ULSTER University graduates Mark Taggart and Aaron Saunders have hit the not-so-hot spot with a new invention designed to monitor the critical temperature of a baby's bath water.
The pair, who graduated last week - both with first class business degrees - developed their 'Bath Buddy' thermometer as part of final year studies - and in response to concerns raised by family members worried about getting bath-time just right for splashing water babies.
They set up 'Little Creations' as part of their course and the idea for Bath Buddy was sparked by parents' questions over reliability of thermometers currently on the market, some of which were said to be difficult to use.
Winners of the Santander 60 Second Pitch Award, a UK-wide competition designed to identify and support start-up businesses, the graduates went one step further and made their design particularly appealing to young children.
"The Bath Buddy is not only a temperature monitoring tool for parents, but also a fun toy for the baby to enjoy," Mark explained.
"It changes colours depending on whether the bath temperature is too hot, too cold or just right and helps to keep bath time a safer, more enjoyable experience for the whole family."
With the winner of the Santander competition based on public votes, he said their success had confirmed a public appetite for 'Bath Buddy' and that in turn had instilled greater confidence in its design.
"Thanks to support from Santander and the £1,500 prize money, we will be reinvesting in the company and looking to bring the product to market as soon as possible," Mark added.
"This is a really exciting time for 'Little Creations' and we hope it will really take off and that we can start developing other product ranges."
Meanwhile, managing director of Santander Universities UK, Simon Bray, said early interest shown in 'Bath Buddy' proved that creativity did not always need to complicated.
"The award going to 'Bath Buddy' shows that sometimes great business ideas do not need state-of-the-art technology or complicated business plans behind them," he added.
