Auddia Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Sep 30, 2023

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report and our audited financial statements and related notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on March 23, 2023. This discussion and analysis and other parts of this Quarterly Report contain forward-looking statements based upon current beliefs, plans and expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and projections. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. You should carefully read the “Risk Factors” section of this Quarterly Report and of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, to gain an understanding of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements. Please also see the section entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

Auddia is a technology company headquartered in Boulder, CO that is reinventing how consumers engage with audio through the development of a proprietary AI platform for audio and innovative technologies for podcasts. Auddia is leveraging these technologies within its industry-first audio Superapp, faidr (previously known as the Auddia App).

faidr gives consumers the opportunity to listen to any AM/FM radio station with no commercials while personalizing the listening experience through skips and the insertion of on-demand content, including popular and new music, news, and weather. The faidr app represents the first-time consumers can combine the local content uniquely provided by AM/FM radio with commercial-free and personalized listening many consumers demand from digital-media consumption. In addition to commercial-free AM/FM, faidr includes podcasts and exclusive content, branded faidrRadio, which includes new artist discovery, curated music stations, and Music Casts. Music Casts are unique to faidr. Hosts and DJs can combine on-demand talk segments with dynamic music streaming, which allows users to hear podcasts with full music track plays embedded in the episodes.

Auddia has also developed a podcasting platform that provides a unique suite of tools that helps Podcasters create additional digital content for their podcast episodes as well as plan their episodes, build their brand, and monetize their content with new content distribution channels. This podcast platform also gives users the ability to go deeper into the stories through supplemental, digital content, and eventually comment and contribute their own content to episode feeds.

Both of Auddia’s offerings address large and rapidly growing audiences.

The Company has developed its AI platform on top of Google’s TensorFlow open-source library that is being “taught” to know the difference between all types of audio content on the radio. For instance, the platform recognizes the difference between a commercial and a song and is learning the differences between all other content to include weather reports, traffic, news, sports, DJ conversation, etc. Not only does the technology learn the differences between the various types of audio segments, but it also identifies the beginning and end of each piece of content.

The Company is leveraging this technology platform within its premium AM/FM radio listening experience through the faidr App. The faidr App is intended to be downloaded by consumers who will pay a subscription fee in order to listen to any streaming AM/FM radio station without commercials, podcasts and the faidrRadio exclusive content offerings. Advanced features will allow consumers to skip any content heard on the station, request audio content on-demand, and program an audio routine. We believe the faidr App represents a significant differentiated audio streaming product, or Superapp, that will be the first to come to market since the emergence of popular streaming music apps such as Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc. We believe that the most significant point of differentiation is that in addition to ad-free AM/FM streaming, the faidr App is intended to deliver non-music content that includes local sports, news, weather, traffic and the discovery of new music alongside exclusive programming and podcasts. No other radio streaming app available today, including category leaders like TuneIn, iHeart, and Audacy, can compete with faidr’s full product offerings.

We launched an MVP version of faidr through several consumer trials in 2021 to measure consumer interest and engagement with the App. The full app launched on February 15, 2022, and included all major U.S. radio stations in the US. In February 2023, we added faidrRadio, our exclusive content offerings, to the app. Podcasts were added to the app for the iOS version before the end of Q1 2023 as planned and added to the Android app in May of 2023. Podcast functionality will continue to be enhanced through 2023 and into 2024.

The Company has also developed its podcasting platform, which leverages technologies and proven product concepts to differentiate its podcasts offering from other competitors in the radio streaming product category.

With podcasting growing and predicted to grow at a rapid rate, the Auddia podcast platform was conceptualized to fill a void in the emerging audio media space. The platform aims to be the preferred podcasting solution for podcasters by enabling them to deliver digital content feeds that match the audio of their podcast episodes, and by enabling podcasters to make additional revenue from new digital advertising channels; subscription channels; on-demand fees for exclusive content; and through direct donations from their listeners. Today, podcasters do not have a preference as to where their listeners access their episodes, as virtually all listening options (mobile apps and web players) deliver only their podcast audio. By creating a platform on which they can make net new and higher margin revenue, we believe that podcasters will promote faidr to their listeners, thus creating a powerful, organic marketing dynamic.

