Seed2Plate and Shop2Plate are the twin ventures of Highlands-based founder Natalie Smith, who’s using technology, sustainability, and education to change how people grow, use, and value food. A lifelong horticulturalist, educator, and hospitality expert, Natalie saw first-hand how traditional food wisdom and modern tech could work together to build more resilient communities. Seed2Plate focuses on food education, sustainability, and innovative horticulture products derived from food waste; Shop2Plate, powered by Receipt2Plate Ltd, turns everyday grocery data into insights that reduce waste and help families plan smarter.
Natalie joined Techscaler’s Catalyst programme in Autumn 2024, delivered by CodeBase, to learn the key aspects of startup building and connect with peers in the Highlands. What began as an idea for “smart gardens” evolved into a technology-driven food platform that’s already generating revenue and creating measurable impact. With Techscaler’s support, Natalie learned to pivot strategically, validate her ideas through real user feedback, and turn a personal mission into an actionable, scalable business model for social good.
Seed2Plate grew from Natalie’s years of experience in horticulture, hospitality, and food education. After supporting schools’ Home Economics programmes, she realised students thrived on real-world learning: growing food, cooking it, and understanding sustainability through hands-on experience.
That inspired her to start Seed2Plate as a food innovation and education venture, using technology to enhance learning and local growing. When she spotted how much food waste schools produced, she saw a new opportunity: to build tools that track, analyse, and reduce waste at home and in classrooms.
This became Shop2Plate, a suite of digital tools linking data, sustainability, and community impact. Together, her ventures form an interconnected “to-plate” ecosystem for change.
Before Techscaler, Natalie had passion and purpose, but needed a structured environment to translate them into a viable tech startup.
As a single-parent founder in the Highlands, access to startup networks, mentors, and technical support was limited. She was teaching by day, building at night, and learning on the fly. Techscaler bridged that gap, offering expert-led guidance, peer learning, and digital-first access that allowed her to progress at pace.
The result: a strategic pivot from an ambitious “smart gardens” idea to a fully functioning digital product that’s now generating early revenue and growing its user base.
Natalie’s first interaction with Techscaler came at exactly the right moment. Through the Inverness hub’s watch parties and no-code events, she discovered practical ways to turn ideas into action. The standout experience, a no-code automation workshop with Geoff Todd, transformed her thinking. Inspired, she built the first Shop2Plate prototype in just 24 hours, validating an idea that solved real problems she faced daily.
The cohort environment gave her confidence to test fast, fail safely, and iterate with community support. Within weeks, she secured grant funding and began building what would become a revenue-generating MVP.
Through Techscaler by CodeBase, Natalie found proven frameworks and a strong network. Peer founders became collaborators, mentors became sounding boards, and access to local expertise helped her bridge practical and technical gaps.
The combination of structured learning and human connection reshaped her ambitions: she no longer saw location or circumstance as barriers.
Techscaler also opened fundraising pathways, connecting her to HIE’s Kickstarter Grant (a grant specifically for Techscaler members) and the British Business Bank Startup Loan.
Each milestone reinforced her belief that great ideas can grow anywhere, even from a kitchen table in Inverness. By blending AI, sustainability, and purpose, she’s proving that ethical, community-led tech can thrive from Scotland’s Highlands.
Post-Techscaler, Natalie’s ventures have entered a phase of tangible growth and recognition. Shop2Plate now serves over 200 paying users and is generating revenue from its MVP, a major milestone for a founder who began with no technical team.
She’s raised over £8,000 in grant funding and secured a £13,000 startup loan, while Seed2Plate continues developing innovative horticulture products from food waste, including a prototype that supports sustainable growth and removes microplastics from planting systems.
Natalie’s work has been recognised nationally, with her named a finalist for the UK Small Business Female Entrepreneur of the Year award. Both ventures are now attracting collaboration offers and inbound interest from other sustainability-focused startups.
Techscaler, delivered by CodeBase, offered Natalie the right access and a sense of belonging. The curated programme helped her pivot, validate, and launch with purpose. For her, it proved that great ideas can scale from anywhere when community, education, and ambition align. She now shares her learning with other Highlands founders and continues to grow her interconnected ventures with resilience and purpose.
Her story shows what happens when technology, sustainability, and inclusion work hand in hand to drive meaningful change. Learn more about Natalie’s ventures.
.svg)
