From Beach Towels to Hearing Aids: Malta’s Student Entrepreneurs Make Waves

Imagine transforming old beach towels into stylish, eco-friendly fashion statements, or developing cutting-edge hearing technology that could revolutionise the way we hear. These are not distant dreams, but realities created by Malta’s brightest young minds who have just scooped the top prize at the annual Student Entrepreneurship Awards.

Upcycling Towels into Fashion Statements

Meet 22-year-old Maria Azzopardi, a University of Malta student who turned her passion for sustainability into a thriving business. Her venture, Towel & Textile, transforms old, discarded towels into trendy bags, wallets, and even face masks. Her creations, sold at local markets and online, are not just stylish but also help reduce textile waste.

Maria’s journey began in her family’s garage in Msida. “I started small, making products for myself and friends,” she recalls. “But word spread, and soon I was selling at local markets like the one in Ta’ Liesse in Valletta.”

Hearing Technology for the Future

While Maria was upcycling towels, 23-year-old engineering student Matthew Camilleri was working on a different kind of innovation. His startup, HearMe, is developing a new type of hearing aid that promises to be smaller, more comfortable, and more affordable than existing models.

Matthew’s inspiration came from personal experience. “I have a family member who struggles with hearing loss,” he explains. “I saw firsthand how traditional hearing aids can be bulky, expensive, and uncomfortable. I wanted to change that.”

Matthew and his team, based at the University’s iċ-Ċentru Kontra l-Innovazzjoni, are now working on a prototype. Their goal? To make hearing technology more accessible and user-friendly for Malta’s aging population.

Winning Big

Both Maria and Matthew were among the winners at this year’s Student Entrepreneurship Awards, organised by the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry. They walked away with a €5,000 prize each, mentorship opportunities, and a chance to pitch their ideas to local investors.

Dr. Marthese Portelli, CEO of the Malta Chamber, praised the winners. “These students are not just thinking about their future, but also about the future of Malta. They’re innovative, they’re sustainable, and they’re ready to make a difference.”

For Maria and Matthew, the win is just the beginning. “This prize will help me expand my business and reach more customers,” says Maria. Matthew, meanwhile, is looking forward to refining his prototype and bringing his hearing technology to market.

As for the future of student entrepreneurship in Malta? It’s looking bright. With initiatives like these, our island’s young innovators are set to turn their ideas into reality, one upcycled towel and one hearing aid at a time.