Versus Systems Inc. 10-K

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Annual Report. Overview We offer a suite of proprietary business-to-business software tools that are meant to drive user engagement through gamification and rewards. These tools allow our partners to offer in-game prizing and rewards, including merchandise, coupons, digital goods, and sweepstakes entries — inside their websites, their venues, or their streaming media content. 28 Our customers are mostly sports teams, venues, and advertising agencies, who typically use our products as part of their live events or as part of an advertising campaign with the goal of engaging fans, increasing consented first-party data, and increasing sales. At December 31, 2022, we had 16 active customers. At December 31, 2023, we had five active customers. Our products and games are designed so that end users of our products could earn prizes by registering on our system and completing in-content challenges like trivia, polls, or casual mobile games. Players could use our system to play a variety of games and earn a wide range of prize types, provided by advertisers and sponsors. Our products, include our in-venue XEO and Filter Fan Cam products for live events, and our new stand-alone “Winfinite” product that can be used by brands, advertising agencies, and content partners to reach potential customers outside of sports venues, on mobile devices. We also have an IP portfolio that could create future licensing and product development opportunities including our recently allowed Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) and Machine Learning (“ML”) series of patent claims. With the acquisition of Xcite Interactive in June 2021, we acquired a number of key pieces of technology and relationships that have helped to drive our engagement and rewards business, including a live events fan engagement business that has partnered with professional sports franchises in the National Football League (“NFL”), the National Basketball Association (“NBA”), the National Hockey League (“NHL”) and others to increase audience engagement using interactive gaming functions like trivia, polling, and casual games that can be played alongside live experiences whether a player is at-home, in a restaurant, or in-venue at the event itself. Our three largest customers in 2023 were the San Jose Sharks, the Sacramento Kings, and ENT Marketing, a marketing agency that used our platform to promote Coca-Cola products. We now have three principal software products. Our eXtreme Engagement Online or “XEO” platform is designed primarily for in-venue main-board work in stadiums and arenas. Our Filter Fan Cam (FFC) platform is an Augmented Reality filtering tool that can be used for mobile and in-venue applications. In addition, we have a stand-alone gaming and prizing product that we call “Winfinite,” which allows brands, media companies, and advertising agencies to reach out to customers directly on their mobile devices. We license these three software products to teams, ad agencies, and other content creators. Significant Components of Our Results of Operations Revenue. In general, we recognize revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to us, where there is evidence of an arrangement, when the selling price is fixed or determinable, and when specific criteria have been met or there are no significant remaining performance obligations for each of our activities as described below. Foreseeable losses, if any, are recognized in the year or period in which the loss is determined. We earn revenue through the development and maintenance of custom-built software. We recognize revenues received from the development and maintenance of custom-built software and other professional services provided upon the satisfaction of our performance obligation in an amount that reflects the consideration to which we expect to be entitled in exchange for those services. Performance obligations can be satisfied either at a single point in time or over time. For those performance obligations that are satisfied at a single point in time, the revenue is recognized at that time. For each performance obligation satisfied over time, we recognize revenue by measuring the progress toward complete satisfaction of that performance obligation. Our contracts with customers may include multiple performance obligations. For these contracts, we account for individual performance obligations separately if they are capable of being distinct within the context of the contract. Determining which performance obligations are considered distinct may require significant judgment. Judgment is also required to determine the amount of revenue associated with each distinct performance obligation. Operating Expenses. We classify our operating expense as research and development, and selling, general and administrative. Personnel costs are the primary component of each of these operating expense categories, which consist of cash-based personnel costs, such as salaries, benefits and bonuses. Additionally, these categories include intangible amortization, amortization expense, interest expense, software costs, professional fees and share-based compensation. 29 Operating Results Comparison of Results of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 The following table summarizes our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022: For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 2022 Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss Data: Revenue $ 271,169 $ 1,108,840 Cost of revenues 103,067 617,049 Gross Margin 168,102 491,791 Expenses Research and development 1,107,235 2,406,006 Selling, general and administrative 5,944,909 11,838,128 Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles 3,968,332 8,919,002 Total Operating Expenses 11,020,476 23,163,36 Operating loss (10,852,374 ) (22,671,345 ) Employee retention credit (354,105 ) - Change in fair value of warrant liability - (361,055 ) Other income/(expense) 13,888 162,902 Net loss (10,512,157 ) (22,473,192 ) Other total comprehensive loss: Change in foreign currency translation, net of tax 93,317 154,970 Total comprehensive loss $ (10,418,840 ) $ (22,318,222 ) Basic and diluted earnings per share to shareholders $ (10.66 ) $ (192.89 ) Revenue Our revenues are derived from three primary sources: software licensing, professional services and advertising. Revenue was $271,169 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $847,671, or 76%, from $1,108,840 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a significant reduction in the number of clients from 16 active clients at December 31, 2022 to five active clients at December 31, 2023. Cost of revenues Cost of revenues was $103,067 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $513,982, or 83%, from $617,049 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to significant reductions in staff related to our company restructuring. Research and development Research and development was $1,107,235 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $1,298,771, or 54%, from $2,406,006 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in staffing levels, including a large portion of our engineering staff, and a reduction in software costs. 