I'm 15 and building a uni fund through real investing. My portfolio has KR1 (inherited crypto play) and Kraken Robotics (PNG), a subsea tech company. Here is why I chose this.
The Starting Lineup
My portfolio has two main positions right now. This is what we personally did, not a recommendation.
1. The "Inherited" Crypto Play: KR1
I have 4,141 shares of KR1. I didn't pick this; it was already in the account. It's a crypto company. It's volatile. Right now, I'm just holding it and watching.
If crypto spikes again, I might sell it to get cash for other ideas.
2. My First Real Choice: Kraken Robotics (PNG)
This is my main position. I bought 321 shares at an average of £3.11 — this is what we personally did, not a recommendation.
Is it high risk? Absolutely. But if I want to afford uni in three years, playing it safe won't cut it.
Why I Bought Kraken (My Reasoning)
I didn't buy this on hype. I bought it because they have real catalysts kicking in between now and 2027.
🔧 Reason 1: The New "Megafactory" is Live
Kraken doesn't just design tech; they have to build it. They just opened a $10 million factory in Nova Scotia.
Why it matters: This factory means they can triple their production to nearly $200 million per year. They already announced record orders in early 2025. The demand is there; now they have the space to meet it.
🦈 Reason 2: The "Ghost Shark" Effect
This is the coolest part. A massive defense tech company called Anduril is building autonomous robotic submarines called "Ghost Sharks" for the Australian Navy.
Guess what's inside a Ghost Shark? Kraken's batteries and sonar sensors.
That's about $10 million of Kraken gear inside every single shark. If Anduril builds a lot of sharks, Kraken makes a lot of money.
Anduril can't easily switch suppliers for this stuff because military certification takes years. Kraken is locked in.
🌍 Reason 3: The World is Getting Tense
Sad but true: global tension means higher defense spending. NATO countries are rushing to buy underwater drones to protect pipelines and monitor the oceans.
The market for subsea batteries is exploding right now. Kraken is in the right spot at the right time.
📈 Reason 4: Moving to the Big Leagues (Uplisting)
Right now, Kraken trades on a "junior" stock exchange (the TSXV). It's like playing in the minor leagues.
Analysts think that in 2026, they could "uplist" to the NASDAQ (the big leagues where Apple and Tesla trade).
Why it matters: Many huge investment funds aren't allowed to buy minor league stocks. If Kraken moves to NASDAQ, a flood of new money could be allowed to buy in, pushing the price up.
The Risks (Keeping It Real)
If I don't talk about the risks, I'm lying to myself. This could still go wrong.
It's Expensive
The stock price already assumes a lot of future growth. If they miss a quarterly target, the price will drop fast.
Tariffs
New US tariffs on Canadian goods hurt their profit margins. This is a real headache right now.
Growing Pains
Scaling up a factory to make complex underwater batteries is incredibly hard. Delays happen.
Zo's Fund Tracker — December 2025 Update
Every week I track the progress. No hiding bad numbers.
The Positions
| Ticker | Company | Avg Buy | Current | Return | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KR1 | KR1 plc | £0.23 | £0.23 | 0.00% | 👁️ Watch |
| PNG | Kraken Robotics | £3.11 | £3.38 | +8.63% | 🟢 Holding |
What's Next: Watching for the Q1 2026 earnings report to see if the new factory is running smoothly.
What Kraken Robotics Actually Does
One reason I like this business is that it's not a "story stock" with no product. Kraken Robotics sells real subsea technology: batteries, sonar systems, and ocean survey tools used by defence and commercial customers. In plain English, they provide hardware and software that help operators map, monitor, and protect underwater assets.
Why that matters: oceans are now strategic infrastructure. Cables, pipelines, offshore energy, and naval routes all need better monitoring. Companies that can provide reliable underwater tech may benefit from that long-term demand trend.
Sector Analysis: Why Subsea Tech Is Growing
Three demand drivers stand out. First, defence budgets are rising in many countries, especially for unmanned systems. Second, offshore energy and undersea infrastructure require better inspection tools. Third, autonomy is improving, making robotic systems cheaper and more deployable over time.
That doesn't mean every company wins. Competition, contracts, and execution all matter. But the sector tailwind is real enough for me to keep it on my watchlist and hold a position sized for high volatility.
Risk Assessment: What Could Go Wrong
- Customer concentration: if a few big contracts are delayed, revenue can wobble.
- Execution risk: scaling production and delivery is hard.
- Valuation risk: growth stocks can rerate down quickly.
- Geopolitical risk: defence-linked names can move sharply on headlines.
I treat this as speculative. If my reasoning no longer holds, I need to accept the loss instead of making excuses.
Position Sizing Rules (How I Manage Speculative Positions)
The biggest lesson from Dad: you can be right about the story and still lose money if position size is wrong. For speculative stocks, we cap the allocation and avoid going "all in". A simple beginner rule is keeping higher-risk single names as a small slice of the total portfolio.
Example framework: core long-term holdings (broad funds) as the majority, and speculative ideas as a minority sleeve. That way, one bad pick won't destroy the whole uni fund plan.
How This Fits My Uni Fund Plan
My goal isn't to gamble for one lucky hit. It's to learn how to build conviction, manage risk, and keep records. I track entry price, my reasoning, key risks, and what evidence would prove me wrong. That keeps emotions lower when prices swing.
Official Resources for UK Investors
FAQ: Speculative Stock Investing
Is Kraken Robotics suitable for beginners?
Only if they understand volatility and keep position size small versus total portfolio.
Should teens only buy "safe" investments?
Most of a beginner portfolio can be diversified core holdings. A small speculative sleeve can be educational if risk is controlled.
How do I know when to exit?
Write down invalidation points before buying: missed execution, weak guidance, or reasoning-breaking news.
If you want the lower-risk path, start with index funds, read index funds vs ETFs, and learn compound interest first.
Capital at risk. Investments can go down as well as up. This is not financial advice. Past performance is not a guide to future results. Please do your own research before investing.
📚 Further Reading
Books that shaped how we think about investing — available on Amazon UK:
- The Psychology of Money — How to think clearly about speculative investments without panic
- Invested — Learning to research and believe in individual companies before you buy
Disclaimer: I am 15 and learning in public. This is our personal experience and not financial advice. Always do your own research.