Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1
A. Risk
Factors.
An
investment in our in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. The risks described below include the principal material risks
to our company or to investors that are known to our company. You should carefully consider the risks described below together with the
other information contained in this Form 10-K. If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition and results
of operations could be materially harmed. As a result, should a trading market develop, as to which no assurance can be given, the trading
price of our common stock could decline, and investors might lose all or part of their investment.
Risks
Relating to Our Business
In
addition to the other information in this Annual Report, you should carefully consider the following factors in evaluating us and our
business. This prospectus contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
some of which are beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions
prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but
are not limited to, those discussed below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated
by reference.
There
are risks associated with investing in companies such as ours who are primarily engaged in research and development. In addition to risks
which could apply to any company or business, you should also consider the business we are in and the following:
We
will require substantial additional funding, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all, and, if not so available,
may require us to delay, limit, reduce or cease our operations.
To
date, we have relied primarily on debt and equity financing to carry on our business. We have limited financial resources, no operating
cash flow and no assurance that sufficient funding will be available to us to fund our operating expenses and to further develop our
business. We expect that our current cash position, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements
for less than the next twelve months. Unless we achieve profitability, as to which no assurance can be given, we anticipate that we will
need to raise additional capital to fund our operations while we implement and execute our business plan. We currently do not have any
contracts or commitments for additional financing. In addition, any additional equity financing may involve substantial dilution to our
existing shareholders. There can be no assurance that such additional capital will be available on a timely basis or on terms that will
be acceptable to us. Failure to obtain such additional financing could result in delay or indefinite postponement of operations or the
further development of our business with the possible loss of such properties or assets. If adequate funds are not available or are not
available on acceptable terms, we may not be able to fund our business or the expansion thereof, take advantage of strategic acquisitions
or investment opportunities or respond to competitive pressures. Such inability to obtain additional financing when needed could have
a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flow, financial condition and prospects.
We are an early stage pre-revenue company with an untested business plan which makes it difficult for us to forecast our financial results, creates uncertainty as to how investors will evaluate our prospects, and increases the risk that we will not be successful .
We were formed in October 2020 to develop and market the Thumzup
app to advertisers and micro influencers. and have not yet established profitable operations or generated revenue. The Company
realized a net loss from operations of $839,769 and $5,687 for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. We
have an untested business plan and it is uncertain how our new business model will affect investors’ perceptions and expectations
with respect to our business and economic prospects. Our new business model may not be successful and no
assurance can be given that we will ever generate positive cash flow.
13
We
expect to continue to incur losses from operations and negative cash flows, which raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue
as a Going Concern.
We
anticipate incurring additional losses until such time, if ever, we can obtain adequate advertiser support and user acceptance. Substantial
additional financing will be needed to fund our development, marketing and sales activities and generally to commercialize our technology
and develop brand support and user acceptance. These factors raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We
will seek to obtain additional capital through the issuance of debt or equity financings or other arrangements to fund operations; however,
there can be no assurance we will be able to raise needed capital under acceptable terms, if at all. The sale of additional equity may
dilute existing shareholders and newly issued shares may contain senior rights and preferences compared to currently outstanding shares
of common stock. Issued debt securities may contain covenants and limit our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to shareholders.
If we are unable to obtain such additional financing, future operations would need to be scaled back or discontinued. Due to the uncertainty
in our ability to raise capital, we believe that there is substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern.
Our
independent registered public accounting firm’s reports for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 have raised substantial
doubt as to our ability to continue as a “going concern.”
Our
independent registered public accounting firm indicated in its report on our audited financial statements as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2021 and 2020 that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. A “going concern”
opinion indicates that the financial statements have been prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern and do not include any
adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets, or the amounts and classification
of liabilities that may result if we do not continue as a going concern. Therefore, you should not rely on our balance sheet as an indication
of the amount of proceeds that would be available to satisfy claims of creditors, and potentially be available for distribution to shareholders,
in the event of liquidation. The presence of the going concern note to our financial statements may have an adverse impact on the relationships
we are developing and plan to develop with third parties as we continue the commercialization of our products and could make it challenging
and difficult for us to raise additional financing, all of which could have a material adverse impact on our business and prospects and
result in a significant or complete loss of your investment.
