Strive, Inc. 10-K

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. The following discussion and analysis summarizes the significant factors affecting our operating results, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows as of and for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report. The discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report, particularly in the sections titled “ Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “ Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements. ” Overview Asset Entities is a technology company providing social media marketing and content delivery services across Discord, TikTok, and other social media platforms. We also design, develop and manage servers for communities on Discord. Based on the rapid growth of our Discord servers and social media following, we have developed three categories of services: (1) our Discord investment education and entertainment services, (2) social media and marketing services, and (3) our AE.360.DDM services. All of our services are based on our effective use of Discord as well as other social media including TikTok, X, Instagram, and YouTube. Our Discord investment education and entertainment service is designed primarily by and for enthusiastic Generation Z, or Gen Z, retail investors, creators and influencers. Gen Z is commonly considered to be people born between 1997 and 2012. Our investment education and entertainment service focuses on stock, real estate, cryptocurrency, and NFT community learning programs designed for the next generation. While we believe that Gen Z will continue to be our primary market, our recently-expanded Discord server offering features education and entertainment content covering real estate investments, which is expected to appeal strongly to older generations as well. Our current combined server user membership is approximately 210,000 as of March 2024. Our social media and marketing services utilize our management’s social influencer backgrounds by offering social media and marketing campaign services to business clients. Our team of social influencer independent contractors, which we call our “SiN” or “Social Influencer Network”, can perform social media and marketing campaign services to expand our clients’ Discord server bases and drive traffic to their businesses, as well as increase membership in our own servers. Our “AE.360.DDM, Design Develop Manage” service, or “AE.360.DDM”, is a suite of services to individuals and companies seeking to create a server on Discord. We believe we are the first company to provide “Design, Develop and Manage,” or DDM, services for any individual, company, or organization that wishes to join Discord and create their own community. With our AE.360.DDM rollout, we are uniquely positioned to offer DDM services in the growing market for Discord servers. We believe that we are a leading provider of all of these services, and that demand for all of our services will continue to grow. We expect to experience rapid revenue growth from our services. We believe that we have built a scalable and sustainable business model and that our competitive strengths position us favorably in each aspect of our business. Our revenue depends on the number of paying subscribers to our Discord servers. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we received revenue from 298 and 8,694 Asset Entities Discord server paying subscribers, respectively. 47 Our Historical Performance The Company had an accumulated deficit of $5,558,315 at December 31, 2023, $2,924,323 in cash at December 31, 2023, and a net loss of $4,931,197 during the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company initiated a sale of 621,590 shares of common stock under its Amended and Restated Closing Agreement on March 27, 2024, and the Company intends to file a “shelf” registration statement and arrange for one or more financings to commence pursuant to such shelf registration statement shortly after it becomes effective. Based on the Company’s existing cash resources and the cash expected to be received from these financings, it is expected that the Company will have sufficient funds to carry out the Company’s planned operations through December 31, 2024. For further discussion, see Item 7. “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources ”. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic The current global pandemic of a novel strain of coronavirus, or COVID-19, and the global measures taken to combat it, may have an adverse effect on our business. Public health authorities and governments at local, national and international levels have announced various measures to respond to the pandemic. Some measures that directly or indirectly impact our business include voluntary or mandatory quarantines, restrictions on travel and limiting gatherings of people in public places. We believe that we have fully complied with all federal, state and local requirements relating to COVID-19. We have undertaken various measures in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. From our founding, we have been a highly efficient remote-first company, which has been able to continue to function as normal even with pandemic-related stay at home orders and other regulations. We have also exploited certain trends related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its acceleration of global growth in virtual services. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted global economic activity and has contributed to significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets. The resulting global deterioration in economic conditions and financial volatility may have an adverse impact on discretionary consumer spending or investing, could also impact our business and demand for our services. As events are rapidly changing, we cannot predict how long the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts to contain it could disrupt our operations or the full extent of that disruption. Governments could take additional restrictive measures to combat the pandemic that could further impact our business or the economy in the geographies in which we operate. It is also possible that the impact of the pandemic and response on our customers, users, and markets will persist for some time after governments ease their restrictions. The extent to which the pandemic may impact our results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted as of the date of this Annual Report, including new information that may emerge concerning the severity of the pandemic and steps taken to contain the pandemic or treat its impact, among others. Nevertheless, the pandemic and the current financial, economic and capital markets environment, and future developments in the global supply chain and other areas present material uncertainty and risk with respect to our performance, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. See also “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business and Industry – The COVID-19 pandemic may cause a material adverse effect on our business ” above. Principal Factors Affecting Our Financial Performance Our operating results are primarily affected by the following factors: ● our ability to acquire new customers and users or retain existing customers and users; ● our ability to offer competitive pricing; ● our ability to broaden product or service offerings; ● industry demand and competition; ● our ability to leverage technology and use and develop efficient processes; ● our ability to attract and retain talented employees and contractors; and ● market conditions and our market position. 48 Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company We qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act. As a result, we are permitted to, and intend to, rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements. For so long as we are an emerging growth company, we will not be required to: ● have an auditor report on our internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; ● present three years, instead of two years, of audited financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure in this Annual Report; ● comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements (i.e., an auditor discussion and analysis); ● comply with certain greenhouse gas emissions disclosure and related third-party assurance requirements; ● submit certain executive compensation matters to stockholder advisory votes, such as “say-on-pay” and “say-on-frequency;” and ● disclose certain executive compensation related items such as the correlation between executive compensation and performance and comparisons of the chief executive officer’s compensation to median employee compensation. In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also 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 to take advantage of the benefits of this extended transition period. Our financial statements may therefore not be comparable to those of companies that comply with such new or revised accounting standards. We will remain an emerging growth company for up to five years, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our total annual gross revenues exceed $1,235,000,000, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three year period. To the extent that we continue to qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, after we cease to qualify as an emerging growth company, certain of the exemptions available to us as an emerging growth company may continue to be available to us as a smaller reporting company, including as to: (i) the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; (ii) scaled executive compensation disclosures; (iii) presenting two years of audited financial statements, instead of three years; and (iv) compliance with certain greenhouse gas emissions disclosure and related third-party assurance requirements. Recent Developments On March 27, 2024, the Company delivered a Closing Notice to Triton (the “Second Closing Notice”) for the purchase of 621,590 shares of Class B Common Stock (the “Second Triton Shares”), which was the amount of shares of Class B Common Stock remaining under the registration statement. The price of each of the Second Triton Shares is required to be set at 85% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Class B Common Stock during the five business days prior to the closing of the purchase of the Second Triton Shares (the “Second Triton Closing”). The Second Triton Closing is required to occur within five business days after the delivery of the Second Triton Shares to Triton. In connection with the Second Triton Closing, pursuant to the Boustead Engagement Letter and the Underwriting Agreement, the Company will pay Boustead a fee equal to 7% of the aggregate purchase price and a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1% of the aggregate purchase price for the Second Triton Shares. In addition, the Company will issue a Tail Warrant to Boustead for the purchase of 43,511 shares of Class B Common Stock, equal to 7% of the number of the Second Triton Shares, with an exercise price equal to the purchase price per share of the Second Triton Shares. Under a Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Closing Agreement (the “Third Triton Amendment”), dated as of March 29, 2024, the Company and Triton agreed to amend the Amended A&R Closing Agreement to provide that the Amended A&R Closing Agreement will expire on April 30, 2024, instead of March 31, 2024. The Third Triton Amendment did not amend any of the other provisions of the Amended A&R Closing Agreement. A copy of the Third Triton Amendment is attached to the Annual Report as Exhibit 10.32, and the description above is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. 