Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☑
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024
or
☐
TRANSITION PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number (001-40140)
,
RIGETTI COMPUTING, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
88-0950636
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
775 Heinz Avenue
Berkeley California
94710
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(510) 210-5550
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
TradingSymbol(s)
Name of each exchangeon which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share
RGTI
The Nasdaq Capital Market
Warrants, each whole warrant exercisable for one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share
RGTIW
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☑ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☑ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company”, and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
Accelerated Filer
Non-Accelerated Filer
Smaller Reporting Company
Emerging Growth Company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐ Yes ☑ No
As of November 7, 2024, there were 192,295,809 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, no par value, issued and outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements
2
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
7
Item 1.
Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
8
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the Three and Nine Months ended
September 30, 2024 and 2023
9
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
10
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
11
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
33
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks
44
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
45
Legal Proceedings
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
46
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
47
Mine Safety Disclosures
Item 5.
Other Information
Item 6.
Exhibits
48
Signatures
50
1
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “Rigetti”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Rigetti Computing, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q 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”). This includes, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “goal,” “objective,” “design,” “seek,” “target,” “should,” “could,” “will,” “would” or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may include, for example, statements about:
These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation:
3
4
5
Additional discussion of the risks, uncertainties and other factors described above, as well as other risks material to our business, can be found under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated under “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In addition, our goals and objectives are aspirational and are not guarantees or promises that such goals and objectives will be met. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our plans, objectives, estimates, expectations, assumptions, and intentions only as of the date of this filing.
You should read this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q completely and with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity and performance as well as other events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
6
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except number of shares and par value)
(unaudited)
September 30,
December 31,
2024
2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
20,286
21,392
Available-for-sale investments
72,294
78,537
Accounts receivable
6,384
5,029
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
4,902
2,709
Total current assets
103,866
107,667
Property and equipment, net
44,837
44,483
Operating lease right-of-use assets
8,369
7,634
Other assets
178
129
Total assets
157,250
159,913
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
1,604
5,772
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
5,581
8,563
Deferred revenue
886
343
Current portion of debt
11,247
12,164
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
2,142
2,210
Total current liabilities
21,460
29,052
Debt, less current portion
2,061
9,894
Operating lease liabilities, less current portion
7,040
6,297
Derivative warrant liabilities
2,927
Earn-out liabilities
1,641
2,155
Total liabilities
34,412
50,325
Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding
—
Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 191,958,045 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 and 147,066,336 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2023
19
14
Additional paid-in capital
524,351
463,089
Accumulated other comprehensive income
254
244
Accumulated deficit
(401,786)
(353,759)
Total stockholders’ equity
122,838
109,588
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
Revenue
2,378
3,105
8,516
8,632
Cost of revenue
1,174
834
3,822
1,940
Total gross profit
1,204
2,271
4,694
6,692
Operating expenses:
Research and development
12,752
13,056
36,093
39,981
Selling, general and administrative
5,798
6,047
18,617
20,808
Restructuring
991
Total operating expenses
18,550
19,103
54,710
61,780
Loss from operations
(17,346)
(16,832)
(50,016)
(55,088)
Other income (expense), net
Interest expense
(733)
(1,473)
(2,809)
(4,511)
Interest income
1,226
1,263
3,567
3,746
Change in fair value of derivative warrant liabilities
1,200
(3,442)
717
(4,320)
Change in fair value of earn-out liabilities
820
(1,731)
514
(2,362)
Total other income (expense), net
2,513
(5,383)
1,989
(7,447)
Net loss before provision for income taxes
(14,833)
(22,215)
(48,027)
(62,535)
Provision for income taxes
Net loss
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders – basic and diluted
(0.08)
(0.17)
(0.28)
(0.48)
Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders – basic and diluted
188,389
133,866
170,665
129,173
