“The programme was a great help in my pitching confidence and also taught me how to take rejection really well. Having to keep a straight face in front of an intimidating panel of judges taught me a lot. I’ve learned to be more assertive and that I really need to stick to my goals.”

“The experience was a real eye opener in terms of the exposure I had meeting entrepreneurs from all around the country. It built my confidence levels in a way I didn’t believe it could.”

“For me, the whole thing was almost like an out-of-body experience. What I loved the most is that people from all sorts of businesses and backgrounds participated. No one is discounted because of where they grew up or what they know. Everyone is given a platform. There is no discrimination and it’s a very safe space. Even when you make mistakes, you are guided in a way that doesn’t shut you down but builds you up.”

“It is a platform that shapes your understanding of what to work on to come up with a clear business pitch that sets you apart from others in your industry, and how to use this to set up an operation that is viable and bankable. You learn the importance of understanding all elements of business including finances for sustainability.”

"You learn so much in such a short period. In the few weeks I was on the programme I got five years of knowledge – that’s how good it is! The week I spent at Raizcorp was intense but you just want to get more and more.”

"The experience was fantastic! I learned so much that it’s hard to pick out just one lesson … Something important I learned was not to romanticise your business idea or its prospects. You need to be realistic about its prospects, the numbers and everything that goes into building it. Everything I learned during the programme has played an important part in building my business.”