There
is no assurance that we will ever be profitable or that debt or equity financing will be available to us in the amounts, on terms, and
at times deemed acceptable to us, if at all. The issuance of additional equity securities by us would result in a significant dilution
in the equity interests of our current shareholders. Obtaining commercial loans, assuming those loans would be available, would increase
our liabilities and future cash commitments. If we are unable to obtain financing in the amounts and on terms deemed acceptable to us,
we may be unable to continue our business, as planned, and as a result may be required to scale back or cease operations for our business,
the results of which would be that our shareholders would lose some or all of their investment. The financial statements do not include
any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classifications
of liabilities that may result should we be unable to continue as a going concern.
14
The
outbreak of COVID-19 and its variants may have a significant negative impact on our business, sales, results of operations and financial
condition.
The
outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the United States of America and the world, including in the primary regions in
which we will operate. Many State Governors issued temporary Executive Orders in 2020, which continue to remain effective in many states
that, among other stipulations, effectively limit in-person work activities for most industries and businesses having the effect of suspending
or severely curtailing operations. Many of these orders
are in the process of being lifted.
Additionally,
our liquidity could be negatively impacted if these conditions continue for a significant period of time. Capital and credit markets
have been disrupted by the crisis and our ability to obtain any required financing is not guaranteed and largely dependent upon evolving
market conditions and other factors. Depending on the continued impact of the crisis, further actions may be required to improve our
cash position and capital structure.
The
extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak could ultimately impact our business, sales, results of operations and financial condition will
depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including, but not limited to, the duration and spread
of the outbreak, its severity, the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, and how quickly and to what extent normal economic
and operating conditions can resume. Even after the COVID-19 outbreak has subsided, we may continue to experience significant impacts
to our business as a result of its global economic impact, including any economic downturn or recession that has occurred or may occur
in the future.
We
may not generate sufficient cash flows to cover our operating expenses.
As
noted previously, we have incurred operating losses since inception and expect to continue to incur losses as a result of expenses related
to research and continued development of our technology, marketing expense, corporate general and administrative expenses and interest
on the senior secured convertible promissory notes. Our limited capital resources and operations to date have been substantially funded
through issuance of $215,000 in senior secured convertible promissory notes (in November 2020) and our subsequent issuances during 2021
and January 2022 of 724,500 shares of common stock at $1.00 per share for gross proceeds of $724,500 and 365,671 shares of common stock
at $1.50 per share for gross proceeds of $ $548,500.00.
The
Company’s accumulated deficit was $862,942 and $5,687 as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021,
we had total stockholders’ equity of $179,845 and although we had as of December 31, 2021, cash on hand of $424,445 the Company
believes that these funds will not prove adequate beyond twelve months.
In
the event that we are unable to generate sufficient cash from our operating activities or raise additional funds, we may be required
to delay, reduce or severely curtail our operations or otherwise impede our on-going business efforts, which could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results, financial condition and long-term prospects.
Security
breaches and other disruptions could compromise our information and expose us to liability, which would cause our business and reputation
to suffer.
In
the ordinary course of our business, we may collect and store sensitive data, including intellectual property, our proprietary business
information, proprietary business information of our customers, including, credit card and payment information, and personally identifiable
information of our customers and employees. The secure processing, maintenance, and transmission of this information is critical to our
operations and business strategy. As such, we are subject to federal, state, provincial and foreign laws regarding privacy and protection
of data. Some jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring companies to notify individuals of data security breaches involving certain types
of personal data and our agreements with certain customers require us to notify them in the event of a security incident. Evolving regulations
regarding personal data and personal information, in the European Union and elsewhere, including, but not limited to, the General Data
Protection Regulation, which we refer to as GDPR, and the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, especially relating to classification
of IP addresses, machine identification, location data and other information, may limit or inhibit our ability to operate or expand our
business. Such laws and regulations require or may require us or our customers to implement privacy and security policies, permit consumers
to access, correct or delete personal information stored or maintained by us or our customers, inform individuals of security incidents
that affect their personal information, and, in some cases, obtain consent to use personal information for specified purposes.
