iSpecimen Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 March (Form 10-Q)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2022
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ___ to ___
Commission File No. 001-40501
iSpecimen Inc.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)
Delaware |
| 27-0480143 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
450 Bedford Street, Lexington, Massachusetts 02420
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(781) 301-6700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
| Trading Symbol(s) |
| Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered |
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share | ISPC | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |
Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
As of May 9, 2022, there were 8,817,983 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, issued and outstanding.
iSPECIMEN INC.
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
iSpecimen Inc.
Condensed Balance Sheets
|
| ||||||
March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | ||||||
ASSETS | (Unaudited) | ||||||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
| |||
Cash | $ | 26,099,178 | $ | 27,738,979 | |||
Accounts receivable – unbilled |
| 1,258,515 |
| 1,739,020 | |||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $184,837 and $269,170 at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively |
| 2,356,688 |
| 3,002,442 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| 295,750 |
| 327,035 | |||
Tax credit receivable, current portion |
| 140,873 |
| 140,873 | |||
Total current assets |
| 30,151,004 |
| 32,948,349 | |||
Property and equipment, net |
| 28,069 |
| 32,781 | |||
Internally developed software, net |
| 2,783,810 |
| 2,710,867 | |||
Operating lease right-of-use asset | 296,832 | — | |||||
Security deposits |
| 27,601 |
| 27,601 | |||
Total assets | $ | 33,287,316 | $ | 35,719,598 | |||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
| |||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
| |||
Accounts payable | $ | 281,494 | $ | 832,678 | |||
Accrued expenses |
| 1,039,974 |
| 1,009,803 | |||
Accrued interest |
| 8,167 |
| 8,167 | |||
Operating lease current obligation | 150,007 |
| — | ||||
Deferred revenue |
| 567,321 |
| 654,746 | |||
Total current liabilities |
| 2,046,963 |
| 2,505,394 | |||
Operating lease long-term obligation |
| 147,375 |
| — | |||
Term loan, net of debt discount | 3,425,664 | 3,422,616 | |||||
Total liabilities |
| 5,620,002 |
| 5,928,010 | |||
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 6) |
|
|
|
| |||
Stockholders’ equity |
|
| |||||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 8,845,283 issued, and 8,814,283 outstanding at March 31, 2022 and 8,764,479 issued and 8,733,479 outstanding at December 31, 2021 |
| 881 |
| 873 | |||
Additional paid-in capital |
| 68,069,749 |
| 67,810,289 | |||
Treasury stock, 31,000 shares at March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, at cost |
| (172) |
| (172) | |||
Accumulated deficit |
| (40,403,144) |
| (38,019,402) | |||
Total stockholders’ equity |
| 27,667,314 |
| 29,791,588 | |||
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 33,287,316 | $ | 35,719,598 |
See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed financial statements.
3
iSpecimen Inc.
Condensed Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Revenue | $ | 2,518,660 | $ | 2,963,807 | |||
Operating expenses: | |||||||
Cost of revenue | 1,165,917 | 1,623,651 | |||||
Technology | 527,522 | 409,951 | |||||
Sales and marketing | 747,432 | 529,387 | |||||
Supply development | 182,070 | 111,576 | |||||
Fulfillment | 443,794 | 269,096 | |||||
General and administrative | 1,810,313 | 962,790 | |||||
Total operating expenses | 4,877,048 | 3,906,451 | |||||
Loss from operations | (2,358,388) | (942,644) | |||||
Other income (expense), net | |||||||
Interest expense | (38,048) | (853,147) | |||||
Interest income | 12,654 | 47 | |||||
Other expense, net | 40 | (3,732) | |||||
Loss on extinguishment of bridge notes and bridge notes, related parties | — | (2,750,171) | |||||
Gain on extinguishment of note payable | — | 788,156 | |||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability on convertible notes | — | (154,000) | |||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability on bridge notes and bridge notes, related parties | — | (48,000) | |||||
Other expense, net | (25,354) | (3,020,847) | |||||
Net loss | $ | (2,383,742) | $ | (3,963,491) | |||
Net loss per share - basic and diluted | $ | (0.27) | $ | (4.23) | |||
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding - basic and diluted | 8,765,437 | 936,213 |
See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed financial statements.
4
iSpecimen Inc.
Condensed Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||
Additional | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Paid-In | Accumulated | Stockholders' | |||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Equity | ||||||
Balance at January 1, 2022 |
| 8,733,479 | $ | 873 | 31,000 | $ | (172) | $ | 67,810,289 | $ | (38,019,402) | $ | 29,791,588 | ||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| 3,125 |
| — | — |
| — |
| 184,191 |
| — |
| 184,191 | ||||||
Issuance of common stock through exercise of stock options | 77,679 | 8 | — | — | 75,269 | — | 75,277 | ||||||||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — | — |
| — |
| — |
| (2,383,742) |
| (2,383,742) | ||||||
Balance at March 31, 2022 |
| 8,814,283 | $ | 881 | 31,000 | $ | (172) | $ | 68,069,749 | $ | (40,403,144) | $ | 27,667,314 |
Condensed Statements of Changes in Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Series B Convertible | Series A-1 Convertible | Series A Convertible | Additional | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preferred Stock | Preferred Stock | Preferred Stock | Common Stock | Treasury Stock | Paid-In | Accumulated | Stockholders’ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
|
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Shares |
| Amount |
| Capital |
| Deficit |
| Deficit | |||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2021 | 572,465 | $ | 7,999,997 | 100,365 | $ | 561,041 | 618,182 | $ | 2,612,038 | 936,213 | $ | 94 | 31,000 | $ | (172) | $ | 1,779,698 | $ | (29,057,587) | $ | (27,277,967) | ||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation expense |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | — |
| — |
| 22,036 |
| — |
| 22,036 | ||||||||||
Net loss |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | — |
| — |
| — |
| (3,963,491) |
| (3,963,491) | ||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2021 |
| 572,465 | $ | 7,999,997 |
| 100,365 | $ | 561,041 |
| 618,182 | $ | 2,612,038 |
| 936,213 | $ | 94 | 31,000 | $ | (172) | $ | 1,801,734 | $ | (33,021,078) | $ | (31,219,422) |
See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed financial statements.
5
iSpecimen Inc.
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,383,742) | $ | (3,963,491) | |||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
| |||||
Share-based compensation |
| 184,191 |
| 22,036 | |||
Amortization of internally developed software |
| 266,219 |
| 235,229 | |||
Depreciation of property and equipment |
| 4,712 |
| 11,130 | |||
Bad debt expense |
| 165,097 |
| 20,652 | |||
Amortization of debt issuance costs on Term Loan | 3,048 | — | |||||
Loss on extinguishment on bridge notes |
| — |
| 2,750,171 | |||
Gain on extinguishment on note payable |
| — |
| (788,156) | |||
Amortization of discount on bridge notes |
| — |
| 289,867 | |||
Change in fair value of derivative liabilities |
| — |
| 202,000 | |||
Amortization of discount and debt issuance costs on convertible notes |
| — |
| 1,088 | |||
Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
| |||||
Accounts receivable – unbilled |
| 480,505 |
| (426,973) | |||
Accounts receivable |
| 480,657 |
| 925,544 | |||
Due from factor | — | (495,735) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| 31,285 |
| (10,155) | |||
Operating lease right-of-use asset | 36,291 | — | |||||
Accounts payable |
| (551,184) |
| 299,130 | |||
Accrued expenses |
| 30,171 |
| 308,410 | |||
Accrued interest |
| — |
| 562,193 | |||
Operating lease liability | (35,741) | — | |||||
Deferred revenue |
| (87,425) |
| (69,189) | |||
Net cash used in operating activities |
| (1,375,916) |
| (126,249) | |||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
|
| |||||
Capitalization of internally developed software |
| (339,162) |
| (214,534) | |||
Net cash used in investing activities |
| (339,162) |
| (214,534) | |||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
|
|
|
| |||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 75,277 | — | |||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
| 75,277 |
| — | |||
Net decreases in cash |
| (1,639,801) |
| (340,783) | |||
Cash at beginning of period |
| 27,738,979 |
| 695,909 | |||
Cash at end of period | $ | 26,099,178 | $ | 355,126 | |||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: | |||||||
Cash paid for interest | $ | 35,000 | $ | — | |||
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities: | |||||||
Non-cash amounts of lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of use-assets | $ | 333,123 | $ | — | |||
Derivative liability for embedded conversion features on convertible notes | $ | — | $ | 3,614,000 | |||
See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed financial statements.