One innovative and proprietary part of the podcast platform is the availability of tools to create and distribute an interactive digital feed which supplements podcast episode audio with additional digital. These content feeds allow podcasters to tell deeper stories to their listeners while giving podcasters access to digital revenue for the first time. Podcasters will be able to build these interactive feeds using The Podcast Hub, a content management system that also serves as a tool to plan and manage podcast episodes. The digital feed activates a new digital ad channel that turns every audio ad into a direct-response, relevant-to-the-story, digital ad, increasing the effectiveness and value of their established audio ad model. The feed also presents a richer listening experience, as any element of a podcast episode can be supplemented with images, videos, text and web links. This feed will appear fully synchronized in the faidr mobile App, and it also can be hosted and accessed independently (e.g., through any browser), making the content feed universally distributable.

Over time, users will be able to comment, and podcasters will be able to grant some users publishing rights to add content directly into the feed on their behalf. This will create another first for podcasting, a dialog between creator and fan, synchronized to the episode content.

The podcast capabilities within faidr will also introduce a unique and industry first multi-channel, highly flexible set of revenue channels that podcasters can activate in combination to allow listeners to choose how they want to consume and pay for content. “Flex Revenue” allows podcasters to continue to run their standard audio ad model and complement those ads with direct response enabled digital ads in each episode content feed, increasing the value of advertising on any podcast. “Flex Revenue” will also activate subscriptions, on-demand fees for content (e.g., listen without audio ads for a micro payment fee) and direct donations from listeners. Using these channels in combination, podcasters can maximize revenue generation and exercise higher margin monetization models, beyond basic audio advertising. Flex Revenue and the initial inclusion of the new revenue channels that come with it will be added to podcasting in the faidr app, and the first elements of this new monetization capability is expected to be commercially available before the end of 2023.

The faidr mobile App is available today through the iOS and Android App stores.

We have funded our operations with proceeds from the February 2021 IPO, Series A warrants exercised in July 2021 and common share issuance during June of 2023. We also obtained debt financing through a related party during November 2022 and April 2023. In addition, we sold common shares during April 2023 and June 2023. Since its inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. Since inception we have incurred significant operating losses. As of September 30, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $78.3 million. Our ability to generate product revenue sufficient to achieve profitability will depend heavily on the successful development and commercialization of one or more of our Apps. We expect that our expenses and capital requirements will increase substantially in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly if and as we:

• nationally launch our faidr App and as we continue training our proprietary AI technology and make product enhancements;
• continue to develop and expand our technology and functionality to advance the faidr app;
• rollout our product on a national basis, which will include increasing our sales and marketing costs related to the promotion of our products. faidr promotion will include a combination of a) purchasing ads directly from broadcasters or b) participating broadcasters to promote without purchasing ads, but sharing a portion of subscription proceeds based on listening activity on those stations;
• hire additional business development, product management, operational and marketing personnel;
• continue market studies of our products; and
• add operational and general administrative personnel which will support our product development programs, commercialization efforts and our transition to operating as a public company.

As a result, we will need substantial additional funding to support our continuing operations and pursue our growth strategy. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through the sale of equity, debt financings or other capital sources, which may include collaborations with other companies or other strategic transactions. We may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such other agreements or arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all. If we fail to raise capital or enter into such agreements as and when needed, we may have to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development and commercialization of one or more of our product candidates.

Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses or when or if we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. Even if we are able to generate product sales, we may not become profitable. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce or terminate our operations.

As of September 30, 2023, we had cash of $2,199,678. We will need additional funding to complete the development of our full product line and scale products with a demonstrated market fit. Management has plans to secure such additional funding. However, if we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our technology development and commercialization efforts.

To accelerate user acquisition, revenue, and cash flow, the Company has explored numerous potential acquisition targets of AM/FM streaming aggregators over the past year and a half and continues to explore new opportunities. At present, the Company is in advanced active discussions with two properties and is targeting to execute one or more agreements in the near term. These business development transactions would require additional funding.

Recent Developments

Nasdaq Deficiency Notices

On May 23, 2023, we received a letter (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Staff of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC (“Nasdaq”) indicating that, based upon the Company’s reported stockholders’ equity of $2,095,247 at the end of March 31, 2023, we are not in compliance with the requirement to maintain a minimum stockholders’s equity of $2,500,000 for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market, as set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) the “Stockholder’s Equity Requirement”). We were provided a compliance period of 45 calendar days from the date of the Notice, or until July 7, 2023, to submit a plan to regain compliance with the Stockholder’s Equity Requirement, pursuant to Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(2)(A).