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(in thousands)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments
61
41
(44)
(38)
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale debt securities
70
32
54
273
Total other comprehensive income before income taxes
131
73
235
Income taxes
Total other comprehensive income after income taxes
Total comprehensive loss
(14,702)
(22,142)
(48,017)
(62,300)
RIGETTI COMPUTING INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
5,155
6,381
Stock-based compensation
9,705
8,727
(514)
2,362
(717)
4,320
Change in fair value of forward contract
2,229
Impairment of deferred offering costs
836
Accretion of available-for-sale securities
(2,752)
(2,310)
Amortization of debt issuance costs, commitment fees and accretion of debt end-of-term liabilities
741
1,100
Non-cash lease expense
1,533
1,288
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
(1,355)
3,239
Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets
(1,955)
(1,027)
543
(489)
(808)
(212)
Accrued expenses and operating lease liabilities
(3,632)
(2,067)
Net cash used in operating activities
(42,083)
(38,158)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of property and equipment
(9,816)
(7,511)
Purchases of available-for-sale securities
(98,451)
(79,047)
Maturities of available-for-sale securities
107,499
98,082
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(768)
11,524
Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments of principal of notes payable
(9,491)
(5,405)
Proceeds from sale of common stock from sales through Common Stock Purchase Agreement
12,838
15,051
Proceeds from sale of common stock from sales through At-The-Market (ATM) Offering
38,831
Payments of offering costs
(476)
(107)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants
83
1,002
Net cash provided by financing activities
41,785
10,541
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(40)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(1,106)
(16,131)
Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period
57,888
Cash and cash equivalents – end of period
41,757
Supplemental disclosures of other cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest
2,057
3,299
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capitalization of deferred costs to equity upon share issuance
190
13
Purchases of property and equipment recorded in accounts payable
252
394
Purchases of property and equipment recorded in accrued expenses
76
605
Non-cash addition to operating lease right-of-use assets and lease liability
2,268
Unrealized Gain on short term investments
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Rigetti Computing, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company” or “Rigetti”), builds quantum computers and the superconducting quantum processors that power them. The Company markets a 9-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU) under the Novera™ QPU trade name. Through the Company’s Quantum Computing as a Service (“QCaaS”) platform, the Company’s machines can be integrated into any public, private or hybrid cloud.
The Company is located and headquartered in Berkeley, California. The Company also operates in Fremont, California; London, United Kingdom; Adelaide, Australia and British Columbia, Canada. The Company’s revenue is derived primarily from operations in the United States and the United Kingdom.
(2) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
On March 2, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), a merger transaction between Rigetti Holdings, Inc. (“Legacy Rigetti”) and Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd. (“SNII”) was completed (the “Business Combination”). In connection with the closing of the Business Combination, the Company changed its name to Rigetti Computing, Inc. and all of SNII Class A ordinary shares and SNII Class B ordinary shares automatically converted into shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) on a one-for-one basis. The SNII Public Warrants and the Private Warrants held by SNII became Warrants for Common Stock. The Company’s Common Stock and Public Warrants trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbols “RGTI” and “RGTIW,” respectively.
The Company determined that Legacy Rigetti was the accounting acquirer in the Business Combination based on an analysis of the criteria outlined in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 805, Business Combination.
Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the Business Combination was treated as the equivalent of Legacy Rigetti issuing stock for the net assets of SNII, accompanied by a recapitalization. The primary asset acquired from SNII was cash that was assumed at historical costs. Separately, the Company also assumed Warrants that were deemed to be derivatives and meet liability classification subject to fair value adjustment measurements upon closing of the Business Combination (the “Closing”). No goodwill or other intangible assets were recorded because of the Business Combination.
While SNII was the legal acquirer in the Business Combination because Legacy Rigetti was deemed the accounting acquirer, the historical financial statements of Legacy Rigetti became the historical financial statements of the combined company, upon the consummation of the Business Combination.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regarding interim financial reporting. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S” and such accounting principles, “GAAP”) for complete financial statements due to the permitted exclusion of certain disclosures for interim reporting. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary under GAAP for a fair presentation of results for the interim periods presented have been included. As a result of displaying amounts in thousands, rounding differences may exist in the condensed consolidated financial statements and footnote tables. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024 or for other interim periods or future years.