6
1.NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Business
iSpecimen Inc. (“iSpecimen” or the “Company”) was incorporated in 2009 under the laws of the state of Delaware. The Company has developed and launched a proprietary online marketplace platform that connects medical researchers who need access to subjects, samples, and data, with hospitals, laboratories, and other organizations who have access to them. iSpecimen is a technology-driven company founded to address a critical challenge: how to connect life science researchers who need human biofluids, tissues, and living cells (“biospecimens”) for their research, with biospecimens available (but not easily accessible) in healthcare provider organizations worldwide. The Company’s proprietary platform, the iSpecimen Marketplace platform, is designed to solve this problem and transform the biospecimen procurement process to accelerate medical discovery. The Company is headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts and its principal market is North America. The Company operates as one
and reporting segment.Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) as determined by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) for interim financial information, and, pursuant to the rules and regulations of Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial statements. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed financial statements reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments necessary for the fair statement of the balances and results of operations for the periods presented. They may not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Therefore, these unaudited condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements and notes thereto contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Liquidity and Going Concern
The Company has recognized recurring losses and as of March 31, 2022, the Company had working capital of $28,104,041, an accumulated deficit of $40,403,144, cash of $26,099,178 and accounts payable and accrued expenses of $1,321,468. Management believes that the Company's existing cash, which include the net proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering in June 2021 (the “IPO”) , the Term Loan (defined below), and the PIPE (defined below) will allow the Company to continue its operations for at least the next 12 months from the date these unaudited condensed financial statements are issued and therefore the conditions raising substantial doubt raised in prior periods have been alleviated. As a result of recurring losses, the continued viability of the Company beyond May 2023 may be dependent on its ability to continue to raise additional capital to finance its operations.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Company’s Operations
In December 2019, the novel coronavirus SARS-Cov2, or COVID-19 outbreak, was reported to have surfaced in China. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) announced a global health emergency due to the risks to the international community as the virus spread globally beyond its point of origin. In March 2020, the WHO classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic, based on the rapid increase in exposure globally. The Company is subject to the risks arising from the COVID-19 outbreak’s social and economic impacts on the healthcare services industry. The Company’s management believes that the social and economic impacts could have a significant impact on future financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations, which include but are not limited to the following: (i) restrictions on in-person activities arising from shelter-in-place, or similar isolation orders; (ii) inability to source specimens from the Company’s suppliers arising from shelter-in-place, or similar isolation orders; (iii) reduced capacity if personnel are infected or quarantined; (iv) decline in researcher demand for specimens; and (v) deteriorating economic conditions, such as increased unemployment rates and recessionary conditions.
The COVID-19 outbreak has continued to impact the Company’s operations during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Company initially implemented measures to help stabilize revenue as well as measures to reduce costs. To stabilize revenue, the Company added COVID-19 samples to its product line to support growing research in this area
7
and also implemented mobile phlebotomy to more easily access research subjects. Cost saving measures included the elimination of non-essential travels and in-person training activities, the deferral of certain planned expenditures, and the furlough of a small number of employees in August 2020. Given the evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and the global responses to curb its spread, the Company expects this matter to continue to have an impact on its results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity. However, the extent of the financial impact and the duration cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
Impact of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine on the Company’s Operations
The Company’s business was negatively impacted during the first quarter of 2022 by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the start of the conflict, the Company had approximately $1 million of purchase orders that were slated to be fulfilled by the Company’s supply network in Ukraine and Russia. This supply network shut down quickly at the start of the conflict. Ukrainian suppliers were disabled due to conflict conditions and evacuations and Russian suppliers were disabled by sanctions. While the Company mobilized to shift these purchase orders to other suppliers in the network, the process of getting specimen collections from other supply sites took time, which caused a delay in the fulfillment of such purchase orders. The Company believes that it has successfully resourced the purchased orders from different suppliers.
The short and long-term implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are difficult to predict at this time. The imposition of sanctions and counter sanctions may have an adverse effect on the economic markets generally and could impact the Company’s business and the businesses of the Company’s supply partners, especially those in Ukraine and Russia. Because of the highly uncertain and dynamic nature of these events, it is not currently possible to estimate the impact of Russian’s invasion of Ukraine on the Company’s business and the companies from which the Company obtains supplies and distributes specimens.
2.SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company’s significant accounting policies and recent accounting standards are summarized in Note 2 of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. There were no significant changes to these accounting policies during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Company’s unaudited condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company utilizes certain estimates in the determination of the fair value of its common stock and warrants, deferred tax valuation allowances, revenue recognition, share-based compensation, and accrued expenses amongst others. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other market-specific or other relevant assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from such estimates.
Fair Value Measurements
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. To increase the comparability of fair value measures, the following hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation methodologies used to measure fair value:
● | Level 1 — Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in active markets. |
● | Level 2 — Valuations based on observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. |
● | Level 3 — Valuations based on unobservable inputs reflecting the Company’s own assumptions, consistent with reasonably available assumptions made by other market participants. These valuations require significant judgment. |
8
For certain financial instruments, including cash, accounts receivable, and accounts payable, the carrying amounts approximate their fair values as of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021 because of their short-term nature.
Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable
The Company recognizes revenue using the five-step approach as follows: (1) identify the contract with the customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and (5) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligations.
The Company generates revenue by procuring various specimens from hospitals, laboratories, and other supply sites, for the Company’s medical research customers using the Company’s proprietary software, the iSpecimen Marketplace, to identify, locate, and ultimately validate the required specimens to the Company’s customers’ requested specifications. The Company’s performance obligation is to procure a specimen meeting the customer specification(s) from a supplier, on a “best efforts” basis, for the Company’s customer at the agreed price per specimen as indicated in the customer contract with the Company. The Company does not currently charge suppliers or customers for the use of the Company’s proprietary software. Each customer will execute a material and data use agreement with the Company or agrees to online purchase terms, each of which includes terms such as specimen and data use, shipment terms, payment and cancellation terms. These are then supplemented by purchase orders that specify specimen requirements including detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria, quantities to be collected, and pricing. Collectively, these customer agreements represent the Company’s contracts with its customer. Generally, contracts have fixed unit pricing. For certain specimen orders, a refundable customer deposit may be required prior to order fulfillment depending on project set-up requirements, presented as deferred revenue. The Company expects to recognize the deferred revenue within the next twelve months.
Specimen collections occur at supply sites within the Company’s network. “Collection” is when the specimen has been removed, or “collected” from the patient or donor. A specimen is often collected specifically for a particular Company order. Once collected, the specimen is assigned by the supplier to the Company and control of the specimen passes to the Company. “Accession” is the process whereby a collected specimen and associated data are registered and assigned in the iSpecimen Marketplace to a particular customer order, which can occur while a specimen is at the supplier site or while at the Company site and is when control of the specimen passes to the customer. Suppliers may ship specimens to the Company or directly to the customer, if specimens must be delivered within a short time period (less than 24 hours after collection) or shipping to the Company is not practical.
The Company has evaluated principal versus agent considerations as part of the Company’s revenue recognition policy. The Company has concluded that it acts as principal in the arrangement as it manages the procurement process from beginning to end and determines which suppliers will be used to fulfill an order, usually take physical possession of the specimens, set prices for the specimens, and bear the responsibility for customer credit risk.
The Company recognizes revenue over time, as the Company has created an asset with no alternative use to the Company which has an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. At contract inception, the Company reviews a contract, and related order upon receipt, to determine if the specimen ordered has an alternative use by us. Generally, specimens ordered do not have an alternative future use to the Company and the performance obligation is satisfied when the related specimens are accessioned. The Company uses an output method to recognize revenue for specimens with no alternative future use. The output is measured based on the number of specimens accessioned. In the rare circumstances where specimens do have an alternative future use, the Company's performance obligation is satisfied at the time of shipment.
Customers are typically invoiced upon shipment. Depending on the quantity of specimens ordered, it may take several accounting periods to completely fulfill a purchase order. In other words, there can be multiple invoices issued for a single purchase order, reflecting the specimens being accessioned over time. However, specimens are generally shipped as soon as possible after they have been accessioned.
Once a specimen that has no alternative future use, and for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment, has been accessioned, the Company records the offset to revenue in accounts receivable -- unbilled. Once the specimen has been shipped and invoiced, a reclassification is made from accounts receivable -- unbilled to accounts receivable.
9
Customers are generally given fourteen days from the receipt of specimens to inspect the specimens to ensure compliance with specifications set forth in the purchase order documentation. Customers are entitled to either receive replacement specimens or receive reimbursement of payments made for such specimens. The Company has a nominal history of returns for nonacceptance of specimens delivered. When this has occurred, the Company has given the customer a credit for the returns. The Company has not recorded a returns allowance.
