Rize Mzansi is a South African reality competition television series produced by Talent Attack TV Productions and Urban Brew which pits 12 entrepreneurial companies against each other for the chance to win R1-million in business capital (Seasons 1-2) and entrepreneurs against each other for a chance at investment in their businesses (Season 3).
The series premiered on SABC1 on Tuesday 3 July 2007, at 18h30. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 3 premiered on SABC1 on Tuesday 5 November 2013, at 21h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 episodes in the third season.
Season 1
Produced by Talent Attack TV Productions and Urban Brew, Rize Mzansi aims to educate small businesses about the trials and tribulations that other small businesses face.
Each episode centres on explicit business topics, varying from marketing and sales to financial management.
Every week the entrepreneurs compete in a task to win business infrastructure. The winner will be chosen on a mix of experiential criteria and by a panel of board members.
Over the course of the series they take part in various business-related challenges and tasks under extreme pressure and deadlines.
Eventually the company with the highest profit margin wins R1-million in business capital.
The first season was hosted by Tshepo Ngwane and the judges were serial entrepreneur Allon Raiz, banking investment consultant Jacky Molisane and PR specialist Zandile Nzalo.
The 12 Companies
ECH Electrical and Lighting
The Sweet Voice Masters
Ekasi Graphics
EPC Technicians
Monaledi General Trading
Nkwali M Consulting
Lukunda Marketing Communications
Ad-One Media Communications
Outoftown Music
The Mobile Carwash
Jean & Juice Entertainment
Pass the Roc
Season 1 was executive produced by Lefa Chakela, Brett Lipman, Moyikwa Sisulu and Matthew Rosmarin.
Season 2
Rize Mzansi aims to challenge and educate small businesses on the trials and tribulations faced when running a company.
Season 2 will see 13 business-savvy companies compete against each other in an attempt to be awarded the chance to win a R1,000,000 capital investment from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).
As in the first season there is high drama as the companies are placed under extreme pressure and deadlines. Each episode centres on explicit business topics, varying from marketing and sales to business acumen.
Every week the entrepreneurs compete in extraordinary tasks to win cash prizes and business infrastructure. The winner is chosen by a mix of experiential criteria, public vote and by a panel of board members.
Who will be the next ground breaking South African entrepreneurs?
The series is sponsored by the South African Government in association with the National Youth Development Agency.
Season 2 was presented by Thapelo Mokoena, who replaced Tshepo Ngwane.
Season 3
SABC1's international, award-winning entrepreneurial reality TV series Rize Mzansi is back for a third season, revealing a totally new look and format.
This season is hosted by multilingual actor and presenter Aaron Moloisi, on the show that creates a platform for experienced business people to engage with business innovators.
This original South African concept aims to challenge and educate small businesses on the trials and tribulations of running a successful business.
The series is meant to drive Mzansi's entrepreneurship and business creativity by pitting 52 business-savvy innovators, entrepreneurs and wannabees in a head to head battle to be awarded venture capital to enhance and evolve their businesses, themselves and their ideas.
Participants have to pitch their ideas to high-powered investors and their advisors. Investors have the final say as to whether they will invest in the business or not. They are not here to give cash away - if they like the idea, they want to own a fair share of it.
The group of investors include Nazeem Martin and Gerrie van Biljon (The Managing Director and Executive Director of Business Partners Limited), the dynamic duo Ran Neu-Ner and Gil Oved (founders and joint CEOs of South Africa's biggest activations agency, The Creative Council) and Khutso Mampeule (Founder and Chairman of Lefa Holdings).
Rize Mzansi's top floor is the place where entrepreneurs are given a once in a lifetime opportunity to convince multi-millionaire business moguls to invest in their ideas. Each episode sees two sets of hopeful entrepreneurs going head to head for an investment and partnership with some of the most successful entrepreneurs in Africa.
However, there is a catch: no matter how brilliant both entrepreneurs' ideas are, only one or none of them will be chosen.
Backing the investors is The Advisor (Jeff Miller), a shrewd business guru who will help decide whether the wannabe entrepreneurs are in fact investable.
The 22nd floor is where it all happens. Here entrepreneurs only have two options: Rize or Fall. Passion, Perseverance and a Master Plan can get you anywhere – will they rise or will they fall?
Produced by Talent Attack TV Productions, Season 3 was produced by Rory Stanton Downing with executive producers Matthew Rosmarin and Moyikwa Sisulu. The original concept was by Brett Lipman and Lefa Chackela and the music was composed by Martin Schofield.
Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC1
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 3 July 2007 | Finale: 25 September 2007 | Tuesdays, 18h30
Season 2 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 13 July 2010 | Finale: 5 October 2010 | Tuesdays, 18h30
Season 3 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 5 November 2013 | Finale: 28 January 2014 | Tuesdays, 21h00