Tekcapital Share Discussion Threads

[kinbasket] 12/3/2015 13:30

I don't think it works for someone like KFC. They would have to rebuild all their kitchens for a start.

More likely to go to one of the big manufacturing umbrellas like Kraft or Nestle. Then they can use the licence for all their relevant products/brands and give themselves a differentiator.

[speedsgh] 12/3/2015 11:42

Ok. Not sure that KFC are the likeliest of licencees; not sure their target market would give a jot as to whether the KFC goods they are consuming have been prepared in a healthier way. Licencee is more likely to be a large global food manufacturer (e.g. Findus Group) imo.

One thought. Might they not try to grant an exclusive licence for different territories/continents in order to maximise licence revenue? i.e. licence for US/Europe, one for S America, one for Far East etc?

[cottoner] 12/3/2015 10:54

Speedsgh - another definition

An Exclusive Licence means that no person or company other than the named licensee can exploit the relevant intellectual property rights.

which as the name implies , means the rights can only be sold as an exclusive license once to one licensee.

[speedsgh] 12/3/2015 10:47

cottoner - so, for example, they might issue an exclusive licence to KFC but would not be able to sell a licence for the same technology to any other third party? i.e. there can be only one client (licencee) for the technology?

sorry for the questions. just trying to get my head around all implications of an exclusive licence.

[cottoner] 12/3/2015 10:42

Exclusive licence: this means that the owner of the patent agrees not to grant any other licences of the technology concerned, and agrees not to use the technology himself.

[speedsgh] 12/3/2015 10:38

I note they are trying to sell it as an exclusive licence. Without wanting to state the obvious, am I right in assuming that this means that revenue stream would be from just one licencee but its exclusivity should make it all the more valuable (asuming that there is demand for it in the first place)?

[battlebus2] 12/3/2015 10:32

What if KFC or the likes was to take it up, potentially massive.

[cottoner] 12/3/2015 09:34

A new patent-pending food preparation technology
developed at the University of Arkansas, makes baked
chicken taste fried with 60% less fat.

[battlebus2] 09/3/2015 22:58

The significance of these tie ups will soon become clear , a single patent IP will be a game changer.

[cottoner] 09/3/2015 22:53

From TEK RNS on Jan 20 2015.

Tekcapital is also pleased to announce that it has recently formed a relationship with Wowio, Inc. a digital media company with a patented process for inserting ads into eBooks, a mobile eBook distribution platform and a proprietary mobile ad network.

Tekcapital has been appointed to identify potential opportunities to enhance Wowio's IP portfolio.

Tekcapital is pleased to report that it has identified several technologies that may enhance Wowio's IP position and the companies hope to consummate a transaction this fiscal year.

[battlebus2] 09/3/2015 22:16

Good finds cottoner, all looking very positive.

[cottoner] 09/3/2015 22:08

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA / CRWEPRESSRELEASE / March 9, 2015 / Wowio, Inc. (OTCBB:WWIO), a digital media company with a patented process for inserting ads into eBooks, a mobile eBook distribution platform, and a proprietary mobile ad network, announced today that the company is making progress on the expansion and monetization of its intellectual property patent. The company is working closely with a team of patent attorneys in all matters relating to its intellectual property and has been consulting with additional patent legal experts regarding specific monetization actions on WWIO’s behalf.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of a recent announcement about the company’s new relationship with Tekcapital PLC (AIM:TEK) to identify potential technology opportunities to enhance and expand WOWIO’s digital technology IP portfolio. “WOWIO has been following its strategic plan to monetize its IP and has adjusted the plan to accommodate changes that have occurred in the IP environment as needed,” stated Brian Altounian, WOWIO’s CEO. “We’ve solidified our patent and we are exploring options to acquire additional IP in the eBook space. This intensified effort in pursuing the patent monetization plan is in response to changes in the evolving landscape of patent law, and we have verified that there are infringers on one or more claims of our issued patent.”

Patents have gone from recognition of technical achievement to a significant monetary and strategic asset, with multi-billion dollar patent sales, a huge increase in patent litigation, weekly attention from the national business press, and the ultimate recognition, Wall Street excitement about investment in patents through publicly traded assertion entities and litigation investment funds.

“Patent law is a very complex and continually changing process, and can be very expensive and risky,” said Robert Estareja, WOWIO’s President. “It takes extensive planning and calculation to strike the delicate balance where we protect our company and IP, while attempting to monetize our IP as best as possible. Our goal is to pursue the best monetization strategy for the Company and its shareholders. Going forward, our primary focus will be on licensing and protection from infringement. However, WOWIO remains open to all other options, including sale, licensing and partnering agreements.”

[cottoner] 08/3/2015 21:50

BIG PICTURE - Tekcapital's growing IQ
By Andrew Neil
March 03 2015, 12:20pm


Harvesting brainy ideas from the world’s finest minds sounds like an attempt to solve the so-called Theory of Everything.

OK, it’s probably not the approach Stephen Hawking takes in his Cambridge laboratory, but it’s proving to be a winning formula for Tekcapital (LON:TEK).

Headquartered four miles away from the world-famous professor, the Oxford-based firm has an intriguing algorithm and a team of scientists at work.

Their goal, rather disappointingly, isn’t to unlock the secrets of the universe, but to sift through thousands of new patented ideas from universities around the globe.

New discoveries are then pulled onto its Innovation Discovery Network (IDN), which matches the right companies with the right patents.

It’s a database that has continued to grow since the firm listed in London last year, as former academic and Tekcapital founder Cliff Gross explains.

“Our database has now passed 4,000 universities and laboratories. We believe this accounts for close to 80% of the world’s leading intellectual property [IP].”

