Sparks of 2026: #18 Samantha Mant

So we begin switching some of more our focus to the people that are going to make waves in 2026. The world of water is a difficult and sticky topic, not least because water is not just scarce (doesn't feel like it today) but it is troublesome.

And that's where a personality like Samantha Mant comes in. First off, she is the face and head of Halcyan Water, a non chemical alternative to water softeners that deters limescale from forming in your pipes and on anything that comes in contact with your water supply.

But she is so much more than that. Sam works tirelessly promoting the outliers in home efficiency - products in SAP limbo or waiting for their accreditation. Her network of contacts reads like, and we're gonna show our age, a roller deck of the great and good of retrofit.

Sam encourages, coaches, mentors and supports everyone that isn't at the front of the queue. She is a champion of the disadvantaged and those inventors, founders and start ups that don't start with a leg up from privilege, gender or birth.

If you look at her company, they are adopting and automating numerous improvements to their product sales and marketing, where AI is appropriate, she's on it. And if you meet her at one of the innumerable shows, demos or presentations she attends. You get wrapped up in a whirl of enthusiasm and positivity.

The best reason to include her in this list is because of what she's missing. Sam has encountered significant friction persuading British consumers that they don't need to add chemicals to stop their their hard water damaging their homes, appliances and energy infrastructure. And she's doing it - hundreds of units getting sold across the UK, every month.

Salt Free Water Softener UK | Water Softener No Salt | Halcyan Water

Halcyan Water Conditioners - the intelligent filter solution to prevent hard water & limescale. Eco-loving, money saving water conditioners.

Halcyan Water Conditioner

But the missing link, which she's going to be hammering in 2026 is the commercial application of her product. Every hotel - school - brewery - medical facility - food processing plant and manufacturing facility that uses water - in a hard water area - will get the full force of this one woman tsunami and her phenomenal advice and clever product - to make Britain water a bit more efficient, by being soft.

This is one person who knows it's hard to be soft.

But I wouldn't get in her way.

Watch out industry. The Mant is coming for you in 2026 - and you won't be sorry.

Samantha Mant is no#18 on our Sparks of 2026 - one to watch out for.