In 2022, a simple frustration sparked what would become one of the most innovative service models in the racket sports industry. As a regular player, Álvaro Francisco Moral noticed a recurring issue: purchasing gear at clubs was often inefficient, inconsistent, and rarely prioritized by club operators.
“Players have different demands, and for clubs, it’s complicated to dedicate the resources needed to satisfy them—especially when that part of the business barely generates profit,” Álvaro explains. P-KAP was born to fix that gap.
From Player Pain Point to Scalable Tech Solution
With a background in business development and SaaS, Álvaro brought real startup experience to the table. After building a retail company from the ground up—scaling it to €12 million in sales and 500 employees—he launched a tech venture in the hospitality space during the COVID era. That company still runs today, but in early 2022, he pivoted full-time to P-KAP.
The goal? Automate the distribution of padel, tennis, and pickleball accessories in a way that adds value to both the club and the player.
P-KAP’s smart vending machines stock a curated selection of equipment from major brands, giving players instant access to what they need, when they need it—without overburdening the club’s staff or inventory systems.
Win-Win for Clubs and Players
The model is proving itself in numbers: clubs that install P-KAP typically see a 20–30% increase in product sales compared to previous setups. Notably, the company has maintained a 100% client retention rate over three years. “Logically, the unit margin is lower since more parties are involved, but the clubs don’t need to dedicate staff or worry about stock.
“Peace of mind is where the value lies.”
Cage 91 Co. is powered by Taktika Equity
On the player side, the diversity of brands and the ease of access are major draws. P-KAP isn’t just about convenience—it’s about elevating the overall experience.
“We focus on offering a great service to the club, so that the club can offer a great experience to the player. If either side isn’t happy, the model doesn’t work.”
Beyond Padel: A Vision for the Future
While padel remains its core focus, P-KAP is already expanding into tennis and pickleball—and golf is next on the list. The company’s roadmap includes international growth, especially into markets like the United States and the Middle East.
But P-KAP’s mission goes beyond hardware. At its core, the company is about smarter service delivery. In an industry often focused on cutting labor costs through automation, P-KAP offers a refreshing twist: using automation to enhance human experiences, not replace them.
“We’re not trying to automate where human service is better. We want to improve customer service without increasing the cost to the facility owner. That’s a win-win.”
With a customer-first mindset, strong retention, and expansion on the horizon, P-KAP is positioning to become a cornerstone of the modern sports club ecosystem.
