Imperial Capital Security Investor Conference Review

By: Brian Karas, Published on Dec 08, 2017

Investment bank Imperial Capital holds an annual Security Investor Conference where 60+ companies present, including this year:

IPVM bought a ticket and attended the 2017 event.

In this note, we review the key themes of the event, what investors were most interested in, the themes companies were most typically focusing on and our assessment of who would (or would not) benefit from attending this conference.

********** ************ ************ ** ************** ******** ********** ***** **+ ********* *******, including **** ****:

**** ****** * ****** and ******** *** **** *****.

** **** ****, ** review *** *** ****** of *** *****, **** investors **** **** ********** in, *** ****** ********* were **** ********* ******** ** and *** ********** ** *** would (** ***** ***) benefit **** ********* **** conference.

[***************]

Event *******

******** ******* ******* ~*** *********, and ***** ** *** not ***** ***********, *** event *** ********* ******* attended. ********* **** ************ were **** ***** *-***** executives, ******* **** *********** names **** ****/**********, *****, Feenics, ** ***** ** lesser ***** ******** *** small *********. ********* **** heavily ******** ******* ***** and private ****** *****, **** venture *********** **** ******, as *** **** *** are ****** ***** *********** in *** ******** ********.

*** ***** ** * one-day *******, **** *** cocktails/networking ********* ****** *** evening ******, ***** **** heavily ********. ** *** day ** *** ***** itself, ***** **** *** keynote *************, **+ ****-**** ********* presentations, *** ***-**-*** ******** between ********* *** *********. There were ** "*********" ***** displays ** ***** ********, the **** *********-******** ********, outside ** ************ *******, were ********** ***** ***********. 

*** ***** ***** *** taking ****** *** *:**** breakfast/opening *******.

*************

********* ************* ******* ** the ********** ********** ** a **** *****, ******** strategy, ****** *****, *******, differentiators, ** ******* ******** that ***** **** ** be ******** ** *********. These ************* **** **** to *** *********, ***** ranged **** * *** of *********, ***********, ******** consultants, ** ********** ********. Brief *&* ******** ******** each ************ ***** ********* **** similarly ********-******** *** **** "can **** ******* ***** my *******". ****** ***** **** two ******** ** ******** show **** ** *** content ***** ** ******** metrics ** ******** **** the ******* ***** **** ** more ****** ** **** industry *********** **** *** content ** **** ** a ********* ***** *****:

 

One ** *** ********

*** *** ** *** sessions *** *** ** the ***** ***** ** the *****, ***** ** speaking **** *********. ***** provide *** *********** ** get ** ******* ** a ******* ******* **** with ******* ********** ** hold *********** ******* ******* interference ** **** ** sensitive ******* ***** *********. One ** *** ******** were ****** ** ******** for **** ** *** companies ** ***** ****, and ******* ********* ****** quality ************* ****** ***** sessions. ******** ******* ******* over *** *** ** one ******** **** ********* during **** ***** *****.

Lunch *******

* ***** ******* ******* focused ** ***** ********, seen ** * **** current *****, *** ******, seen ** * ********* upcoming ********** *** ********. For ******, ************ ******* of "****** *****" ***** uses **** *********, ********* inspection ** ******** ************** equipment, ** **-***** ******* for ****** ** **** fighters ******** ********** ** calls, ***** *** ****** can ******* *********** *********. We ***** **** ***** applications *** ****** ** have **** ****-**** ***-***** for ****** **** ** security ***** ************.

Themes/Trends *****

***** ******** *** * topic ******* ** ** several *************, ** **** as *** ******* *******. This ******** *** **** things **** ******* ** Dahua *** ********* ******* (both ********* ************ ********* by **** ** ******** of ***** ******** *******), but **** ****** **** attacks (**** ** *** one **** ******** *** ******* ******* *******) *** **** ******** at *******, ******, ***.

 

***** ****** ********* ******** the ************ ** * strong *&* ******, *** growth ** ***** ********** services, ** **** ******** come ** ****** ** enable ****, *** ********** companies **** *** **** to ****** *** *** replace **** *** **** a ******* ** ******* alarm ********** ******* *** to ***** ********, ********* pursuing **** ****-********** *******, or ********** ********** ********* due ** ***** ***** fines, ** **** ** effective ******** *****. *****-******** alarms *** **** ** a *** ** ******** false ******, ******** **************, and *** *** ***** to *********.

