Energous Corp 10-Q

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Forward-Looking Statements As used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, unless the context otherwise requires the terms “we,” “us,” “our,” and “Energous” refer to Energous Corporation, a Delaware corporation. This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “continue,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding proposed business strategy; market opportunities; regulatory approval; expectations for current and potential business relationships; the impact of COVID-19 and our response thereto on our business; and expectations for revenues, liquidity cash flows and financial performance, the anticipated results of our research and development efforts, the timing for receipt of required regulatory approvals and product launches. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Forward-looking statements relate to the future and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and generally outside of our control, so actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others: our ability to develop commercially feasible technology; timing of customer implementations of our technology in consumer products; timing and receipt of regulatory approvals in the United States and internationally; our ability to find and maintain development partners; market acceptance of our technology; competition in our industry; our ability to protect our intellectual property; competition; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis sections of our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any of our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Overview We have developed our WattUp® wireless power technology, consisting of semiconductor chipsets, software controls, hardware designs and antennas, that enables RF based charging for electronic devices. The WattUp technology has a broad spectrum of capabilities to enable the next generation of wireless power networks, delivering power and data in a seamless device portfolio. This includes near field and at-a-distance wireless charging with multiple power levels at various distances. We believe our WattUp technologies will help facilitate the deployment of the growing IoT applications. According to the recent report of the International Data Corporation, or the IDC, titled “Worldwide Global DataSphere IoT Device and Data Forecast, 2021–2025,” the IoT market is forecasted to grow to 39.3 billion devices by 2025. The initial IoT applications that we are targeting are in the area of RF tags and electronic shelf labeling (“ESL”) for the retail, industrial and healthcare markets. We believe our technology is innovative in its approach, in that we are developing solutions that charge electronic devices using RF. To-date, we have developed multiple transmitters and receivers, including prototypes as well as partner production designs. The transmitters vary based on form factor, power specifications and frequencies, while the receivers support a myriad of wireless charging applications including Bluetooth tracking tags, IoT sensors, ESLs, beacons, stock management devices, security cameras, handheld devices, smart automation, wearables and hearables. 19 The first end product featuring our technology entered the market in 2019. We started shipping our first at-a-distance WattUp PowerBridge enabled transmitters for commercial IoT applications in the fourth quarter of 2021, and we expect additional WattUp-enabled products to be announced as we move our business forward. Impact of COVID-19 on Our Business We continue to monitor the ongoing effects of COVID-19 (including continued outbreaks) and the related business and travel restrictions and changes to behavior intended to reduce its spread, and its impact on our operations, financial position, cash flows, inventory, supply chains, global regulatory approvals, purchasing trends, customer payments, and the industry in general, in addition to the impact on our employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed adoption of our technology by potential customers who have experienced workforce and supply chain disruptions, and who continue to evaluate their future prospects and business models, including partnerships with us. Further delays in the adoption of our current or future products could result from the ongoing pandemic. At times, certain of our outsourcing partners, component suppliers and logistical service providers have experienced disruptions, resulting in supply shortages that have affected and may continue to affect our sales. Similar disruptions could occur in the future. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Revenue Recognition We follow Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" (Topic 606). In accordance with Topic 606, we recognize revenue using the following five-step approach: 1. Identify the contract with a customer. 2. Identify the performance obligations in the contract. 3. Determine the transaction price of the contract. 4. Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract. 5. Recognize revenue when or as performance obligations are satisfied. We record revenue associated with product development projects that we enter into with certain customers. In general, these product development projects are complex, and we do not have certainty about our ability to achieve the project milestones. The achievement of a milestone is dependent on our performance obligation and requires acceptance by the customer. We recognize this revenue at a point in time based on when the performance obligation is met. The payment associated with achieving the performance obligation is generally commensurate with our effort or the value of the deliverable and is nonrefundable. We record the expenses related to these product development projects in research and development expense, in the periods such expenses were incurred. We record revenue associated with the sale of production-level systems once control over the product is transferred to the customer. We record the expense related to the sales of these systems as cost of revenue during the period delivered. Results of Operations Costs and Expenses Cost of revenue consists of direct materials, direct labor and overhead for our production-level wireless charging systems. Research and development expenses include costs associated with our efforts to develop our technology, including personnel compensation, consulting, engineering supplies and components, intellectual property costs, regulatory expense and general office expenses specifically related to the research and development department. Sales and marketing expenses include costs associated with selling and marketing our technology to our customers, including personnel compensation, public relations, graphic design, tradeshow, engineering supplies utilized by the sales team and general office expenses specifically related to the sale and marketing department. General and administrative expenses include costs for general and corporate functions, including personnel compensation, facility fees, travel, telecommunications, insurance, professional fees, consulting fees, general office expenses, and other overhead. 