The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2023, included herein, is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date, however, it does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2024.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and applicable rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Significant Accounting Policies
There were no material changes to the significant accounting policies disclosed in “Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2024.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and disclosures. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Such management estimates include, but are not limited to, the fair value of share-based awards, the fair value of derivative warrant liabilities, the fair value of Sponsor Vesting Shares issued in connection with the Business Combination, accrued liabilities and contingencies, depreciation and amortization periods, revenue recognition and accounting for income taxes. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment and adjusts when facts and circumstances dictate. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements; therefore, actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Company is subject to a number of risks similar to those of other companies of similar size in its industry, including, but not limited to, the need for successful development of products, the need for additional capital (or financing) to fund operating losses, competition from substitute products and services from larger companies, protection of proprietary technology, patent litigation, dependence on key individuals, and risks associated with changes in information technology.
Based on the Company’s forecasts, the Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents and available for sale investments are sufficient to meet its anticipated operating cash needs for at least the next 12 months from the issuance date of these financial statements based on the Company’s current business plan and expectations and assumptions considering current macroeconomic conditions.
12
Macroeconomic Conditions
Economic conditions in some parts of the world have been worsening, with disruptions to, and volatility and uncertainty in, the credit and financial markets in the U.S. and worldwide resulting from uncertainty in the levels of future economic activity, inflation and interest rates. These conditions have been further exacerbated by the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and sanctions related thereto, the state of war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and the related risk of a larger conflict. It is not possible at this time to estimate the long-term impact that these and related events could have on our business, as the impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If these conditions persist and deepen, the Company could experience an inability to access additional capital, or its liquidity could otherwise be impacted. If the Company is unable to raise capital when needed and on attractive terms, it would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate its research and development programs and other efforts.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-06, Debt - (Topic 815) (“ASU No. 2020-06”), which simplifies an issuer’s accounting for convertible instruments and its application of the derivatives scope exception for contracts in its own equity. ASU No. 2020-06 was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2024. The Company determined that the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted
In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, ASC Subtopic 820 “Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions”. The FASB issued this update (1) to clarify the guidance in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, when measuring the fair value of an equity security subject to contractual restrictions that prohibit the sale of an equity security, (2) to amend a related illustrative example, and (3) to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value in accordance with Topic 820. The ASU is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the consolidated financial statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, “Segment Reporting - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures”. This ASU updates reportable segment disclosure requirements by requiring disclosures of significant reportable segment expenses that are regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and included within each reported measure of a segment's profit or loss. This ASU also requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual identified as the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measures of a segment’s profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Adoption of the ASU should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Early adoption is also permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the consolidated financial statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, “Income Taxes - Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures” requiring enhancements and further transparency to certain income tax disclosures, most notably the tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. This ASU is effective for the Company for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024 on a prospective basis. Retrospective application is also permitted. The Company is still evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the consolidated financial statements.
(3)
Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 (in thousands):
Accumulated
Additional
Other
Total
Common Stock
Paid-In
Comprehensive
Stockholders’
Shares
Amount
Capital
Income
Deficit
Equity
Balance, June 30, 2024
179,597
17
508,971
123
(386,953)
122,158
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options
57
15
Issuance of common stock upon release of RSUs
1,010
Proceeds from sale of common stock through At-The-Market (ATM) Offering
11,294
11,996
11,998
(58)
3,427
Foreign currency translation loss
Change in unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities
Balance, September 30, 2024
191,958
Balance, December 31, 2023
147,066
307
3,810
Proceeds from sale of common stock through Purchase Agreement - B. Riley
10,057
12,837
30,718
38,827
(190)
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 (in thousands):
Income (loss)
Balance, June 30, 2023
132,401
437,320
(318,972)
118,362
164
94
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of common stock warrants
334
946
6,336
12,702
12,703
3,669
Foreign currency translation gain
Balance, September 30, 2023
140,181
453,790
74
(341,187)
112,691
Balance, December 31, 2022
125,257
429,025
(161)
(278,652)
150,224
3,588
996
477
2,654
8,205
15,049
(13)
(4)
Investments
All investments in fixed income securities are classified as available-for-sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Fixed income securities are recorded at their estimated fair value. The amortized cost, gross unrealized holding gains and losses included in other comprehensive income (loss) and the fair value of the fixed income securities at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are presented in the tables below (in thousands):
September 30, 2024
Amortized
Unrealized
Fair
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Available-for-sale investments:
U.S. treasury securities
72,229
65
Available-for-sale investments – short-term
December 31, 2023
45,252
18
45,270
U.S. government agency bonds
7,933
(6)
7,927
Corporate bonds
25,341
(7)
25,340
78,526
24
The Company invests in highly rated investment grade debt securities. All of the Company’s available-for-sale securities have final maturities of one year or less. The Company reviews the individual securities that have unrealized losses on a regular basis. The Company evaluates whether it has the intention to sell any of these investments and whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell any of them before recovery of the amortized cost basis. Neither of these criteria were met as of December 31, 2023. There were no securities in an unrealized loss position as of September 30, 2024.
