Three primary school learners have taken on an unusual role in the 2026 Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition, challenging aspiring entrepreneurs to explain their business ideas.
Arush, Monroe and Naomi, Grade 4 and 5 learners from Radley Private School, joined a special judging panel to question four semi-finalists competing for a share of the competition’s R1 million prize package.
The learners were selected after presenting their own business ideas to Raizcorp CEO and competition judge Allon Raiz. Their participation demonstrated how entrepreneurship education can give children practical opportunities to develop communication, critical thinking and decision-making skills.
During the episode, the young judges questioned the semi-finalists about their businesses, challenging them to explain complex ideas without relying on technical language. Their feedback encouraged contestants to consider whether potential customers and investors could easily understand their products and services.
“If an entrepreneur cannot explain what they do in a way that a child can understand, it often means they are still too close to the complexity of their own business,” said Raiz.
“Clear communication is essential whether you are speaking to customers, investors or partners.”
At Radley Private School, entrepreneurship is taught from Grade R through to matric, introducing learners to business concepts and practical problem-solving throughout their schooling.
The school’s approach aims to develop independent thinking, commercial awareness and confidence from an early age, preparing learners to identify opportunities and respond to real-world challenges.
“Entrepreneurship is about more than starting a business,” said Charné De Gouveia, principal of Radley Private School.
“It is about helping learners think independently, solve real-world problems and build the confidence to take ownership of their future.”
The learners’ participation also placed young people in a position to assess established entrepreneurs, giving them an opportunity to apply their classroom learning in a professional business environment.
For the four semi-finalists, the exercise formed part of a broader competition that combines business pitching, individual mentoring and entrepreneurial development.
Now in its 16th year, Nedbank Pitch & Polish is sponsored by Nedbank and powered by Raizcorp. The programme provides entrepreneurs with mentoring and business development opportunities while they compete for a prize package valued at R1 million.
The involvement of primary school learners highlights how early exposure to entrepreneurship can develop skills that extend beyond business ownership, including communication, financial awareness, problem-solving and confidence.
