Latvian company "BP Sports" under the "Gamepatch" brand develops and manufactures innovative sports protective gear and functional clothing for team sports. The company’s products feature an innovative shock-absorbing protective material that adapts to the athlete's body while providing a high level of protection. In less than four years, the company has achieved an annual turnover of approximately €630,000, with around 90% of revenue coming from exports, mainly to European countries, as well as the United States, Australia, and Asian markets.
The company’s development has been significantly influenced by its participation in the business incubation program at the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) office in Kuldīga. “We have actively utilized the opportunities provided by the incubation program – for product development, marketing, and raw material procurement,” says Andis Blinds, co-founder of BP Sports. He emphasizes that the support has allowed more targeted investments in advertising campaigns, participation in exhibitions, influencer collaborations, and the development of new products. “All of this has helped us immensely – without this support, growth would definitely have been slower,” he adds.
Andis particularly highlights the attitude of the LIAA team in Kuldīga. “On a human level, I have nothing to complain about – we have always been able to get in touch, discuss issues, and find solutions. The LIAA staff involved in the business incubation program are in the right place and genuinely think about how to help entrepreneurs,” he says. According to him, it is precisely the practical support and interest that help new companies overcome the initial development stage.
At the same time, the entrepreneur acknowledges that there is always room for improvement at the systemic level – especially concerning bureaucratic processes. In his opinion, there are still things that could be made simpler and more entrepreneur-friendly: “There are situations where the same information needs to be provided twice – first when applying for a grant, then again in reports. Technically, this could be resolved much more simply.” He also emphasizes that sometimes flexibility regarding deadlines is lacking. “Sometimes, it would be nice to have a slightly more human approach – if a document is submitted the next working day instead of the last day of the deadline, it doesn’t change the essence of the project,” he says, adding that overall cooperation is constructive, but some processes could be made more efficient and less formal.
Andis also considers it a painful issue that the sports industry is often neglected in state support planning. “Sport is the most visible way to carry the name of Latvia internationally – both through athletes' achievements and products used at the international level. It’s not just export, but also a matter of national recognition,” the entrepreneur emphasizes.
“We are not many – there are not hundreds of sports-related manufacturing companies in Latvia. That’s why it would be logical to support our participation in specialized international exhibitions, even in a national joint stand with other industry companies.” In his opinion, the sports industry can offer the country not only economic benefits but also long-term reputation value, so in the future, this sector deserves more strategic attention.
This article was created as part of the "Innovative Business Development for SMEs" project, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Union.
