Season 3
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 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