This September, Freeater had the amazing opportunity to step onto the stage at Ideas Fest 2025, often called the “Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs".

Over the two days, more than 4,000 founders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers came together in Tring, Hertfordshire, for a festival packed with big ideas, live music, and inspiring conversations. For us, it was the perfect stage to share our mission: making dining inclusive, safe, and joyful for everyone.
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‍A real highlight for the Freeater team was pitching at Dreamland X Help Bnk in front of an incredible panel of entrepreneurs: Simon Squibb, Dan Priestly, Nick Pritchard, and Amelia Sordell.

It was an intense but invaluable experience, sharing our story, tackling tough questions, and hearing feedback from people who have built businesses we deeply admire. It gave us clarity, focus, and a renewed sense of momentum.
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‍Day 2 brought another pinch-me moment: our Founder& CEO, Kate, joined Simon Woodroffe OBE, founder of YO! Sushi, for breakfast.

That’s the magic of Ideas Fest, it’s not just about thebig stages, but also the informal chats over coffee, wellness activities, and casual meet-ups dotted around the festival grounds. Often, it’s those unscripted moments where the most valuable ideas spark.

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‍One of the most meaningful parts of Ideas Fest was meeting people who shared their own lived experiences, from navigating coeliac disease, lactose intolerance, and food allergies to living as vegans and vegetarians.

Hearing first-hand how dining out can often feel limiting, unsafe, or simply inconvenient reinforced exactly why Freeater exists: to build a world where everyone can eat freely, confidently, and without compromise. These conversations reminded us that behind every dietary need is a person, a story, and a community that deserves better representation.
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●      People care deeply about inclusivity in dining, there’s both awareness and hunger for better representation, especially around allergies and dietary restrictions.

●      Honest feedback from the panel helped us sharpen our priorities: leaning into community storytelling, communicating safety clearly, and keeping empathy at the heart of everything we do.

●      Relationships matter, the networking zones, casual chats, and shared experiences reminded us that growth is as much about people as it is about ideas.

‍A huge thank you to the organisers of Ideas Fest 2025, DreamLand X HelpBnk to our brilliant panel: Simon Squibb, Dan Priestly, Nick Pritchard, and Amelia Sordell, and Adam Smith, Richard Hayes and to Simon Woodroffe for such an inspiring breakfast conversation.

And of course, thank you to everyone who stopped by, said hi, or cheered us on. We’re so grateful to be part of a community that believes in the importance of safe, inclusive dining.👉 For more information on Ideas Fest 2025, its speakers, and what to expect in the future, head over to the Ideas Fest website.