15
We
intend to take reasonable steps to protect the security, integrity and confidentiality of the information we collect, use, store, and
disclose, and we take steps to strengthen our security protocols and infrastructure, however, our information technology and infrastructure
may be vulnerable to attacks by hackers or breached due to employee error, malfeasance, or other disruptions. We also could be negatively
impacted by software bugs or other technical malfunctions, as well as employee error or malfeasance. Advanced cyber-attacks can be multi-staged,
unfold over time, and utilize a range of attack vectors with military-grade cyber weapons and proven techniques, such as spear phishing
and social engineering, leaving organizations and users at high risk of being compromised. Any such access, disclosure, or other loss
of information could result in legal claims or proceedings, liability under laws that protect the privacy of personal information, regulatory
penalties, a disruption of our operations, damage to our reputation, a loss of confidence in our business, early termination of our contracts
and other business losses, indemnification of our customers, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection
and insurance costs, financial penalties, litigation, regulatory investigations and other significant liabilities, any of which could
materially harm our business any of which could adversely affect our business, revenues, and competitive position.
We
are dependent on third parties to, among other things, maintain our servers, provide the bandwidth necessary to transmit content, and
utilize the content derived therefrom for the potential generation of revenues.
We
depend on third-party service providers, suppliers, and licensors to supply some of the services, hardware, software, and operational
support necessary to provide some of our products and services. Some of these third parties do not have a long operating history or may
not be able to continue to supply the equipment and services we desire in the future. If demand exceeds these vendors’ capacity,
or if these vendors experience operating or financial difficulties or are otherwise unable to provide the equipment or services we need
in a timely manner, at our specifications and at reasonable prices, our ability to provide some products and services might be materially
adversely affected, or the need to procure or develop alternative sources of the affected materials or services might delay our ability
to serve our users. These events could materially and adversely affect our ability to retain and attract users, and have a material negative
impact on our operations, business, financial results, and financial condition.
Because
we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the near future, our shareholders will not be able to receive
a return on their shares unless and until they sell them.
We
intend to retain a significant portion of any future earnings to finance the development, operation and expansion of our business. We
do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. The declaration, payment, and amount of any future
dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations,
cash flows, and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as our board of directors considers relevant.
There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and, if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount
of any such dividend. Unless our board of directors determines to pay dividends, our shareholders will be required to look to appreciation
of our common stock to realize a gain on their investment. There can be no assurance that this appreciation will occur.
We
are dependent on key personnel the loss of whose services would have a materially adverse effect on our business.
Our
continued success will depend, to a significant extent, on the services of our executive management team, and key personnel. If one or
more of these individuals were to leave, there is no guarantee we could replace them with qualified individuals in a timely or economically
satisfactory manner or at all. The loss or unavailability of any or all of these individuals could harm our ability to execute our
business plan, maintain important business relationships and complete certain product development initiatives, which would have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial conditions.
We
are a new company with a brief operating history, no revenue and an untested business plan which may not be accepted in the markets in
which we intend to operate.
We
were formed in Nevada in October 2020. We will encounter difficulties, including unforeseen difficulties as an early-stage, pre-revenue
company in establishing the credibility of our brand and commercial acceptability of our launched app.
16
We
will incur net losses in the foreseeable future if we are unable to anticipate market trends and match our service offerings to market
patterns. Our business strategy is unproven, and we may not be successful in addressing early-stage challenges, such as establishing
our position in the market and developing effective marketing of our Thumzup app. To implement our business plan, we will be required
to obtain additional financing. We cannot guaranty that such additional financing will be available.
Our
prospects must be considered highly speculative, considering the risks, expenses, and difficulties frequently encountered in the establishment
of a new business with an unproven business plan, specifically the risks inherent in developmental stage companies seeking to have app
users with limited number social media followers endorse products or services at a level that advertisers will seek to fund and support.
We expect to continue to incur significant operating and capital expenditures and, as a result, we expect significant net losses in the
future which may materially affect our operationally viability. We cannot assure that we will be able to achieve positive cash flow operations
or, if achieved, that positive cash can be maintained for any significant period, or at all.
Although
we believe that our business strategy addresses an underserved but significant niche of market segment utilizing an important users or
consumers whom we define as “micro-influencers,” we may not be successful in the implementation of our business strategy
or our business strategy may not be successful, either of which will impede our development and growth. Our business strategy involves
attracting a large number of users who are active in social media and who are willing to make recommendations over our Thumzup app with
advertisers who find our service cost effective in generating sales and market support. Our ability to implement this business strategy
is dependent on our ability to:
•
predict concerns of advertisers;
•
identify and engage advertisers;
•
convince a large number of end users to adopt our Thumzup mobile application;
•
establish brand recognition and customer loyalty; and
•
manage growth in administrative overhead costs during the initiation of our business efforts.
