Innovation Supper – Funding Opportunity

York Business School, Patch York and the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub are delighted to bring you our first ever Innovation Supper.

Staring in Detroit in 2010 this idea has travelled the world thanks to its simplicity and positive community impact. The basic idea is that we provide some supper, and charge a small entry fee, we then invite local community projects to pitch for the proceeds and hold a vote to select the winner – It’s that simple!

Perfect for projects of all shapes and sizes; from nothing more than a good idea right up to a fully formed Community Business. We are looking for people to pitch their idea and participants who want to hear great ideas and give them the benefit of their valuable business advice.

Together, with our shared passion for communities, and making our town a better place to be for everyone; we aim to work with a diverse network to offer practical ideas and support and more importantly a cash injection to the winning business idea from the proceeds of the soup.

Smashing glass ceilings and giving those who would find accessing business advice and funding a chance to get their idea heard is the aim of this event, so if you have an idea and want to pitch or if you want to join an exciting new community and have a real impact on a fledgling business then come and join us for the Innovation Supper.

This event will see 6 new businesses pitch for between £400 – £600 that they can take away on the evening to give their idea the boost it needs. Each business will be given 10 minutes to pitch after which the audience will be invited to ask questions for 10 minutes.

The audience will then vote for the idea that they think is best – it’s really that simple!

Prior to the pitching, the businesses chosen to pitch will be given some expert pitch training delivered by York St John.  Each business that puts themselves forward to pitch will be given the feedback from the Audience, that they can use to develop their idea.

There will be networking, drinks and a light supper after the pitches have taken place.

If you are interested in your chance to get some great business advice and take away some funding to grow, then please fill in the application and return to us by 16 May 2025.

Join us at Innovation Supper on Thursday 29 May 2025, 18:00 – 20:00

Selection Criteria

• Business less than 3 years old
• Located within the York and North Yorkshire region
• Less than 5 employees.

Application Form