30 Selling, general and administrative Selling, general and administrative was $5,944,909 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $5,893,219, or 50%, from $11,838,128 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in staffing levels, from 39 employees at December 31, 2022 to 8 employees at December 31, 2023, and stock compensation expense, which decreased from $1,567,583 in 2022 to $(1,452,380) in 2023. Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets was $3,968,332 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $4,950,670 or 56% from $8,919,002 for the year ended December 31, 2022. A number of factors influenced the performance of Xcite Interactive in 2022, including reduced revenue projections, the time and cost involved in creating custom games, the departure of key Xcite employees, and the competitive landscape of the fan engagement industry. As a result, we engaged a third-party to conduct an impairment analysis as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2023, which resulted in an $8,919,002 impairment loss in 2022. The $3,968,332 impairment as of December 31, 2023 was related to the impairment of capitalized software from our HP contract and platform. Loss from Operations Loss from operations was $10,852,374 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing a decrease of $11,818,971, or 52%, from $22,671,345 for the year ended December 31, 2022. Decreases in salaries because of reduced staffing levels and software were somewhat offset by decreases in revenue. Change in fair value of warrant liability Change in fair value of the warrant liability was $0 for the year ended December 31, 2023, representing an increase of $361,055, from ($361,055) for the year ended December 31, 2022. The warrant liability was a result of having warrants in Canadian dollars and the change in functional currency to the United States dollar on February 1, 2021. The Canadian warrants expired in November 2022. Inflation The effect of inflation on our revenue and operating results was not significant. Liquidity and Capital Resources Our financial condition and liquidity is and will continue to be influenced by a variety of factors, including: ● our ability to generate cash flows from our operations; ● future indebtedness and the interest we are obligated to pay on this indebtedness; ● the availability of public and private debt and equity financing; ● changes in exchange rates which will impact our generation of cash flows from operations when measured in CAD; and ● our capital expenditure requirements. Overview Since inception, we have incurred significant operating losses. For the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we incurred net losses of approximately $10.5 million and $22.4 million, respectively. During such periods, we have financed our operations primarily through an initial public offering of our common shares in January 2021 and subsequent public offerings, registered direct offerings, and private placements. In February 2023, we completed a registered direct offering of our common shares in which we received gross proceeds of $2.25 million and net proceeds of approximately $2 million. In October 2023, we completed a public direct offering of our common shares in which we received gross proceeds of approximately $3 million and net proceeds of approximately $2.5 million. In November 2023, we completed a private placement of our equity securities in which we received gross proceeds of $2.6 million. Throughout 2023, we received approximately $4.6 million in proceeds from warrant exercises. Our cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2023 was $4.7 million. Our primary cash needs are for working capital requirements, capital expenditures and to fund our operations. 31 We are subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with a new business. We believe that our current resources and the expected revenues from operations will be insufficient to fund our planned operations for the next twelve months. The report of our independent registered public accounting firm on our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 stated that our recurring losses from operations, accumulated deficit as of December 31, 2023, inability to achieve positive cash flows from operations and inability to fund day to day activities through operations indicates that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on our ability to continue as a going concern. We plan to increase our cash flow from our operations to address some of our liquidity concerns and are evaluating other strategic alternatives. However, to execute our business plan and implement our business strategy, we anticipate that we will need to obtain additional financing from time to time and may choose to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt financings, a bank line of credit, borrowings from affiliates or other arrangements. We cannot be sure that any additional funding, if needed, will be available on terms favorable to us or at all. Furthermore, any additional capital raised through the sale of equity or equity-linked securities may dilute our current shareholders’ ownership in us and could also result in a decrease in the market price of our common shares. The terms of those securities issued by us in future capital transactions may be more favorable to new investors and may include the issuance of warrants or other derivative securities, which may have a further dilutive effect. Furthermore, any debt financing, if available, may subject us to restrictive covenants and significant interest costs. There can be no assurance that we will be able to raise additional capital, when needed, to continue operations in their current form. If we cannot raise needed funds, we might be forced to make substantial reductions in our operating expenses, including reductions in our research and development expenses or headcount reductions, which could adversely affect our ability to implement our business plan and ultimately our viability as a company. Cash Flows The following summarizes the key components of our cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022: Year Ended December 31, 2023 Year Ended December 31, 2022 Net cash used in operating activities $ (5,471,406 ) $ (9,153,544 ) Net cash used in investing activities (14,514 ) (2,536,832 ) Net cash provided by financing activities 8,996,080 11,191,067 Net increase (decrease) in cash $ 3,510,160 $ (499,309 ) Operating Activities Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $5,471,406 as compared to $9,153,544 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in cash used in operating activities was primarily attributable to a decrease in the net loss. Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023 was $14,514 as compared to $2,536,832 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The change in cash flow used in investing activities was primarily attributable to a significant reduction in payroll capitalized for the development of intangible assets, and a reduction in the amount of equipment purchased. 