The second Innovation Supper, organised by York Business School, Patch York and the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub, brought together members of the local business community for an evening of ideas, networking and collaboration.

The event followed its now well-established format: attendees enjoyed supper while hearing from local entrepreneurs, each given ten minutes to pitch their business idea followed by questions from the audience. At the end of the evening, participants voted to decide which business would receive the proceeds from ticket sales, providing both a financial boost and valuable exposure to an engaged local network.

Emma Rollason-Taylor, Business Relationship Manager for the Growth Hub, said:

“Innovation Supper is about giving local entrepreneurs a chance to be heard, to connect with their community, and to build the confidence needed to grow. The pitches we heard this evening show just how much talent and potential exists in our region.”

This year’s winner was First Leaf Farm, co-founded by Kaitlyn Crossley and Mike Morley. Based in Pickering, the business is developing a solar-powered vertical farming model that grows herbs and microgreens indoors year-round. With a focus on sustainability and reducing food waste, First Leaf Farm is building connections with chefs and farm shops across York and North Yorkshire. The funding from Innovation Supper will enable the team to test sustainable packaging solutions, refine branding and provide sample boxes to accelerate relationships with potential customers.

Kaitlyn Crossley said:

“Given the strength of other pitches it was a surprise for us to win, but we were so pleased that the mission of First Leaf Farm to bring freshly harvested microgreens and herbs to York and North Yorkshire resonated so much with the audience!

“I highly recommend the supper to anyone who is interested in connecting with like-minded people or has an idea they want to get feedback on.”

The pitches reflected the range of creativity and ambition across the region. Rebecca Colby presented Plucky Pigeons, an independent publishing company focused on children’s books, while Colin Cripps introduced Get Curious, a new venture offering workshops to help small businesses understand and apply artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively.

Marshall Hitipeuw from Patch said:

“I believe this event, and events like it, do a fantastic job of providing budding entrepreneurs a platform to grow their skills. My biggest takeaway was once again being reminded that there are lots of different types of “entrepreneurs” it’s not just tech, it’s also farming, and publishing!”

Thom Feeny from Patch said:

“Innovation Supper is one of the most heart-warming events in York, you eat together with the community and your funds provide a grant to help a local start-ups on their path to success. There are so many exciting small businesses in our City and this event at Patch brings those to a wider audience.”

Innovation Supper demonstrated the strength of York and North Yorkshire’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By combining community spirit with practical support, the event provided a platform for emerging businesses to share their vision, receive constructive feedback, and benefit from early funding.