Knightscope(US:KSCP)2025-05-14 20:00Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 2025 was $2.9 million, a 29% increase from $2.3 million in Q1 2024, driven by growth in both service and product revenue [6][12] - Service revenues grew to approximately $2.1 million, up 25% from $1.7 million the previous year, primarily due to strength in ASR subscriptions and full-service maintenance agreements [6][12] - Product revenues increased by 44% to about $809,000 compared to $563,000 in the prior year, attributed to distribution partnerships and expanding deployments [6][12] - Gross loss improved to approximately $700,000 from $1.4 million a year ago, with cost of revenue slightly lower at $3.6 million compared to $3.7 million in Q1 2024 [8][12] - Operating expenses decreased by 9% year-over-year to $6.2 million, with R&D expenses up 35% to $2.1 million, while sales and marketing expenses were down 15% to $1.3 million [9][10][12] - Net loss for the quarter was about $7.6 million, an improvement from $8.3 million in Q1 2024, with earnings loss per share improving to $1.29 from nearly $4 per share last year [11][12] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focused on achieving positive gross margins, scaling services and product footprint, and operating with increased efficiency [13] - The ASR (Autonomous Security Robots) and ECD (Emergency Communication Devices) segments are showing growth, with a backlog of approximately $2.5 million, including $1.9 million in ECDs and $600,000 in ASR-related orders [48] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is navigating macroeconomic uncertainties, particularly regarding tariffs, which may impact component pricing and lead times [18][20][21] - The management believes that the focus on national safety and security could provide tailwinds for the business despite the uncertainties [19][22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is committed to long-term growth and shareholder value, focusing on scaling operations and investing in new technologies [28][55] - The management is actively pursuing government contracts and has established a Washington office to foster relationships with federal agencies [86][88] - The company is moving to a new facility to consolidate operations and improve efficiency, with plans for enhanced production capabilities [67][70] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expresses a positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of execution and the progress made in the past year [15][16] - The company acknowledges the challenges faced in the past, particularly related to funding, but is optimistic about the changes implemented [58][60] Other Important Information - The company is undergoing a significant transition, including moving to a new facility and restructuring its management team [34][52] - The management is focused on maintaining operational efficiency while scaling revenue and minimizing costs [39][40] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is macro uncertainty impacting customer conversations? - Management noted that while political uncertainty has less direct impact, financial aspects like tariffs could affect component pricing and lead times [18][20] Question: When will the company report positive EBITDA and earnings? - Management indicated that while they are focused on achieving positive earnings, the timing is yet to be determined [26][32] Question: What happened to Stacy Stevens? - The position was eliminated as part of a broader restructuring to improve efficiency [34] Question: How quickly will additional cost infrastructure be needed as revenue scales? - Management stated that they are cautious about adding costs and will scale revenue first before increasing infrastructure [35][36] Question: What is the status of the new facility? - The new facility is expected to be operational by August, with some anticipated disruptions during the move [43][46] Question: How does the order book look? - The current backlog is approximately $2.5 million, with significant orders in both ECDs and ASRs [48] Question: What are the plans for government contracts? - The company is actively pursuing additional government contracts and has already won a phase one contract with the Air Force [86][88]