JK Timber is a company based in the Latgale region of Latvia, specialising in the design, production, delivery and installation of roof trusses, while also developing timber-frame wall systems and other wooden construction solutions. The company’s primary customers are private home builders, although it also serves corporate clients. Looking ahead, JK Timber aims to strengthen its position in the Latvian market, gradually expand exports across the Baltic States, and find solutions to ensure more stable year-round operations by reducing the impact of seasonal fluctuations in the construction industry.
Support from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) has been present since the company’s very first steps. Following the recommendation of a representative from the regional development organisation Northern Latgale Partnership, founder and owner Kārlis Vanags applied for LIAA’s pre-incubation programme. As he admits, his previous business experience was very limited, and the programme helped him better understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and establish the company’s first business processes.
“At the beginning, there was only an idea about a market niche where the company could operate. To be honest, I had no previous business experience and had never done anything similar before. It was then that Ieva Leišavniece from Northern Latgale Partnership told me about the pre-incubation programme. At first, I was quite sceptical because I felt I simply would not have enough time for it. Looking back, however, I can say it was one of the best decisions I made. It helped me understand the basics of running a business and gave me the confidence that we were moving in the right direction,” he says.
After completing the programme, the company also joined the LIAA Business Incubation Programme through the agency’s regional office in Rēzekne. The programme has provided both practical and financial support, ranging from training and consultations to co-financing for raw materials, marketing activities and production facility development.
“It is not just about funding – it is also about human support and having someone you can turn to for advice at any time. Whenever questions arise, there is always someone to call. It does not feel like dealing with a government institution; it feels more like working with partners,” the entrepreneur emphasises.
He adds that this support has enabled the company to develop much faster than would have been possible on its own:
“For a young company, your hands are often tied at the beginning – resources and knowledge are limited. LIAA’s support helps untie those hands and allows you to focus on growth. Without this support, our development certainly would not have been as rapid.”
This article has been prepared within the framework of the project ‘Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship for SMEs’, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Union.
