Latvian company BeTRITON has created a unique world-class product: an amphibious vehicle combining the functions of an electric bicycle, boat and camper. With the support of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) the third functional prototype has been developed, commercial production has been started, investors have been attracted and the door to the European market has been opened.
The company’s founder and director, Aigars Lauzis, is a landscape architect and urban planner with international experience. A 30 000 kilometer bike trip from London to Tokyo revealed both the taste of freedom and the practical limitations of cycle tourism – tents lack comfort and bodies of water are an obstacle for cyclists. This gave rise to the idea of an environmentally friendly, multifunctional amphibious vehicle for outdoor adventures.
In 2022, BeTRITON received a LIAA innovation voucher, which became an important stepping stone in the next phase of development. In collaboration with the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, in-depth research and prototyping was carried out on the structural frame, composite material parts, mechanics and electronics. This collaboration enabled the development of a third functional prototype – BeTRITON Full, significantly improving the product’s quality and technical functionality. The project was successfully completed in the first half of 2023.
After the successful completion of the third iteration, BeTRITON was able to create and sell its first commercial product to a Swiss company that sells campers near Lake Constance. The company also launched a rental service in Smiltene District, offering a unique experience – a 40 km route with overnight stays on the lake. Most of the customers are adventure seekers – tourists from Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
With the support of a Norwegian grant program, the company has developed a new product – the eTrailer, which is suited for longer trips. “In the spring, I took a test trip from Riga to Amsterdam, covering a total of 900 km, to check the performance and functionality of the product. This resulted in several pre-orders from Germany, which means that production of the eTrailer model can begin,” Mr Lauzis explains.
The company considers its cooperation with LIAA to be valuable: “Attracting any public funding is not that simple; it requires a certain amount of research, time and human resources, but we are very satisfied with the cooperation. We have mastered many programs, including the Business Incubator, Startuplaw, which supports start-ups in attracting highly qualified employees within the framework of the Start-up Law, Norwegian grants, and others. We plan to continue working together to enter new export markets and expand production,” says Mr Lauzis.
Information material prepared with the support of the European Regional Development Fund