The following table summarizes the Company’s revenue for the three months ended March 31:
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| |||
Specimens – contracts with customers | $ | 2,372,386 | $ | 2,947,295 | |||
Shipping and other |
| 146,274 |
| 16,512 | |||
Revenue | $ | 2,518,660 | $ | 2,963,807 |
The Company carries its accounts receivable at the invoiced amount less an allowance for doubtful accounts. On a periodic basis, the Company evaluates its accounts receivable to determine if an allowance for doubtful accounts is necessary, based on economic conditions and each customer’s payment history. Receivables are written off when deemed uncollectible, with any future recoveries recorded as income when received. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $184,837 and $269,170, respectively.
The Company applies the practical expedient to account for shipping and handling activities as fulfillment cost rather than as a separate performance obligation. Shipping and handling costs incurred are included in cost of revenue.
Internally Developed Software, Net
The Company capitalizes certain internal and external costs incurred during the application development stage of internal-use software projects until the software is ready for its intended use. Amortization of the asset commences when the software is complete and placed into service and is recorded in operating expenses. The Company amortizes completed internal-use software over its estimated useful life of five years on a straight-line basis. Costs incurred during the planning, training and post-implementation stages of the software development life cycle are classified as technology costs and are expensed to operations as incurred.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Management reviews long-lived assets for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when expected cash flows are less than the asset’s carrying value. Long-lived assets consist of property and equipment and internal-use software. No impairment charges were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.
Share-Based Compensation
The Company records share-based compensation for options granted to employees, non-employees, and to members of the board of directors for their services on the board of directors based on the grant date fair value of awards issued, and the expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. The Company has concluded that its historical share option exercise experience does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. Therefore, the expected term was determined according to the simplified method, which is the average of the vesting tranche dates and the contractual term. Due to the lack of Company-specific historical and implied volatility data, the estimate of expected volatility is primarily based on the historical volatility of a group of similar companies that are publicly traded. For these analyses, companies with comparable characteristics are selected, including enterprise value and position within the industry, and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected life of the share-based awards. The
10
Company computes the historical volatility data using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the equivalent period of the calculated expected term of its share-based awards.
The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining maturities similar to the expected term of the options. The Company has not paid, and does not anticipate paying, cash dividends on shares of its common stock.
Subsequent to the IPO, the fair value of the Company's common stock was equal to the closing price on the specified grant date.
Prior to the IPO, in order to determine the fair value of the Company’s common stock, the Company considered, among other things, contemporaneous valuations of the Company’s common stock, the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, including related industry trends affecting its operations; the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering, or sale, given prevailing market conditions; the lack of marketability of the Company’s common stock; the market performance of comparable publicly traded companies; and U.S. and global economic and capital market conditions. The fair value of the Company’s common stock was estimated to be $3.83 per share at March 31, 2021.
Restricted Stock Units
The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense from restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) ratably over the specified vesting period. The fair value of RSUs is determined to be the closing share price of the Company's common stock on the grant date.
Common Stock Warrants
The Company accounts for common stock warrants as either equity instruments or liabilities, depending on the specific terms of the warrant agreement. The warrants shall be classified as a liability if 1) the underlying shares are classified as liabilities or 2) the entity can be required under any circumstances to settle the warrant by transferring cash or other assets. The measurement of equity-classified nonemployee share-based payments is generally fixed on the grant date and are considered compensatory. For additional discussion on warrants, see Note 7.
Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss applicable to common stockholders by the weighted- average number of shares outstanding during the period, without consideration for common stock equivalents. Diluted net loss per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted-average number of shares outstanding for the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents outstanding for the period, determined using the treasury-stock method. For purposes of the diluted net loss per share calculation, the potential impact of shares to be issued upon conversion of Series A, Series A-1 and Series B preferred stock, stock options, and warrants to purchase common stock are considered to be common stock equivalents but have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share, as their effect would be anti-dilutive for all periods presented. Therefore, basic and diluted net loss per share applicable to common stockholders were the same for all periods presented.
The table below provides common stock equivalents excluded from diluted net loss per share as of March 31:
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |
Shares issuable upon conversion of preferred stock | — | 1,291,012 | ||
Shares issuable upon vesting of RSUs | 291,167 | — | ||
Shares issuable upon exercise of stock options | 176,142 | 265,102 | ||
Shares issuable upon exercise of PIPE Warrant (defined below) to purchase common stock | 1,312,500 | — | ||
Shares issuable upon exercise of Lender Warrant (defined below) to purchase common stock | 12,500 | 23,309 | ||
Shares issuable upon exercise of Underwriter Warrants (defined below) to purchase common stock | 90,000 | — |
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Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), which modifies ASC 740 to reduce complexity while maintaining or improving the usefulness of the information provided to users of financial statements. ASU 2019-12 is effective for the Company for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company adopted this new standard as of January 1, 2022, but it did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB established Topic 842, Leases, by issuing ASU No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), which requires lessees to recognize leases on balance sheet and disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The new standard establishes a right-of-use model (“ROU”) that requires a lessee to recognize a ROU asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with a term longer than 12 months. Leases are classified as finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern and classification of expense recognition in the income statement.
In June 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-05 (“ASU 2020-05”) which pushed back the effective date of the adoption of ASC 842 one year for private and not-for-profit entities that did not issue or serve as conduit bond obligors and had not yet adopted the standard. The new effective date was for fiscal year periods beginning after December 15, 2021.
The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 effective January 1, 2022 using the Comparatives Under 840 transition method whereby the Company will continue to present prior period financial statements and disclosures under ASC 840. In addition, the Company elected the transition package of three practical expedients permitted within the standard, among other practical expedients which allowed the Company to carry forward prior conclusions about lease identification and classification which allows not separating lease and non-lease components and allows not recording leases with an initial term of twelve months or less on the balance sheet across all existing asset classes.
Adoption of the new standard resulted in the balance sheet recognition of additional assets of $333,000 and lease liabilities of approximately $333,000. For additional information regarding the Company’s lease arrangements, see Note 6 in the notes to unaudited condensed financial statements.
3.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
Property and equipment, net consisted of the following at the dates indicated:
March 31, | December 31, | |||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 | |||
(unaudited) | ||||||
Website | $ | 107,927 | $ | 107,927 | ||
Computer equipment and purchased software |
| 84,588 |
| 84,588 | ||
Equipment |
| 35,449 |
| 35,449 | ||
Furniture and fixtures |
| 87,184 |
| 87,184 | ||
Leasehold improvements |
| 24,935 |
| 24,935 | ||
Total property and equipment |
| 340,083 |
| 340,083 | ||
Accumulated depreciation |
| (312,014) |
| (307,302) | ||
Total property and equipment, net | $ | 28,069 | $ | 32,781 |
Depreciation expense for property and equipment was $4,712 and $11,130 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
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4.INTERNALLY DEVELOPED SOFTWARE, NET
During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company capitalized $339,162 and $214,534, respectively, of internally developed software costs in connection with the development and continued enhancement of the technology platform and web interfaces. Capitalized costs primarily consist of software costs, payroll and payroll-related costs for the Company’s employees. The Company recognized $266,219 and $235,229 of amortization expense associated with capitalized internally developed software costs during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
5.DEBT
Term Loan
On August 13, 2021 (the "Closing Date"), the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement (“Term Loan”) with Western Alliance Bank (the "Lender") in the amount of $3,500,000 for working capital needs. The Company has the option to request an additional advance in the amount of $1,500,000, which the Company had not yet borrowed as of March 31, 2022. The additional advance of $1,500,000 is available to the Company during the draw period commencing on the Closing Date and ending the earlier to occur of (a) February 13, 2023, and (b) an event of default. The Term Loan bears interest at a rate equal to three-quarters of one percent (0.75%) above the Prime Rate. As of March 31, 2022, the interest rate on the Term Loan was 4.00% which was equal to 0.75% above the Prime Rate of 3.25%. Interest is due and payable on the tenth (10th) calendar day of each month during the term of the Term Loan. The Term Loan principal is payable in thirty () equal monthly installments, plus accrued interest, beginning on March 10, 2023, and continuing on the same day of each month through August 10, 2025 (the "Term Loan Maturity Date"), at which time all amounts shall be immediately due and payable.
The Company shall have the option to prepay all, but not less than all, of the outstanding loan balance, provided the Company a) delivers written notice to the financial institution of their election to prepay such Term Loan at least ten (10) days prior to such prepayment and b) pay, on the date of such prepayment, (1) all outstanding principal with respect to the Term Loan, plus accrued but unpaid interest, plus (2) all fees (including any late fee), and other sums, including bank expenses, if any, that shall have become due and payable. The Lender which holds the Term Loan is granted a security interest in substantially all assets of the Company (“Collateral”). The Term Loan contains certain covenants that the Company considers usual and customary for an agreement of this type for comparable commercial borrowers. As of March 31, 2022, the Company was not in compliance with one of the Term Loan covenants. See Note 10.
The outstanding principal balance on the Term Loan was $3,500,000 as of March 31, 2022, and interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was $35,000.
