5-minute pitch
Each finalist has a hard five minutes to present their vision. Timers are strictly enforced, so expect a fast, focused showcase.
19 November 2026 · Leicester
HER Pitch
A high-impact pitch competition empowering the next generation of female founders from the East Midlands. Win an exclusive business growth package!
Proudly supported by
Five of the East Midlands' most promising female founders will pitch live for an exclusive business growth package, with finalists announced on 2 October. Want to take the stage yourself? Grab a 2-minute Open Mic slot and pitch your idea to a room full of founders, investors and backers. Entry is free but places are limited. Reserve yours now.
Reserve your free spot→The event.
Join us at Canopy in Leicester for an action-packed showcase featuring five high-growth startup pitches, a rapid-fire open mic, and our signature friction-free networking. Whether you're ready to take the stage or looking to back the next big idea, this is your platform.
Five finalists will pitch to a panel of judges and a live audience at Canopy in Leicester. Pitches will be 5 minutes long, with 4 minutes of Q&A.
- Date
- 19 November 2026
- Time
- 18:00 – 21:00
- Venue
- Canopy, 41 King Street, Leicester
- Cost
- Entirely free
Reserve your free spot→
Free to attend. Places are limited, so reserve early.
Interactive networking
Networking without the awkwardness. Use our physical 'Asks & Offers' board during the event to post what your business needs ('I Need…') or what expertise you bring ('I Can Offer…'). Connect effortlessly over drinks in an unstructured, low-stakes environment.
Key dates.
- Step 12 OctoberFinalists announced
- Step 219 NovemberPitch night at Canopy, Leicester
On the night.
Five finalists take the stage, each with around ten minutes:
4-minute judge Q&A
Straight after each pitch, our panel of expert judges dig into traction, market opportunity and business model.
The prize
All finalists will receive an exclusive support package featuring professional services — marketing, accountancy, and strategic advisory — to accelerate their business growth. Plus the opportunity to pitch to investors actively backing innovative businesses in the East Midlands.
Sign up to the Open Mic.
Not ready for a full pitch? Maybe you're testing ideas or aren't quite the right fit for our competition. Sign up for an Open Mic slot!
Open Mic pitches are rapid-fire, capped at 2 minutes with no Q&A. There is no prize, however participation may earn you some attention in the room. Open Mic slots are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
The judging panel.
Hannah Tapsell Chapman
Investor, Mercia Ventures
Investor at Mercia Ventures, one of the UK's most active venture capital firms, focused on high-growth businesses in the East Midlands. Hannah has over a decade of experience helping early-stage companies commercialise, scale and raise capital, and sits on the boards of several Mercia portfolio companies. She previously worked at the London Stock Exchange and the Ministry of Defence.
Coming soon
Judge to be announced
Coming soon
Judge to be announced