The format of the day was explained and a big thank you was extended to the sponsors who make this free workshop possible, Engen Petroleum Ltd, Raizcorp and media partner SAfm. This is the fifth and final event in Round 1 with winners going through to Round 2.

The Pitch & Polish workshop began with Bret Saks, the facilitator, who shared his entrepreneurial journey which began at the age of 10, when he sold his mother’s expensive crockery. Saks' distinctive humour and intelligence was well-received by the participants as they listened to the MBA graduate, entrepreneur and currently strategy guide at Raizcorp.

With a quick show of hands, it was discovered that approximately 20% of the audience were trading entrepreneurs. Saks says, “Entrepreneurship is rewarding, it’s an extension of you.” However, it’s difficult to define, and can be described as, "creating and building something of value from practically nothing."

The reality is that South Africa has the lowest entrepreneurial rates in Africa. Only one in five new businesses remains a growing concern after five years. This is one of the reasons for Pitch & Polish – to grow these figures, “Your most important asset is what you are developing today”, says Saks. With several degrees behind him, he explains that these are 'false qualifications' as they are not guarantees of success. The real qualification is experience.

The four pre-selected contestants were brought onto the stage to present their first 30 second pitch. An audible ripple of excitement went through the audience as they found out that there was one seat available for a Wild Card contestant. This meant that someone from the audience had an opportunity to compete. The selected audience members, now would-be contestants nervously gave their 30 second pitch and the choice was made by the audience.

The Port Elizabeth contestants included Bhongolwethu Sonti who wants to transform township dumping sites into community mini farms, Lucky Mpila whose business idea is to bring broadband to rural and disadvantaged communities, Pieter Felix who has a doggy parlour for lower income households, Lynn Erasmus who has an existing 'Incredible Race' show and competition in Eastern Cape and Wild Card Moipone Qekisi whose business specialises in branded promotional items.

The audience members were primed to role-play as investors and bank managers. This is where the shift in thinking happens as the workshop training and learning deepens. Pitch & Polish isn’t a traditional academic learning environment – it is experience-based learning, an assimilation of real-life scenarios.

The contestants gave their one minute pitch and the 'polishing' by the audience and facilitator continued to get tougher. They were questioned, challenged and given feedback. “In order to build your business, communication is everything. It is imperative to speak simply, clearly, concisely and with absolute clarity. Never underestimate the power of a good story”, says Saks.

The time for the competition element arrived and the judges were introduced: Nomkhita Mona, CEO of Uitenhage Despatch Development Initiative; Vuyelwa Sono, BEE and Government Relations Executive Corporate Affairs Division, Engen Petroleum; Dave Davies, senior investment manager, GroFin South Africa; and Weza Moss, manager of Corporate and Government Affairs, Volkswagen Group SA.

The visibly nervous contestants gave their final and most crucial pitch for three minutes each. Their growth and improvement was remarkable. The judges’ comments were both fair and constructive.

When the winners were announced the audience stood up dancing and cheering, this too seems to have become customary at the Pitch & Polish events. The winners through to Round 2 are Bhongolwethu Sonti, Lucky Mpila and Moipone Qekisi.

As expressed by Moss, “It is a humbling experience to see the individuals come out of their cocoons and claim their space confidently and intelligently”. Meanwhile, Engen Petroleum's Sono expressed in wonderment, “I am blown away and would love to see this training as part of the school curriculum. Pitch & Polish imparts skills and widens the participants’ perspective to opportunities and problem-solving proficiency. This programme effectively achieves this. The audience benefits too and the peer involvement and acknowledgement makes this initiative such a success”.