On July 10, 2023, the Company received a letter from Nasdaq advising that the Company had been granted an extension to file a Form 10-Q for the quarter-ended June 30, 2023 evidencing compliance with Stockholder’s Equity Requirement. The stockholder’s equity balance as of June 30, 2023 was $4,331,777, which is $1,831,778 over the $2.5 million Stockholders’ Equity Requirement. On August 25, 2023, Nasdaq confirmed that the Company had regained compliance with the Stockholders’ Equity Requirement and that this matter is now closed.

Separately, on April 24, 2023 we received a letter from Nasdaq indicating that the Company is not in compliance with the $1.00 Minimum Bid Price requirement set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Bid Price Requirement”).

The letter indicated that the Company will be provided 180 calendar days (or until October 23, 2023) in which to regain compliance. If at any time during this 180 calendar day period the bid price of the Company’s common stock closes at or above $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive business days, Nasdaq will provide the Company with a written confirmation of compliance and the matter will be closed.

On October 24, 2023, the Company received a written notice from the Nasdaq staff indicating that the Company had not regained compliance with the Bid Price Requirement and was not eligible for an additional 180 calendar day compliance period. As a result, the staff determined to delist the Company’s Common Stock from Nasdaq, unless the Company timely requests an appeal of the Staff’s determination to a Hearings Panel (the “Panel”), pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5800 Series.

The Company has requested a hearing before the Panel to appeal the October notice and to address compliance with the Bid Price Requirement. While the appeal process is pending, the suspension of trading of the Company’s common stock, will be stayed and the Common Stock will continue to trade on Nasdaq until the hearing process concludes and the Panel issues a written decision. The hearing is expected to occur in mid-January 2024.

The Company intends to consider all options to regain and maintain compliance with all Nasdaq continued listing requirements.

The Company’s receipt of these Nasdaq letters does not affect the Company’s business, operations or reporting requirements with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Impact of Inflation

We have recently experienced higher costs across our business as a result of inflation, including higher costs related to employee compensation and outside services. We expect inflation to continue to have a negative impact throughout 2023, and it is uncertain whether we will be able to offset the impact of inflationary pressures in the near term.

Components of our results of operations

Operating expenses

Direct costs of services

Direct cost of services consists primarily of costs incurred related to our technology and development of our Apps, including hosting and other technology related expenses. We expect our direct costs of services to increase in the future as we continue to develop and enhance our technology related to the faidr and podcasting Apps.

Sales and marketing

Our sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries, direct to consumer promotional spend and consulting services, all of which are related to the sales and promotion performed during the period. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to fluctuate period by period as we release new upgrades and enhancements within our Apps and look to generate revenue through customer acquisition, retention, and subscription conversion.

Research and development

Since our inception, we have focused significant resources on our research and development activities related to the software development of our technology. We account for costs incurred in the development of computer software as software research and development costs until the preliminary project stage is completed, management has committed to funding the project, and completion and use of the software for its intended purpose is probable. We cease capitalization of development costs once the software has been substantially completed and is available for its intended use. Software development costs are amortized over a useful life estimated by our management of three years. Costs associated with significant upgrades and enhancements that result in additional functionality are capitalized. Capitalized costs are subject to an ongoing assessment of recoverability based on anticipated future revenues and changes in software technologies. Unamortized capitalized software development costs determined to be in excess of anticipated future net revenues are impaired and expensed during the period of such determination. We expect to continue to incur research and development expenses and capitalization in the future as we continue to develop and enhance our faidr and podcasting Apps.

General and administrative

Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related costs, including payroll taxes, benefits, stock-based compensation, and professional fees related to auditing, tax, general legal services, and consulting services. We expect our general and administrative expenses to continue to increase in the future as we right-size our operating activities and prepare for commercialization of our products and support our operations as a public company, including increased expenses related to legal, accounting, insurance, regulatory and tax-related services associated with maintaining compliance with exchange listing and Securities and Exchange Commission requirements, directors and officers liability insurance premiums and investor relations activities.

Other income and expense

The other income and expense category primarily consists of interest expense attributed to the debt and conversion features of the Secured Bridge Note (aka the Prior Note). We expect our other expense to fluctuate period by period dependent upon either the payoff of the Prior Note or an extension of its term.

Results of operations

Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022

The following table summarizes our results of operations:

Revenue

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022 were $0 as we continue to develop and enhance our faidr and podcasting Apps to establish new revenue streams.