The Company additionally evaluates whether the decline in fair value of the securities below their amortized cost basis is related to credit losses or other factors. Based on this evaluation, the Company determined that the unrealized losses for its available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2023 were primarily attributable to changes in interest rates and non-credit-related factors. In addition, none of the Company’s available-for-sale securities had been in an unrealized loss position for more than one year. Accordingly, the Company determined that none of the unrealized losses were other-than-temporary, and that recognition of an impairment charge was not required as of December 31, 2023. No available-for-sale securities were sold during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
See Note 5 for additional information regarding the fair value of the Company’s investments.
(5)
Fair Value Measurements
The Company reports all financial assets and liabilities and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the condensed consolidated financial statements on a recurring basis. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The authoritative guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest-level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1—Inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.
16
Level 2—Inputs are observable, unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, unadjusted quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.
Level 3—Inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.
The following tables present the fair value hierarchy used to measure the Company’s financial assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively (in thousands):
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Assets:
Cash equivalents:
Money market funds
16,085
Short-term investments:
Total Assets
Liabilities:
Derivative warrant liability – Public Warrants
901
Derivative warrant liability – Private Warrants
1,309
Total Liabilities
2,950
Cash Equivalents:
Money Market Funds
15,681
U.S treasury securities
41,021
53,197
1,323
3,759
As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company has recorded the following financial instruments subject to fair value measurements: 1) Derivative warrant liabilities—Public Warrants and Private Warrants, 2) Money Market Funds, 3) Available-for-sale securities and 4) Earn-out liabilities.
The Company also has long-term debt that provides for variable interest, and therefore, the carrying value approximates the fair value. The carrying values of the long-term debt as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, represent the original principal amounts borrowed, accretion of final payments fees, less principal payments and unamortized debt issuance costs. Long-term debt issued by the Company is classified within Level 2. The carrying value of the long-term debt approximates its fair value given their maturity and variable interest rates.
The fair value of the Public Warrants has been measured based on the observable listed prices for such Warrants, a Level 1 measurement. The fair value of the Company’s Level 2 financial assets are determined by using inputs based on quoted market prices for similar instruments.
All other financial instruments are classified as Level 3 instruments as they all include unobservable inputs. The Private Warrants are measured at fair value using a Black Scholes model. The fair value of the Earn-out liabilities is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The Company estimates the volatility of its Private Warrants and Earn-out liabilities based on the implied volatility from the Company’s publicly traded Warrants.
The Company estimated the fair value of a Forward Warrant Agreement that was in place throughout most of 2023 using a forward analysis with unobservable inputs which included selected risk-free rate and probability outcomes. The Forward Warrant Agreement had no value as of December 31, 2023 because the Forward Warrant Agreement expired in October 2023 without taking effect. See Note 6 for further discussion regarding the Forward Warrant Agreement.
There were no changes in fair value measurement techniques during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024. The Company reduced the estimated probability of occurrence for the Forward Warrant Agreement from 50% to 0% during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 to account for expiration of the Forward Warrant Agreement in October 2023. There were no changes in fair value measurement techniques during the year ended December 31, 2023, other than the change in the estimated probability of occurrence for the Forward Warrant Agreement described above. There were no transfers in or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 or 2023, except that in the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the derivative liability for 480,273 Warrants was transferred from Level 3 to Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because such Warrants were converted from Private to Public Warrants. The transfer had a $0.1 million favorable impact on the Company’s net loss in the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The fair value estimates are based on pertinent information available to management as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023. Current estimates of fair value may differ from the amounts presented.
