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

Imagine this: a bustling street in Paceville, Malta’s party hub, on a sunny afternoon. Amidst the chatter and laughter, a group of students are not nursing hangovers but celebrating a victory that’s set to change the local entrepreneurial scene. They’ve just won the prestigious Student Entrepreneurship Prize, and their innovations? Upcycled beach towels and state-of-the-art hearing technology.

Beach Towels with a Conscience

Meet GreenGown, the brainchild of University of Malta students, Rebecca Camilleri and Daniel Attard. Their eco-friendly venture transforms old, discarded beach towels into stylish, upcycled ones. The duo spotted a gap in the market while lounging on Malta’s sunny beaches.

“We noticed how many towels were left behind or thrown away after just one season,” says Rebecca. “We thought, why not give them a new life?”

GreenGown’s towels are now a hit among environmentally conscious locals and tourists alike. You can find them at their website or at selected stores around Malta, including The Mill in Birkirkara.

Hearing Tech that Listens

Another winner, HearMe, is making waves in the tech industry. Led by engineering student, Matthew Attard, this startup has developed a cutting-edge hearing aid that connects to smartphones, offering users a seamless, modern listening experience.

“Hearing aids haven’t evolved much in decades,” says Matthew. “We wanted to change that, starting with Malta.”

HearMe’s prototype has already garnered international attention. The team is currently working on perfecting the design and plans to launch their product in Malta within the next year.

Winning Big

The Student Entrepreneurship Prize, organised by the University of Malta’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre, rewards innovative ideas with €5,000 in seed funding. This year’s theme, Circular Economy, challenged students to create sustainable business models.

GreenGown and HearMe stood out among 20 finalists, impressing judges with their creativity, market potential, and commitment to sustainability.

“These students are not just thinking about profits,” says Dr. Maria Pisani, Director of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Centre. “They’re thinking about people and the planet too. That’s what makes them true entrepreneurs.”

As the sun sets on another successful competition, Malta’s student entrepreneurs are ready to make their mark. From upcycled towels to hearing tech, their innovations are set to transform local landscapes, one beach and one ear at a time.

So, the next time you’re soaking up the sun on Malta’s beaches, remember to look out for GreenGown towels. And who knows, you might just be one of the first to try out HearMe’s groundbreaking hearing aids. After all, Malta’s future is listening.