Lewis Loane with Signal Optimiser offers inspiration to other student entrepreneurs
by Startacus Admin
Signal Optimiser, created by Lewis Loane, is an electronic signal device that sits between your instrument and your amp to allow maximum sound quality to transfer...
Any musician who uses an amplifier - and anyone else with common sense - knows that you want the maximum amount of sound quality to reach the amp from your instrument. Using a wireless connection between, say, your guitar and the amp will allow you to move around more without tripping and looking like a fool, but the sound quality transferred wirelessly might not be as good a solid wired connection. 
That is where Lewis Loane, Electrical and Electronic Engineering student at Queen’s University Belfast, comes in.
Lewis approached Enterprise Students’ Union in 2018 with his startup TORANN - Irish for ‘noise of battle’ - and its business idea: an electronic signal device called Signal Optimiser that sits between your instrument and the amp to allow 100% sound quality to transfer.
Since March 2019, the Signal Optimiser prototype has been in production, and he is already planning to produce audio effects devices such as distortion, reverb, and delay pedals. It is worth keeping an eye on whether you are musically inclined or not. It has other applications outside of audio signals, such as improving the efficiency of wireless power transfer, making wireless charging stations for your mobile phone work better. The world is quickly becoming more and more wireless, so a device that can ensure no loss of signal during transfer will be a huge boon.
Lewis won £6,000 in the Students’ Union’s ‘Dragons’ Den’ competition last year, after initially grabbing £250 and the title of ‘Best Business Idea for a Global Marketplace’ in their ‘What’s the Big Idea’ programme. NB. The final of this year's What’s the Big Idea is on Wednesday 4th December 2019.
Thanks to this, he secured a place in this QUBIS ‘Lean Launch Market Validation Programme’ and a fully-funded trip to Nashville for market research. From there, he received a further £10,000 from Techstart and eventually moving from winning the Electronics Category of INVENT 2019 to being named the overall winner of the competition, securing a prize pot of £13.5k. Phew!
From one award to another.
Now he just has to finish his engineering course...
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.
Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.
.jpg)
With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.
The lowdown on Berlin-based Beazy and its innovative solution that helps teams to plan, produce and deliver creative content and helps businesses to connect with talented content creators.
The lowdown on Fluffy, the app offering dog training, 24/7 vet messaging and insurance to give pet owners peace of mind and support them with their pet care responsibilities.
Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.
Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.
.jpg)
Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.
The lowdown on Manchester-based Arctic Shores and its innovative recruitment solution to help candidate potential count as much as skills and experience.
With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.
Published on: 24th November 2019
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Tech Nation report reveals UK Tech could quadruple in value by 2032 with right conditions 23rd Mar 2023 Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.
- Neurodiverse learning and training platform Neve shares major six-figure investment opportunity 22nd Mar 2023 Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.
- Huckletree opens new London hub for tech companies pioneering Web3 solutions 16th Mar 2023 Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.
- OpenSponsorship making its move into the music sector 16th Mar 2023 Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.
