ASPEN Terms & Conditions

  1. The Route to Market programme (“the Programme”) is sponsored by Aspen Pharmacare (“the Sponsors”) in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and Raizcorp (“the Promotor”).
  2. The following terms and conditions govern participation in the Programme (“Terms and Conditions”),and may be amended at any time at the sole discretion of the Promotor. These Terms and Conditions are binding and enforceable against every person who registers to apply for the Programme (“the Applicant/s”). By registering an application for the Competition, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
  3. You are entitled to apply to participate in the Competition if:
    • you are a natural person who is at least 18 years old and
    • who resides in South Africa and
    • the business owner is from a country within Southern Africa (SA, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho or Eswatini) and
    • you operate a registered business with the relevant governing body.
    • You may not participate if you are a supplier of goods or services in connection with the Programme, or if you are a director, member, partner, employee, agent of, or consultant to the Promotor or Sponsors or any other entity which directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by the Promotor or Sponsors, or if you are any of the aforementioned persons’ spouse, life partner, parent, child, brother, sister or business partner.
  4. All applications must be submitted by 14 June 2024 through the online application form. No late applications will be accepted, and incorrectly completed or incomplete applications will be disqualified. Each Applicant may only submit one application entry.
  5. All entry forms become and remain the property of the Promotor and will not be returned to Applicants.
  6. Only successful Applicants will be contacted, as selected at the sole discretion of the Promotor. Should you not be contacted, please assume that your application has not been successful.
  7. The duration of the competition is 15 May 2024 until 26 August 2024, subject to any changes at the sole discretion of the Promotor (“the Competition Period”).
  8. All decisions made by the appointed selection team and or judge(s) in terms of the contestant selection process are final and binding. No reasons will be given for such decisions, and no appeal against a decision is possible.
  9. The Promotor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject or disqualify an application at any stage should it transpire that such application has been submitted by illegitimate, suspicious and / or an ineligible Applicant. The Promotor also reserves the right to disqualify at any time, at its sole discretion, any Applicant for good cause including but not limited to non-compliance with these Terms and Conditions and / or the violation of any applicable laws, codes and / or regulations.
  10. Applicants must comply with all relevant government laws and regulations and / or industry requirements.
  11. Applicants may not submit entries on behalf of another individual or entity and may only compete using their own business.
  12. By entering the Competition, Applicants understand that their businesses will be exposed to the judges. The Programme is a non-confidential competition and Applicants take full responsibility for appropriately protecting their concepts, recipes, formulas, codes and intellectual property.
  13. Should you be selected to participate in the Competition, you will be required to provide a copy of your valid South African identity document and proof of registration and ownership (minimum 40%) of your business. Failure to provide such required information and documents may disqualify you for the Competition.
  14. Should your Application be successful, you agree that the Promotor will conduct criminal and / or fraud checks some of which may require you to submit fingerprints. Should you be found to have a criminal or fraud record of a serious nature, you will be disqualified. This information may be shared with the sponsor.
  15. All shortlisted Applicants will be required to submit the following documentation:
    • Copy of your South African ID (if you have the new smart ID, we need copies of both sides) or Passport
    • Copy of your CIPC certificate or company registration
    • Your company profile (this can be a simple one-page description of your business)
    • six months of business bank statements
  16. Should your application be successful, you agree to make yourself available during the Competition Period. These dates are:
    • 22 July 2024 – Top 5 Interview with Judges
    • 19 August 2024 – Top 3 Interview with Judges
    • 26 August 2024 – Announcement of winner
  17. Should you be required to travel for the Programme, your travel and accommodation costs to Gauteng will be for your own account.
  18. Should you be selected as a contestant, you agree to make yourself available for in-person interviews throughout the duration of the Competition Period. The dates are as follows: 8 July 2024, 22 July 2024, 19 August 2024 and 26 August 2024. Should you not be available for these dates, you cannot enter the competition.
  19. The appointed judges reserve the right to select the winners at their own discretion and are not obliged to divulge contestants’ scores or any other information relating to the judging process. The judges’ decisions are final.
  20. The judges will adjudicate on the basis of the information supplied by contestants. Should this information prove to be false, the Promotor reserves the right to cancel or withdraw awards.
  21. The announcement of the winner of the Programme will take place on 26 August 2024, as determined by the Promotor. This date is subject to change.
  22. If the winning Applicant meets the Sponsor’s procurement requirements and standards, the Applicant may be considered for a potential offtake agreement. Aspen will guarantee a meeting with its internal procurement and supplier development programme. Aspen will provide priority to considering an offtake agreement, however such consideration will not immediately imply an offtake. Prior to such agreement, certain procurement processes will need to be followed and passed.
  23. By participating in the Competition, Applicants grant the Promotor and Sponsors full rights to use any photographs and video taken during the Programme. Such videos and photographs will be used in but not limited to printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding proposals. You also consent that the Promotor can use the contents of your Programme application for marketing purposes, present and future.
  24. The Promotor reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate all or any part of the Programme without notice. Applicants shall not be entitled to remuneration of any kind should the Promotor exercise this right.
  25. By applying to participate in the Competition, you agree to provide the Promotor with certain personal information, including but not limited to your name, identification number and contact details (“Applicant Information”). You undertake that all such provided information will be accurate and current. Should your Applicant Information change at any time, you undertake to inform the Promotor of same as soon as reasonably possible.
  26. By participating in the Competition, you consent to the use by the Promotor, Sponsors or a third party nominated by the Promotor or Sponsors of your Applicant Information, for use throughout Programme and the Competition Period for promotional and marketing purposes, announcement of awards or disqualifications, and other purposes related to the Programme. The Promotor and the Sponsors will ensure that all such Applicant Information is handled in accordance with the applicable South African data and protection of personal information legislation, and that all of their employees, third party service providers, divisions, affiliates and partners (including their employees and third party service providers) having access to your Applicant Information are bound by appropriate and legally binding confidentiality obligations in relation to your Applicant Information.
  27. The Promoter reserves the right to offer Applicants the opportunity for investment into their business post the competition period. The Applicant is not obligated in any matter whatsoever to take on the investment officer, if offered.
  28. The Promoter is under no obligation to make an investment offer to the Applicant.
  29. The Promotor will be entitled to use or disclose the Applicant Information if such use or disclosure is required in order to comply with any applicable law, subpoena, order of court or legal process, or to protect and defend the Promotor’s rights or property.
  30. The Promoter, the Sponsors, their associated companies, agents, contractors and sponsors shall not be liable for any costs incurred by contestants in participation of the Competition for any reason whatsoever.
  31. The Promoter, the Sponsors, their associated companies, agents, contractors and sponsors assume no liability for any direct or indirect loss, injury or damage arising from the Applicant’s participation in the Programme nor for the prize’ winners in the fulfilment of the prize howsoever arising. Should you participate in the Competition, you hereby indemnify and agree to hold the Promotor and Sponsors, as well as their directors, officers, agents, representatives and employees harmless against any death loss, liability, damage or expense of whatsoever nature, which you or your business may suffer arising out of your participation in the Competition, save to the extent that the same is caused by the wilful misconduct or gross negligence of such parties.
  32. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or causes beyond the Promotor’s reasonable control, it reserves the right to cancel the Competition, to change the number or nature of the prize at any time pre, during or post the competition, or to change the rules at the Promotor’s discretion.
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