Local start-up planner business benefits from £500 seed funding thanks to Innovation Supper

Innovation Supper, a unique pitching event by York Business School, Patch York and the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, was inspired by a concept first introduced in Detroit in 2010.

The event showcased five up-and-coming entrepreneurs, each presenting their business ideas in hopes of securing £500 in seed funding, raised through ticket sales, to help turn their visions into reality. Each participant had 10 minutes to pitch their concept, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session with the audience.

The winner of the funding was Jasmine Ely, founder of Hummingbird Paper Co, who received the most votes following a standout pitch that showcased her business rooted in local growth. Jasmine drew on her marketing background and recent participation in the Strive Live programme to build a strong foundation for her pitch.

Drawing on her agency and freelance experience, Jasmine Ely identified a gap in the market for planners tailored to client-based workflows. Her solution, The Ultimate Client Planner, offers a structured, handwritten format designed to enhance clarity and organisation.

Reflecting on her journey, Jasmine Ely said, “Before I completed my degree in Fashion Marketing, I spent two years working at a marketing agency. My time at the marketing agency combined with working freelance throughout my degree told me that I needed some sort of planning tool, as I was planning a lot.

“I found online tools get really complicated when there’s multiple people clicking on things and changing things, and sometimes you just want that grounded feeling you get from writing things down, especially in a digital marketing space where everything’s online and you don’t get anything physical from the work you do.

“I couldn’t find anything that was useful to me. So, I was thought, I’ve got to make it happen.

“From there I created a survey, and I distributed it to people I used to work with in the industry, agency professionals and freelancers. I had lots of submissions that gave me data that said, yes, we do need this. I referenced this in my in my pitch.

“I knew I needed experience pitching, and grant funding, so I applied for Innovation Supper, and I was accepted.

“I was ecstatic when I won, the money will go towards ordering my first planners and distribution.

“When working in agencies I learned that social proof is important, which is why I want to get my planner in front of people who will provide credible testimonies. Nobody’s going to buy a product if they don’t have testimonials that say it’s effective.

“I also plan to use the funding to continue my research, which is something my degree really helped me develop.

“Good research is essential. You don’t want to move forward blindly. You need to understand what people want, why they want it, and what needs your product is meeting. Solid research lays the foundation for a strong idea.

“That would be my advice to anyone looking to start their own business, do the research and seek advice and support from the Growth Hub to get you started.”

The next Innovation Supper is set for September, to stay up to date with latest events and announcements, sign up to the Growth Hub newsletter.