Debt issuance costs totaled $81,989, comprised of a warrant to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock issued to the Lender with a fair value of $49,072 (the "Lender Warrant"), fees of $23,066 paid to the Lender and legal costs of $9,851. Amortization of the debt issuance costs related to the Term Loan, included in interest expense on the statement of operations, totaled $3,048 for the period ending March 31, 2022.
Unamortized debt issuance costs on the Term Loan totaled $74,336 and $77,384 as of March 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, respectively.
As of March 31, 2022, future minimum payments due related to the Term Loan were as follows:
2022 (excluding 3 months ended March 31, 2022) | $ | — | |
2023 |
| 1,166,667 | |
2024 |
| 1,400,000 | |
2025 | 933,333 | ||
Total | 3,500,000 | ||
Less debt issuance cost | (74,336) | ||
Term Loan, net | $ | 3,425,664 |
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6.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases
The Company has one operating lease of office space in Lexington, Massachusetts that will expire on February 28, 2024.
Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet date, and the Company does not separate lease and non-lease components of contracts. There are no material residual guarantees associated with any of the Company’s leases, and there are no significant restrictions or covenants included in the Company’s lease agreements.
The Company’s lease agreement does not provide an implicit borrowing rate. Therefore, the Company used a benchmark approach to derive an appropriate imputed discount rate. The Company benchmarked itself against other companies of similar credit ratings and comparable quality and derived an imputed rate, which was used to discount its real estate lease liabilities. The Company used estimated incremental borrowing rates for its active real estate lease. The calculated incremental borrowing rate was 5.96%, which was calculated based on remaining lease term of 1.92 years as of January 1, 2022.
There was no sublease rental income for the three months ended March 31, 2022, and the Company is not the lessor in any lease arrangement, and there were no related-party lease agreements.
Undiscounted Cash Flows
Future lease payments included in the measurement of lease liabilities on the balance sheet are as follows:
| |||
2022 (excluding three months ended March 31, 2022) | $ | 122,631 | |
2023 |
| 165,254 | |
2024 |
| 27,601 | |
Total future minimum lease payments | 315,486 | ||
Less effect of discounting | (18,104) | ||
Present value of future minimum lease payments | $ | 297,382 |
Rent expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 amounted to $44,957 and $40,178, respectively.
Cash Flows
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating lease for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was as follows:
Non-cash operating lease expense (operating cash flow) | $ | 36,291 | |
Change in operating lease liabilities (operating cash flow) | $ | (35,741) | |
Supplemental non-cash amounts of operating lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets | $ | 333,123 |
Legal Proceedings
From time to time the Company is involved in litigation, claims, and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Such litigation and other proceedings may include, but are not limited to, actions relating to employment law and misclassification, intellectual property, commercial or contractual claims, or other consumer protection statutes. Litigation and other disputes are inherently unpredictable and subject to substantial uncertainties and unfavorable resolutions could occur. As of March 31, 2022, there was no material litigation against the Company.
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7.STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
The Company’s authorized capital is 250,000,000 shares, of which (1) 200,000,000 shares are common stock, par value $0.0001 per share and (2) 50,000,000 are preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which may, at the sole discretion of the Company’s board of directors be issued in one or more series.
Common Stock
During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company issued 77,679 shares of common stock for cash exercises of options of $75,277.
Warrants
Underwriter Warrants
In connection with the Company's underwriting agreement with ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc. and the representative of the Company’s IPO underwriters, the Company entered into a warrant agreement to purchase up to 90,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 (the "Underwriter Warrant"). The Underwriter Warrant is exercisable at a per share exercise price of $10.00 and is exercisable at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four- and one-half year period commencing 180 days from the effective date of the registration statement. The Warrant became exercisable on or after December 16, 2021 (six months from the effective date of the offering) and expires on June 15, 2026. Upon issuance of these warrants, as partial compensation for its services as an underwriter, the fair value of approximately $0.4 million was recorded as equity issuance costs in period ended December 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2022, the Underwriter Warrant had not been exercised, and had a weighted average exercise price of $0.64 per share and a remaining weighted average time to expiration of 4.21 years.
Lender Warrant
In connection with the Term Loan entered into on August 13, 2021, the Company issued a Lender Warrant to Lender to purchase 12,500 shares of common stock of the Company. The Lender Warrant is exercisable at a per share exercise price of $8.00 and is exercisable at any time on or after August 13, 2021 through August 12, 2031. The Company determined that the Lender Warrant was equity-classified. As of March 31, 2022, the Lender Warrant had not been exercised, and had a weighted average exercise price of $12.06 per share and a remaining weighted average time to expiration of 9.38 years.
PIPE Warrants
On December 1, 2021, the Company completed a private placement (the “PIPE”) in which the Company issued warrants (the “PIPE Warrants”) to purchase up to an aggregate of 1,312,500 shares of common stock. These PIPE Warrants have an exercise price of $13.00 per share and are immediately exercisable upon issuance and will expire on the five- and one-half-year anniversary of the issuance date. As of March 31, 2022, the PIPE Warrants had not been exercised, and had a weighted average exercise price of $12.06 per share and a remaining weighted average time to expiration of 4.87 year.
The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of warrants granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model during the three months ended March 31:
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| |
Assumptions: |
|
|
|
| |
Risk-free interest rate |
| — | 0.90% - 1.30% | ||
Expected term (in years) |
| — | - | ||
Expected volatility |
| — | 59% - 69% | ||
Expected dividend yield |
| — | — |
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A summary of warrant activity during the three months ended March 31, 2022 was as follows:
Weighted | |||||||
Average | |||||||
Weighted | Remaining | ||||||
Warrants | Average | Contractual Term | |||||
| Outstanding |
| Exercise Price |
| in Years | ||
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
| 1,415,000 | $ | 9.76 |
| 5.34 | |
Granted |
| — | — |
| — | ||
Exercised |
| — | — |
| — | ||
Cancelled/forfeited |
| — | — |
| — | ||
Balance at March 31, 2022 |
| 1,415,000 | $ | 9.76 |
| 5.22 |
8.SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock Options
As of March 31, 2022, there were 112,206 and 217,414 shares of common stock available for future grants under the Company’s 2013 Stock Incentive Plan and 2021 Plan (defined below) (collectively, the “Plans”), respectively.
The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model during the three months ended March 31:
2022 | 2021 | ||||
Assumptions: |
|
|
|
| |
Risk-free interest rate |
| — | 0.47% – 0.64% | ||
Expected term (in years) |
| — | 5.81 – 5.85 | ||
Expected volatility |
| — | 49.88% –49.98% | ||
Expected dividend yield |
| — | — |
A summary of stock option activity under the Plans is as follows:
Weighted | ||||||||||
Average | ||||||||||
Weighted | Remaining |
| ||||||||
Options | Average | Contractual Term |
| Aggregate | ||||||
| Outstanding |
| Exercise Price |
| in Years |
| Intrinsic Value | |||
Balance at December 31, 2021 |
| 255,147 | $ | 2.32 |
| 7.75 | $ | 1,550,409 | ||
Granted |
| — | — | — | — | |||||
Exercised |
| (77,679) | 1.04 | — | 336,632 | |||||
Cancelled/forfeited |
| (1,326) | 1.00 | — | ||||||
Balance at March 31, 2022 |
| 176,142 | $ | 1.18 |
| 8.01 | $ | 500,420 | ||
Options exercisable at March 31, 2022 |
| 135,786 | $ | 1.25 |
| 7.09 | $ | 559,850 |
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the difference between the Company's stock price as of the balance sheet date and the exercise price of each in-the-money option on the last day of the period. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was approximately $336,632 during the three months ended March 31, 2022. There were no options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2021.
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The weighted average grant date fair value of stock options issued in the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 was $0 and $1.77, respectively. The Company recorded stock options compensation expense as follows for the three months ended March 31:
| 2022 | 2021 | ||||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
| ||
General and administrative | $ | 26,337 | $ | 9,104 | ||
Sales and marketing | 1,075 | 1,950 | ||||
Fulfillment | 825 | 1,469 | ||||
Supply development |
| 306 |
| 288 | ||
Technology |
| 1,012 |
| 9,225 | ||
Total stock options expense | $ | 29,555 | $ | 22,036 |
A total of $212,195 of unamortized compensation expense at March 31, 2022 will be recognized over the remaining requisite service period of 2.1 years. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company received proceeds of $75,277 from the exercise of stock options.
2021 Stock Incentive Plan
On June 16, 2021, the Company adopted the iSpecimen Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan was adopted to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives. The 2021 Plan authorizes options, restricted stock, RSUs and other stock-based awards. The Company's board of directors, or any committee to which the board of directors delegates such authority, has the sole discretion in administering, interpreting, amending or accelerating the 2021 Plan. Awards may be made under the 2021 Plan for up to 608,000 shares of the Company's common stock, and the 2021 Plan was made effective with the completion of the IPO. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, 11,000 equity awards were issued under the 2021 Plan.
