management, content production and business to business communication.

Some of 4EM past & current client list includes Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Stuttafords, Clarins, Mugler, Convoy, Jimmy Nevis, Shashi Naidoo, Francois Hougaard, Boity Thulo, 7de Laan and many more. 

For more information on 4Elementsmedia, visit www.4Elementsmedia.com

For interviews with Lorinda Voges, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Issued by 4EM
Michelle Cole
PR Intern
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