Gauteng entrepreneur Prudence Mabaso, founder of The Kitchen Wrap Company, has won the 2025 Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition, taking home the top prize worth R1 million. Her innovative “no-dust-and-no-demolition” kitchen wrapping business impressed judges and audiences alike, but behind her polished pitch lies a story of resilience, faith and determination. Here, she reflects on her journey.
When Prudence Mabaso heard her name announced as the winner of the 2025 Nedbank Pitch & Polish competition, she could hardly believe it. “It didn’t feel real,” she admits. “I saw everyone shouting and celebrating for me, but it just didn’t register. I had such mixed emotions that it actually took me a couple of weeks to fully process that I’d won. I still thank God every day for it.”
For Prudence, founder of The Kitchen Wrap Company, the victory means far more than a title or prize. “Winning is the validation of years of persistence through some of my toughest seasons, starting this business when I was unemployed and a single mom, pushing forward when resources were scarce, and finding a way to turn an idea into something real. It’s proof that the sacrifices, long nights and moments of doubt were worth it.”
Her entrepreneurial journey began at rock bottom. After losing her job, Prudence found herself in a tiny Lonehill cottage, keeping her unemployment a secret from her family. With her young son living with her mother, she decided to take a chance on an idea she’d been sitting on for months: non-invasive kitchen wrapping. With little more than a Facebook page and borrowed before-and-after photos, she landed her first client. From there, the business grew job by job into what it is today: a fast-growing home renovation company with big ambitions.
Prudence’s win came in the 15th season of Nedbank Pitch & Polish, South Africa’s longest-running entrepreneurial pitching competition. Powered by Nedbank and organised by Raizcorp, the programme blends high-stakes pitching with one-on-one mentorship and real-world business learning. Over the years, it has equipped entrepreneurs with skills and exposure to help them secure funding, refine their strategies and grow sustainable businesses.
The win comes with a prize worth R1 million, R650 000 in cash and a R350 000 bursary for a two-year Raizcorp business-development programme. Prudence plans to put the funding straight into growth: bulk-buying inventory to boost margins, launching a proprietary line of interior vinyl films designed for African tastes, and rolling out a tech platform, Renvr, to make renovations faster and more seamless.
But beyond the financial boost, Prudence credits the competition with sharpening her focus. “The most valuable lesson I learned was the importance of focus and positioning. The judges challenged me to ensure that my core product, wrapping, remains the hero of my story, even when introducing new offerings. Growth doesn’t mean diluting your identity, it’s about showing how every addition strengthens your main value proposition.”
Her five-year vision is bold: to make The Kitchen Wrap Company Africa’s leading name in non-invasive renovations, with a network of trained installers across the continent, her own product range distributed widely, and her tech platform powering projects for homes, hotels and commercial spaces.
It’s a long way from those uncertain early days in Lonehill, but Prudence believes her story proves that resilience, faith and focus can turn even the toughest challenges into stepping stones. “If there’s one thing I’d say to other entrepreneurs, it’s this: go for it, but go in prepared. Know your business inside out, be open to tough feedback, and don’t take it personally. The process will stretch you, but it will also sharpen your thinking and make your story stronger.”
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