ENTREPRENEURS in York are pitching for a chance to win a £1 million prize package from business guru Richard Branson.

A York mum who has created a range of fancy dress ski wear, along with the inventor of a re-usable cracker, and a new health start-up looking to change disease management are all among entries in Virgin’s Pitch to Rich contest.

With the initial stages taking the form of an online competition, judged by a public vote, the initiative covers three categories; Grow, New Things and Start-up.

Pitching in the start-up category is York mum Claire Ellam, of South Bank, who created Fanski Dress nine months ago to meet a gap in the market.

She said: “We went skiing with friends and took part in a fancy dress ski day. It was awkward trying to fit things over our existing ski wear. We ended up with very chunky outfits which weren’t waterproof and left us cold and wet.

“We thought there must be something better, but when we looked into it we couldn’t find anyone offering fancy dress ski wear.

“When I was made redundant I decided to look at this more, and set about creating our range, creating a brand and a website.

“I soon realised we are the only people doing this, and the response has been fantastic.”

Also pitching in the start-up category is York-based digital health service HealthBox360, which aims to change long-term disease management.

Founder and chief executive Karen Wilson said: “We’ve been working on Healthbox360 for more than two years now, privately funding it, and we’re raising capital having conducted a successful prototype-test late 2014.

“Healthbox360’s ‘digital therapeutic’ changes long-term health by enabling patients to buy a medic, coach, nutrition expert, health check, heart rate monitor, and tools matched to needs with support for 16 weeks.”

Another of the city’s entrepreneurs pitching is entering the New Things category with her venture Keep This Cracker, based on eco-friendly re-usable Christmas crackers.

To see pitches and vote visit virginmediabusiness.co.uk/pitch-to-rich.