We
do not know whether we will be able to successfully implement our business strategy or whether our business strategy will ultimately
be successful. In assessing our ability to meet these challenges, a potential investor should consider our lack of operating history
and brand recognition, our focus on nano-influencer users, management’s relative inexperience, the competitive conditions existing
in our industry and general economic conditions and consumer discretionary spending habits. Our growth is largely dependent on our ability
to successfully implement our business strategy. Our revenue may be adversely affected if we fail to implement our business strategy
or if we divert resources to a business strategy that ultimately proves unsuccessful.
We
have not yet established brand identity and customer loyalty .
We
believe that establishing and maintaining brand identity and brand loyalty is critical to attracting and retaining active users to our
Thumzup app program. In order to attract Thumzup app users to our program quarter over quarter, we may need to spend substantial funds
to create and maintain brand recognition among Thumzup app users. If our branding efforts are not successful, our ability to earn revenues
and sustain our operations will be materially impaired.
Promotion
and enhancement of our Thumzup app will also depend on our success in consistently providing high-quality, ease of use, fun to share
products or recommend services to our app users. Since we rely on technology partners to provide portions of the service to our customers,
if our suppliers do not send accurate and timely data, or if our customers do not perceive the products we offer as attractive or superior,
the value of our Thumzup brand could be harmed. Any brand impairment or dilution could decrease the attractiveness of Thumzup to one
or more of these groups, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
17
We
cannot assure that our Thumzup app will be commercially accepted by advertisers and users accepted .
Anticipation
of demand and market acceptance of service offerings are subject to a high level of uncertainty and challenges to implementation. The
success of our service offerings primarily depends on the interest of end users joining our service, as to which we cannot assure you.
In general, achieving market acceptance for our services will require substantial marketing efforts and the expenditure of significant
funds, the availability of which we cannot assure you, to create awareness and demand among customers. We have limited financial, personnel
and other resources to undertake extensive marketing activities. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the acceptance of our app
services or our ability to generate the revenues necessary to remain in business.
A
better financed competitor may enter our marketplace, cause our market share or acceptance rates to plummet and adversely affect our
ability to sustain viable operations.
While
platforms are in operation for professional or large-scale influencers, to our knowledge no other company is currently offering advertisers
a scalable platform to activate everyday end-user micro-influencers who do not possess a large legion of followers. The success of our
service offerings primarily depends on the interest of end users and advertisers joining our service, as opposed to a similar service
offered by a competitor catering to celebrities or other large-scale influencers. If a direct competitor having greater human and cash
resources enters our market targeting micro-influencers, our achieving market acceptance for the Thumzup app may require additional marketing
efforts and the expenditure of significant funds to create awareness and demand among customers. We have limited financial, personnel
and other resources to undertake additional marketing activities. Accordingly, we may be unable to compete, our operations may suffer
and we may suffer greater losses.
Although
we may own various intellectual property rights, these rights may not provide us with any competitive advantage
.
We
use “Thumzup TM ” as a brand name however, we cannot assure you that the services we sell, or that our brand name
will not infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, or that our assertions of intellectual property rights will be enforceable
or provide protection against competitive products or otherwise be commercially valuable. Moreover, enforcement of intellectual property
rights typically requires time-consuming and costly litigation, and we cannot assure that others will not independently develop substantially
similar products.
We
cannot assure that our available funds will be sufficient to meet our anticipated needs for working capital and capital expenditures
through any period of twelve months.
Our
future financial results are uncertain and our operating results may fluctuate, due to, among other things, consumer trends, the impact
of COVID and its variants on advertising budgets and app user activity, competition, and changing social media behaviors .
As
a result of our lack of operating history, we are unable to forecast market penetration or anticipated revenue and we have little historical
financial data upon which to base planned operating expenses. We base our current and future expense levels on our operating plans and
estimates of future expenses. Our expenses are dependent in large part upon expenses associated with our proposed marketing expenditures
and related overhead expenses, and the costs of hiring and maintaining qualified personnel to carry out our respective services. Sales
and operating results are difficult to forecast because they will depend on the growth of our customer base, changes in customer demands
based on consumer trends, the degree of utilization of our advertising services as well as the mix of products and services sold by our
advertisers.