Restricted Stock Units
Total recognition of RSUs expense to employees was as follows for the three months ended March 31:
2022 | |||
Operating expenses: | |||
General and administrative | $ | 7,932 | |
Sales and marketing | 14,167 | ||
Fulfillment | 13,631 | ||
Supply development | 7,196 | ||
Technology | 13,400 | ||
Total RSU expense | $ | 56,326 |
These RSUs are subject to one-year cliff vesting, with 25% of the RSUs vesting on the first anniversary of issuance. The remaining RSUs vest quarterly over a three-year period. As of March 31, 2022, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to the unvested employee RSUs was $835,347, which the Company expects to recognize on a straight-line basis over a weighted average period of approximately 3.40 years. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, there were no RSUs issued.
During July 2021, the Company granted 189,396 RSUs to members of the executive team. Stock compensation expense of $78,955 was recorded in general and administrative expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022. These RSUs are subject to a four-year vesting period, with 20% of the RSUs vesting immediately upon issuance. The remaining RSUs vest annually over a four-year period. As of March 31, 2022, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to the unvested RSUs was $727,261 which the Company expects to recognize on a straight-line basis over a weighted average period of approximately 3.23 years.
17
During July 2021, the Company granted 12,500 RSUs to its directors. Stock compensation expense of $19,356 was recorded in general and administrative expense for the three months ended March 31, 2022. These RSUs vest quarterly over a one-year period. As of March 31, 2022, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to these unvested RSUs was $26,023 which the Company expects to recognize on a straight-line basis over a weighted average period of approximately years.
Weighted | |||||
RSUs | Average Grant | ||||
| Outstanding | Date Fair Value | |||
Unvested Balance at December 31, 2021 |
| 285,542 | $ | 6.77 | |
Granted |
| 11,000 | 4.06 | ||
Vested |
| (3,125) | 6.28 | ||
Forfeited |
| (2,250) | 1.27 | ||
Unvested Balance at March 31, 2022 |
| 291,167 | $ | 6.68 |
Performance Stock Units
During July 2021, the Company issued 47,349 performance stock units (“PSUs”) to four members of the executive team pursuant to each executive's employment agreement executed in connection with the IPO. The PSUs are subject to certain performance obligations relating to certain revenue and cost of revenue metrics to be determined at the beginning of each fiscal year within the four year vesting period. In year one of the four-year vesting period, the Company was not able to predict the likelihood of achieving the targets pursuant to the metrics in each of the executives' employment agreements, and therefore no stock compensation expense was recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2022.
9.INCOME TAXES
As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $32,500,000 and $30,300,000, respectively, of which approximately $13,000,000 expires at various periods through 2037 and approximately $19,500,000 and $17,300,000, respectively, can be carried forward indefinitely. As of March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $23,400,000 and $22,400,000, respectively, that expire at various periods through 2042, respectively. At March 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company had federal and state tax credits of approximately $900,000 and $850,000, respectively, available for future periods that expire at various periods through 2042. The Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against net deferred income tax assets due to a history of losses generated since inception.
10.SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Restricted Stock Units
Pursuant to the 2021 Plan, the Company granted 107,326 RSUs to employees in April 2022. Each RSU represents the right to receive one share of the Company’s common stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the RSU award agreement and the 2021 Plan. The RSUs vest as follows: 25% from the one-year anniversary of the vesting start date, and then the remainder of the shares will time-vest quarterly beginning fifteen months after the vesting start date and then every three months thereafter, through the fourth yearly anniversary of the vesting start date.
Waiver of Violation of Debt Covenant
In connection with the Term Loan, on April 25, 2022, the Company became aware that an event of default by the Company had occurred by reason of the Company’s violation of a financial covenant for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (the “Event of Default”), as set forth in the Company’s Term Loan with the Lender (see Note 5).
On April 29, 2022, the Company and the Lender entered into a waiver (the “Waiver”), pursuant to which the Lender agreed to waive the Event of Default and the Company agreed to release the Lender from all its claims from the beginning of the time through and
18
including the date of the Waiver, whether they relate to the Term Loan, the covenants or any other claims that the Company ever had or currently has against the Lender.
19
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
References in this report (the “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to iSpecimen Inc. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are not historical facts and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected and projected. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report including, without limitation, statements in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Words such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “seek” and variations and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance, but reflect management’s current beliefs, based on information currently available. A number of factors could cause actual events, performance or results to differ materially from the events, performance and results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For information identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the Risk Factors section of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 22, 2022. The Company’s securities filings can be accessed on the EDGAR section of the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as expressly required by applicable securities law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Overview
We were incorporated in 2009 under the laws of the state of Delaware. Our mission is to accelerate life science research and development via a single global marketplace platform, the iSpecimen Marketplace, which connects researchers to subjects, specimens, and associated data. We are headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts. We operate as one operating and reporting segment.
In addition to creating a single global platform where both specimen providers and researchers can connect, the iSpecimen Marketplace automates the process of searching for and selecting specimens for research. The platform taps into healthcare provider data to gain insights into the available samples in biobanks or laboratories, or to gain insights into the patient populations to support specimen collections directly from research subjects. The platform receives de-identified data from electronic medical records, laboratory information systems, and other healthcare data sources of available specimens and research subjects and harmonizes the data across all participating organizations.
Researchers can search this data using our intuitive web-based user interface to obtain specimens more efficiently. They can instantly find the specific specimens they need for their studies, request quotes for these specimens or for custom collections directly from research subjects, place orders, and track and manage their specimens and associated data across projects.
Biospecimen providers also gain efficiencies using the iSpecimen Marketplace, not only because the platform provides instant access to a large researcher base, but because the technology orchestrates the bioprocurement workflow from specimen request to fulfilment. Specimen providers access intuitive dashboards to view requests, create proposals, and track and manage their orders.
Finally, the platform helps with administrative and reporting functions for researchers, suppliers, and our internal personnel, including user and compliance management.
The iSpecimen Marketplace is composed of four major functional areas: search, workflow, data, and administration and reporting. We continue to invest in the evolution of these areas to improve engagement with the platform and liquidity across it. Our core business objective is to retain and grow both researcher and supplier usage of our platform to support biospecimen procurement, as well as to position the Company to explore other adjacent business opportunities that can benefit from the use of the iSpecimen Marketplace.
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The iSpecimen Marketplace currently supports the supply chain management and bioprocurement process for specimens and associated data. We generate revenue by procuring various specimens from hospitals, laboratories, and other supply sites comprising our network, and delivering them to our medical research customers using our proprietary software to identify and locate the required specimens. Costs paid to acquire specimens from hospitals and laboratories generally varies depending upon the sample type, collection requirements, and data provided. We generally operate in a “just in time” fashion, meaning we procure specimens from our suppliers and distribute specimens to our customers after we obtain an order for specimens from a research client. Generally, we do not speculatively purchase and bank samples in anticipation of future, unspecified needs. We believe our approach offers many advantages over a more traditional inventory-based supplier business model where biorepositories take inventory risks, and where inventory turnover and cash conversion cycles can be lengthy.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Our Operations
We are subject to the risks arising from the COVID-19 outbreak’s social and economic impacts on the healthcare services industry. Our management believes that the social and economic impacts could have a significant impact on future financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations, which include but are not limited to the following: (i) restrictions on in-person activities arising from shelter-in- place, or similar isolation orders, that limit our ability to procure specimens through our supply chain; (i) decline in researcher demand for specimens; and (iii) deteriorating economic conditions, such as increased unemployment rates and recessionary conditions.
Beginning in March 2020, COVID-19 affected our supply chain’s ability to fulfill specimen requests. As healthcare providers dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, many temporarily shuttered their research operations, including biospecimen collection capabilities, as they deployed resources to more critical parts of their organization or their employees stayed home to support social distancing measures.
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we implemented measures to help stabilize revenue, improve our cash position, and reduce costs. In May 2020, we applied for and received a loan in the amount of $783,008 from the Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act. Cost saving measures included the elimination of non-essential travel and in-person training activities, deferral of certain planned expenditures, and the furlough of 7% of our employees in August 2020.
To stabilize revenue, we added COVID-19 samples to our product line to support growing research in this area and also contracted with mobile phlebotomy service providers to more easily collect specimens from research subjects who may be practicing social distancing. We received our first request for samples from patients with a prior or current COVID-19 infection on March 18, 2020, and through March 31, 2022, we fulfilled additional COVID-19 specimen requests. Because of our large, geographically diverse network with many sites around the country and the world, we were able to respond quickly to this new demand and match requests for COVID-19 specimens to sites in areas of outbreak. As a result, during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, approximately 19%, and 20%, respectively, of our total purchase orders were related to COVID-19 specimens.
