Eight student teams, guided by alumni mentors, presented their innovative business solutions to address the challenges in the food landscape of North Wales. Several students from the school of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering were involved in this year’s programme.
In this current phase, Bangor University Innovation Leadership Training (BUILT) programme partnered with the established Enterprise by Design (EbD) course, which brings together students from different subjects to compete in multi-disciplinary teams on a community challenge.
This semester’s challenge aligned with Bangor’s #Bangor25by25 campaign, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, to investigate and understand food in North Wales, including food production, sustainability, and opportunities for people to produce their own food. The participants were evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges.
After intense competition, Trosi Coffi emerged as the victors, winning the hearts of the judges with their not-for-profit venture. Rhiannon Owen, a third-year creative technologies student in the school, representing Trosi Coffi, expressed her elation, stating:
"I'm thrilled to have won the first prize. The experience has propelled me to establish a sustainable enterprise aimed at bolstering coffee shops, where coffee waste can be transformed into useful products, such as coffee pellets and face scrubs. It has been a privilege to be part of the Enterprise by Design programme."
The winning team was awarded a £4,000 grant to further develop their business. Harvest Horizon, the creators of a groundbreaking service and app that predicts harvest periods for farmers using on-the-ground temperature sensors, secured the runner-up position, earning £1,000 to fuel their innovative idea.
Dr. Andy Goodman, the Director of Pontio Innovation and Senior Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Engineering said:
"Enterprise by Design delivers an immersive experience that leads students through a process of applying of systems and design thinking. Students embark on a remarkable journey. They prototype and test their ideas with input from stakeholders and experts to ensure they meet user needs. By partnering with BUILT, our aspiring entrepreneurs gained unparalleled exposure to commercial realities. It was wonderful to see the progression of the students and hear their pitches to our esteemed judges. It was exciting, this year, to focus on local food production across the breathtaking landscapes of North Wales."