One of us: Kristaps Kučers

November 4, 2020

Kristaps is Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) student, employee and a participant of the project “Kurzeme Innovation Grants for Students” (KInGS). He is also an enthusiastic photographer who in the future wants to take photography to a more professional level. Kristaps is sharing his experience and he is certain that we should believe in our dreams and more importantly - we should make them come true!

 

Hi, Kristaps! Tell us about yourself - where are you from and what do you do?

 

Hi, I've been living in Ventspils for already two years but for many years I have studied and worked in Rīga and Jelgava. However, I grew up in Talsi – so not that far away from Ventspils. Currently I study in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Master Study Programme “Business Management” – I am in the second and last year. After a successful internship here in the university I started working in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Research and Development Department. I also coordinate projects and work on making the university technologically progressive. 


Do you have any hobbies?

I could mention many hobbies – I enjoy trying new things, but photography and video recording are the ones I've been doing for the longest time. If I remember correctly, for 8 years I've been taking photographs of my friends and relatives, sometimes I take photographs of events and record some adventures. Just like any real hobby it requires endless investments, that's why this hobby has been transferred to a more professional level by developing a business related to photography and videos. I could say that it is my new hobby to try to develop a business around some of my hobbies. 


What is your business idea and how did you create it?

My idea is to develop a video recording stabilization system – for balancing steps, shaking of hands and other movements that make the video look like it's shaking. The existing market for this kind of tripods is more suitable for professionals. Whereas, for people like me who do this as a hobby, it is difficult to justify such high costs. I have had the idea to build a tripod since I started recording videos and realised that it is difficult to record a quality video when recording with a hand-held camera. Back then it wasn't possible for me to buy an already made system because a high quality system costs more than my basic equipment. Even though the price has gone down over the years a professional stabilization system still costs just as much as a camera. Just like any practical Latvian I had an idea to make it myself. Firstly, it would give an opportunity to order components and necessary details separately and pay partly. Also the total sum would be lower, however, since I was living a student life I never had a chance to do that. I was dreaming of creating a tripod every time I had an opportunity to record something interesting. I had an idea to create it not just for me but for everyone who does video recording on a hobby level. When studying and working in Ventspils University of Applied Sciences I had a chance to participate in KInGS project and I just had to take it so that I could finally make one of my dreams come true and also start my own business.

 

Why did you decide to participate in the project “Kurzeme Innovation Grants for Students?”


The word “scholarship” spoke to me, just like to any real student. When I found out about the benefits of the project I didn't have any more doubts whether to participate or not. The opportunity to receive a grant for product development, engage other skilled students, receive training and different types of support - an excellent starter pack to create a business and get to know entrepreneurship in practical ways without “burning” your own resources.

 

What do you expect from KInGS project?


The big goal of course is to start my own business. But more valuable gain will be the skills acquired during these 6 months. Skills to present, analyse data, plan my own and others` time, communicate. Not to mention business skills - defining target audience, planning finances, MVP or even developing a finished project. It is not about the accomplishments of the project - here we can talk about the added value you can take from the project, which will help you to perfect the planned idea and also help developing new ideas in the future.

 

What is your life motto?



I`ve never really defined my motto. But if I think about it I remember a quote from a sports film - “If you fall, you have to get back up, dust yourself off and try again - you can't give up!” Even though this quote is about failures in sports, if I had to formulate my motto it would also relate to everything else in my life. If something doesn't work out, you can't give up. You have to get yourself together and try again and again.


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