While our supply sites were mostly operational as of March 31, 2022, we expect that while the pandemic lasts, we will continue to experience slowdowns in specimen collections as the pandemic surges in various parts of the world due to social distancing on the part of research subjects, supply partner site employees, and customer research organizations. There is still considerable uncertainty around the duration of this COVID-19 outbreak and its future impact. While we implemented measures to help stabilize revenue as well as measures to reduce costs in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, given the daily evolution of the COVID-19 outbreak and the global responses to curb its spread, we expect this matter to continue to have an impact on our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity, which cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.
Impact of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine on Our Operations
Our business was negatively impacted during the first quarter of 2022 by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. At the start of the conflict, we had approximately $1 million of purchase orders that were slated to be fulfilled by our supply network in Ukraine and Russia. This supply network shut down quickly at the start of the conflict. Ukrainian suppliers were disabled due to conflict conditions and evacuations and Russian suppliers were disabled by sanctions. While we mobilized to shift these purchase orders to other suppliers in our network, the process of getting specimen collections from other supply sites took time, which has caused a delay in the fulfillment of such purchase orders.
The short and long-term implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are difficult to predict at this time. Our Russian and Ukrainian suppliers may continue to be inaccessible to us throughout the conflict and we may have difficulty finding alternate suppliers with
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similar unit economics. Additionally, the imposition of sanctions and counter sanctions may have an adverse effect on the economic markets and could impact our business and the businesses of our supply partners and customers generally. Because of the highly uncertain and dynamic nature of these events, it is not currently possible to estimate the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on our business and the companies from which we obtain supplies and distribute specimens.
Known Trends, Demands, Commitments, Events or Uncertainties Impacting Our Business
We are committed to investing in and developing our technology. For the first quarter of 2022 we capitalized approximately $339,000 for internally developed software and have plans to continue investing at the level for the remainder of the year. We anticipate that these investments will increase revenue opportunities and result in operational efficiencies, positively impacting our liquidity, capital resources and results of operations in the future with a less than two-year rate of return on the investment.
We continue to experience declines in our COVID-19 revenue. For the first quarter of 2022 our COVID-19 revenue was approximately $479,000 compared to approximately $682,000 for the same quarter in 2021, a $203,000, or 30%, decrease in COVID-19 revenue. We anticipate that our COVID-19 revenue will continue to decline, negatively impacting our liquidity, capital resources and results of operations at a level that is not currently determinable due to the uncertainty of the continued impact of COVID-19.
Director and officer insurance is a significant cost for us. Our current annual premium for this insurance is approximately $1.2 million. We are currently in the process of renegotiating this policy for the upcoming year. The trend in the insurance market for this type of insurance is continually rising premiums. If we are unable to effectively renegotiate this policy, we may have an increase in our annual premium, which would negatively impact our liquidity, capital resources and results of operations. This uncertainty is expected to be resolved by the end of the second quarter of 2022.
Components of Our Results of Operations
Revenue
We generate revenue by procuring various specimens from hospitals, laboratories, and other supply sites, for our medical research customers using our proprietary software, the iSpecimen Marketplace, to identify, locate, and ultimately validate the required specimens to our customers’ requested specifications. The Company’s performance obligation is to procure a specimen meeting the customer specification(s) from a supplier, on a “best efforts” basis, for our customer at the agreed price per specimen as indicated in the customer contract with the Company. We do not currently charge suppliers or customers for the use of our proprietary software. Each customer will execute a material and data use agreement with the Company or agrees to online purchase terms, each of which includes terms such as specimen and data use, shipment terms, payment and cancellation terms. These are then supplemented by purchase orders that specify specimen requirements including detailed inclusion/exclusion criteria, quantities to be collected, and pricing. Collectively, these customer agreements represent the Company’s contracts with its customer. Generally, contracts have fixed unit pricing. For certain specimen orders, a refundable customer deposit may be required prior to order fulfillment depending on project set-up requirements, presented as deferred revenue. The Company expects to recognize the deferred revenue within the next twelve months.
We recognize revenue over time, as we have created an asset with no alternative use and we have an enforceable right to payment for performance completed to date. At contract inception, we review a contract and related order upon receipt to determine if the specimen ordered has an alternative use to us. Generally, specimens ordered do not have an alternative future use to us and our performance obligation is satisfied when the related specimens are accessioned. We use an output method to recognize revenue for specimens with no alternative future use. The output is measured based on the number of specimens accessioned.
Customers are typically invoiced upon shipment. Depending on the quantity of specimens ordered, it may take several accounting periods to completely fulfill a purchase order. In other words, there can be multiple invoices issued for a single purchase order, reflecting the specimens being accessioned over time. However, specimens are generally shipped as soon as possible after they have been accessioned.
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Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue primarily consists of the purchase price to acquire specimens from hospitals and laboratories, inbound and outbound shipping costs, supply costs related to samples, payment processing and related transaction costs, and costs paid to the supply sites to support sample collections. Shipping costs upon receipt of products from suppliers are recognized in cost of revenue.
Additionally, we believe that loss from operations is a more meaningful measure of profitability than gross profit due to the nature of specimens accessioned and the diversity of our pricing.
Technology
Technology costs include payroll and related expenses for employees involved in the development and implementation of our technology, software license and system maintenance fees, outsourced data center costs, data management costs, depreciation and amortization, and other expenses necessary to support technology initiatives. Collectively, these costs reflect the efforts we make to offer a wide variety of products and services to our customers. Technology and data costs are generally expensed as incurred.
A portion of technology costs are related to research and development. Costs incurred for research and development are expensed as incurred, except for software development costs that are eligible for capitalization. Research and development costs primarily include salaries and related expenses, in addition to the cost of external service providers.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing costs primarily consist of payroll and related expenses for personnel engaged in marketing and selling activities, including salaries and sales commissions, travel expenses, public relations and social media costs, ispecimen.com website development and maintenance costs, search engine optimization fees, advertising costs, direct marketing costs, trade shows and events fees, marketing and customer relationship management software, and other marketing-related costs.
Supply Development
We have agreements with supply partners that allow us to procure specimens from them and distribute these samples to customers. Supply development costs primarily include payroll and related expenses for personnel engaged in the development and management of this supply network, related travel expenses, regulatory compliance costs to support the network, and other supply development and management costs.
Fulfillment
Fulfillment costs primarily consist of those costs incurred in operating and staffing operations and customer service teams, including costs attributable to assess the feasibility of specimen requests, creating and managing orders, picking, packaging, and preparing customer orders for shipment, responding to inquiries from customers, and laboratory equipment and supplies.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses primarily consist of costs for corporate functions, including payroll and related expenses for human resources, legal, finance, and executive teams, associated software licenses, facilities and equipment expenses, such as depreciation and amortization expense and rent, outside legal expenses, insurance costs, and other general and administrative costs.
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Financial Operations Overview and Analysis for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 (Unaudited)
Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021
Three months ended March 31, | Change |
| ||||||||||
2022 | 2021 | Dollars | Percentage |
| ||||||||
Revenue |
| $ | 2,518,660 |
| $ | 2,963,807 |
| $ | (445,147) |
| (15) | % |
Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||
Cost of revenue |
| 1,165,917 |
| 1,623,651 |
| (457,734) |
| (28) | % | |||
Technology |
| 527,522 |
| 409,951 |
| 117,571 |
| 29 | % | |||
Sales and marketing |
| 747,432 |
| 529,387 |
| 218,045 |
| 41 | % | |||
Supply development |
| 182,070 |
| 111,576 |
| 70,494 |
| 63 | % | |||
Fulfillment |
| 443,794 |
| 269,096 |
| 174,698 |
| 65 | % | |||
General and administrative |
| 1,810,313 |
| 962,790 |
| 847,523 |
| 88 | % | |||
Total operating expenses |
| 4,877,048 |
| 3,906,451 |
| 970,597 |
| 25 | % | |||
Loss from operations |
| (2,358,388) |
| (942,644) |
| 1,415,744 |
| 150 | % | |||
Other income (expense), net | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| (38,048) |
| (853,147) |
| 815,099 |
| 96 | % | |||
Interest income |
| 12,654 |
| 47 |
| 12,607 |
| 100 | % | |||
Other expense, net | 40 | (3,732) | 3,772 | 100 | % | |||||||
Loss on extinguishment of bridge notes and bridge notes, related parties |
| — |
| (2,750,171) |
| 2,750,171 |
| 100 | % | |||
Gain on extinguishment of note payable | — | 788,156 | (788,156) | 100 | % | |||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability on convertible notes | — | (154,000) | 154,000 | 100 | % | |||||||
Change in fair value of derivative liability on bridge notes and bridge notes, related parties |
| — |
| (48,000) |
| 48,000 |
| (100) | % | |||
Other expense, net |
| (25,354) |
| (3,020,847) |
| 2,995,493 |
| 99 | % | |||
Net loss | $ | (2,383,742) | $ | (3,963,491) | 1,579,749 |
| 40 | % |
Revenue
Revenue decreased by approximately $445,000 or 15%, from approximately $2,964,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $2,519,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. This was primarily due to the reduction in demand for COVID-19 specimens in the three months ended March 31, 2022, a shutdown in our Ukrainian and Russian supply network which impacted our ability to fulfill orders at the start of the conflict and offset by a slight increase in the average selling price of specimens overall. For the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, revenue derived from specimens related to COVID-19 accounted for approximately $479,000 and $682,000 or 19% and 23%, respectively, of our total revenue. Specimens accessioned during the three months ended March 31, 2022 decreased by 1,267, or 20%, to 4,924, compared to 6,191 of specimens accessioned during the three months ended March 31, 2021. There was a change in specimen mix that resulted in an increase in the average selling price per specimen of approximately $10 or 2% compared to the same prior year's period.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue decreased by approximately $458,000, or 28%, from approximately $1,624,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $1,166,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, which was attributable to an 11% decrease in the average cost per specimen as well as a decrease of 20% in specimens accessioned for the current period compared to the same prior year's period.
