At this year’s Ideas Fest we worked with RAAISE – the funding platform for climate startups, to host the StartUps Will Save Us stage.
The stage welcomed founders of game-changing start-ups to pitch their bold plans to a panel made up of some of the UK’s leading business experts, who provided guidance and support, and to the two lucky winners, a prize that would set them on the path for huge brand awareness.
In collaboration with Mail Metro Media, the two winners received a £5k digital advertising campaign which can be served across Mailonline, Thisismoney, Inews.co.uk and Metro.co.uk.
One of the winners was Prom Ally, the social enterprise business that offers the free loan of prom dresses and suits to school children, sixth-form students and college students across the UK who otherwise couldn’t afford one. Being linked with schools, social services, food banks and charities, Prom Ally runs on a referral basis and has loaned out hundreds of dresses and suits since starting.
“Prom Ally was set up as an organisation after I watched a TV programme with my Dad about families struggling financially. I saw there were young people who couldn’t afford a prom dress which really upset me. Whether we like it or not, prom is becoming bigger and bigger each year and with this growth, the price of dresses is also increasing drastically! I have created Prom Ally to help young girls and boys have the perfect prom night no matter what!” says founder Ally.
All outfits are donations either from the public or from businesses and we currently accept dresses, suits, shirts and trousers. For quality purposes, every item is checked and freshly laundered before each loan. The loan of an outfit is free of charge, and all you have to do is cover the cost of delivery and return postage and packaging.
Prom Ally is offering a truly life-changing service for many people, and the business was loved by the experts at Ideas Fest.
Using her prize funding, Ally Elouise, founder of Prom Ally recently spoke with the Mail Online to discuss her business and what she hopes for the future. Read the full article here.
Discussing their partnership with Ideas Fest, Phillip Irons of Mail Metro Media said, “One of the best things about this year’s partnership with Ideas Fest and Great British Entrepreneur Awards & Community is getting to work with brilliant startups.”
You can find out more about Prom Ally and her services here – https://www.promally.co.uk/
Ready to hear inspiring pitches and talks from some of the UK’s most influential thought leaders? Ideas Fest 2023 tickets are now on sale – get them now before you miss out.
Want to know more before you book? See what we got up to at Ideas Fest 2022 here.