49 Results of Operations The following table summarizes our results of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022. Year Ended Consolidated Operations Data December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Revenues $ 277,038 $ 343,106 Operating expenses Contract labor 176,773 155,232 General and administrative 2,183,155 462,971 Management compensation 2,848,307 370,158 Total operating expenses 5,208,235 988,361 Loss from operations (4,931,197 ) (645,255 ) Net loss $ (4,931,197 ) $ (645,255 ) Revenues . Our revenues decreased 19% to approximately $0.27 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 from approximately $0.34 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in revenues from Discord paying subscribers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, compared to such revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. There was no material difference in the Company’s subscription pricing structure between these periods. Operating Expenses . Our total operating expenses increased 427% to approximately $5.2 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 from approximately $1.0 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to an increase in advertising, marketing, payroll and other administrative expenses associated with the Company’s February 2023 initial public offering and administrative cost of public filings of approximately $1.7 million and an increase in management compensation costs of approximately $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 compared to such costs for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Loss From Operations . Our loss from operations increased 664% to approximately $5.0 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 from approximately $0.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was primarily due to an increase in advertising, marketing, payroll and other administrative expenses associated with the Company’s February 2023 initial public offering and administrative cost of public filings of approximately $1.7 million and an increase in management compensation costs of approximately $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 compared to such costs for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Net Loss . Our net loss increased 664% to approximately $5.0 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 from approximately $0.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This change was primarily due to an increase in advertising, marketing, payroll and other administrative expenses associated with the Company’s February 2023 initial public offering and administrative cost of public filings of approximately $1.7 million and an increase in management compensation costs of approximately $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 compared to such costs for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Liquidity and Capital Resources We had an accumulated deficit of $5,558,315 at December 31, 2023, $2,924,323 in cash at December 31, 2023, and a net loss of $4,931,197 during the year ended December 31, 2023. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through contributed capital and sales of our services. In February 2023 we raised approximately $6.6 million in net proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering. The Company initiated a sale of 621,590 shares of common stock under its Amended and Restated Closing Agreement on March 27, 2024, and the Company intends to file a “shelf” registration statement and arrange for one or more financings to commence pursuant to such shelf registration statement shortly after it becomes effective. Based on the Company’s existing cash resources and the cash expected to be received from these financings, it is expected that the Company will have sufficient funds to carry out the Company’s planned operations through December 31, 2024. We may, however, in the future require additional cash resources due to changing business conditions, implementation of our strategy to expand our business, or other investments or acquisitions we may decide to pursue. If our own financial resources are insufficient to satisfy our capital requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities or obtain additional credit facilities. The sale of additional equity securities could result in dilution to our stockholders. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased debt service obligations and could require us to agree to operating and financial covenants that would restrict our operations. Financing may not be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Any failure by us to raise additional funds on terms favorable to us, or at all, could limit our ability to expand our business operations and could harm our overall business prospects. 50 Summary of Cash Flow The following table provides detailed information about our net cash flow for the periods presented: Years Ended December 31, 2023 2022 Net cash used in operating activities $ (3,807,623 ) $ (602,829 ) Net cash used in investing activities (113,559 ) - Net cash provided by financing activities 6,708,328 706,275 Net change in cash 2,780,907 103,446 Cash at beginning of year 137,177 33,731 Cash at end of year $ 2,924,323 $ 137,177 Net cash used in operating activities was approximately $3.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of approximately $0.6 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to an increase in advertising, marketing, payroll and other administrative expenses associated with the Company’s February 2023 initial public offering and administrative cost of public filings of approximately $1.7 million and an increase in management compensation costs of approximately $2.