20 Three Months Ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 Revenue. During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded revenue of $215,961 and $145,065, respectively. The increase of $70,896 is primarily due to an increase in production-level systems revenue. Costs and Expenses and Loss from Operations. Costs and expenses are made up of cost of revenue, research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses. Losses from operations for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were $7,155,544 and $8,527,787, respectively. Cost of Revenue. Cost of revenue was $203,249 and $0, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, cost of revenue is for our production-level systems that are sold to customers. We did not incur any cost of revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2021. Research and Development Costs. Research and development costs were $3,527,146 and $4,591,244, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021. The decrease of $1,064,098 is primarily due to a $1,110,774 decrease in compensation, consisting of a $796,234 decrease in stock-based compensation, primarily due to equity awards becoming fully vested during the previous year and a lower headcount within the department, a $314,540 decrease in payroll costs due to a lower headcount within the department and a $66,880 decrease in legal fees associated with patents and intellectual property, partially offset by a $77,120 increase in chip design and engineering supplies and components. Sales and Marketing Costs. Sales and marketing costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were $1,613,590 and $1,794,212, respectively. The decrease of $180,622 is primarily due to a $331,133 decrease in compensation, consisting of a $268,570 decrease in stock-based compensation, primarily due to equity awards becoming fully vested during the previous year and a lower headcount within the department, a $62,563 decrease in payroll costs due to a lower headcount within the department and an $84,544 decrease in public relations, consulting and third party services expenses, partially offset by a $213,873 increase in tradeshow costs and a $30,126 increase in engineering components used by the sales and marketing staff. General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative costs for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were $2,027,520 and $2,287,396, respectively. The decrease of $259,876 is primarily due to a $441,302 decrease in compensation, consisting of a $284,516 decrease in stock-based compensation from forfeited equity awards and a lower headcount within the department, a $156,786 decrease in payroll costs due to a lower headcount within the department and an $87,781 decrease in legal and accounting fees, partially offset by a $109,994 increase in recruiting expense, a $61,717 increase in investor relations, consulting and third party services expenses, a $57,169 increase in insurance premiums and a $47,698 increase in annual stockholder meeting costs and stockholder transfer fees. In t e r e s t Income . In t e r e s t income fo r t h e three m on t h s e nd e d March 31, 2022 w a s $2,826 a s c o m p a r e d t o interest income of $2,024 fo r t h e three m on t h s e nd e d March 31, 2021 . The increase of $802 is primarily due to higher savings interest rates. N e t L o ss . A s a r e s u l t o f t h e a bov e , n e t l o s s fo r t h e three m on t h s e nd e d March 31, 2022 was $7,152,718 a s c o m p a r e d t o $8,525,763 fo r t h e three m on t h s e nd e d March 31, 2021 . L i q u i d it y a n d Cap it a l R e s o ur ces During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded revenue of $215,961 and $145,065, respectively. We incurred net losses of $7,152,718 and $8,525,763 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was $6,356,971 and $5,976,550 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. We are currently meeting our liquidity requirements through the proceeds of securities offerings that raised net proceeds of $53,556,202 during 2020 and $27,043,751 during the fourth quarter of 2021, proceeds from contributions to the ESPP and payments received from customers. We believe our cash on hand as of March 31, 2022, together with anticipated revenues, will be sufficient to fund our operations through May 2023. Although we intend to continue our research and development activities, there can be no assurance that our available resources will be sufficient to enable us to generate revenues sufficient to sustain operations. Accordingly, we will likely pursue additional financing, which could include offerings of equity or debt securities, bank financings, commercial agreements with customers or strategic partners, and other alternatives, depending upon market conditions. There is no assurance that such financing will be available on terms that we would find acceptable, or at all. 21 During the three months ended March 31, 2022, cash flows used in operating activities were $6,356,971, consisting of a net loss of $7,152,718, less non-cash expenses aggregating $1,053,761 (principally stock-based compensation of $796,906, decrease in amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets of $186,736 and depreciation and amortization expense of $70,119), a $271,044 de crease in accounts payable, a $203,010 decrease in operating lease liabilities and a $180,535 decrease in accrued expenses, partially offset by a $443,216 decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, cash flows used in operating activities were $5,976,550, consisting of a net loss of $8,525,763, less non-cash expenses aggregating $2,406,914 (principally stock-based compensation of $2,146,226, decrease in amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets of $195,914 and depreciation and amortization expense of $64,774), a $210,212 decrease in operating lease liabilities, a $105,491 increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets and an $80,925 increase in accounts receivable, partially offset by a $353,928 increase in accounts payable and a $179,999 increase in accrued expenses. During the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, cash flows used in investing activities were $44,489 and $111,727, respectively. The cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2022 consisted of the purchase of new engineering software licenses. The cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2021 consisted of the purchase of new testing equipment and engineering software. During the three months ended March 31, 2022, cash flows provided by financing activities were $104,217, which consisted of entirely of proceeds from contributions to the ESPP. During the three months ended March 31, 2021, cash flows provided by financing activities were $117,013, which consisted entirely of proceeds from contributions to the ESPP. Research and development of new technologies is, by its nature, unpredictable. Although we intend to continue our research and undertake development activities, there can be no assurance that our available resources will be sufficient to enable us to generate revenues sufficient to sustain operations. Furthermore, since we have no committed source of financing, there can be no assurance that we will be able to raise capital as and when we need it to continue our operations. Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk There has been no material change in our exposure to market risk during the three months ended March 31, 2022. See "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in Part II, Item 7A of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 for a discussion of our exposure to market risk.