Engen The Making Of, sponsored by Engen and powered by Raizcorp, has officially opened applications for season three, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to compete for a share of R800 000 in prize money while testing their ability to transform concepts into real market-ready products and services.
What makes the competition particularly compelling is that it moves beyond traditional pitching competitions. Entrepreneurs are challenged to develop viable solutions within just four hours, forcing them to think critically about customer needs, pricing, positioning, scalability and long-term sustainability under intense pressure.
One of the standout stories from the competition is Koketso Ramatlho, founder of Angela Care and winner of the 2025 season. Koketso started her business after identifying a growing need for more accessible and effective care solutions, turning a personal passion for problem-solving and innovation into a business focused on making a meaningful impact. Through the competition, she not only secured funding for her business, but also fundamentally shifted the way she approaches entrepreneurship and product development. The experience challenged her to think more strategically about customer value, market fit and how to build products that are commercially sustainable, lessons she continues to apply as she grows Angela Care and works towards establishing a laboratory to support future innovation.
We can arrange an interview with Koketso to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, lessons from the competition and why initiatives like Engen The Making Of are helping equip South African entrepreneurs with practical business skills.
Please let me know if you’d be interested in setting up an interview, and I’d be happy to coordinate.
Engen The Making Of returns with R800 000 for entrepreneurs ready to build the next big thing
26 May 2026 – South African entrepreneurs with big ideas and the ambition to turn concepts into commercially viable products and services are invited to apply for season three of Engen The Making Of, with contestants standing a chance to claim their share of R800 000 in cash.
Sponsored by Engen and powered by Raizcorp, the entrepreneurial competition places 10 entrepreneurs in a series of business challenges designed to test their ability to transform ideas into products and services people genuinely want, understand and are willing to pay for.
The challenge: turning ideas into viable products
Unlike traditional pitching competitions, Engen The Making Of challenges entrepreneurs to take a brief and turn it into a marketable, commercially viable product or service. Each episode introduces an industry-specific challenge that requires contestants to think critically about customer needs, product positioning, pricing, production, marketing and long-term market viability.
Entrepreneurs compete in teams that change with every challenge, forcing them to adapt quickly and collaborate under pressure. But while the challenges are tackled as teams, eliminations are deeply personal – contestants must vote out members of rival teams, and at times, even one of their own teammates. As the competition unfolds over eight intense rounds, alliances are tested, teams grow smaller, the pressure mounts, and the stakes become even higher.
With just four hours to move from concept to pitching a market-ready solution, entrepreneurs must adapt quickly, justify their decisions and prove they can turn ideas into products with real commercial potential.
Each episode carries R100 000 in prize money, shared among the winning team, while the final round awards R100 000 to the last entrepreneur standing. In total, the competition distributes R800 000 in cash for entrepreneurs to reinvest directly into their businesses.
Beyond the prize money, Engen The Making Of offers entrepreneurs practical experience in product development under pressure, helping sharpen the strategic thinking, adaptability and commercial mindset needed to build successful businesses.
“The difference between a good idea and a successful business often comes down to whether an entrepreneur can turn a concept into something people truly value and are willing to pay for,” says Allon Raiz, serial entrepreneur, CEO of Raizcorp and Executive Director of The Making Of.
“The Making Of pushes entrepreneurs to think beyond inspiration and consider every aspect of building a viable product – from who the customer is and how the product will be positioned to whether it can realistically compete in the market. It’s about combining creativity with commercial thinking.”
Real cash, real business impact
The competition has already helped entrepreneurs strengthen and scale their businesses. The 2025 winner, Koketso Ramatlho, founder of Angela Care, used her learnings and winnings to further develop the business and support plans to establish a laboratory to strengthen future product innovation.
“Engen The Making Of changed how I think about building products,” says Ramatlho. “The competition challenged me to think beyond the idea itself and focus on whether customers would understand the value, how products could evolve and what was needed to build something sustainable. It pushed me to think more strategically about every decision.”
“If you’re serious about building something meaningful, apply,” she adds. “The process stretches the way you think and helps you approach your business with a much stronger commercial mindset.”
Her performance on Engen The Making Of saw her walk away with R253 333 in prize money, providing a valuable boost as she continues to grow Angela Care and expand its product development capabilities.
For Engen, the competition forms part of its broader commitment to supporting entrepreneurial development in South Africa.
“Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in economic growth, but turning an idea into a viable product is often one of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face,” says Sim Manqina, Transformation and Stakeholder Engagement Manager at Engen.
“Through The Making Of, we are supporting entrepreneurs who are willing to solve problems, think commercially and build products and services that can create meaningful value in the market and economy.”
Entrepreneurs aged 18 or older with a registered South African business are encouraged to apply. Entries close on 5 June 2026. To enter, visit themaking-of.co.za.