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 compared to such costs for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $0 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The change was primarily due to the purchase of the Ternary and OptionsSwing software platforms as well as minor capital expenditures of equipment and fixtures. Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $6.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of approximately $0.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. The change was primarily due to an increase in financing activities from the Company’s February 2023 initial public offering compared to financing from private placements conducted during the year ended December 31, 2022. Initial Public Offering and Underwriting Agreement The closing of our initial public offering took place on February 7, 2023 pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. At the closing, the Company sold the IPO Shares for total gross proceeds of $7,500,000. The Company also issued the Representative’s Warrant. After deducting the underwriting discounts, commissions, non-accountable expense allowance, and other expenses from the initial public offering, the Company received net proceeds of approximately $6.6 million. Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, as of February 3, 2023, we were subject to a lock-up agreement that prevented us, subject to certain exceptions, from selling or transferring any of our shares of capital stock of the Company for up to 12 months. In addition, our officers, directors and beneficial owners of approximately 78.0% of our common stock agreed to be locked up for a period of 12 months. Holders of approximately 7.2% of our outstanding common stock agreed to be locked up for a period of nine months, and a holder of approximately 2.3% of our outstanding Class B Common Stock prior to the initial public offering agreed to be locked up for a period of six months with respect to approximately 0.9% of the outstanding common stock held by such holder, subject to certain exceptions. The remaining shares were not subject to lock-up provisions or such lock-up provisions were waived. This lock-up period expired on February 2, 2024. 51 Other terms of and agreements relating to the Underwriting Agreement and the underwriter are described under Item 1. “ Business – Corporate Structure and History – Initial Public Offering and Underwriting Agreement ” and Item 7. “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition – Liquidity and Capital Resources – Engagement Letter with Boustead Securities, LLC ”. A copy of each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Representative’s Warrant is filed as Exhibit 10.24 and Exhibit 4.5 to this Annual Report, respectively, and the description above is qualified in its entirety by reference to each such exhibit. As stated in the IPO Public Offering Prospectus, the Company intended to use the net proceeds from the initial public offering for investment in corporate infrastructure, marketing and promotion of Discord communities, social campaigns, and the Company’s “AE.360.DDM” Discord design, development and management service, expansion of “SiN”, the Company’s social influencer network, increasing staff and company personnel, and general working capital, operating, and other corporate expenses. The following is our reasonable estimate of the uses of the proceeds from the Company’s initial public offering from the date of the closing of the offering on November 16, 2023 until December 31, 2023: ● None was used for construction of plant, building and facilities; ● None was used for the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment; ● None was used for purchases of real estate; ● None was used for the acquisition of other businesses; ● None was used for the repayment of indebtedness; ● $3.5 million was used for working capital; and ● None was used for temporary investments. As of December 31, 2023, none of the proceeds from the initial public offering were used to make direct or indirect payments to any of our directors or officers, any of their associates, any persons owning 10% or more of any class of our equity securities, or any of our affiliates, or direct or indirect payments to any others other than for the direct costs of the offering. There has not been, and we do not expect, any material change in the planned use of proceeds from the initial public offering as described in the IPO Registration Statement. Engagement Letter with Boustead Securities, LLC Under the Boustead Engagement Letter, during the term that began on November 29, 2021 and ending 12 months following the termination or expiration of the Boustead Engagement letter, which occurred on February 7, 2024 (see below), we must compensate Boustead with a cash fee equal to seven percent (7.0%) and non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1.0%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of securities in an investment transaction, or up to ten percent (10.0%) of the gross proceeds from certain other merger, acquisition, or joint venture, strategic alliance, license, research and development, or other similar transactions, with a party, including any investor in a private placement in which Boustead served as placement agent or in the initial public offering, or who became aware of the Company or who became known to the Company prior to the termination or expiration of the Boustead Engagement Letter, including any Company officers, directors, employees, consultants, advisors, stockholders, members, or partners, for such transactions that occur during the 12-month period following the termination or expiration of the Boustead Engagement Letter (the “Tail Rights”). The Boustead Engagement Letter expired on February 7, 2024. We also agreed to provide Boustead the right of first refusal (the “Right of First Refusal”) for two years following the expiration of the Boustead Engagement Letter to act as financial advisor, lead managing underwriter, book runner, placement agent, or to act as joint advisor, managing underwriter, book runner, or placement agent on at least equal economic terms, on any public or private financing (debt or equity), merger, business combination, recapitalization or sale of some or all of the equity or assets of the Company. In the event that we engage Boustead to provide such services, Boustead will be compensated consistent with the Boustead Engagement Letter, as described below, unless we mutually agree otherwise. 