Kano, a consumer technology designer and manufacturer which until recently counted Kanye West as a partner, is racing to secure millions of pounds in new funding.

Sky News has learnt that Kano, which has refocused its business to focus on producing innovative music players, has appointed the advisory firm AlixPartners to work with it on sourcing additional financing.

The new capital is designed to fill a funding gap exposed by the collapse of its alliance with Kanye, the company’s founder Alex Klein told investors recently.

The partnership with the musician was dissolved amid a furore over antisemitic comments he made last year.

According to an update he circulated to shareholders this month, Kano had been in discussions with Andreessen Horowitz, a prominent venture capital fund, about taking a $10m investment from it as part of an ongoing partnership with Kanye.

Mr Klein said: “When Kanye, post-Paris fashion week, chose to misdirect his personal and emotional frustration at the Jewish people, I called [Andreessen] and suggested that it would be difficult for me – I am half-Jewish – to move forward with the deal we had discussed.

“They recommended I talk to Kanye, perhaps see if I could change his mind, which I tried to do, with lengthy in-person discussions. They took a lot out of me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful.”

Mr Klein added that Kanye then “offered to become a ‘silent’ investor – to put up the $10m himself – and put forward his own term sheet”.

He said he had ultimately rejected this proposal.

Read more from business:
Vegetable shortages could become more common if UK does not act
Energy price cap falls – but average household bills still expected to rise

A crowdfunding campaign to raise just under £1m is now expected to launch this week.

Kano is also seeking funding from other investors, with Mr Klein understood to be open-minded about the scale of the fundraising.

A sale process in the event that the fundraising is unsuccessful is also being prepared.

Kano’s flagship product, the STEM player, has been viewed more than 660 million times on TikTok, according to Mr Klein.

According to the recent update to investors, Kano had sufficient cash to last it until the end of this month.

Mr Klein said that in 2022, Kano recorded $3.5m in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, and $2.7m of net profit.

Partnerships with Justin Bieber and Metallica are under discussion, he added.

Related posts:

Here’s Johnny! Axe prop used by Jack Nicholson in The Shining up for sale Elon Musk to host Saturday Night Live – but not everyone is excited Elliot Page praised for sharing bare-chested picture after his top surgery AHA! Steve Coogan taking Alan Partridge on tour ‘with a message of hope’ Friends reunion: (Almost) Spoiler-free review of The One Where They Get Back Together Porn actor Ron Jeremy pleads not guilty to more than 30 charges of sexual assault Graphics are main selling point for Kena: Bridge of Spirits and they do not disappoint Jurors sent out to deliberate in R Kelly sex trafficking trial Stereophonics gigs pushed back over variant fears – as union calls for mask mandate in theatres Angelina Jolie claimed Brad Pitt ’emotionally and physically’ abused her and their children Mobile phone forensics used to try to locate missing British actor Mackenzie Crook urges people to check outhouses as search for missing sister-in-law continues