ED Taylor, a first-year product design student at York St John University, is in talks with a business angel about advancing his business after speaking at Venturefest.

The 19-year-old has played guitar since the age of 12.

He decided to design his own while at Northallerton College and won North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership's Engineering Inspiration award in 2010.

He said he existing guitar companies seem to copy each other and he wanted to create something unique.

Now Ed, from Osmotherley, has launched Ed Taylor Designs Ltd which sells his other designs, including his cubic Qube mugs, while he has five guitar designs in prototyping.

Ed gave a speech at the Venturefest gala awards dinner after exhibiting at the annual science and technology event, where he attracted interest.

Ed said his potential investor runs an international business furniture design company and also has strong links in the music industry.

Having funded the business through a part-time job alongside university and done everything himself, Ed’s planning slow growth, but said: “It’s definitely going to accelerate the business. With their help I hope to make my business a global brand.”