Our Portfolio
Technology providers with unique components
We look for:
- patented and branded products
- embedded components and technology
- small unit items, ideally replacement items, that can be sold via mass distribution rather than one-off big ticket items
technology support provider
A provider of FinTech solutions to companies when their platforms and code become a problem due to expectations not being met such as when investors and companies lose confidence in their own CTO or developers.
K2's solution
We:
- repurposed a software developer that was going nowhere
- invested in sales & marketing
the outcome
The business has settled down and is growing by providing services to large clients.
current status
K2 is a shareholder alongside management.
financial and media software developers
A software developer that specialised in producing online media and retail financial products, the company’s business model provided for supplying fixed price contracts and obtaining equity stakes in lieu of fees.
Having lost a large client and suffered a substantial disputed debt, the bank had withdrawn funding and HMRC had presented a winding up petition.
K2's solution
We:
- initiated litigation to recover the disputed debt
- revised the business model to aim at fees and changed contracts to charging for time
- used a CVA to cram down and reschedule liabilities
the outcome
The restructuring was successful and the dispute between the parties was resolved albeit by litigation. As a result the company was able to trade through.
current status
After several years, K2 exited and was paid a success fee. Subsequently K2 has invested as a partner in other companies with the owner/directors.
SkiilsIT since sold to
online educational and training company
As a start-up online training company which had not reached break-even sales, even though shareholders were supportive it was running out of cash and suffering mounting creditor pressure.
K2's solution
We:
- arranged a standstill agreement with creditors
- conducted a reorganisation to cut fixed costs
- identified exit options including sale and merger targets
the outcome
The standstill provided time for K2 find a buyer and sell the business and assets to repay creditors in full and distribute significant surplus to shareholders.
current status
K2 exited and was paid a success fee.
training production and content platform - confidential ongoing project
The business had fallen into insolvency under the weight of developing an online training platform and a resultant shareholder dispute.
K2's solution
We backed the founder and:
- funded the acquisition of the production equipment out of insolvency, and
- supported the restart of a new business focused on the core video production business
the outcome
The business is successfully trading with strong growth in its core business, and as a result of the lessons learnt is about to roll out a newly developed training platform MVP (minimum viable product) which has been developed from scratch and funded entirely by boot-strapping from trading cash flow.
current status
K2 is running the company as a minority shareholder.
secure login authentication software developers
The company’s simple, easy to use and low-cost software enables frictionless secure customer authentication and addresses the economic impact of spoof phishing. Its unique approach is an easily memorable image string called a Neurographic password that can replace other forms of authentication.
When K2 met the founder directors and its hedge fund owners the company needed to gain traction by obtaining new customers.
K2's solution
We were appointed as directors and took control of running the company and:
- bought out the hedge fund owners
- cut costs to a sustainable level
- brought in a new reseller to develop sales in US
- backed a new CEO and Head of Commercial
- helped refine the sales and marketing message via identifying the core offering
- targeted analysis of key sales verticals
- made sure that patent renewals were handled in the most efficient manner
the outcome
The business now has revenue through its US reseller. It has also partnered with a new reseller in a new market segment (education). The company has it has received funding from the UK Government’s Fast Start Competition to address COVID-19 Challenges; its software solution will be integrated on a portal and within an App as part of a digital immunity passport.
current status
After eleven years as directors and shareholders we continue to pursue a growth strategy for the company.
app developers of security for handheld devices
The business conceptualised, developed and launched a novel Android lock screen App using a software licence from Tricerion.
K2's solution
As owners of Tricerion we realised that we needed to transition into the handheld device market.
- we began by licensing Tricerion’s patents to IconLogin as a third party owned company
- we subsequently acquired IconLogin via an equity swap
- produced all the documentation for the acquisition and restructuring of the corporate entities
- we appointed the CEO of IconLogin as CEO of Tricerion
- we assisted develop IconLogin as a branded marketing app that uses iconic and brand images such as football teams in picture passwords for unlocking devices
the outcome
IconLogin achieved success in signing a number of high-profile licensors to its concept to use as a proof of the ease of use of Tricerion’s authentication software.
current status
K2 remains directors and shareholders and is currently focussed on leverage the business within the mobile eco-system.
specialist ultrahigh data flow servers for high definition CCTV systems
The inventor came to K2 having become trapped by an investor with personal issues incapable of allowing the innovation to develop and succeed commercially.
K2's solution
We:
- negotiated an amicable separation of the inventor with his IP intact from an inappropriate and over-controlling investor
- set up a new company to buyout the IP
- developed a strategic plan for growth
- developed and managed the sales and marketing strategy
- recruited a managing director and sales director
- created a fully functioning and profitable IT engineering business
the outcome
The innovation based business is now a UK leader in a £1bn niche within the global market for servers dominated by Dell. The software invention was acquired by a new company setup by K2 with a robust business plan and K2 initially ran the marketing and administration functions before recruiting a new board of full time directors.
current status
K2 eventually sold its shares to the existing and new directors in 2019.