32 Financing Activities Net cash provided by financing activities was $8,996,080 for the year ended December 31, 2023 as compared to $11,191,067 for the year ended December 31, 2022. The change in cash flow provided by financing activities was mainly attributable to proceeds we received from the issuance of common shares, exercise of warrants and options, and repayments on notes payable. Indebtedness Notes Payable From 2017 to December 31, 2022, we issued $4,750,818 aggregate principal amount of promissory notes primarily to Brian Tingle, one of our directors. The notes bore interest at the prime rate of the Bank of Canada, which has ranged from 2.45% to 3.95% per annum, compounded annually, that was payable quarterly, and had a maturity date of three years from the date of issuance. As of December 31, 2023, all loans have been repaid and we had recorded $0 in accrued interest that was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and management’s assessment of current events and other facts and circumstances that are considered to be relevant. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant assumptions about the future and other sources of estimation uncertainty that management has made at the end of the reporting year, that could result in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the event that actual results differ from assumptions made, relate to, but are not limited to, the following: Estimate for excess credit losses We apply the Current Expected Credit Loss (CECL) model under ASC 326 for impairment of financial assets. This model requires the recognition of an allowance for credit losses based on expected losses over the life of the asset. If the credit risk of a financial asset decreases in a subsequent period, any previously recognized impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss, limited to the extent that the carrying amount does not exceed what the amortized cost would have been had the impairment not been recognized. Deferred financing costs Deferred financing costs consist primarily of direct incremental costs related to our public offerings of our common stock completed in February 2023. Upon completion of our public offering and financing any deferred costs were offset against the proceeds. Property and equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, if any. Such cost includes the cost of replacing part of the property and equipment. All other repair and maintenance costs are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The initial cost of property and equipment comprises its purchase price or construction cost and any costs directly attributable to bringing it to a working condition for its intended use. The purchase price or construction cost is the aggregate amount of cash consideration paid and the fair value of any other consideration given to acquire the asset. Where an item of property and equipment is comprised of significant components with different useful lives, the components are accounted for as separate items of property and equipment. For all property and equipment, depreciation is calculated over the depreciable amount, which is the cost of an asset less its residual value. Depreciation is calculated starting on the date that property and equipment is available for its intended use. 33 Intangible assets Intangible assets acquired separately are measured upon initial recognition at cost, which comprises the purchase price plus any costs directly attributable to the preparation of the asset for its intended use. Intangible assets acquired through business combinations (Xcite Interactive) or asset acquisitions are initially recognized at fair value as at the date of acquisition. After initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortization and any accumulated impairment charges. Warrant liability Equity financing transactions may involve issuance of common shares or units. Each unit comprises a certain number of shares and a certain number of warrants. Depending on the terms and conditions of each equity financing transaction, the warrants are exercisable to purchase additional common shares at a price prior to expiry as stipulated by the transaction. Warrants that are part of units are assigned a value based on the residual value, if any. As of February 1, 2021, the Canadian dollar denominated warrants were considered a derivative liability since the obligation to issue shares was not fixed in our functional currency. The derivative warrant liability was measured as fair value at issue with subsequent changes recognized in the statement of loss and comprehensive loss. A $9,743,659 warrant derivative loss was recorded in the statement of loss and comprehensive loss beginning February 1, 2021 when we changed our functional currency. We use the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model for valuation of share-based payments and derivative financial assets (e.g. investments in warrants). Option pricing models require the input of subjective assumptions including expected price volatility, interest rates, and forfeiture rates. Changes in the input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate and our earnings and equity reserves. The last set of Canadian warrants expired on November 17, 2022. Income taxes We account for income taxes utilizing the assets and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis, and net operating loss and tax credit carry forwards, using enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in effect when the differences reverse. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets when management does not believe that the realization of DTA’s is more likely than not. While management believes that its judgements and estimates regarding deferred tax assets and liabilities are appropriate, significant differences in actual results may materially affect our future financial results. We recognize any uncertain income tax positions at the largest amount that is more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by relevant taxing authority. An uncertain income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained. Our policy is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, we did not record any accruals for interest and penalties. We do not foresee material changes to our uncertain tax positions within the next twelve months. Determination of share-based payments The estimation of share-based payments (including warrants and stock options) requires the selection of an appropriate valuation model and consideration as to the inputs necessary for the valuation model chosen. We use the Black-Scholes valuation model at the date of the grant. We make estimates as to the volatility, the expected life, dividend yield and the time of exercise, as applicable. The expected volatility is based on the average volatility of share prices of similar companies over the period of the expected life of the applicable warrants and stock options. The expected life is based on historical data. These estimates may not necessarily be indicative of future actual patterns. Deferred revenues and revenue recognition Revenue recognition of sales is recorded on a monthly basis upon delivery or as the services are provided. Cash received in advance for services are recorded as deferred revenue based on the proportion of time remaining under the service arrangement as of the reporting date. Functional currency The functional currency for each of our subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the respective entity operates. Such determination involves certain judgements to identify the primary economic environment. We reconsider the functional currency of our subsidiaries if there is a change in events and/or conditions which determine the primary economic environment. 34 ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Not applicable.