Engen Pitch & Polish winners secure R1-million in prizes

South African-based Engen Pitch & Polish, an entrepreneurial pitching competition and workshop programme has announced this year’s winners who have secured their share of a prize worth R1-million.

Founders of GUDGU win first prize

The winners of this year’s competition are Cape Town-based duo, Pieter du Plessis and Viljoen de Kock. The dynamic duo are the founders of GUDGU, a company that produces sugar-free cordials. The winners were provided with their prize in two parts; R650 000 in cash paid out over a period of two years and a bursary of R350 000 for a full two-year Raizcorp incubation programme. 

Du Plessis comments on the massive achievement and milestone for both himself and his co-founder. 

 “ENGEN Pitch & Polish has changed our lives forever. We are so grateful for the R350 000 incubation opportunity. We are hungry for knowledge and guidance on how to make GUDGU a very successful, fail-proof business, starting with finances,” 

The runner up of the competition Gomolemo Motshwane secured R100 000 in cash and the second runner up, Ouma Tema of Plus-Fab won R50 000.

The competition

The programme aims to help promote entrepreneurial growth and support innovative local startups. The competition began with 16 selected participants who underwent three rigorous competition sessions, mentoring and learning workshops. 

Unathi Njokweni-Magida, Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Engen provides insight into the aims of the competition and the importance of supporting local entrepreneurship.

 “Engen believes that growing and nurturing business skills for emerging entrepreneurs in South Africa will boost employment, improve education levels and help alleviate poverty. To accomplish this, we are proud to step up and support these future business leaders, to help propel them forward so that they are able to create jobs in the future. Given the wide commercial devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is imperative that corporate South Africa should consider increasing their support of emerging entrepreneurs during this critical time. To grow and sustain our economic recovery we have to support small businesses because for every job created, an average of five people can escape poverty and gain access to education, which is key for building an equitable and inclusive country,” 

The competition and programme are held in partnership with Engen, Nedbank and Raizcorp. 

Read more: SA entrepreneurs pet gear brand wins global award 

Featured image: Supplied