Kognos: making innovation accessible
Kognos: making innovation accessible
Kognos didn’t start in energy. It started with a much simpler obsession: making complex technology work quietly, reliably, and invisibly for real people.
After more than 25 years in hospitality and travel, our founder built Kognos to help hotels integrate emerging technologies that improved guest experience while reducing operational cost. We weren’t inventing shiny new gadgets. We were the integrators behind the scenes, stitching together best-in-class systems so they felt seamless rather than stressful.
That work taught us something important. When technology is done well, nobody notices it. They just feel that things work better. That mindset shaped everything that followed. The pivot came from a deceptively simple question during a meeting with a major UK hotel group: “Why don’t you offer EV charging as well?”
Hotels had car parks. Guests were arriving in electric vehicles. The country needed charging infrastructure fast. So we built it. And when the hospitality market stalled during COVID, we doubled down, securing sites for large rapid-charging hubs and pushing hard into electrification.
Then reality intervened. Grid connections took years. Energy prices made utilisation unviable. Hardware alone wasn’t solving the problem. A blunt comment from a client cut through the noise: “So… you sell very expensive plug sockets?”
That was the moment everything clicked. The real problem wasn’t EVs. Or chargers. It was energy itself. How it is priced, controlled, predicted, and managed.
Kognos evolved again, this time decisively. We stepped away from being a hardware-led operator and became an energy intelligence company. Today, Kognos is a SaaS-driven control layer that helps organisations understand, optimise, and orchestrate energy across their buildings, assets, and infrastructure.
We connect solar, batteries, buildings, HVAC systems and EV chargers into intelligent local energy systems. We make energy visible, allowing us to shift demand away from expensive peaks; using AI to decide when energy should be consumed, stored, or shared. The result is lower costs, greater resilience, and measurable progress toward sustainability, without the usual complexity or capital burden.
What began as a hospitality technology integrator is now an energy intelligence platform built for a constrained future. We don’t sell hardware for its own sake. We sell clarity, control, and confidence in an energy system that increasingly demands all three.
This is Kognos.
Born from integration. Sharpened by reality. Built for the energy systems businesses actually need.
Kognos didn’t start in energy. It started with a much simpler obsession: making complex technology work quietly, reliably, and invisibly for real people.
After more than 25 years in hospitality and travel, our founder built Kognos to help hotels integrate emerging technologies that improved guest experience while reducing operational cost. We weren’t inventing shiny new gadgets. We were the integrators behind the scenes, stitching together best-in-class systems so they felt seamless rather than stressful.
That work taught us something important. When technology is done well, nobody notices it. They just feel that things work better. That mindset shaped everything that followed. The pivot came from a deceptively simple question during a meeting with a major UK hotel group: “Why don’t you offer EV charging as well?”
Hotels had car parks. Guests were arriving in electric vehicles. The country needed charging infrastructure fast. So we built it. And when the hospitality market stalled during COVID, we doubled down, securing sites for large rapid-charging hubs and pushing hard into electrification.
Then reality intervened. Grid connections took years. Energy prices made utilisation unviable. Hardware alone wasn’t solving the problem. A blunt comment from a client cut through the noise: “So… you sell very expensive plug sockets?”
That was the moment everything clicked. The real problem wasn’t EVs. Or chargers. It was energy itself. How it is priced, controlled, predicted, and managed.
Kognos evolved again, this time decisively. We stepped away from being a hardware-led operator and became an energy intelligence company. Today, Kognos is a SaaS-driven control layer that helps organisations understand, optimise, and orchestrate energy across their buildings, assets, and infrastructure.
We connect solar, batteries, buildings, HVAC systems and EV chargers into intelligent local energy systems. We make energy visible, allowing us to shift demand away from expensive peaks; using AI to decide when energy should be consumed, stored, or shared. The result is lower costs, greater resilience, and measurable progress toward sustainability, without the usual complexity or capital burden.
What began as a hospitality technology integrator is now an energy intelligence platform built for a constrained future. We don’t sell hardware for its own sake. We sell clarity, control, and confidence in an energy system that increasingly demands all three.
This is Kognos.
Born from integration. Sharpened by reality. Built for the energy systems businesses actually need.
meet our team
Kognos EV is a highly experienced team with deep expertise across energy systems, project delivery, finance and technology. We combine practical experience with a hands-on approach, working closely with partners and clients to deliver complex energy projects with care and precision. This means every project is led by capable people who understand both the technical detail and the commercial realities, from early design through to long-term operation.
Simon Meager
CEO & Founder, Kognos EV
A seasoned executive with 25+ years of corporate leadership and entrepreneurial success in travel, legal services, and technology. Simon has held senior roles at Midland Bank, Thomas Cook, and Navigant International, showcasing his ability to drive growth in complex environments. As a founder of multiple tech-driven businesses, he has a track record of identifying
and capitalising on niche market opportunities. Now leading KognosEV Ltd, Simon integrates his expertise to disrupt markets and deliver innovative solutions.
James Millichap-Merrick
Commercial Director, Kognos EV
A global business leader with 20+ years of experience in technology, investment banking, and strategic innovation. As CEO and co-founder of Vitabeam, James has pioneered food safety technology, secured patents, and driven market expansion. His background includes leadership roles at Fidelity, Cornell Capital, and Harrington Chase, where he delivered high-value transactions.
James Millichap-Merrick
Commercial Director, Kognos EV
A global business leader with 20+ years of
experience in technology, investment banking, and strategic innovation. As CEO and co-founder of Vitabeam, James has pioneered food safety technology, secured patents, and driven market expansion. His background includes leadership roles at Fidelity, Cornell Capital, and Harrington Chase, where he delivered high-value transactions.
Dr Nicola Harding
Communications Director, Kognos EV
Jeff Crisell
CFO, Kognos EV
A financial strategist with 30+ years of experience advising SMEs and corporate ventures. A Southampton University mathematics graduate, Jeff built and led Pridie Brewster’s Management Advisory Services for 25 years before transitioning into PKF’s Corporate Finance department. Since 2012, he has been an independent advisor specialising in financial planning, funding documentation, and long-term growth strategies for startups and SMEs.
Jeff Crisell
CFO, Kognos EV
A financial strategist with 30+ years of experience advising SMEs and corporate ventures. A Southampton University mathematics graduate, Jeff built and led Pridie Brewster’s Management Advisory Services for 25 years before transitioning into PKF’s Corporate Finance department. Since 2012, he has been an independent advisor specialising in financial planning, funding documentation, and long-term growth strategies for startups and SMEs.