Malta’s Student Entrepreneurs Win Big with Upcycled Towels & Hearing Tech
From Beach Towels to Hearing Aids: Malta’s Student Entrepreneurs Make Waves
Imagine this: a bustling classroom at the University of Malta. The lecturer is mid-lecture, but the usual hum of students is replaced by the whir of sewing machines. Among the textbooks and laptops, there’s a peculiar sight – a table strewn with colourful fabric scraps and half-finished towels. This isn’t a craft class gone awry, but a glimpse into the innovative minds of Malta’s student entrepreneurs.
Upcycling on the Rise: The Eco-Towel Revolution
Meet Maria and Lisa, two final-year students who’ve turned their passion for sustainability into a thriving business. Their venture, ‘Beach2Bath’, transforms old, worn-out beach towels into stylish, upcycled ones. Their workshop? A small, sunlit room in their Msida residence, filled with sewing machines, fabric dye, and piles of repurposed cotton.
“We started this because we were tired of seeing perfectly good towels end up in landfills,” says Maria. “Malta’s a small island with a big beach culture. There’s no reason we can’t give our towels a second life.”
Beach2Bath isn’t just about saving the planet; it’s also about creating something unique. Each towel is handmade, with vibrant patterns that tell a story. They’re sold online and at local markets, with a growing following among eco-conscious locals and tourists.
Hearing Tech with Heart: Amplifying Lives
Across campus, another duo is making waves in a different field. David and Matthew, both studying engineering, have developed a low-cost, high-impact hearing aid. Their invention, ‘HearHere’, is designed for those who can’t afford expensive medical devices.
David, who has mild hearing loss himself, explains, “We saw a gap in the market. Expensive hearing aids don’t cater to everyone’s needs, and cheaper alternatives often lack quality. We wanted to create something affordable, yet effective.”
HearHere uses advanced digital signal processing to amplify sounds effectively. It’s small, discreet, and can be 3D-printed, making it cheap to produce. The pair are currently working with local audiologists to refine their product and plan to launch it later this year.
Winning Big: The Entrepreneurship Journey
Both Beach2Bath and HearHere were among the winners at this year’s ‘Malta’s Got Business Talent’ competition, a platform for student entrepreneurs. The event, organised by the University of Malta’s Junior Enterprise, saw over 50 innovative ideas pitched, with Maria, Lisa, David, and Matthew walking away with the top prizes.
The win came with more than just bragging rights. It included mentorship from local business leaders, seed funding, and a spot in the university’s incubation programme. For these students, it’s a stepping stone to turning their ideas into reality.
“Winning this competition has given us the boost we needed,” says Lisa. “We’re excited to grow Beach2Bath and make a real impact on Malta’s waste problem.” David agrees, “HearHere has the potential to change lives. We’re grateful for the support and can’t wait to get it into people’s hands.”
As the sun sets on another day at the University of Malta, the sewing machines fall silent, and the classroom returns to normal. But the spirit of innovation lingers. These student entrepreneurs are a testament to Malta’s bright future, turning ideas into action, one towel, one hearing aid at a time.
