Article published in Talsu Vēstis on February 13, 2012.

Business Incubator in Talsi that is a subsidiary of the Ventspils High Technology Park operates more than already two years. Currently 11 enterprises are working under the wing of it, and three of them have reached a stage of resigning incubator’s services and continuing work independently.

During the first year, an enterprise under the wing of the incubator can receive support of even 85 % for covering expenses, but the amount reduces year by year. In addition to financial help, also various consultations are provided here; therefore for new enterprises it would be irrationality not to use this opportunity.

Kurland Log Homes Ltd. which produces log buildings, Petersoon Ltd. which had an aim to create media platform but the plans have slightly changed in a working process, as well as Aquarium Projects Ltd. which produces wood buildings for export intend to start independent operation. Exactly this enterprise has found its activity niche most successfully.

Also a number of new enterprises are in the incubator. For instance, Goraplast Ltd. which currently develops new, more resistant material for street potholes’ patching. Straume RB Ltd. plans to process chinchilla furs according to special Italian method used by only three production units in Europe. Bewo Agro Ltd. is an enterprise which already deals with agriculture but now wants to make global positioning system devices exactly for farmers.

One of the oldest enterprises of the Business Incubator is Kiro kosmetics Ltd. that has overcame the problems of names’ reregistering and currently works on positioning of its brand in market, and is about registering a trade mark. Producer of gravestones SIA BFA Projekts Ltd. has started first activities to sell its production also in Scandinavian market but Super 4 eko Ltd. takes steps in Danish market offering self-packed heating granules. Ģeodati Ltd. with help of the incubator has found successful solutions for making digital topographic information data base. But Diograt Ltd. continues to grow sea buckthorns and make products of them keeping natural nutritional value of berries.

Development of a newly established enterprise is based on a number of factors – says the manager of the Business Incubator Mārtiņš Velde. “If a person has never been in business environment before it is possible that development of an enterprise need more time than it was previously planned. Sometimes it’s about lack of resources; also personality and success factor are important.”

The incubator is a good way to promote economical environment of the city and encourage authors of ideas to take the first step towards entrepreneurship. Here you do not need to have a mortgage in order to receive financial support, and it can be received also if an idea is not completely developed. Moreover – here a business plan is helped to be improved. The incubator is interested for enterprises to create work places and revenue because our main task is to promote entrepreneurship environment. “Our wish is “to lift” an entrepreneur so that he or she would not stop to small turnover but would think about bigger one or intend to reach a wider market. And it is important that a product or service would have added value. It is often evaluated also in business plans,” explains M. Velde. If an enterprise chose to burst into export market, the incubator helps with both advice and contacts; however the base is a confidence that an enterprise will be able to comply with service terms in a qualitative way and ensure communication at appropriate level so that no misunderstandings would arise and no clients’ loyalty be lost. “In these issues there is no only one formula. Start-up of entrepreneurship in any case is a big risk but we try to help so that everything is not ventured and it does not turn out to stay without revenues if plans are failed to be implemented.”

M. Velde regularly meets and gets introduced with entrepreneurs of Talsi and surrounding telling about opportunities provided by the incubator. “Those already involved in business sometimes have ideas in what direction still the one could develop. In such situations it is possible to establish a new enterprise focused exactly on the implementation of a new idea.  And then services of the Business Incubator are especially appropriate.” says M. Velde. When asked whether 11 enterprises in the Business Incubator in Talsi is a lot, M. Velde answers that this obviously is not a ceiling – Talsi has a greater potential.

In the picture: Enterprise “KIRO Cosmetics” of the Talsi subordinate of the VHTP Business Incubator in exhibition in Russia
http://www.kirocosmetics.com