A little after sunset on Friday, 2 May, a crowd gathered in Moree’s Social Co House. Some brought nervous anticipation ahead of their pitches, while curious audience members arrived keen to hear what fellow locals were working on.

What unfolded was a snapshot of grassroots regional innovation, where ideas meet ingenuity and good-old-fashioned hard work.

Presented by the UNE SMART Region Incubator (UNE SRI) and the UNE SRI Moree Regional Connector, Sheree Cayirylys, Pitch2Grow 2025 gave the stage to six local founders with six very different ideas, all rooted in a shared drive to create something better for their communities.

A Line-up with Purpose

There were no vanity pitches here. Each founder brought forward a concept already being tested or built, grounded in real need.

The Moree Pitch2Grow 2025 cohort:

• Doreen Davis, Vintage Elegance Pre-Loved Formal Wear, is reshaping the experience of school formals by making stylish outfits more accessible for local students.

• Chloe Magick, Magick Events, designs wellness-focused community experiences that offer more than just entertainment.

• Mark Simpson of Upstairs Solutions – Smoke Plus, a cleverly engineered solution for one of agricultural aviation’s most frustrating inefficiencies.

• Jacson Warner, The Social Soundtrack, rethinks how music can shape public spaces with an innovative business model.

• Jessica Driscoll,  Drops and Props Event Hire,  demonstrates an unmatched eye for detail, lifting the standard for local events and milestone moments.

• Jaxon Budiada, a Year 12 student, runs a polished and promising landscaping venture, proving that age is no barrier to innovation.

Pitch2Grow, a process, not just an event

What the audience saw on stage was the polished result of weeks of groundwork. In the lead-up to the event, the pitching cohort took part in an induction and a pitch workshop led by UNE SRI expert in residence, Edwina Sharrock.

This wasn’t about mastering presentation skills. Edwina worked closely with each founder to refine their messaging, sharpen their stories, and help them speak with clarity and conviction. From defining the ‘why’ behind their business to anticipating tough questions, the process pushed participants to not just pitch their idea, but own it.

The result? Six founders who stepped into the spotlight were prepared and confident to tell their story.

The main event

Brendan Moylan, Member for Northern Tablelands, officially opened the night, acknowledging not just the individual founders but the growing momentum of the region’s startup community. He also took a moment to recognise the venue’s founder, Tyler Macey, for building a space that’s both modern and perfectly suited to the diversity of the Moree community.

On the judging panel sat Jack Rickers of Hiringa Energy, who is at the forefront of green hydrogen. Their $500 Judges’ Prize sponsorship added more than funding: it signalled a genuine interest in nurturing early-stage regional solutions.

Award Recipients

The People’s Choice Award ($200, sponsored by UNE SRI) was awarded to Doreen Davis, and the Judges’ Prize ($500, sponsored by Hiringa Energy) was presented to Mark Simpson.

Both awards recognised not just good ideas, but thoughtful execution and relevance to the local economy.

The night was filled with thank-you hugs. Spontaneous and genuine applause. On-point questions from the crowd. The energy in the room was less “business pitch” and more “moment that mattered.”

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