Knightscope Winning Investors, Struggling With Growth

By John Honovich, Published Oct 16, 2018, 11:17am EDT

While Knightscope's new financials show the company only winning 11 new customers in the past 12 months, the company continues to win new investors.

Two of the notable positive moves for the company are its NYC showcase and its participation in the 'Total Wealth' summit as shown in the images below:

In this note we look at:

  • NYC Showcase
  • Total Wealth Summit and an investor speaks to IPVM
  • Missed Projections
  • Trouble Attracting New Customers

NYC ********

*********** *** *** ** shop (***********) ** ***-**** Manhattan, ******* * *** of *********, ********* **** TV ******** ****** ****** *****:

*********** ********* ** **** how ** *** ****** more ********** **** ********* attention **** ****** *** other ******** *******.

Total ****** ******

******, ** ** ****** off **** *********. *** investor ** *********** ***** with **** *** ****** the *******, *** ********** its ********** ******* **, ** *********:

** * **** ** my ****, * *** inspired ** *** ****** of *** ***, **** Li. * **** **** he *** ********* * need ** * **** fragmented ******** ******** ***** no **** *** ********. Also, *** ***** ********* were **** **********.

*** ********,*** ********* *********, ** * CRNA **** * ******* degree ** ******** **************. The **** ** ***** he ****** ** *** above ***** ** * post ** *** ** his ******** ****, ***** is ***** (******** *** from **** ** *****, DeVille, * ** ********** Data ******** (***), *** Santana **):

** *** ********* **** IPVM, ******* **** ** has ***** ** *********** and *** ***** ** the ******** ******** ***** forward:

***** ******** **** **** in ****** ***** ***** ****** *********** *** *****, * had *** ******* ***** that *** **** ***** very **** ** *** next '******' ** *** security ********. * **** that’s ** ********** **** statement, *** **’* * strong ******* **** * have.

***** ****** ** ** annual ********* (**** **** be *** **** ****** event) **** ***** $*,***/****** to ******. ********* *** to ****** ** *** meet "*** **** ***** in *******," *** **** them *** ** **** their ****** "****," ** is **** ** **** excerpt *********** *** **** event:

******* **** ** ** say **** ***** *** financials *** *** ******** ADMs *** *** ** what ********** *** ******** nor **** ********* *** wanted, ** *** **** focused ** * ******** investment ***********, ***** ****** the ****** ******* *** its **** **** ** profitability:

* **** **** **** may *** **** ******** many ********* ***, *** I ***** ******** **** will *****. ***, *’* uncertain ** ** ***** financials, *** * ** know **** ** **** Amazon ** ***** ** become **********. *’* ******** for *** ****** **** with ***** ****. * could ** ******* *****, and ***** ********** ***** be ********, *** ****** also ****** ***** ********* in ****** *****.

Missed ***********

***** *********** ********* *** be "********* ** ** their **********," *** *******'* financials *** ******, ** not ****** ********. *** example, ** *******************'* ** **** **************** ** *** ***'* website, ******* ** ***********'* ******* on *** ********* ****.

** ****, *********** ********* nearly *** ****** ("********-**-*******") by *** *** ** 2018.

*******, ***********'* *** ********** show **** ** ****** at *** *** ** H1 ****. **** ** Knightscope ******* ****** ** the **** * ****** (which ** *** ***** their ******* ****** ****), they ***** ***** ** off ** **** **** 80% **** ***** ******** 2016 **********, ** ******* ** **** ******* from **** * ** its **** *-**:

Only ** *** ********* ** **** ** ******

*********** **** ********* ***** customers **** ** ** 32 ** *** **** 12 ******, ******* ******** millions ** ***** *** marketing.

********, *********** ***** **** has ** ******* ** 1.4 ****** *** ******** (45 ******** / ** customers), ********* **** ********* are *** ******* ** usage *************.

$5+ ******* **** *** **** ****

*********, ********** ********* ** lose **** **** $* million *** * ******, as ***** **** ****** financials ****:

$50 ******* **** *******

*********** ** *** ****** to***** ******* $** *******:

**** ** ******* *****, in ******* ****,*********** ******** *************** *** ****:

** *** ***** ****, now **** *** ***-********* fundraising ******* *** ****, we *** ***** *** efforts **** ******* ** client *********** *** ****** success.

***** ****** *********** ** still **********, ******** *********** may ** ***** ****.

Input **** ***********

*********** ******** ** ****** calls *** ****** ******* for ***** ** ***** Form *-**.

Comments (10)

John Honovich

IPVM | 10/16/18 03:24pm

Knightscope has dismissed/criticized VCs:

Ninety percent of venture capitalists are into software [not hardware]. This was the case back in 2013 and I think it still holds now. Name a VC that's fluent in physical security, law enforcement, robotics, and hardware, and has a track record of delivering [in that market]. That beast doesn't exist.

But professional investors would rain down money on Knightscope like Floyd Mayweather in a strip club if Knightscope's growth was strong.

Knightscope has been at it long enough that if they had product / market fit, customer numbers and growth would be far higher. Maybe they can find it going forward and I hope they do.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 10/16/18 03:48pm

Investors were/are similarly ignorant about blood testing and related hardware, but Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos managed to bilk them out of tons of money. 

That Li can’t get investors to buy into his robots shows you just how bad he really is at pitching the concept. His claim that he is essentially too forward looking and aggressive for traditional VC money is laughable at best, and fraudulent at worst.

Also, which of Li’s prior endeavors were so successful? His last company aimed at the security market, Carbon Motors, was a colossal failure. 

Undisclosed #3

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 10/24/18 06:35pm

Bankrupt and sued by investors and employees.  

Avatar

Michael Gonzalez

Integrated Security Technologies, Inc.
10/16/18 10:51pm

As soon as they make robots that float and don't knock down babies they will be poised to take over "check the box to say we have security guards for insurance" game. Haha

Undisclosed Manufacturer #2

10/16/18 11:18pm

I would think a drone version would be more palatable. if an incident occurs, a drone operator could take manual control and follow a suspect with minimal to no obstacles. integrate access controlled door openers to automatically open doors for drones if the suspect goes through them. 

Avatar

Brian Selltiz

IPVMU Certified | 10/18/18 12:50pm

The constant comparisons to Amazon by DeVille are comical.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

06/20/19 12:33pm

HUGE WIN FOR KNIGHTSCOPE!!  They got Elon Musks attention 

Huntington Park, CA

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 06/20/19 12:37pm

What a strange situation:

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 06/20/19 12:56pm

Commander Space Egg, reporting for duty!

 

Undisclosed #3

06/24/19 04:25am

Recent Employee Review

Nailed it!  They have turned over at least 2/3 of their employees.  

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