****** ****** ******** * moderate ****** ** ********** as ****, ******** ****** were *** ********* ** any ** *** ************* or *********** ** ********.

Investors ****** ******* *********** *********

********* ** ***** **** were **** ***** ********** in *********** ********* ******* for ***** ** **** (or ****) ***** **********. In **** *****, ********* were ************ ********** ** RMR ******* (*** ******* he *** **** ********** in ********* **** * minimum ** $**** ** RMR), *** ******* ********** (customer *********** *****, ********* times, ***.). ***** ***** were **** ********** *** at *** *****, ******** ******* for *****-***** ******* ***** be **** ****** ** find ******** ********* ** the ******** ******* *****, however ******* ** *** private ****** ********* *** bank *************** **** **** willing ** ******* ******** plans **** ********, ******* advice, *** ***** ***** relationships *** **** ***** startups ***** **** ********** future *******, ****** *** event *********** ******** ** startup **********, ** **** have ****** ************.

Upcoming ******* ********

** **** ** ***** some ******** ******* ********, based ** ******** **** during **** *****.

Comments (10)

John Honovich

IPVM | 12/08/17 03:02pm

Brian, how about deep learning / AI / video analytics? Were any investors talking about that or interested in that space?

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 12/08/17 03:08pm

It was one of the last topics mentioned in the "Key Trends" section:

It came up in a few discussions, general consensus was that we were still a few years away from seeing reliable analytics as a mainstream offering, but that it was likely to happen "soon".

For the investors at this event, the focus was more on established or proven companies and business models vs. upcoming technologies like analytics. Analytics was most commonly discussed in the context of video monitoring, and a technology that could enable growth or scalability of monitoring (which has a strong RMR component).

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

12/08/17 03:39pm

"startups looks for early-stage funding would be less likely to find eligible investors at the Imperial Capital event"       Would Barnes Buchanan Security Conference be the better one for startups seeking for funding?   Any others?  

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 12/08/17 03:47pm

I do not think Barnes Buchanan would be a good source of startup investors eitehr.

These events would probably be best for a startup to discuss/refine their business idea with industry-knowledgeable people, and possibly get references to VCs.

With the relatively low amount of VC investment in the security industry, I am not sure there is an event that is geared towards industry startups seeking funding. For that, optimizing your pitch and attending more traditional startup "demo days" and general-purpose investor events would probably be best. I think if had a really solid idea, a good proof of concept, and a founder or two with domain expertise you might even manage to stand out among some of the more mainstream-oriented startups at these kinds of events.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Brian Karas | 12/08/17 04:05pm

I attended Barnes Buchanan this year and it was definitely focused on established operators/providers, e.g., debt funding for RMR / contracts. No startup presented.

It's a good question #1, but I don't know of any event or VC that truly focuses on the physical security market. Obviously, investments are made periodically but generally by broader players.

John Honovich

IPVM | 12/08/17 10:57pm

Brian, how are investors looking to make money off of cyber security? Are they looking at companies selling cybersecurity services or? Any noteworthy companies?

Avatar

Brian Karas

IPVM | In reply to John Honovich | 12/09/17 12:07am

Typically through cyber security service providers, companies offering automated scans, automated recurring penetration tests, and then response/mitigation/cleanup services.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

12/09/17 01:41am

There’s not much point in covering/attending capital conferences other than Barnes and the main stat everyone cares about at is deal/rmr multiples. If you want big boy money you need to be basically in the sdm 100 mark which benchmarks around that 200k rmr for entry. That’s the TLDR of all the off shoot VC/Cap presentations.  The larger industry niche lender like cap1 won’t touch a deal unless it is a minimum deal size of around 10mm which equates close to that 200-250k rmr. Integrator shops with less rmr but strong enterprise focus can nab 5-6 ebitda multiple. 

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 12/09/17 11:14pm

There’s not much point in covering/attending capital conferences other than Barnes

The Imperial and Barnes conferences have different focuses. For us covering primarily product developers / manufacturers, Imperial has value as Barnes is focused more on service providers. 

