Key Takeaways
- Four Year 13 students from Taieri College in Mosgiel invented a potato‑based anti‑frost spray called Winter Warrior for the Young Enterprise competition.
- The idea originated from personal frustration with scraping frost off car windscreens in their chilly hometown.
- Consultation with Otago University professors highlighted potato and onion juices as effective water‑repelling compounds.
- The product is sprayed on windscreens the night before; it dries clear and prevents frost formation, allowing an easy wipe‑off in the morning.
- Market research among local businesses and residents showed strong support, especially in an ageing community where de‑icing is a common hassle.
- Prototypes are performing well; the team is finalising the formula and aiming for an eco‑friendly bottle design.
- Anticipated price is about NZ $20 for a 300 ml bottle, yielding roughly three to four sprays per windscreen.
- No exact launch date is set, but the students expect to release the product within a few weeks once it meets their “100 percent perfect” standard.
Origin of the Idea
The invention began as a simple personal annoyance for Ollie Mcfelin and his teammates. Living in Mosgiel, a town known for bitter winter mornings, they repeatedly faced the tedious task of scraping ice from car windscreens with numb fingers. Mcfelin described the experience as “horrible,” noting that it could take up to ten minutes each morning and rob them of precious sleep. This shared frustration sparked the question: could a convenient, spray‑on solution eliminate the need for manual scraping altogether? The students decided to turn this everyday problem into a business venture for the Young Enterprise competition, setting the stage for a year‑long entrepreneurial project.
Young Enterprise Framework
Young Enterprise challenges secondary‑school students to create and operate a real business over a full academic year, guiding them through product development, market research, finance, and marketing. For the Taieri College team, the competition provided both structure and motivation to move beyond a classroom experiment to a tangible market offering. By framing their frost‑fighting spray as a startup, they gained access to mentorship, networking events, and the credibility needed to approach local businesses and academics for feedback. The program’s emphasis on real‑world accountability pushed the group to treat Winter Warrior not just as a school project but as a viable commercial product.
Consulting Academic Experts
Early in development, the students reached out to professors at the University of Otago’s chemistry and agricultural sciences departments to seek scientific validation for their concept. They asked which natural substances might inhibit ice formation on glass surfaces. The academics responded that both onion juice and potato juice contain specific polysaccharides and glycoalkaloids that interfere with water bonding, thereby reducing the likelihood of frost adhering to surfaces. Armed with this expert advice, the team narrowed their focus to a potato‑based formulation, supplementing it with minimal additives to enhance stability and sprayability while keeping the product environmentally benign.
Formulation and Testing Process
The core of Winter Warrior is a strained potato extract, diluted to a workable viscosity and combined with a small amount of natural preservative to prevent microbial growth. The students began experimenting in March, when temperatures were still relatively mild, to refine the spray’s clarity, drying time, and ice‑repelling efficacy. Initial tests involved spraying the mixture on car windows left outdoors overnight and observing the morning condition. Results showed a clear, thin film that prevented ice crystals from forming; any frost that did appear could be wiped away with a soft cloth in seconds. The team has since undergone multiple iterations, adjusting concentration and pH to optimize performance across a range of sub‑zero temperatures.
Application Instructions
Users are advised to apply Winter Warrior the evening before an expected freeze. A light, even mist—approximately three to four short sprays per windscreen—is sufficient to create a protective coating. The spray dries clear within minutes, leaving no visible residue. In the morning, the windscreen can be inspected; if any frost has formed, it typically lifts off easily with a gentle swipe of a microfiber towel or even the palm of a hand, eliminating the need for vigorous scraping. The simplicity of the night‑before application aligns with the students’ goal of saving time and reducing physical strain during cold mornings.
Market Research and Community Response
To gauge demand, the team conducted informal surveys at local garages, cafés, and retail outlets in Mosgiel. They spoke with business owners, commuters, and retirees, all of whom expressed enthusiasm for a product that could alleviate the daily chore of defrosting vehicles. Mosgiel’s demographic, which includes a significant proportion of older residents who may find manual scraping physically challenging, proved especially receptive. The unanimous positive feedback reinforced the students’ belief that Winter Warrior addressed a genuine pain point rather than a novelty concept.
Eco‑Friendly Packaging and Pricing
Commitment to sustainability guided the students’ choices for packaging. They opted for recyclable PET bottles with a minimalist label, aiming to reduce plastic waste and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. The projected retail price sits at around NZ $20 for a 300 ml container, which, given the recommended three‑to‑four sprays per application, translates to roughly eight to ten uses per bottle. This price point positions the product competitively against conventional chemical de‑icers while emphasizing its natural, non‑toxic formulation.
Current Status and Future Plans
As of late October, the prototype has performed consistently in field tests under temperatures ranging from ‑5 °C to ‑10 °C. The team is now fine‑tuning the final formula, conducting stability tests to ensure the spray remains effective over its shelf life, and confirming that the eco‑friendly bottles meet durability standards. Mcfelin emphasized that they will not release the product until it is “100 percent perfect,” reflecting their dedication to quality over speed. Although no exact launch date has been announced, the students anticipate making Winter Warrior available to the public within a few weeks, pending final approvals and a small production run.
Reflections on the Entrepreneurial Journey
Beyond the technical achievements, the students highlighted the personal growth gained through the Young Enterprise process. They learned to balance academic responsibilities with business meetings, negotiate with suppliers, and communicate scientific concepts to a non‑technical audience. The experience also reinforced the value of community engagement; by listening to local needs, they were able to shape a product that resonated deeply with potential users. As they prepare to transition from school‑based innovators to fledgling entrepreneurs, the team hopes that Winter Warrior will not only simplify winter mornings for drivers across New Zealand but also inspire other students to pursue practical, science‑driven solutions to everyday problems.