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Technology
Technology expenses increased by approximately $118,000, or 29% from approximately $410,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $528,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The period over period increase was related to increases in payroll and related expenses of approximately $87,000 and in depreciation and amortization of approximately $31,000.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses increased approximately $218,000, or 41%, from approximately $529,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $747,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The period over period increase was attributable to increases in payroll and related expenses of approximately $110,000, external marketing efforts of approximately $105,000 and an increase in general operating expenses of approximately $3,000.
Supply Development
Supply development expenses increased approximately $70,000, or 63%, from approximately $112,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $182,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The period over period increase was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and related expenses of approximately $74,000, partially offset by decreases in operating and regulatory compliance costs of approximately $4,000.
Fulfillment
Fulfillment costs increased approximately $175,000, or 65%, from approximately $269,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $444,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The period over period increase was primarily attributable to increases in payroll and related expenses of approximately $175,000 for personnel engaged in pre-sales feasibility assessments and post-sales fulfillment activities.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased approximately $848,000, or 88%, from approximately $963,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $1,810,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The period over period increase was attributable to increases in compensation costs of approximately $249,000, stock compensation of approximately $111,000, directors’ and officers’ insurance of approximately $336,000 and operating and maintenance expenses of approximately $152,000.
Other Expense, Net
Other expense, net, decreased approximately $2,995,000, or 99%, from approximately $3,021,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2021 to approximately $25,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022. The period over period decrease in other expense, net, was attributable to the decreases in loss on extinguishment of secured promissory notes the Company issued from 2018 to 2021 to investors and existing stockholders (the “bridge notes”) of approximately $2,750,000, interest expense of approximately $815,000, the change in fair value of derivative liabilities related to the convertible notes that the Company issued to related parties in 2017 and 2018 (the “convertible notes”), bridge notes of approximately $202,000 and an increase in interest income of approximately $16,000 offset by a gain in extinguishment of notes payable of approximately $788,000 which was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2021.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Change | |||||||||||||
March 31, 2022 | December 31, 2021 | Dollars | Percentage | ||||||||||
(unaudited) | |||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data: | |||||||||||||
Cash | $ | 26,099,178 | $ | 27,738,979 | (1,639,801) | (6) | % | ||||||
Working capital | 28,104,041 | 30,442,955 | (2,338,914) | (8) | % | ||||||||
Total assets | 33,287,316 | 35,719,598 | (2,432,282) | (7) | % | ||||||||
Accrued interest | 8,167 | 8,167 | — | — | % | ||||||||
Term loan, net of debt discount | 3,425,664 | 3,422,616 | 3,048 | — | % | ||||||||
Total stockholders' equity | 27,667,314 | 29,791,588 | (2,124,274) | (7) | % |
Three months ended March 31, | Change |
| |||||||||||
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| Dollars |
| Percentage |
|
| ||||
Statement of Cash Flow Data: | |||||||||||||
Net cash flows used in operating activities | $ | (1,375,916) | $ | (126,249) | $ | (1,249,667) | (990) | % | |||||
Net cash flows used in investing activities |
| (339,162) |
| (214,534) |
| (124,628) |
| (58) | % | ||||
Net cash flows provided by financing activities |
| 75,277 |
| — |
| 75,277 |
| 100 | % | ||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | $ | (1,639,801) | $ | (340,783) | $ | (1,299,018) |
Capital Resources
As of March 31, 2022, our available cash totaled approximately $26,100,000, which represented a decrease of approximately $1,640,000 compared to December 31, 2021. As of March 31, 2022, we had working capital of approximately $28,100,000. Since inception, we have relied upon raising capital to finance our operations. We intend to use our existing cash to further develop our technology, grow our supply network, increase our marketing and sales presence, scale our operations, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.
We believe our cash and cash equivalents, together with anticipated cash flow from operations will be sufficient to meet our working capital, and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, our revenue was negatively impacted because of a shutdown of our Ukrainian and Russian supply network at the start of the conflict, resulting in, among other things, our failure to comply with one of the financial covenants in our Term Loan with Western Alliance Bank (the "Lender"). Additionally, we are continuing to experience a reduction in COVID-19 revenue that has not been more than the offset by increases in non-COVID-19 revenue. In the event that revenue, during the next 12 months, continues to fall short of our projections or if our plans or assumptions change, including as a result of the Russia invasion of Ukraine or the impact of COVID-19 or if inflation begins to have a greater impact on our business or if we decide to move forward with any activities that require more outlays of cash than originally planned, we may need to raise additional capital sooner than expected. Our ability to obtain capital to implement our growth strategy over the longer term will depend on our future operating performance, financial condition and, more broadly, on the availability of equity and debt financing. Capital availability will be affected by prevailing conditions in our industry, the global economy, the global financial markets, and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, any additional debt service requirements we take on could be based on higher interest rates and shorter maturities and could impose a significant burden on our results of operations and financial condition, and the issuance of additional equity securities could result in significant dilution to stockholders.
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Cash Flows
Operating Activities
For the three months ended March 31, 2022, net cash used in operating activities was approximately $1,376,000, which consisted of a net loss of approximately $2,384,000 offset by non-cash charges of approximately $623,000, which included $266,000 related to amortization of internally developed software, $184,000 in stock-based compensation, $165,000 in bad debt expense, $5,000 related to depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, and $3,000 of amortization of discount on the Term Loan with the Lender. Total changes in assets and liabilities of approximately $385,000 were attributable to a $481,000 decrease in accounts receivable-unbilled, a $481,000 decrease in accounts receivable, a $36,000 decrease in operating lease right-of-use asset, a $31,000 decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets and a $30,000 increase in accrued expenses partially offset by a $551,000 decrease in accounts payable and a $87,000 decrease in deferred revenue.
For the three months ended March 31, 2021, net cash used in operating activities was approximately $126,000, which consisted of a net loss of approximately $3,963,000 offset by non-cash charges of approximately $2,744,000, which included a $2,750,000 loss on extinguishment of bridge notes, $290,000 of amortization of discount on amended bridge notes, $235,000 related to amortization of internally developed software, a $202,000 loss on derivative liabilities, $22,000 in stock based compensation, $21,000 in bad debt expense, $11,000 related to depreciation and amortization of property and equipment, and $1,000 of amortization of discount and debt issuance costs on convertible notes, offset by a $788,000 gain on the extinguishment of the note payable. Total changes in assets and liabilities of approximately $1,093,000 were attributable to a $926,000 decrease in accounts receivable, a $562,000 increase in accrued interest, an increase in accrued expenses of $308,000, an increase of $299,000 in accounts payable, offset by $496,000 of due from factor, an increase in accounts-receivable unbilled of $427,000, a decrease of $69,000 in deferred revenue, and a $10,000 increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $339,000 and $215,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively, which consisted of approximately $339,000 and $215,000 of capitalization of internally developed software, respectively.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $75,000 and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 consisted of approximately $75,000 in proceeds from the exercise of stock options.
Effects of Inflation and Supply Chain Shortages
Our operations are heavily reliant on specimen availability, and as a result, we often receive more requests than we can fulfill. While the Company is subject to these types of supply chain constraints that are specific to the specimen industry, we have not been affected by the more common supply chain issues currently affecting the economy, specifically surrounding transportation. Due to the small size of the packages that we ship, our carriers were able to continue making timely deliveries during the three months ended March 31, 2022.