52 Under the Boustead Engagement Letter, in connection with a transaction as to which Boustead duly exercises the Right of First Refusal or is entitled to the Tail Rights, Boustead shall receive compensation as follows: ● other than normal course of business activities, as to any sale, merger, acquisition, joint venture, strategic alliance, license, research and development, or other similar agreements, Boustead will accrue compensation under a percentage fee of the Aggregate Consideration (as defined in the Boustead Engagement Letter) calculated as follows: o 10.0% for Aggregate Consideration of less than US$10,000,000; plus o 8.0% for Aggregate Consideration between $10,000,000 - $25,000,000; plus o 6.0% for Aggregate Consideration between $25,000,001 - $50,000,000; plus o 4.0% for Aggregate Consideration between $50,000,001 - $75,000,000; plus o 2.0% for Aggregate Consideration between $75,000,001 - $100,000,000; plus o 1.0% for Aggregate Consideration above $100,000,000; ● for any investment transaction including any common stock, preferred stock, ordinary shares, convertible stock, LLC or LP memberships, debt, convertible debentures, convertible debt, debt with warrants, stock warrants, stock options (excluding issuances to Company employees), stock purchase rights, or any other securities convertible into common stock, any form of debt instrument involving any form of equity participation, and including the conversion or exercise of any securities sold in any transaction, Boustead shall receive upon each investment transaction closing a success fee, payable in (i) cash, equal to 7% of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such investment transaction closing, plus (ii) a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1% of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such investment transaction closing, plus (iii) warrants equal to 7% of the gross amount to be disbursed to the Company from each such investment transaction closing, including shares issuable upon conversion or exercise of the securities sold in any transaction, and in the event that warrants or other rights are issued in the investment transaction, 7% of the shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants or other rights, and in the event of a debt or convertible debt financing, warrants to purchase an amount of Company stock equal to the 7% of the gross amount or facility received by the Company in a debt financing divided by the warrant exercise share. The warrant exercise price will be the lower of: 1.) the fair market value price per share of the Company’s common stock as of each such financing closing date; 2.) the price per share paid by investors in each respective financing; 3.) in the event that convertible securities are sold in the financing, the conversion price of such securities; or 4.) in the event that warrants or other rights are issued in the financing, the exercise price of such warrants or other rights; ● any such warrants will be transferable in accordance with FINRA rules and SEC regulations, exercisable from the date of issuance and for a term of five years, contain cashless exercise provisions, be non-callable and non-cancelable with immediate piggy-back registration rights, have customary anti-dilution provisions and any future stock issuances, etc., at a price(s) below the exercise price per share, at terms no less favorable than the terms of any warrants issued to participants in the related transaction, and provide for automatic exercise immediately prior to expiration; and ● reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the performance of its services, regardless of whether a transaction occurs. The Boustead Engagement Letter contains other customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company, customary conditions to closing, indemnification obligations of the Company and Boustead, including for liabilities under the Securities Act, other obligations of the parties, and termination provisions. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Boustead Engagement Letter were made only for purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties. Amended and Restated Closing Agreement On August 1, 2023, the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement with Triton. Subject to its terms, the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement provided that the Company may deliver a Closing Notice and issue certain securities to Triton at any time on or before September 30, 2023, pursuant to which Triton agreed to be required to purchase such securities with an aggregate gross purchase price of $1,000,000 in the following manner. Upon delivery of a Closing Notice and the issuance and delivery of securities as described below, Triton agreed to purchase Triton Shares in an amount equal to up to 9.99% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock following such purchase, Triton Pre-Funded Warrants that may be exercised to purchase an amount of newly-issued Triton Warrant Shares, or both Triton Shares and Triton Pre-Funded Warrants, such that the aggregate price of the Triton Shares and the Triton Pre-Funded Warrants together with the exercise price to be paid upon full exercise of the Triton Pre-Funded Warrants was required to equal a total gross purchase price of $1,000,000. Upon the Company’s election to deliver a Closing Notice, the price of each of the Triton Shares was required to be set at 85% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Class B Common Stock during the five business days after the date that the Triton Securities were received by Triton. Any proceeds under the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement must be reduced by a $25,000 administrative fee. The Amended and Restated Closing Agreement also provided that it would expire either upon the date that Triton paid the required purchase price after receiving a Closing Notice, or September 30, 2023. 