Undisclosed Manufacturer #3

12/09/17 02:27am

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Directory of Companies Dropping ISC West 2020 on Mar 06, 2020
UPDATE: As companies continue to drop out of ISC West, this is a central directory to see who is dropping out. Note: The directory is not...
Motorola / Avigilon Drops ISC West on Feb 26, 2020
Motorola Solutions has pulled out of ISC West 2020 effective immediately, because of coronavirus concerns, IPVM has learned. This is done amidst...
Axis and Genetec Drop IFSEC 2020 on Jan 23, 2020
Two of the best-known video surveillance manufacturers are dropping IFSEC International 2020, joining Milestone who dropped IFSEC in 2019. The...
Pelco Is "Bringin Blue Back" on Dec 17, 2019
Pelco is "BRINGIN' BLUE BACK", according to Pelco's new CEO Kurt Takahashi’s presentation at the Imperial Capital Security Investor...
"If You Have The Same Qualifications, And You're A White Male, You Are Going To Lose", Says Integrator on Dec 16, 2019
Diversity is a rising priority, overall and in the security industry. One integrator, touting diversity, emphasized that white men are 'going to...
Freebie Face-Off: Rise of ~$30 Giveaways Examined on Dec 02, 2019
The freebies are growing. Verkada started this (see The Fastest Growing Video Surveillance Sales Organization Ever - Verkada) and now has given...
Pelco CEO Out, New CEO Found on Oct 15, 2019
Just 2 months after Pelco was sold, Pelco's CEO is out, with Pelco bringing in an outside President and searching for a new CEO from the industry,...
How Cobalt Robotics May Disrupt Security on Sep 13, 2019
While security robots have largely become a joke over the last few years, one organization, Cobalt Robotics, has raised $50+ million from top US...
Pelco Sold Off, Now Independent on May 28, 2019
Pelco has been sold off by Schneider Electric, completing Schneider's terrible tenure, but giving Pelco a chance at life. IPVM spoke with...
ASIS Sells GSX 2019 Education Sessions on May 01, 2019
New for 2019, ASIS is selling GSX education sessions, an ethically problematic approach and something we have not seen before in this...

Most Recent Industry Reports

IPVM's 12th Anniversary - Thank You! on Apr 07, 2020
IPVM is proud to celebrate it's 12 anniversary expanding our commitment to providing the industry independent and objective information on video...
Mobotix Thermal Body Temperature Detection Examined on Apr 07, 2020
Mobotix has jumped into the Coronavirus temperature detection market, but how do they compare to thermal incumbents like FLIR or ICI who have been...
Verkada Coronavirus Response: Free Temp Systems For Government and Health Care on Apr 07, 2020
Verkada has built a reputation on giving away things for free - free Yeti Tumblers, free trial cameras and now free temporary systems for...
Hikvision USA Refuses, Dahua USA Drives Forward With "Coronavirus Cameras" on Apr 07, 2020
Both have been federally banned, both sanctioned for human rights abuses but only one - Dahua - is taking aim at the booming "coronavirus cameras"...
China Surveillance Vulnerabilities Being Used To Attack China, Says China on Apr 07, 2020
While China video surveillance vulnerabilities have been much debated in the West in the past few years, China is now saying those vulnerabilities...
USA ICI Elevated Skin Temperature Detectors Examined on Apr 06, 2020
Infrared Cameras, Inc. (ICI) is aiming to help slow the spread of COVID-19 with "pinpoint accurate skin temperature measurement" using their...
Trade Groups Request NDAA Blacklist Delay Citing Coronavirus on Apr 06, 2020
Two trade groups representing government contractors have asked Congress to delay implementation of the NDAA's 'blacklist' clause from this August...
Coronavirus Hits Manufacturers, Standing Now, Worse To Come on Apr 06, 2020
Coronavirus is hitting security manufacturers, though overall modestly for now, with worse expected to come, new IPVM survey results...
FLIR New Coronavirus Prioritized Temperature Screening Camera Examined on Apr 03, 2020
FLIR has announced a new series of thermal cameras "prioritized for entities working to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 virus", the A400/A700...
ADI Branch Burglary on Apr 03, 2020
A security systems distributor branch is an odd target for burglary but that happened this week at ADI's Memphis location. Vehicle Smash &...