We have experienced negative effects of inflation in certain areas of our business due to the high rates of inflation in the world’s current economy. This inflation is affecting employee salaries, which account for a significant portion of our operating costs. Additionally, costs of supplies have been affected by inflation; however, these costs are not significant to the Company’s results.
Inflation has not had a significant impact on the cost of specimens due to our long-term contracts maintained with vendors, which include revenue sharing plans.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
To supplement our financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we use adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”), a non-GAAP financial measure, to understand and evaluate our core operating performance. This non-GAAP financial measure, which may
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be different than similarly titled measures used by other companies, is presented to enhance investors’ overall understanding of our financial performance and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP.
We define our non-GAAP financial measure of Adjusted EBITDA as net loss, excluding income tax benefit, change in fair value of derivative liabilities, loss on extinguishment of bridge notes and related party bridge notes, gain on extinguishment of note payable, interest expense, depreciation and amortization, and share-based compensation expense.
We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information about our financial performance, enhances the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allows for greater transparency with respect to a key metric used by our management for financial and operational decision-making. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA helps identify underlying trends in our business that otherwise could be masked by the effect of the expenses that we exclude in Adjusted EBITDA. In particular, we believe the exclusion of the change in fair value of derivative liabilities on the bridge notes and convertible notes provides a useful supplemental measure in evaluating the performance of our operations and provides better transparency into our results of operations.
We are presenting the non-GAAP measure of Adjusted EBITDA to assist investors in seeing our financial performance through the eyes of management, and because we believe this measure provides an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry.
Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of Adjusted EBITDA compared to net loss, the closest comparable GAAP measure. Some of these limitations are that:
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The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most comparable GAAP financial measure, for each of the three months ended March 31:
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Net loss | $ | (2,383,742) | $ | (3,963,491) | |||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 270,932 |
| 246,359 | |||
Share-based compensation |
| 184,191 |
| 22,036 | |||
Interest expense |
| 38,048 |
| 853,147 | |||
Loss on extinguishment of bridge notes and bridge notes, related parties |
| — |
| 2,750,171 | |||
Gain on extinguishment of note payable |
| — |
| (788,156) | |||
Change in fair value of derivative liability on convertible notes |
| — |
| 154,000 | |||
Change in fair value of derivative liability on bridge notes and bridge notes, relates parties |
| — |
| 48,000 | |||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | (1,890,571) | $ | (677,934) |
Critical Accounting Policies
A summary of the significant accounting policies is provided in Note 2 of our unaudited condensed financial statements included in this Quarterly Report.
Discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these unaudited condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, revenue, and expenses at the date of the unaudited condensed financial statements. Generally, we base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions in accordance with GAAP that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Critical accounting policies and estimates are those that we consider the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations because they require our most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. The following accounting policies involve estimates that are considered critical due to the level of subjectivity and judgment involved, as well as the impact on our financial position and results of operations.
Internally Developed Software
We capitalize certain internal and external costs incurred during the application development stage of internal use software projects until the software is ready for its intended use. Amortization of the asset commences when the software is complete and placed into service and is recorded in operating expenses. We amortize completed internal-use software over its estimated useful life of five years on a straight-line basis. Costs incurred during the planning, training and post-implementation stages of the software development life cycle are classified as technology costs and expensed to operations as incurred. Costs that do not meet the capitalization criteria are expensed as incurred.
Share-based Compensation
We record share-based compensation for options granted to employees, non-employees, and to members of the board of directors for their services on the board of directors based on the grant date fair value of awards issued, and the expense is recorded on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur.
We use the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock options. The use of the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model requires management to make assumptions with respect to the expected term of the option, the expected volatility of the common stock consistent with the expected life of the option, risk-free interest rates and expected dividend yields of the common stock. We have concluded that its historical share option exercise experience does not provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term. Therefore, the expected term was determined according to the simplified method, which is the average of the vesting tranche dates and the contractual term. Due to the lack of Company-specific historical and implied volatility data, the estimate
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of expected volatility is primarily based on the historical volatility of a group of similar companies that are publicly traded. For these analyses, companies with comparable characteristics are selected, including enterprise value and position within the industry, and with historical share price information sufficient to meet the expected life of the share-based awards. We compute the historical volatility data using the daily closing prices for the selected companies’ shares during the equivalent period of the calculated expected term of its share-based awards. The risk-free interest rate is determined by reference to U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining maturities similar to the expected term of the options. We have not paid, and do not anticipate paying, cash dividends on shares of our common stock.
Common Stock Valuations
For all periods prior to our initial public offering, there was no public market for our common stock, and, as a result, the fair value of the shares of common stock underlying our share-based awards was estimated on each grant date by our board of directors. To determine the fair value of our common stock underlying option grants, our board of directors considered, among other things, input from management, valuations of our common stock prepared by unrelated third-party valuation firms in accordance with the guidance provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2013 Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, and our board of directors’ assessment of additional objective and subjective factors that it believed were relevant, and factors that may have changed from the date of the most recent valuation through the date of the grant. These factors included, but were not limited to:
For our valuations of common stock performed, we used a hybrid method of the Option Pricing Method (“OPM”) and the Probability-Weighted Expected Return Method (“PWERM”). PWERM considers various potential liquidity outcomes. Our approach included the use of an initial public offering scenario and a scenario assuming continued operation as a private entity. Under the hybrid OPM and PWERM, the per share value calculated under the OPM and PWERM are weighted based on expected exit outcomes and the quality of the information specific to each allocation methodology to arrive at a final estimated fair value per share of the common stock before a discount for lack of marketability is applied.
To determine the fair value of our common stock, we first determined our enterprise value using accepted valuation approaches; adjusted these valuation approaches with relevant discounts; weighted the results appropriately; and then allocated the equity value to our common stock and common stock equivalents. Our enterprise value was estimated using two generally accepted approaches: the income approach and the market approach. The income approach estimates enterprise value based on the estimated present value of future cash
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flows the business is expected to generate over its remaining life. The estimated present value is calculated using a discount rate reflective of the risks associated with an investment in a similar company in a similar industry or having a similar history of revenue growth. The market approach measures the value of a business through an analysis of recent sales or offerings of comparable investments or assets, and in our case, focused on comparing us to a group of our peer companies. In applying this method, valuation multiples are derived from historical and projected operating data of the peer company group. We then apply the selected multiples to our operating data to arrive at a range of indicated enterprise values of the Company. We then subtracted the net debt to determine equity value.
As a result of our initial public offering in June 2021, it is not necessary to determine the fair value of our common stock, as our shares are traded in the public market.
Recent Accounting Standards
For information on recent accounting standards, see Note 2 to our annual report on Form 10-K filed on March 22, 2022.
JOBS Act Transition Period
On April 5, 2012, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, (the “JOBS Act”) was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.
We have elected not to “opt out” of such extended transition period, which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we will adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard and will do so until such time that we either (i) irrevocably elect to “opt out” of such extended transition period or (ii) no longer qualify as an emerging growth company.
We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, as an “emerging growth company,” we intend to rely on certain of these exemptions, including without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and (ii) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the PCAOB regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) December 31, 2026; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Not applicable for smaller reporting companies.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2022, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that during the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable assurance level and, accordingly, provided reasonable assurance that the information required
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to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended March 31, 2022 covered by this Quarterly Report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There have been no material changes with respect to risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 22, 2022.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Employee Stock Grant
On January 28, 2022, our board of directors approved the grant of an aggregate of 2,000 restricted stock units (the “RSUs”) to our employees under iSpecimen Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”).
On February 28, 2022, our board of directors approved the grant of an aggregate of 4,000 RSUs to our employees under the 2021 Plan.
On March 28, 2022, our board of directors approved the grant of an aggregate of 5,000 RSUs to our employees under the 2021 Plan.
Unless the above-mentioned RSUs are forfeited pursuant to the 2021 Plan, the RSUs vest quarterly over four years with a one-year cliff. The RSUs and the underlying shares common stock are issued to our employees in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information.
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report.
No. | Description of Exhibit |
31.1* | |
31.2* | |
32.1** | |
32.2** | |
101.INS* | Inline XBRL Instance Document |
101.CAL* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
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101.SCH* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.DEF* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
101.LAB* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document |
101.PRE* | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
104* | Cover Page Interactive Data File––the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished. |
(1) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2021 and incorporated by reference herein. |
(2) | Previously filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 16, 2021 and incorporated by reference herein. |
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SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
iSpecimen, Inc. | ||
Date: May 10, 2022 | By: | /s/ Christopher Ianelli |
Name: | Christopher Ianelli | |
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President (Principal Executive Officer) | |
Date: May 10, 2022 | By: | /s/ Tracy Curley |
Name: | Tracy Curley | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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