A summary of the changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 financial instruments during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023 respectively, is as follows (in thousands):
Derivative
Forward
Warrant Liability -
Warrant
Earn-out
Private Warrants
Agreement
Liabilities
Balance – December 31, 2023
Change in fair value - three months ended March 31, 2024
1,505
1,621
Change in fair value - three months ended June 30, 2024
(1,145)
(1,315)
Change in fair value - three months ended September 30, 2024
(655)
(820)
Balance – September 30, 2024
Balance – December 31, 2022
1,068
(2,229)
1,206
Change in fair value - three months ended March 31, 2023
623
281
Transfer from Private Warrants to Public Warrants
(158)
Change in fair value - three months ended June 30, 2023
(133)
350
(29)
Change in fair value - three months ended September 30, 2023
2,440
1,085
1,731
Balance – September 30, 2023
3,811
3,568
(6) Forward Warrant Agreement
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement in October 2021 (See Note 2), Rigetti entered into a warrant subscription agreement (“Forward Warrant Agreement”) with a strategic partner, Ampere Computing LLC (“Ampere”) for the purchase of a warrant for an aggregate purchase price (including amounts from exercise) of $10.0 million. The Forward Warrant Agreement provided for the issuance of a warrant for the purchase of up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.0001. The purchase of the warrant was conditioned upon, among other things, the consummation of the Business Combination and the entry into a collaboration agreement between Rigetti and Ampere. The parties entered into the collaboration agreement in January 2022. Ampere was required to pay $5.0 million to Rigetti no later than the later of (i) the Closing and (ii) June 30, 2022.
On June 30, 2022, pursuant to the Forward Warrant Agreement, the Company issued the warrant to Ampere upon receipt of an aggregate of $5.0 million (including the exercise price), and upon such payment and issuance, 500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock vested under the warrant and were immediately exercised by Ampere pursuant to the terms of the warrant. Ampere was required to pay an additional $5.0 million to Rigetti no later than the closing date of the listing of Ampere’s capital stock on a stock exchange, provided that if the listing had not occurred by the second anniversary of the Forward Warrant Agreement (October 2023), Ampere was not obligated to make the additional payment. Ampere’s obligation to make the additional $5.0 million payment has now expired. The Company filed a registration statement, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement with Ampere, registering the resale of the initial 500,000 shares issued under the warrant which was declared effective during the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Company evaluated the Forward Warrant Agreement as a derivative in conjunction with the guidance of ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity”. The Company calculated the fair value of the Forward Warrant Agreement at inception using the Forward Contract Pricing methodology. The Forward Warrant Agreement was subsequently re-measured at each reporting period using the Forward Contract Pricing methodology with the change in fair value recorded in selling, general and administrative expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company reduced the estimated probability of occurrence for the Forward Warrant Agreement from 50% to 0% because Ampere’s obligation to make the additional payment under the Forward Warrant Agreement expired without taking effect. As a result, the Forward Warrant Agreement had no value as of September 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
Financing Arrangements
Loan and Security Agreement
On June 21, 2024, (the “Amendment Date”), the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (the “Amended Loan Agreement”), by and between Trinity Capital Inc., as lender (the “Lender”), and Rigetti & Co, LLC and Rigetti Intermediate LLC (the “Company”), as borrowers, which amended and restated in its entirety the Company’s existing loan and security agreement, dated as of March 10, 2021 (as amended from time to time, the “Existing Loan Agreement”).