As
a result, we may be unable to make accurate financial forecasts and adjust our spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected
revenue shortfall. This inability could cause our net losses in a given quarter to be greater than expected and could further cause continuing
greater losses quarter over quarter.
18
Our
ability to succeed will depend on the ability of our management to control costs .
We
have used reasonable commercial efforts to assess and predict costs and expenses based on the and restricted cash experience of our management.
However, we have a limited operating history upon which to base predictions. Implementing our business plan may require more employees,
equipment, supplies or other expenditure items than we have predicted. Similarly, the cost of compensating additional management, employees
and consultants or other operating costs may be more than our estimates, which could result in sustained losses.
Our
officers and director do not devote full time to the affairs of the Company and could allocate their time and attention to other business
ventures which may not benefit the Company .
Our
officers and directors may engage in other activities. Although there are none known to us, the potential for conflicts of interest exists
among us and affiliated persons for future business opportunities that may not be presented to us. Our officers and directors may have
conflicts of interests in allocating time, services, and functions between the other business ventures in which those persons may be
or become involved. Our officers and directors, however, believe that we will have sufficient staff, consultants, employees, agents,
contractors, and managers to adequately conduct our business.
Risks
Related to our Common Stock
An
active trading market for our common stock may not develop.
Our
common stock is currently listed on OTC Markets.com under the symbol
(“TZUP“) but trades by appointment or not at all. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in us
will lead to the development of an active public trading market or how liquid that public market may become.
Additionally,
because the initial quoted price of our common stock is likely to be less than $5.00 per share, our common stock may be considered a
“penny stock,” and trading in our common stock is subject to the requirements of Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act. Under
this rule, broker/dealers who recommend low-priced securities to persons other than established customers and accredited investors must
satisfy special sales practice requirements, including making an individualized written suitability determination for the purchaser and
receiving the purchaser’s written consent prior to the transaction. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations also
require additional disclosure in connection with any trades involving a “penny stock,” including the delivery, prior to any
penny stock transaction, of a disclosure schedule explaining the penny stock market and its associated risks. These requirements
severely limit the liquidity of securities in the secondary market because few brokers or dealers are likely to undertake these compliance
activities and this limited liquidity will make it more difficult for an investor to sell his shares of our common stock in the secondary
market should the investor wish to liquidate the investment. In addition to the applicability of the penny stock rules, other
risks associated with trading in penny stocks could also be price fluctuations and the lack of a liquid market.
Should
an active market for our shares develop our stock price may be volatile and fluctuate widely, which could result in substantial losses
to investors and litigation.
In
addition to changes to market prices based on our results of operations and the factors discussed elsewhere in this “Risk Factors”
section, the market price of and trading volume for our common stock may change for a variety of reasons, not necessarily related to
our actual operating performance. The capital markets have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to
the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price
of our common stock. In addition, the average daily trading volume of the securities of small companies can be very low, which
may contribute to future volatility. Factors that could cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly
include:
●
the results of operating
and financial performance and prospects of other companies in our industry;
●
strategic actions by us
or our competitors, such as acquisitions or restructurings;
●
announcements of innovations, increased service capabilities,
new or
terminated customers or new, amended or terminated contracts by our competitors;
19
●
the public’s reaction to our press releases,
other public announcements, and filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission;
●
lack of securities analyst coverage or speculation
in the press or investment community about us
or market opportunities in the telecommunications services and staffing industry;
●
changes
in government policies in the United States and, as our international business increases, in
other
foreign countries;
●
changes
in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities or research analysts who track our
common
stock or failure of our actual results of operations to meet those expectations;
●
market and industry perception
of our success, or lack thereof, in pursuing our growth strategy;
●
changes in accounting standards,
policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;
●
any lawsuit involving us,
our services or our products;
●
arrival and departure of
key personnel;
●
sales of common stock by
us, our investors or members of our management team; and
●
changes
in general market, economic and political conditions in the United States and global
economies
or financial markets, including those resulting from natural or man-made disasters.