Clients accessing the database, often large corporates looking to buy into the next big invention, are also on the rise.

New customers include a listed Japanese pharmaceutical, a multi-national Finnish tech company (rumoured to be Nokia) and an Israeli bio-tech.

It has also bagged a global food and beverage company quoted on NASDAQ, and the second is a UK-based industrial products company that operates in more than 30 countries.

The firm has refused to name its customers so far, but market sources say the US client wins include the likes of PepsiCo and General Motors.

The ongoing IP search service is charged on a monthly basis and depends on the size of client and its potential market.

If a client commits to acquiring a particular technology – what Tek calls a technology transfer - they are then charged a success fee, which depends on the complexity of the acquisition process and size of the potential market for the acquired intellectual property.

The business is currently adding two IDN clients a month and expects to reach its break-even point of 35 clients by the end of this year - a view shared by Northland Capital Partners.

“As the company moves through the year, adding to its retainer base, it should get to requisite number of clients to cover costs on a month-by-month basis,” said Northland analyst David Johnson.

For Gross, the idea of rationalising the supply of new ideas on one portal is starting to be seen as a convenient way for firms to keep their finger on pulse.

“We essentially an in-house technology scouting service,” he adds.

“Many companies don’t have time to spend significant amounts of capital and time, trying to predict, develop and control where innovation is heading.

“IDN allows them to access a global network of brilliant thinkers to help open innovation pipelines at very low cost,” he adds.

Gross says his team of experts now review 2,000 new technologies a week.

And rather than offering a simple match-making service, Tekcapital assess the potential opportunities and pitfalls of each patented idea.

Its InventionEvaluator produces, the second part of the firm’s three pronged approach, provides objective reports on the technology and assesses the commercial potential of new intellectual property.

According to Gross, the business can now turn around 40-page reports on technologies in under ten days.

At a price of US$1,000 per report, he believes it’s a service which cannot be found elsewhere.

This week Tek agreed a marketing deal with US consultant Health Connexions boost InventionEvaluator’s reach in the pharma and healthcare industry.

Through the deal, Tek’s reports will be made available to Health Connexions' client base, which includes pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device companies.

The third and potentially most lucrative part of the business in the long run, is its acquisition arm.

Last month it acquired the exclusive worldwide licence for a process that makes baked products taste like they have been fried – a potentially game-changing cooking process that claims to produce tasty food with 60% less fat.

“If we come across a technology that doesn’t fit with our clients, but we like the look of it, we take a view to enquire the rights,” said Gross.

He says the business is currently on the verge of adding two more technologies it’s spotted.

It's this approach, Gross believes, which has the potential to generate substantial revenues.

In fact, he reckons if Tek can sell the rights to the food coating technology to a major fast-food chain, annual revenues could exceed its current market value of £4.5mln.

“We certainly envisage the acquisition side of the business taking on a lead role in revenue creation,” said Gross. “The potential is huge."

Northland’s Johnson agrees that the acquisition business is a long-term play, but says Tek’s inroads into research institutions, combined with its strong advisory board gives it a strong insight into technology that companies will eventually want to buy.

“During my research I couldn’t identify another business offering the same combination of access to institutions, a scientific advisory board and a track record of senior management with experience in technology transfers,” adds Johnson. “In that sense, the business is unique."

Shares in Tekcapital are priced at 18p. Northland Capital Partners has a target price of 30p.

[speedsgh] 03/3/2015 14:41

Tekcapital chief enthusiastic about ‘enormous potential’ of technology acquisition strategy -

[eeza] 03/3/2015 11:17

Seller still dumping away @ 20p.

[pj 1] 03/3/2015 11:06

In this age of technology its hard to imagine fat fingers exist isnt it? Added a few but not at 31p! Yet anyway :-//

Looking good tho :-))

[cheshire man] 03/3/2015 10:56

Yes I agree with you bb a typo,,,,,,,good to see a move up 'tho :-)

[battlebus2] 03/3/2015 10:54

Typo i expect it should read 21 :)) unless he/she has some foresight into future prices.

[battlebus2] 03/3/2015 09:03

:)) i've every faith we are going a lot higher Cheshire Man...

[cheshire man] 02/3/2015 08:20

Let's hope so bb :-)

[battlebus2] 02/3/2015 08:12

Good start to the week, mm's don't want to give stock away this morning, first time in over a month, overhang may have cleared?

[snickerdog] 17/2/2015 18:46

Tek are in town next week apparently meeting UK clients but I caught something on Twitter about getting in touch for a meet if you are a UK shareholder

[battlebus2] 11/2/2015 19:24

Thanks for posting cottoner.

[cottoner] 11/2/2015 19:20

Northland - further details

Market Cap: £4.3m; Current Price: 18.3p; Target Price: 30p

Marketing alliance for InventionEvaluator in the healthcare sector

Signed a marketing alliance with Health Connexions to market InventionEvaluator, acquired last July, to pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic and healthcare companies.

Health Connexions is a Boston-based professional services company with global reach that provides Strategic Consulting, Market Research, Communications, Education & Training and Care & Cost Management.

No change to forecasts, BUY rating or 30p price target.

NORTHLAND CAPITAL PARTNERS VIEW:

Tekcapital is using the indirect model in order to rapidly increase its sales and marketing reach into particular verticals whilst retaining a low fixed operating cost base.

InventionEvaluator, that provides low cost evaluations of newly developed technologies, has proved a successful acquisition increasing Tekcapital’s service offering and expanding the client base.

The Healthcare sector represents a considerable market for both InventionEvaluator and the broader Tekcapital IP and technology transfer service.

We maintain our BUY rating and 30p price target