Direct cost of services

Direct Cost of Services increased $10,758 or 32.9% from $32,712 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $43,470 for the three months ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily the result of a slight increase in both platform hosting costs and other music services.

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing expenses increased by $17,373 or 5.8%, from $298,924 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, to $316,297 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily attributed to increased marketing and promotions costs as compared to Q3 2022. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to fluctuate period by period as we release new upgrades and enhancements within our Apps and look to generate revenue through customer acquisition, retention, and subscription conversion.

Research and development

Research and development expenses increased by $45,537 or 25.1%, from $181,596 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, to $227,133 for the three months ended September 30, 2023, primarily related to slightly increased staffing cost. We are continually developing enhancements to both our faidr and podcasting Apps and will continue capitalize software costs to the extent that such development qualifies for capitalization.

General and administrative

General and administrative expenses increased by $237,276 or 43.9%, from $540,220 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $777,496 for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase resulted from an increase in stock compensation expense compared to Q3 2022.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $190,327 or 69.3%, from $274,839 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $465,166 for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase is entirely related to the increased amortization of our faidr and podcasting Apps.

Other income (expense), net

Total other expenses increased by $284,897, from $2,023 for the three months ended September 30, 2022, to $286,920 for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase is related to actual and imputed interest expense attributed to the Secured Bridge Notes issued during November of 2022 and April 2023 (Refer to Note 4 of the condensed unaudited financial statements for additional information regarding the secured bridge notes).

Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022

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Revenue

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022 were $0 as we continue to develop and enhance our faidr and podcasting Apps to establish new revenue streams.

Direct cost of services

Direct Cost of Services increased $2,003 or 1.6% from $128,806 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $130,809 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This increase was primarily the result of a slight increase in both platform hosting costs and other music services.

Sales and marketing

Sales and marketing expenses decreased by $630,834 or 45.2%, from $1,396,010 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, to $765,176 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily attributed to reduced staffing, consulting expense, and marketing and promotions costs as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022 that were associated with the national launch of the faidr App. We expect our sales and marketing expenses to fluctuate period by period as we release new upgrades and enhancements within our Apps and look to generate revenue through customer acquisition, retention, and subscription conversion.

Research and development

Research and development expenses increased by $136,011 or 28.2%, from $481,611 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, to $617,622 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily related to increased staffing, and an associated reduction in the level of capitalized software expenses. We are continually developing enhancements to both our faidr and podcasting Apps and will continue capitalize software costs to the extent that such development qualifies for capitalization.

General and administrative

General and administrative expenses increased by $196,328 or 8.2%, from $2,400,503 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $2,596,831 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase resulted from an increase in stock compensation expense compared to 2022.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $628,849 or 87.1%, from $721,971 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to $1,350,820 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase is entirely related to the increased amortization of our faidr and podcasting Apps.

Other income (expense), net

Total other expense increased by $1,128,340, from $5,058 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, to $1,133,398 for the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase is related to interest expense attributed to the Secured Bridge Notes issued during November of 2022 and April of 2023, which included the finance charges associated with debt issuance cost (refer to Note 4 of the condensed unaudited financial statements for additional information regarding the secured bridge notes).

Liquidity and capital resources

Sources of liquidity

We have incurred operating losses since our inception and have an accumulated deficit as a result of ongoing efforts to develop and commercialize our faidr and podcasting Apps. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, we had cash of $2,199,678 and $1,661,434, respectively. We have a deficit in working capital in the amount of approximately $1.4 million at September 30, 2023. We anticipate that operating losses and net cash used in operating activities will increase over the next 12 months as we continue to develop and market our products. Our existing cash of $2.2 million at September 30, 2023 will only be sufficient to fund our current operating plans into February 2024. The Company has based these estimates, however, on assumptions that may prove to be wrong. We will need additional funding to complete the development of our full product line and scale products with a demonstrated market fit. Management has plans to secure such additional funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our technology development and commercialization efforts.

We had cash on hand of $2,199,678 as of September 30, 2023. The Company will need to raise additional funds to continue funding our technology development and commercialization efforts beyond such time. Management intends to secure such funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our technology development and commercialization efforts.

Interim Bridge Financings

As previously disclosed, we entered into a Secured Bridge Note (“Prior Note”) financing on November 14, 2022 with one of our accredited investors who is a significant existing shareholder of the Company. We received $2,000,000 of gross proceeds in connection with that financing.

