Interview with Pedro Brito e Cunha from Volt Padel

Today, we sit down with Pedro Brito e Cunha, Founder and CEO of Volt Padel.
In this inspiring interview, Pedro shares how he built Volt Padel from the ground up and turned it into a truly premium brand. A genuine entrepreneur, he walks us through the vision, discipline, and strategic choices behind the brand’s positioning, design, and growth in a highly competitive market.

What inspired you to create Volt Padel, and what gap did you see in the market at the time?

This goes back to 2015. Ten years ago, the padel market was completely different from what it is today. Our inspiration actually came from a gap we felt ourselves as consumers. We couldn’t find any brand whose design matched the standards we valued. Most rackets had very strong colors, too many elements, and a lot of text. We decided to do exactly the opposite: create rackets with a very clean, subtle and premium image, combined with high construction quality. At the time, we truly believe we were among the first to take this approach.

Can you take us back to the moment when you realized Volt Padel could become more than a niche project?
That moment came in 2020, when padel exploded globally and Volt started being contacted by people from all over the world. Between the end of 2019 and the end of 2021, our export sales went from 10% to over 80%, and we expanded from selling in 5 countries to more than 40.

How would you describe Volt Padel’s mission today, and how has it evolved since the beginning?
We have actually tried to remain very faithful to the original concept of the brand, as we believe this is what truly differentiates us. Our mission today is the same as it was at the beginning: to be recognized by padel players as the brand that offers the best balance between performance and design.

How do you see the global evolution of padel over the next 5–10 years?
I believe padel will continue to grow globally, but above all it will become more professional. This means that some brands and industry players will disappear, and only those who do the best work and invest properly in their brands and originality will remain.

Which markets do you believe represent the biggest growth opportunities for premium padel brands?
The USA, the UK, Germany, and the GCC countries.

Volt Padel is often perceived as a premium and technical brand—what makes your rackets unique compared to competitors?
I believe it is the level of care we put into every step of the process, from development and material selection to production. We always keep one main objective in mind: to create extremely comfortable rackets for different levels and types of players.

Can you walk us through your product development process, from concept to final racket?
The first step is an internal analysis of our portfolio, understanding what we already offer and what we can add to create diversity and complementarity. Our strategy is to have a limited number of rackets, but with wide coverage for different player profiles. That’s why we currently have six rackets: two control, two balanced, and two power models, each with distinct characteristics.
We then work with design and product engineering experts to develop the racket shape. Once validated, we test different prototypes with both professional and amateur players, experimenting with various carbon compositions, foams, and layups. After collecting all feedback, we fine-tune the mold if needed and move on to the graphic design phase, where the racket’s identity comes to life. Once the final sample is approved, we start production.

Volt Padel has a very strong identity. What were the key elements you focused on when building the brand?
A strong and transferable concept for padel: energy.

In a crowded and fast-growing market, how do you ensure Volt maintains its premium positioning?
By following a “less is more” philosophy and paying extreme attention to every detail, from product to communication. Most importantly, by staying true to our concept and to what makes us original. That consistency is key to being perceived as a premium brand.

What role do athletes and ambassadors play in strengthening the brand?
Professional players play a major role in brand visibility. They are role models for many players and naturally influence purchasing decisions. At the same time, having players at that level using your products is a strong validation of the brand’s quality.

What have been the biggest operational challenges in scaling a sports equipment brand?
Our biggest operational challenge was during the Covid period, which ironically was also when the market grew the most. Demand was far greater than supply, and not being able to fulfill all orders due to product shortages was a major management challenge on many levels.

How do you approach international expansion and market prioritization?
From day one, Volt was created with a global mindset. The brand was developed for international presence, and having a global footprint is extremely important to us. We are constantly looking for new markets, even if they are initially small. Prioritization is mainly done through marketing resource allocation, focusing more strongly on markets where we see the greatest growth potential for a brand like ours.

How important is community building in Volt’s strategy?
Building a strong and engaged community is especially important for a premium brand like Volt. Acquiring new customers is important, but retaining existing ones is just as crucial. That requires creating an emotional connection. Fortunately, most Volt players are very loyal and stay with the brand year after year.

What has been your biggest personal challenge as a founder?
Being an entrepreneur is definitely a big challenge, especially finding the right balance between working on your professional dream and dedicating time to your family and personal life. Like most entrepreneurs, I feel I work 24/7 and don’t really have vacations. Even when you love what you do, it’s essential to make time for other things.

Which skills or mindsets have been the most crucial for leading a brand like Volt?
I have over 15 years of experience working in a large company within the wine industry, where I gained strong expertise in marketing, premium brand creation, development, and international sales management. Additionally, being a lifelong sports enthusiast and an active padel player before creating Volt gave me valuable insights from both a player’s and a consumer’s perspective.

Is there a piece of advice you would give to the next generation of sports entrepreneurs?
I believe that, above all, to create a strong brand you need something original and relevant, and then you must stick to it. Brands that constantly change their concept struggle to build strong communities in the long term.

What’s next for Volt Padel? Any upcoming innovations, partnerships, or strategic directions you can share?
We see several factors as key for future growth. Finding the right partners is crucial for building a global footprint. Real innovation is difficult in this industry and doesn’t happen often, but we managed to develop the Booster, which is a true innovation and something no other racket brand offers. It can be used with any racket and has been a great success for us.
We are currently working on a few new projects, which may or may not be launched depending on their final relevance after testing. That said, I am confident that at least one of them will be launched in 2026 and will be a real game changer.

Where do you see the brand in five years?
Our goal is that in five years Volt will be present in over 100 countries and be a reference leader among premium padel brands.

A last word to conclude for the reader of our world padel community Padelist.net?
Whatever you do, do it with passion.