53 The Amended and Restated Closing Agreement provided that Triton’s obligation to purchase the Triton Securities was subject to certain conditions. These conditions included the filing and effectiveness of the required registration statement for the resale of the Triton Securities. In addition, the Class B Common Stock was required to remain listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market tier of Nasdaq, and the issuance of the Triton Securities was required to not violate any requirements of Nasdaq. Triton’s purchase requirement was also subject to provisions that prevented Triton from acquiring shares of Class B Common Stock at the time of any sale of the Triton Securities or exercise of the Triton Pre-Funded Warrants that would result in the number of shares beneficially owned by Triton and its affiliates exceeding the Beneficial Ownership Limitation. The Amended and Restated Closing Agreement provided for the issuance of the Triton Pre-Funded Warrants in lieu of issuance of some or all the Triton Shares, with an exercise price of $0.01 per share and with no expiration date, if, in Triton’s sole discretion, it would otherwise exceed the Beneficial Ownership Limitation, or otherwise upon Triton’s election. For each of the Triton Shares that Triton instead elected to be issuable as Triton Warrant Shares, the number of Triton Shares that we were required to issue to Triton at the time of any sale of the Triton Securities was required to be decreased on a one-for-one basis. We were also required to provide indemnification against liabilities relating to misrepresentations, breaches of obligations, and third-party claims relating to the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement, with certain exceptions. In connection with the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement, pursuant to the Boustead Engagement Letter, upon a closing under the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement, the Company must pay Boustead a cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds to be received from such closing and pay Boustead a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 1% of the gross proceeds to be received from such closing. The Company must also issue Boustead a Tail Warrant with respect to any Triton Shares exercisable for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to 7% of the number of the Triton Shares at an exercise price equal to the price per share for the Triton Shares, and a warrant with respect to the issuance of any Triton Pre-Funded Warrants exercisable for a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to 7% of the Triton Warrant Shares at an exercise price equal to $0.01 per share. Each Tail Warrant must be exercisable for a period of five years and contain cashless exercise provisions. The Company also must reimburse Boustead for all reasonable invoiced out-of-pocket expenses in connection with its performance of any services relating to the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement, regardless of whether a sale under the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement occurred. For further discussion of the Underwriting Agreement and the Boustead Engagement Letter, see “— Liquidity and Capital Resources – Initial Public Offering and Underwriting Agreement ” and “— Liquidity and Capital Resources – Engagement Letter with Boustead Securities, LLC ”. On August 18, 2023, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-274079) to register the offer and sale of the Triton Securities in an amount of up to 885,000 shares of Class B Common Stock consisting of Triton Shares and Triton Warrant Shares. The registration statement also registered the offer and sale of up to 61,950 shares of Class B Common Stock under Tail Warrants. The registration statement was declared effective on September 6, 2023. Under the First Triton Amendment, the Company and Triton agreed to amend the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement to provide that the Amended A&R Closing Agreement will expire on December 30, 2023 instead of September 30, 2023; to provide that up to an aggregate value of $1,000,000 of the Class B Common Stock, based on the purchase price formula described above, may be sold and purchased pursuant to a Closing Notice; and to amend the form of Closing Notice to provide for a specific number of shares that may be sold to Triton under the Amended A&R Closing Agreement. The First Triton Amendment did not amend any of the other provisions of the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement. As an incentive to Triton to enter into the First Triton Amendment and agree to the extension of the term of the $1,000,000 equity line under the Amended A&R Closing Agreement to December 30, 2023, the Company indicated to Triton that it would deliver a Closing Notice under the Amended A&R Closing Agreement to sell a number of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to approximately 4.9% of the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock prior to the sale. Therefore, on September 29, 2023, under the Amended A&R Closing Agreement, the Company delivered the First Closing Notice for the purchase of the 263,410 First Triton Shares, which was the amount of shares of Class B Common Stock equal to approximately 4.9% of the 5,375,724 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding on that date. Pursuant to the Amended A&R Closing Agreement, the Closing Date was required to take place within five business days after the Triton Shares were received by Triton. On the Closing Date, Triton was required to pay the Company a purchase price per share equal to 85% of the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Class B Common Stock during the period between the date that the shares were delivered to Triton and the Closing Date, the proceeds of which would be reduced by the $25,000 administrative fee, in accordance with the terms of the Amended A&R Closing Agreement. 