Cate shines in business competition
Entrepreneur Cate Olifant impressed with her eco-friendly paint business, Akani Paints, in the Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition.
TZANEEN – Tzaneen businesswoman Cate Olifant, owner of Akani Paints, has made her mark in the prestigious Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition, advancing to the top 4 out of 2 500 entrants nationwide.
Pitch & Polish is a high-profile entrepreneurial challenge where innovators battle it out with business pitches for a prize package worth R1 million. The 2025 edition showcased diverse ideas, from AI tools for the visually impaired to sustainable home renovation methods and even bioactive toilet paper designed to improve water systems.
After a rigorous selection process, 16 entrepreneurs were chosen and paired with mentors from incubator Raizcorp to refine their business strategies, finance, sales, and marketing skills.
Olifant’s pitch stood out. Akani Paints produces high-grade, eco-friendly water-based paints, offering customers a personalised colour palette without harming the environment. With branches in Nkowankowa and Thohoyandou, the company employs eight permanent staff and eight interns, including chemical engineering graduates. By providing internships, Olifant has created opportunities for young professionals.
Although she did not win, Olifant said reaching the final four was a victory in itself.
“I entered because I needed the money, but I gained something more valuable, knowledge. I’ve learnt so much about finance and marketing, especially new ways of reaching the right audience. The experience will take my business to the next level.”
Her entrepreneurial journey began while working in her husband’s construction company, where she noticed how much money went to paint suppliers. Determined to change this, she studied paint manufacturing, registered with the South African Paint Manufacturing Association, and in 2016 launched Akani Paints with funding from the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and her personal savings.
Like many small businesses, Akani Paints faced challenges during Covid-19 but has since grown stronger, focusing on quality, sustainability, and affordability.
The overall winner of the competition walked away with R650 000 in cash and a R350 000 bursary for the Raizcorp incubation programme.
The first runner-up earned R100 000, and the second runner-up received R50 000.
The full journey of the top 16 contestants can be followed on the Pitch & Polish YouTube channel and Facebook page.