On April 17, 2023, we entered into an additional Secured Bridge Note (“New Note”) financing with the same accredited investor. We received $750,000 of gross proceeds in connection with the New Note financing. The principal amount of the New Note is $825,000. The New Note has a 10% interest rate and matures on July 31, 2023. The New Note is secured by a lien on substantially all of our assets. At maturity, the lender has the option to convert any original issue discount and accrued but unpaid interest on the New Note into shares of our common stock. The fixed conversion price is $0.61 per share.

In connection with the New Note financing, we issued 650,000 common stock warrants to the investor with a five-year term and a fixed $0.61 per share exercise price. 325,000 of such warrants are exercisable immediately. The other 325,000 of such warrants would only become exercisable if the maturity date of the New Note is extended in accordance with the terms of the New Note. Further, if the New Note remains outstanding as of July 31, 2023, we have the option to extend the maturity date of the New Note to November 30, 2023. Upon such extension, the interest rate on the New Note will be increased to 20% from 10%, and the 325,000 portion of the warrants shall become exercisable.

Further, in connection with the New Note financing, the parties agreed to make certain amendments to the Prior Note financing. Specifically, the parties agreed to cancel the 300,000 common stock warrants issued as part of the prior financing and, in lieu of the cancelled warrants, issued the investor common stock warrants for 600,000 common shares with an exercise price of $0.61 per common share and a five-year term. 300,000 of such warrants were exercisable immediately, while the other 300,000 warrants became exercisable upon the maturity date extension of the Prior Note during May of 2023.

The investor will not be able to receive shares upon conversion or exercise, unless prior shareholder approval is obtained, if the number of shares to be issued to the investor, when aggregated with all other shares of common stock then owned by the investor beneficially or deemed beneficially owned by the investor, would (i) result in the investor owning more than the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below), as determined in accordance with Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or (ii) otherwise constitute a Change of Control within the meaning of Nasdaq Rule 5635(b). The “Beneficial Ownership Limitation” shall be 19.99% of the number of shares of the common stock outstanding immediately prior to the proposed issuance of shares of common stock.

Equity Line Sales of Common Stock

On November 14, 2022, we entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “White Lion Purchase Agreement”) with White Lion Capital, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“White Lion”) for an equity line facility.

On April 17 and April 20, 2023, we closed on two sales of Common Stock under the White Lion Purchase Agreement. We issued an aggregate of 1,962,220 common shares and received aggregate proceeds of approximately $1.12 million.

Cash Flow Analysis

Our cash flows from operating activities have historically been significantly impacted by our investment in sales and marketing to drive growth, and research and development expenses. Our ability to meet future liquidity needs will be driven by our operating performance and the extent of continued investment in our operations. Failure to generate sufficient revenues and related cash flows could have a material adverse effect on our ability to meet our liquidity needs and achieve our business objectives.

The following table summarizes the statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and 2022:

Operating activities

Cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was ($3,404,954), primarily resulting from our net loss of ($6,594,656) and change in working capital of $188,517 related to an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, offset by non-cash charges of $3,001,184 related to depreciation and amortization, share based compensation expense, and finance charges associated with the debt issuance costs of the Secured Bridge Notes. Cash used in operating activities for both periods consisted of personnel-related expenditures, marketing and promotion costs, and public company administrative support costs such as legal and other professional support services.

Investing activities

Cash flows used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $743,208, consisting entirely of capitalization of software development expenses.

Cash flows used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, was $1,677,326, primarily consisting of capitalization of software development expenses of $1,673,517 and purchase of property and equipment of $3,809.

Financing activities

Cash flows generated in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $4,686,406 and related primarily to cash proceeds from the issuance of common shares of $4,016,521 and proceeds from related party debt of $750,000.

Cash flows used in financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, was $88,723 related to cash paid by the Company related to the net-share settlement of vested restricted stock units during the quarter.

Funding Requirements

We historically have incurred significant losses and negative cash flows from operations since our inception and had an accumulated deficit of $78.3 million and $71.7 million as of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, we had cash of $2,199,678 and $1,661,434, respectively. Our cash is comprised primarily of demand deposit accounts and money market funds. We will need additional funding to complete the development of our full product line and scale products with a demonstrated market fit. Management has plans to secure such additional funding. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on acceptable terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce, or eliminate our technology development and commercialization efforts.