Any
of these factors, as well as broader market and industry factors, may result in large and sudden changes in the trading volume of our
common stock and could seriously harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance. This
may prevent you from being able to sell your shares at or above the price you paid for your shares of our common stock, if at all. In
addition, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company’s securities, shareholders often institute securities
class action litigation against that company. Our involvement in any class action suit or other legal proceeding could divert
our senior management’s attention and could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
The
sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of our common stock could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Sales
of substantial amounts of shares of our common stock, or the perception that these sales could occur, could adversely affect the market
price of our common stock and could impair our future ability to raise capital through common stock offerings. Our principal executive
officer and director beneficially owns a substantial percentage of our outstanding common stock and if were to sell a portion of the
shares he holds, it could cause our stock price to decline.
We
are controlled by a small group of our existing shareholders, whose interests may differ from other shareholders. Our executive officers
and directors will significantly influence our activities, and their interests may differ from your interests as a shareholder.
Our
executive officers and directors will beneficially own a substantial percentage of our outstanding common stock.
Accordingly,
these shareholders have had, and will continue to have, significant influence in determining the outcome of any corporate transaction
or any other matter submitted for approval to our shareholders, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of our assets, director
elections and other significant corporate actions. They will also have significant influence in preventing or causing a change
in control of our company. In addition, without the consent of these shareholders, we could be prevented from entering into
transactions that could be beneficial to us. The interests of these shareholders may differ from your interests as a shareholders,
and they may act in a manner that advances their best interests and not necessarily those of other shareholders.
We
are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable
to emerging growth companies will make our common stock less attractive to investors.
We
are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we expect to take advantage of certain exemptions from
various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including,
but not limited to, (i) being required to present only two years of audited financial statements and related financial disclosure, (ii)
not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, (iii) extended transition
periods for complying with new or revised accounting standards, (iv) reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation
in our periodic reports and proxy statements and (v) exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive
compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We have taken, and in the future may
take, advantage of these exemptions until such time that we are no longer an “emerging growth company. As a result our
financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates. We cannot predict if investors
will find our common stock less attractive because we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less
attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and the price of our common stock may be more
volatile.
20
We
will remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, although we will lose that status sooner if our annual revenues
exceed $1.07 billion, if we issue more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt in a three-year period, or if the market value of our
common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30.
Our
disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all errors or acts of fraud.
As
a public company, we will also be required to maintain internal control over financial reporting and to report any material weaknesses
in those internal controls. Such internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is
a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented
or detected on a timely basis. We have identified three material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting at December
31, 2021. The material weaknesses relate to (i) lack of proper segregation of duties across significant accounting cycles, (ii) lack
of effective information technology security policies and control over access to key systems, and (iii) lack of precision in the design
of internal control over financial reporting. Although we are making efforts to remediate these issues, we do not have the internal infrastructure
and as a result these efforts may not be sufficient to avoid similar material weaknesses in the future. Designing and implementing internal
controls over financial reporting will be time consuming, costly and complicated as we are a small organization with limited management
resources. No assurance can be given that there are no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the quality of our financial
controls.
If
the material weaknesses in our internal controls are not fully remediated or if additional material weaknesses are identified, those
material weaknesses could cause us to fail to meet our future reporting obligations, reduce the market’s confidence in our financial
statements, harm our stock price and subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
For
as long as we are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, or a non-accelerated filer, as defined in Rule
12b-2 under the Exchange Act, our auditors will not be required to attest as to our internal control over financial reporting. If we
continue to identify material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, are unable to comply with the requirements
of Section 404 in a timely manner, are unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective or, once required,
our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to attest that our internal control over financial reporting is effective,
investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our common stock could
decrease. We could also become subject to stockholder or other third-party litigation as well as investigations by the securities exchange
on which our securities are listed, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management
resources and could result in fines, trading suspensions or other remedies.
If
equity research analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue unfavorable commentary or downgrade
our common stock, the market price of our common stock will likely decline.
The
trading market for our common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that equity research analysts, over whom we have no
control, publish about us and our business. We may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If
no securities or industry analysts commence coverage of our company, the market price for our common stock could decline. In the event
we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, the market price of our common stock could decline if one or more equity analysts
downgrade our common stock or if those analysts issue unfavorable commentary, even if it is inaccurate, or cease publishing reports about
us or our business.
21
ITEM
1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.
ITEM
2. PROPERTIES.
The
Company does not own any real estate. The Company does not maintain a formal executive office. All work is conducted remotely.
ITEM
3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
None.
ITEM
4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not
applicable.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.