Nedbank Pitch & Polish announces top 8 contestants for 2025 competition

Source: Unsplash

The finalists represent a broad range of businesses, from sanitation and safety innovations to fashion and digital platforms.

Top eight contestants

• Blessing Sithole – Bakers Creationz (KwaZulu-Natal): Confectionery business best known for reinventing the classic snowball cake, supplying major retailers such as Pick n Pay and Spar.


• Prudence Mabaso – The Kitchen Wrap Company (Gauteng): Provides affordable, mess-free kitchen and furniture wrap solutions as an alternative to full renovations.


• Cate Olifant – Akani Paints (Limpopo): Produces eco-friendly, water-based paints, while supporting skills development through internships for young chemical engineers.


• Vanessa Snyman – Vez Technology (Mpumalanga): Developer of bioactive toilet paper designed to reduce blocked drains, eliminate odours and support water system health.


• Orion Herman – LiquidGold Africa (KwaZulu-Natal): Pioneering waterless sanitation systems that convert human waste into compost, fertiliser and animal feed.


• Nontsikelelo Mokoena – TamRex Holdings (Gauteng): Founder of Tolhema, a modest fashion brand blending cultural heritage with contemporary luxury design, using locally sourced fabrics.


• Tshitso Mosolodi & Karl Carter – Snake Nation (Gauteng): Web3 platform enabling creators to distribute and monetise their work via blockchain, ensuring fair payment and access to global audiences.


• Memphis Kaotsane – Moonshine Reflective Spray (North West): Developer of a reflective spray that makes livestock visible at night, reducing road accidents in rural areas.

Competition structure

The contest will continue over four rounds, after which two finalists will be selected. A wildcard entrant will then be introduced to compete in the final round, where the top three prizes will be awarded:

• Winner: R1m


• Runner-up: R100,000


• Second runner-up: R50,000