Engen The Making Of (TMO) is back for season 2, featuring ten fearless entrepreneurs will compete for their share R800 000.
The contestants will face fast-paced, industry-specific challenges—conceptualising, designing, branding, costing, and pitching products or services in just four hours. Teams compete for R100 000 per episode, with one finalist claiming the ultimate prize.
For contestants, it’s a crash course in execution, resilience, and business growth. For viewers, it’s a ringside seat to the realities of entrepreneurship.
We meet the 10 fearless entrepreneurs competing in Engen The Making Of 2025, who also share their business lessons learnt along the way so far:
- Katlego Tshuma, Neta Studio:
Katlego is the creative force behind Neta Studio, a design business fusing African heritage with modern furniture and objects. He first made waves by winning Nando’s Hot Young Designer talent search with his “Sangu” bench in 2020.
Katlego cites taking part in TMO as pushing him to look beyond creativity, and embrace structure, financials and pitching. It’s given him confidence to balance his artistic integrity with business practicality.
Says Katlego: “Growth lives in the tension between what you already know and what you have to learn quickly.”
2. Mlungisi Nkosi, The Mlungisi Nkosi Maths & Science Centre:
Focused on STEM education and accessible learning, Mlungisi’s equips learners with Maths, Science, coding, robotics and entrepreneurial skills, preparing them for both academic success and the jobs of tomorrow. His YouTube channel further makes STEM accessible to thousands.
Taking part in Engen TMO has helped him refine his vision, see obstacles as opportunities for innovation, and to approach challenges with a solution-oriented mindset.
Says Mlungisi: “The most impactful advice I received was to focus on solving real problems, not just presenting polished concepts.”
3. Yumna Monier, Wild Plum Growers
Yumna is reimagining food and wellness with Wild Plum Growers, a company cultivating exotic and medicinal mushrooms while producing wellness products and running a retail store.
With roots in both finance and farming, she joined TMO to refine her focus and scale her brand. Competing has taught her to identify blind spots, adapt quickly, and grow with purpose and community in mind.
Says Yumna: “The heart of your business — your story and your ‘why’ — is just as important as the numbers.”
4. Koketso Ramatlho – Angela Care
Koketso founded Angela Care after discovering natural remedies that helped her son’s eczema, creating a range of soaps, butters and oils now sold in eight countries. Her brand celebrates indigenous African ingredients like Moringa and Baobab.
TMO has tested her creativity and customer focus, while also teaching resilience. She sharpened her presentation skills, strategy and teamwork.
Says Koketso: “The experience pushed me to think differently — not just as a business owner, but from the customer’s perspective too,” she reflects. “I learnt that losing a challenge doesn’t mean you’ve failed — it means you’ve found another way to grow. I’ve learned to be gentler on myself and to see every setback as preparation for something bigger.”
5. Priscilla Frost, Cleaning Squad
Priscilla turned personal challenges into purpose with Cleaning Squad, a cleaning and waste management company creating jobs and healthier spaces. She started the business while still working in corporate, driven by family responsibilities.
TMO has taught her to be more structured as a business owner, strengthen her planning, strategy, teamwork and collaboration skills, and to be intentional in everything she does.
Says Priscilla: “Entering the competition was about stepping out of the shadows. It has challenged me to be more visible, speak up, and believe in my ideas.”
6. Tshiamo Mdhladhla, Obriani Chic
Tshiamo leads Obriani Chic, a fashion brand with boutiques across Gauteng, North West and the Eastern Cape, continuing her father’s legacy while creating jobs and skills development.
With a professional background working for big corporations, viewers will see her swap the CEO’s chair for a team-player role — navigating creativity, teamwork and strategy in a high-stakes environment where adaptability is everything.
Says Tshiamo: “Engen The Making Of reminded me that strategy drives outcomes, but collaboration enriches the experience. The show has challenged me to adapt, listen and learn in ways that has pushed me outside my comfort zone.”
7. Refilwe Xaba, Glolooks
Glolooks is an African-inspired beauty and wellness brand that offers both an adult and kiddies’ haircare range, and is already proving successful in major retailers.
A PhD candidate researching women in business and an active advocate for empowerment, joining the show was more than a funding opportunity for her — it became a platform to prove the power of perseverance and vision.
Says Refilwe: “TMO challenged me to confront my limits, sharpen my decision-making, and collaborate with strong personalities. Most importantly, I viewed it as a platform to not only raise capital for my business, but also to demonstrate the power of committing to one’s vision, persevering despite the pressure and building meaningful relationships.
8. Slondiwe Motshabi, Entire Brands
Slondiwe stepped away from her corporate job as a process engineer to give rise to Entire Brands, a branding and corporate gifting company dedicated to helping organisations strengthen their relationships with employees, clients and communities.
For Slondiwe, entrepreneurship has always been about more than profit. It’s about meaning, legacy and using her talents to empower others. Through The Making Of, she has sharpened her focus on strategy, creativity and leadership, discovering that opportunities expand when you trust yourself and show up fully.
Says Slondiwe: “Engen TMO showed me that I cannot afford to doubt my creativity. If I want to scale my business, I can’t stay at the technical level — I must lead with vision.”
9. Mbuso Mafuyeka, Computer Guardian
Mbuso founded Computer Guardian, a business offering tech repairs and IT support through his custom Comguard App. The platform allows clients to book services, order parts and manage tickets with ease.
On TMO, he learned how to adapt quickly and lead with problem-solving, giving him fresh confidence in his ability to scale both his app and his entrepreneurial journey.
Says Mbuso: “It taught me to see challenges as opportunities. It pushed me to adapt quickly, stay focused and sharpen my problem-solving skills – all of which I’ll use going forward in my business.”
10. Rodney Louis, JR Prodigy Venture (JRPV)
Rodney combines creativity and sustainability in his company JR Prodigy Venture, which helps municipalities and businesses manage and conserve water systems, especially in underserved communities.
On TMO he was challenged test his ideas under pressure, and move beyond just his “cool ideas” to focus on strategy and real-world impact. His journey is proving that strategy, sustainability and purpose can flow together.
Says Rodney: “Instead of just building things, I began asking: How does this serve people? What’s the real-world impact?”
Watch their journeys unfold on Engen The Making Of
These entrepreneurs are proving that South African business is bold, diverse and resilient. Follow their stories on Engen The Making Of 2025 and see who rises to the top.
Engen The Making Of Season 2 will launch on Thursday, 9 October, and airs on Facebook and YouTube on Thursdays at 19:00. (https://themaking-of.co.za/watch-now/).