54 On October 4, 2023, the First Triton Shares were received by Triton. Pursuant to the Amended A&R Closing Agreement, on the fifth business day following the day that the First Triton Shares were received, Triton was required to pay the Company $46,083.53, based on a price per share of $0.26894, equal to 85% of $0.3164, the lowest daily volume-weighted average price of the Class B Common Stock during the five-business-day period ending October 11, 2023, less the $25,000 administrative fee. The Company received payment of this amount on October 13, 2023. In connection with the closing pursuant to the First Closing Notice under the Amended A&R Closing Agreement described above, pursuant to the Boustead Engagement Letter and the Underwriting Agreement, the Company paid Boustead a fee of $4,975.85, equal to 7% of the aggregate purchase price, and non-accountable expense allowance of $710.84, equal to 1% of the aggregate purchase price for the First Triton Shares. In addition, the Company issued a Tail Warrant to Boustead for the purchase of 18,439 shares of Class B Common Stock, equal to 7% of the number of the First Triton Shares, with an exercise price of $0.26894 per share, equal to the purchase price per share of the First Triton Shares. Under the Second Triton Amendment, the Company and Triton agreed to amend the Amended A&R Closing Agreement to provide that the Amended A&R Closing Agreement will expire on March 31, 2024, instead of December 30, 2023. The Second Triton Amendment did not amend any of the other provisions of the Amended A&R Closing Agreement. Copies of the Closing Agreement, the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement, the First Triton Amendment, the Second Triton Amendment, the form of the Triton Pre-Funded Warrants, and the form of the warrants issuable to Boustead in connection with the Amended and Restated Closing Agreement, as amended, are each attached to the Annual Report as Exhibit 10.25, Exhibit 10.26, Exhibit 10.27, Exhibit 10.30, and Exhibit 4.6, respectively, and the description above is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit. Contractual Obligations During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we had no significant cash requirements for capital expenditures or other cash needs under any contractual or other obligations. Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements We have no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources. Critical Accounting Policies This discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. While our significant accounting policies are described in more detail in the notes to our financial statements included with this Annual Report, we believe that the following accounting policies are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgments and estimates. We believe our most critical accounting policies and estimates relate to the following: Intangible Assets Intangible assets acquired are recorded at fair value. We test our finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. We test our indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, we recognize an impairment in an amount equal to the excess, not to exceed the carrying value. Management uses considerable judgment to determine key assumptions, including projected revenue, royalty rates and appropriate discount rates. There were no intangible asset impairment charges in 2023 or 2022. 55 Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives, which ranges from 5 to 15 years. Our finite-lived intangible assets include acquired franchise agreements, acquired customer relationships, acquired customer lists, and internally developed software. Our indefinite-lived intangible assets include acquired domain names, trade names, and purchased software. Intangible assets internally developed are measured at cost. We capitalize costs to develop or purchase computer software for internal use which are incurred during the application development stage. These costs include fees paid to third parties for development services and payroll costs for employees’ time spent developing the software. We expense costs incurred during the preliminary project stage and the post-implementation stage. Capitalized development costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software. The capitalization and ongoing assessment of recoverability of development costs requires considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, technological and economic feasibility, and estimated economic life. Impairment of Long-lived Assets Other Than Goodwill Long-lived assets with finite lives, primarily property and equipment, intangible assets, and operating lease right-of-use assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the estimated cash flows from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are below the asset’s carrying value, then the asset is deemed to be impaired and written down to its fair value. Stock Based Compensation Service-Based Awards The Company records stock-based compensation for awards granted to employees, non-employees, and to members of the board for their services on the board 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, which is generally one to three years. For restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) issued under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, the fair value of each grant is calculated based on the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. Share Repurchase Share repurchases are open market purchases. Share repurchases are generally recorded on the settlement date, as treasury stock. When shares are cancelled, the value of repurchased shares is deducted from stockholders’ equity through common stock with the excess over par value recorded to accumulated deficit. