The 2025 Nedbank Pitch & Polish semi-finalists faced an unusual judging panel, and a tough one at that. Monroe Mbuti (9), Oyama Moroeng (11), and Matthew Lelo (10), learners from Radley Private School, were invited to assess the pitches of adult entrepreneurs, putting their young entrepreneurial skills to the test.

The three Radley learners, from grades three to five, are part of a school programme where entrepreneurial thinking is introduced from grade RR to matric. This early exposure gives them a strong grasp of business concepts for their age, preparing them to analyse real-world business ideas with confidence.

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The learners were joined on the panel by Raizcorp CEO Allon Raiz, who guided them and helped select the top three finalists based on their confidence and ability to answer business-related questions.

Monroe said the experience was exciting. “I really enjoyed being a judge. It was great to hear so many interesting ideas. I looked for excitement, confidence, and enthusiasm, and I wanted to feel the passion from the business owners,” he said. Monroe’s favourite pitch was an eco-friendly toilet paper business. “It’s useful for everyone and helps the environment,” he added.

Oyama, who has judged at the event twice before, agreed. “I liked the toilet paper lady’s pitch the most. She had a great idea that could make a real difference. I looked for someone who could explain their idea clearly, even to a child,” Oyama said.

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Matthew was judging for the first time. “It was exciting and a little nerve-wracking, but a great experience. I focused on how the product would help people and how clearly the entrepreneur presented their idea,” he said. Matthew also chose the eco-friendly toilet paper pitch as his favourite.

Charne De Gouveia, Radley’s primary school principal, highlighted the importance of this experience. “Our learners go through a rigorous internal process before they even judge a real competition. They develop and pitch their own business ideas to Allon Raiz, building courage, confidence, and the ability to communicate clearly under pressure,” she said. “Judging real entrepreneurs sharpens their critical thinking, financial literacy, and business acumen. It’s active, real-world learning that prepares them to be tomorrow’s business leaders.”

For the young Radley learners, stepping into the professional environment of Nedbank Pitch & Polish was more than just fun; it was a valuable lesson in creativity, confidence, and entrepreneurship. And for the entrepreneurs, explaining their ideas to a panel of sharp young minds proved that if a business can’t be explained to a child, it may need refining.

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