Straw Straws Ltd
Matthew Hannah
Second year Law student and Enterprise Scholar, Matthew Hannah and his business ‘Straw Straws Ltd’ aims to solve the problem of ‘eco-friendly’ paper straws becoming soggy and unusable by introducing drinking straws made from wheat straw to the market.
This embryonic idea was successfully incarnated with the vital help of Enterprise Scholarship funding. The ‘strawstraws.co.uk’, brand is now thriving. Never being soggy, having no taste, and being 100% compostable, Straw Straws have made their way to all corners of the UK. They have even received recognition from the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, winning the Mayor’s Innovation Prize.
“When I find that sales have completed, along with receiving positive feedback, it is hard not to feel a sense of pride. However, I never forget the fact that this would not have happened without the Spark Enterprise Scholarship.”
Matthew Hannah
Straw Straws Ltd
The whole process has been an arduous learning experience for Matthew, having to overcome significant obstacles in limited time, such as those regulatory but this hasn’t deterred his ambitious plans to grow the business.
“As for the future, I am envisaging the potential to sell to overlooked sectors of the market, and most certainly abroad. These grand visions, I must admit, have been inspired by the individuals I had the privilege of meeting during the Spark Enterprise Bootcamp. For someone like me, with virtually no prior connection to the world of entrepreneurialism, being able to see and hear from people who have succeeded is invaluable.”
“Now, success in enterprise does not seem to be some distant mirage but rather an attainable goal which to pursue. I am truly excited to see what happens next. Most of all, I strive to take the confidence I have gained forward into every aspect of life. Whether the business ultimately succeeds or not, confidence is something which can never be taken away.”