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue utilizing the following steps: (i) Identify the contract, or contracts, with a customer; (ii) Identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) Determine the transaction price; (iv) Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; (v) Recognize revenue when the Company satisfies a performance obligation. Subscriptions Subscription revenue is related to a single performance obligation that is recognized over time when earned. Subscriptions are paid in advance and can be purchased on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Any quarterly or annual subscription revenue is recognized as a contract liability recorded over the contracted service period. Marketing Revenue related to marketing campaign contracts with customers are normally of a short duration, typically less than two (2) weeks. AE.360.DDM Contracts Revenue related to AE.360.DDM contracts with customers are normally of a short duration, typically less than one (1) week. 56 Earnings per Share of Common Stock The Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 260, “ Earnings per Share ” which requires presentation of basic earnings per share on the face of the statements of operations for all entities with complex capital structures and requires a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of the basic earnings per share computation. In the accompanying consolidated financial statements, basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of shares of common stock and potentially dilutive outstanding shares of common stock during the period to reflect the potential dilution that could occur from common stock issuable through contingent share arrangements, stock options and warrants unless the result would be antidilutive. The Company would account for the potential dilution from convertible securities using the as-if converted method. The Company accounts for warrants and options using the treasury stock method. As of December 31, 2023, dilutive potential shares of common stock include outstanding warrants. Income Taxes As described in more detail above (see Item 1. “ Business – Corporate Structure and History – Formation and Merger into Asset Entities Inc. ”), the business now conducted by the Company was operated as a partnership from August 1, 2020 until October 19, 2020, when it was reorganized as a limited liability company, or LLC, and that LLC was merged into the Company on March 28, 2022. Prior to that date, the partnership and the subsequent LLC were not subject to federal income tax and all income, deductions, gains and losses were attributed to the partners or members. The Company adopted FASB Topic ASC 740, “Income Taxes” (“FASB ASC 740”), at its inception. Under FASB ASC 740, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets, including tax loss and credit carryforwards, and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred income tax expense represents the change during the period in the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. The components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities are individually classified as current and non-current based on their characteristics. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. No deferred tax assets or liabilities were recognized as of December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In June 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-03, ASC Subtopic “Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions”. These amendments clarify that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years, including interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the adoption of this standard on its consolidated financial statements. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its financial statements. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326) — Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments , which has been subsequently amended by ASU No. 2018-19, ASU No. 2019-04, ASU No. 2019-05, ASU No. 2019-10, ASU No. 2019-11 and ASU No. 2020-03 (“ASU 2016-13”). The provisions of ASU 2016-13 modify the impairment model to utilize an expected loss methodology in place of the currently used incurred loss methodology and require a consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2023, using the modified retrospective approach. The Company’s consolidated financial statements for prior-year periods have not been revised and are reflective of the credit loss requirements which were in effect for that period. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Instead of determining a hypothetical purchase price allocation to measure goodwill impairment, the Company will compare the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. The update also includes a new requirement to disclose the amount of goodwill allocated to reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 on January 1, 2023. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. The Company has considered all other recently issued accounting pronouncements and does not believe the adoption of such pronouncements will have a material impact on its financial statements. 57 ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. Not applicable. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA. The full text of our audited consolidated financial statements begins on page F-1 of this Annual Report. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. None.