Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong.
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Risk Summary

Estimated reading time: 2 min

Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.

What are the key risks?

  • You could lose all the money you invest
  • Most investments are shares in start-up businesses or bonds issued by them. Investors in these shares or bonds often lose 100% of the money they invested, as most start-up businesses fail.
  • Checks on the businesses you are investing in, such as how well they are expected to perform, may not have been carried out by the platform you are investing through. You should do your own research before investing.

You won't get your money back quickly

  • Even if the business you invest in is successful, it will likely take several years to get your money back.
  • The most likely way to get your money back is if the business is bought by another business or lists its shares on an exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. These events are not common.
  • Start-up businesses very rarely pay you back through dividends. You should not expect to get your money back this way.
  • Some platforms may give you the opportunity to sell your investment early through a 'secondary market' or 'bulletin board', but there is no guarantee you will find a buyer at the price you are willing to sell.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

  • Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well. A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments. Learn more here.

The value of your investment can be reduced

  • If your investment is shares, the percentage of the business that you own will decrease if the business issues more shares. This could mean that the value of your investment reduces, depending on how much the business grows. Most start-up businesses issue multiple rounds of shares.
  • These new shares could have additional rights that your shares don't have, such as the right to receive a fixed dividend, which could further reduce your chances of getting a return on your investment.

You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong

  • Protection from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover poor investment performance. Try the FSCS investment protection checker.
  • Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated platform, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.

If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA's website here.

For further information about investment-based crowdfunding, visit the crowdfunding section of the FCA's website here.
Insights
Investment Campaigns
Lauren Miller
· 3 min read
· Updated on

Introducing the new QikServe EIS-eligible investment opportunity

A Software as a Service (SaaS) business operating in the travel hospitality market, QikServe is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in digital self-service solutions, having already won key customers, built up traction and grown their network of partners.

Embarking upon their Series A round (full details of the investment opportunity are available here), QikServe are raising £2.5 million at a pre-money valuation of £10 million, in exchange for a 21.8% equity share. Having already received pledges in the region of £2.3million from existing shareholders, they have consequently allocated a £500,000 overfunding tranche to allow more investors to participate in this exciting capital growth round.

Benefiting from EIS (Enterprise Investment Scheme) eligibility, this opportunity can allow investors to benefit from a range of generous tax reliefs and incentives, including 30% income tax relief.

Read more: 9 simple reasons EIS is one of the UK's best investment schemes

Who are QikServe and what do they do?

QikServe provide a full technology solution comprising of both software and hardware to food and beverage outlets, allowing customers to order at a kiosk, through an app on their phone or on table-based tablets, enabling the ultimate in consumer convenience.

Built on the understanding that we're moving further and further into a cashless society - and that the mobile order market is reported to be worth £27 billion - QikServe have seen considerable success to date, including with some of the world's largest food and beverage organisations.

Led by a strong and experienced team, including serial entrepreneur Daniel Rodgers as CEO, co-founder Ronnie Forbes and Michael Lloyd as COO - the team are disrupting the global hospitality market.

Being piloted in hotels, casinos, stadiums and other facilities, QikServe are proving how their products and services are suitable across several sectors using a variety of different outputs, and the immense potential within the industry.

QikServe - new investment opportunity

Why is there a need for this technology?

The way in which we integrate with our surrounding technology has completely changed in comparison to the last decade. We’re increasing the connectivity of our homes through app-based heating, lighting and smart home systems. We’re improving the technology of our environment with the introduction of smart cities. We’re often increasing our personal connectivity with smartwatches, wireless Bluetooth devices and phones more powerful than many desktop computers.

This shift in technology acceptance and integration has led many food and beverage chains to introduce intermediary self serve systems through simple apps and kiosks - but QikServe have identified the need in the market for a single supplier to be able to provide software and hardware solutions across all tech channels.

What’s more, as well as covering all of the outputs - kiosks, tablets, web and mobile ordering - QikServe are able to integrate into most of the software and hardware partners in the market. This is enabled through their Oracle Gold Partnership status, which has been a key partnership for QikServe.

What do their customers think?

In February last year, the Kebaya Asian brasserie at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport launched the QikServe integration within the restaurant, using both self-service tablet ordering and large, touch screen digital menus.

Kebaya, the largest restaurant in Schiphol Airport at 676sqm and with 200 seats, is operated by HMSHost International - one of the world's leading restaurateurs operating in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East with almost 50 years experience in airport operations.

Kebaya Asian Brasserie QikServe 

Within the airport environment, time is everything for passengers so it was imperative that through QikServe’s guest-facing tablet ordering solution, Kebaya could guarantee guests plenty of time to catch their flights, as well as enjoy a great meal in beautiful surroundings.

When diners enter the restaurant, they are greeted with large, visually rich, interactive touch screen displays where they can take their time to browse the menu enjoying vivid, high definition images of Kebaya’s creative dishes. One of the most notable results of this is regardless of nationality or language spoken, everyone can understand the menu.

“At Kebaya we have aimed to raise the guest experience to new heights and we are delighted to see that customers have wholeheartedly adopted our new approach to ordering. The feedback we have received from both guests and staff has been overwhelmingly positive, and the QikServe ordering has been a pleasure to work with, allowing us to seamlessly build the ordering component into our point of sale system.” - Walter Seib, CEO Host International

About the EIS investment opportunity

QikServe are looking to raise £2.5 million in exchange for a 21.8% equity share in their business at a pre-money valuation of £10 million. This growth investment capital will be used to capitalise on their market opportunity and accelerate the roll-out of their solutions across the travel concessions sector.

Currently, there are five institutional and professional investors pledging investment in the round, including Maven Venture Capital Trusts, who are following on their investment and increasing their shareholding from a previous round. Moreover, the round also benefits from VCT clearance, allowing a smooth transaction for the VCT and institutional investors.

With full details of the investment opportunity available in the investment documentation, you can view the full opportunity details - and invest in this EIS-eligible investment opportunity from as little as £100.
Driving Growth.
Creating Value.
Delivering Impact.

Backed by

Growth Capital Ventures (GCV) is backed by funds managed by Maven Capital Partners, one of the UK’s leading private equity and alternative asset managers.