We expect our expenses to increase in connection with our ongoing activities, particularly as we continue the development, and marketing and promotion of faidr. In addition, we expect to continue to incur additional costs associated with operating as a public company, including legal, accounting, investor relations and other expenses. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

• the scope, progress, results, and costs related to the market acceptance of our products
• the ability to attract podcasters and content creators to faidr and retain listeners on the platform
• the costs, timing, and ability to continue to develop our technology
• effectively addressing any competing technological and market developments
• avoiding and defending against intellectual property infringement, misappropriation and other claims

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Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations not on our Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2023, and the effects that such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods:

(1) Represents minimum payments due for the lease of office space.

(2) Represents premium payments due related to D&O insurance policy from February 2023 – February 2024

Off-balance sheet arrangements

We did not have during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our condensed financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we continually evaluate our estimates and assumptions believed to be reasonable under current facts and circumstances. Actual amounts and results may materially differ from these estimates made by management under different assumptions and conditions.

Our critical accounting estimates are presented in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with SEC on March 23, 2023. There were no material changes to our critical accounting estimates during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.

Emerging growth company and smaller reporting company status

The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 permits an “emerging growth company” such as us to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to not “opt out” of this provision and, as a result, we will adopt new or revised accounting standards at the time private companies adopt the new or revised accounting 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 also a “smaller reporting company” meaning that the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million and our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (i) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. Specifically, as a smaller reporting company we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and, similar to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation.

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report were not effective at a reasonable assurance level due to the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting described below. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms; and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely discussions regarding required disclosure. We believe that a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, cannot provide absolute assurance that the objectives of the control system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management has been actively engaged in remediating the material weaknesses discussed in our Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022 filed with SEC on March 23, 2023. The following remedial actions have been taken during the quarter ended September 30, 2023:

• continue to strengthen our internal policies, processes, and reviews, including drafting of related documentation thereof;
• continue to engage outside consultants to ensure that appropriate level of knowledge and experience is applied based on risk and complexity of transactions and tasks under review;
• complete the internal control documentation with our consultants who have been engaged to assist in the design, implementation, and documentation of internal controls to address the relevant risks;
• engaged an outside internal control specialist team to perform a robust review of the design and implementation of internal controls; and
• hired additional accounting resources with appropriate levels of experience

The process of implementing an effective financial reporting system is a continuous effort that requires us to anticipate and react to changes in our business and the economic and regulatory environments and to expend significant resources to maintain a financial reporting system that is adequate to satisfy our reporting obligations. As we continue to evaluate and take actions to improve our internal control over financial reporting, we may take additional actions to address control deficiencies or modify certain of the remediation measures described above.

While progress has been made to enhance our internal control over financial reporting, we are still in the process of implementing these processes, procedures, and controls. Additional time is required to complete this phase and to assess and ensure the sustainability of these procedures. We believe the above actions will be effective in remediating the material weaknesses described above and we will continue to devote significant time and attention to these remedial efforts.

In addition to the information set forth in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risk factors disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. Except as set forth below, there have been no material changes to our risk factors from those included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Our recently announced growth strategy includes seeking acquisitions of other companies or assets in our industry sector. We may not be successful in identifying, making and integrating business or asset acquisitions, if any, in the future.

As announced in April 2023, we anticipate that a component of our growth strategy may be to make strategically focused acquisitions of businesses or assets. Pursuit of this strategy may be restricted by the on-going volatility and uncertainty within the capital markets which may significantly limit the availability of funds for such acquisitions. Our ability to use shares of our common stock in an acquisition transaction may be adversely affected by the volatility in the price of our common stock and by the potential requirement of shareholder approval under applicable Nasdaq listing rules.

In addition to restricted funding availability, the success of our recently announced strategy will depend on our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates and to negotiate acceptable financial and other terms. There is no assurance that we will be able to do so. The success of an acquisition also depends on our ability to perform adequate due diligence before the acquisition and on our ability to integrate the acquisition after it is completed. While we intend to commit significant resources to ensure that we conduct comprehensive due diligence, there can be no assurance that all potential risks and liabilities will be identified in connection with an acquisition. Similarly, while we expect to commit substantial resources, including management time and effort, to integrating acquired businesses into ours, there is no assurance that we will be successful in integrating these businesses. If we fail in performing adequate due diligence or in successfully integrating acquired businesses, our future operations would be negatively impacted.