Enterprising Summer (Haf Mentrus) was a fully funded programme designed to help students, graduates and young people turn innovative ideas and side hustles into something more tangible. Alongside a £2,000 grant, the programme offered business and finance advice, branding and product design support, pitching development, access to the M-SParc ecosystem and opportunities to meet entrepreneurs and potential customers.
The five selected founders were:
Although their ideas were very different, they shared a willingness to learn, experiment and support one another throughout the programme.
For Macsen Wilcock, a young academy footballer and entrepreneur from Llanystymdwy, the programme provided an opportunity to take his idea for Crys beyond the concept stage.
Crys is a proposed marketplace for buying, selling and trading football shirts. The platform aims to make it easier for collectors and fans to find authentic kits, with potential features including AI-powered shirt identification, community authenticity voting, price history, personal collections, auctions and achievements.
During the programme, Macsen carried out market research, developed his idea further and had the opportunity to pitch to successful entrepreneurs.
“My business has stemmed from my passion for football,” he said. “The experience has been great for meeting new people, and the lessons I’ve learned have been beneficial.”
His next step is to continue developing the platform and turn the idea into something real.
Aled Hughes, from Conwy, joined the programme with experience of developing online businesses. Alongside his studies at Coleg Llandrillo, Aled has been working on Scailia AI, a platform designed to allow people to launch and run their own AI-powered video clipping businesses without needing technical skills or developers.
He also co-founded Menai Digital, a web design company supporting local businesses across North Wales.
Aled used the programme to develop his business and financial planning, strengthen his branding and work on his investor pitch. He also valued the opportunity to meet other founders and build connections with people who could help him take his ideas forward.
“It’s been really valuable to be able to be on the programme,” he said. “It’s interesting being in a room and hearing other people’s ideas and experiences.”
Cai Biggs-Davies, from Llandudno, is developing a new material matrix with potential applications across a range of industries, including frontline emergency services.
His idea is based on creating a material that could withstand the high pressures, cold temperatures and other challenges faced by existing materials. At the beginning of the programme, Cai identified intellectual property advice, CAD design, prototyping and future patent development as key areas where he needed support.
The programme gave him the opportunity to explore the idea alongside other founders, carry out research and learn more about the process of developing an innovation into a potential business.
“It has been interesting working alongside others who have been developing different ideas,” Cai said. “We’ve been able to give advice, see where there are crossovers and help each other.”
For Adarsh Kumar, a recent Computer Science graduate from Bangor University, Haf Mentrus provided support and direction as he developed CourtSpace.
CourtSpace is a mixed-reality sports platform designed to transform ordinary rooms into playable sports environments. Using room-scanning and depth-camera technology, the concept would allow users to play sports such as badminton, tennis, squash and boxing using virtual equipment, without needing a traditional court or large amount of specialist equipment.
Adarsh’s ambitions include developing a minimum viable product, securing funding and gaining insight and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.
“Coming to M-SParc has given me more of a direction of what I should be doing with my business,” he said. “I’ve learnt a lot from the others on the programme, and they all have unique ideas.”
For Dylan Cargill, from Caergybi, the programme was an opportunity to develop TheSixFive, a clothing brand inspired by Anglesey.
The brand takes its name from Holyhead’s postcode, LL65, and aims to celebrate the island’s history, culture, scenery and local identity through modern clothing designs.
Dylan’s initial plans include collections inspired by Holyhead, Trearddur Bay and Valley, using vintage and historic photographs alongside storytelling elements to help customers connect with the places represented by each design.
Having recently graduated from Edge Hill University in Sports Coaching, Dylan is keen to build a business locally and create a brand that appeals to young people from Anglesey, as well as visitors and people with connections to the island.
During Haf Mentrus, he developed his ideas through market research, branding support and sessions with business owners and entrepreneurs.
“It has been really easy working with the others, considering how different all of our businesses are,” he said. “We all get on well because we’re all just starting or bringing our businesses from the ideas stage.”
His next step is to find a clothing manufacturer, establish the brand’s social media presence and build towards the first product drop.
Working primarily from M-SParc’s Bangor #OnTour location also gave the founders opportunities to connect with people and organisations beyond the formal programme sessions.
During the summer, the group met entrepreneurs Simon Squibb and Nick Pritchard, gaining feedback, advice and valuable new connections. Nick also generously matched the £2,000 grant awarded to each of the five founders, providing an additional boost as they worked to develop their ideas.
The founders also visited the Anglesey Showground as part of their market research and programme activities. While there, they had the opportunity to meet Rhun ap Iorwerth, who was impressed by their enthusiasm, ambition and enterprising approach.
These moments were not planned programme sessions, but they demonstrated the value of being part of the M-SParc ecosystem: by showing up, getting involved and making the most of opportunities, the founders were able to meet people who could help them take their ideas further.
Alongside developing their individual businesses, the founders took part in a range of activities designed to build their confidence and expose them to different aspects of entrepreneurship.
These included:
• Market research at the Anglesey Show;
• Meeting business owners and entrepreneurs;
• Developing presentation and pitching skills;
• Exploring branding, product design and business finance;
• Learning from Business Wales and Big Ideas Wales;
• Sharing ideas, feedback and experiences with one another.
Huw Wyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Finance and Information Technology at Gwynedd Council, praised the enthusiasm and ambition of the young entrepreneurs.
“It’s fantastic to see the excitement, and young people innovating and responding to interesting ideas,” he said. “It gives them the opportunity to do something of value, with the hope that new businesses will start from these young people.”
Councillor Elin Walker Jones, Chair of Gwynedd Council, also congratulated M-SParc on the programme and highlighted the range of ideas developed by the founders.
She also expressed her hope that more young women would be encouraged to take part in programmes like Haf Mentrus in the future.
The end of the six-week programme is not the end of the founders’ journeys. Each of them now has a clearer understanding of their next steps, whether that means developing a prototype, researching the market, finding manufacturers, building an MVP, refining a pitch or continuing to develop their business model.
For Cai, the experience has reinforced the importance of exploring an idea and seeing where it might lead.
“If you have an idea or dream, explore where it takes you,” he said. “Maybe call Business Wales or try to get on a course like this.”
That is exactly what Haf Mentrus was designed to support: giving young people the space, resources, connections and confidence to take an idea and start turning it into action.
We’d like to thank all five founders for their hard work, enthusiasm and openness throughout the programme, as well as the mentors, speakers, partners and everyone who helped make Haf Mentrus possible.
The ideas may be at different stages, but the ambition is clear: this is only the beginning.
tom@m-sparc.com
Tom used to work at the KFC in his hometown of Colwyn Bay before it mysteriously burned down. He then spent several years “on the lam” in East Germany, where he worked as an animator in Berlin. When the wall fell, Tom came home.
He enjoys climbing and hates ice-skating.
