When Logan Cuvo, founder and CEO of Best Dam Tape, stepped away from competitive hockey, a lot changed. He wasn’t just leaving a sport; he was leaving behind a piece of his identity that he’d been building for years. But instead of walking away from hockey completely, he found new ways to stay connected, this time as an entrepreneur.

Now a senior entrepreneur student at West Virginia University, Cuvo has spent the last few years as both a student and entrepreneur, building a fast-growing sports tape company and balancing the demands of college life.

Frustrations Guided Opportunity

Cuvo’s idea wasn’t random; he spent years on the ice, with more than a decade playing hockey, one thing was certain: the tape players relied on didn’t perform.

“Tape was falling off my leg, tape was falling off my stick…I just really wanted to fix it…”

This frustration became the foundation for Best Dam Tape, a brand highly focused on performance and durability that athletes can rely on.

What started as an idea and conversation with Cuvo's father quickly became something bigger. At the age of 18, Cuvo decided to take the leap.

“You’re never going to be ready to start your business…You just got to go and just keep running…”

Building a Business as a Full-Time Student

Developing and launching a company as a full-time student is not easy; Cuvo doesn’t pretend it is either. His days are often full, from early mornings to late evenings, he balances meetings, classes, and running a business.

“It’s 12-hour days, usually 14-hour days… with school, with meetings, and moving the company forward…”

Despite such a heavy workload, Cuvo describes the experience as exciting, fun, and necessary to push his business to the next stage.

“There's no reward without risk put into it. And I'm really, really excited for these next stages to, you know, give all of my days and put all of my time towards Best Dam Tape and

growing it…That whole 12-hour work day of, you know, strictly Best Dam Tape…It's going to be really, really fun…”

What makes Best Dam Tape different

The company also emphasizes the versatility of Best Dam Tape; it gives athletes a product they can trust, whether playing casually or at a high level.

But entering the industry has not been easy. With a market as large as hockey, there are legacy behemoths that account for great portions of the business.

“The competitors… have been around longer than I’ve been alive,” he noted.

That’s why durability and performance are key to Cuvo’s product; instead of competing head-on with these giants, he's building a brand that athletes genuinely connect with.

The Role of Vantage Ventures

A major turning point for Cuervo and his company came through his experience with Vantage Ventures’ 13-week accelerator program.

“They changed the company’s life… they taught me what it was, how to run a business,” he said.

Through the program, Cuervo gained critical knowledge in areas like funding, ownership, and business strategy, skills he continues to use daily.

Most importantly, Vantage Ventures gave him confidence and the chance to be around like-minded individuals. All while learning from leaders who pushed him to the next level.

“It gave me the confidence to walk into boardrooms and talk about my business and my numbers… You're around people who have been there and done that and can really teach you the ropes more than anything. And like I said, push you to that next level…”

For Cuervo, that confidence has been just as valuable as any technical skill.

Cuvo’s Identity Beyond The Game

Leaving hockey wasn’t easy. Like many athletes, Cuvo faced the challenge of redefining who he was without the sport and what was next for him in the face of major changes.

“Athletes die twice… once when they finish their sport,” he said.

The transition, while difficult, pushed him toward entrepreneurship. It allowed him to step back from split-second decision-making and focus on his next chapter, all while staying connected to the sport that is so deeply a part of him.

The Not-So-Distant Future

Cuvo is preparing to take Best Dam Tape full-time. His goal is clear:

“We want to be the number one sports tape company in the world,”

The company is currently ramping up to be introduced into the retail market and exploring opportunities across multiple sports, including football, basketball, and combat sports.

Advice for Future Entrepreneurs

For students and aspiring founders, Cuervo keeps his advice simple.

You’ll never feel ready, so start anyway.

Every product began as an idea; your idea can become a product too.

Take the leap and figure it out along the way

“Entrepreneurship is a cliff that you're jumping off of and trying to build the best plane on the way down,”

Entrepreneurial Waves at WVU

Cuvo’s story is more than just a success story; it gives a reflection of what’s possible within West Virginia University’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

With the support of programs like Vantage Ventures and the strong community behind him, he’s building a company that can help redefine what student entrepreneurship can look like in West Virginia.

By Avery Haase

---

"Let's Talk Business" is a series of guest blogs written by members of the Chambers College community. All views expressed in this post are the author's own.

Interested in contributing to Let’s Talk Business? Get in touch.