Under the Existing Loan Agreement, the Company drew $12.0 million in March 2021, $8.0 million in May 2021, $7.0 million in November 2021 and $5.0 million in January 2022 (collectively, the “Term Loans”). The outstanding principal balance of the Term Loans as of the Amendment Date was $16.2 million. There are currently no additional amounts available to be drawn under the Amended Loan Agreement. Each Term Loan amortizes in equal monthly installments through 48 months following the disbursement date of each Term Loan (each, a “Maturity Date”), and bears interest at a rate equal to the greater of 11% or the US Prime Rate plus 7.50% per annum, payable monthly. The economic terms and cash flows of the Term Loans remain unchanged under the Amended Loan Agreement.
The Company may prepay, in whole or in part, the outstanding Term Loans, subject to a prepayment premium that remains unchanged from the Existing Loan Agreement, which is 1.5% on or after the 19th month following the disbursement date of each Term Loan (each, an “Amortization Date”) and before the first anniversary of the Amortization Date, 1.0% on or after the first anniversary of the Amortization Date and before the second anniversary of the Amortization Date and 0.50% on or after the second anniversary of the Amortization Date and before the Maturity Date.
In addition, the Company is required to pay on the respective Maturity Date or the date of an earlier prepayment a final payment fee equal to 2.75% of the aggregate original principal amount of the Term Loans being repaid, which remains consistent with the Existing Loan Agreement. The final payment fee is being accreted and amortized into interest expense using the effective interest rate method over the term of the loan.
The Amended Loan Agreement contains representations and warranties and customary affirmative and negative covenants applicable to the Loan Parties (as defined below) and its consolidated subsidiaries, including, among other things, restrictions on indebtedness, liens, investments, mergers, dispositions, prepayment of other indebtedness and dividends and other distributions, which were amended from the covenants in the Existing Loan Agreement to increase flexibility for the Company.
The Amended Loan Agreement also includes events of default, including failure to pay principal, interest or certain other amounts when due, material inaccuracy of representations and warranties, violation of covenants, specified cross-default and cross-acceleration to other material indebtedness, certain bankruptcy and insolvency events, certain undischarged judgments, material invalidity of guarantees or grant of security interest, and change of control, in certain cases subject to certain thresholds and grace periods. If one or more events of default occurs and continues beyond any applicable cure period, the Lender may declare all of the obligations of the Company under the Amended Loan Agreement to be immediately due and payable, which remains consistent with the Existing Loan Agreement.
The obligations of the Company under the Amended Loan Agreement are currently guaranteed by the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Rigetti & Co, LLC and Rigetti Intermediate LLC (which, together with the Company, are collectively referred to as the “Loan Parties” and each, a “Loan Party”) and will be guaranteed by any future domestic subsidiaries of the Company. The obligations of the Loan Parties under the Amended Loan Agreement and other loan documents are secured, subject to customary permitted liens and other agreed upon exceptions, by a perfected security interest in all assets of the Loan Parties.
The effective interest rate for all tranches of the debt was approximately 23.1% and 22.5% as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Long term debt and the unamortized discount balances are as follows (in thousands):
Outstanding principal amount
12,885
22,376
Add: accreted liability of final payment fee
276
673
Less: unamortized debt discount, long-term
(20)
(224)
Less: current portion of long-term debt principal
(11,080)
(12,931)
Debt – net of current portion
Current portion of long-term debt – principal
11,080
12,931
529
Less: current portion of unamortized debt discount
(362)
(767)
Debt – current portion
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded interest expense of $0.7 million and $2.8 million, respectively, which includes accretion of the end-of-term liability, amortization of the commitment fee asset and amortization of debt issuance costs totaling $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively.
20
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded interest expense of $1.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively, which includes accretion of the end-of-term liability, amortization of the commitment fee asset and amortization of debt issuance costs totaling $0.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively.
The unamortized debt discount as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 of $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, is offset against the carrying value of the term loan in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
The remaining scheduled principal payments on total outstanding debt are as follows for the years ending December 31 (in thousands):
Remainder of 2024
3,429
2025
9,058
2026
398
(8) Warrants
Prior to the Business Combination, SNII issued 4,450,000 private placement warrants (“Private Warrants”) and 8,625,000 public warrants (“Public Warrants”). Each whole Private Warrant and Public Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of our Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustments, and will expire five years after completion of the Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.
Liability Classified Warrants
Public Warrants
Each Public Warrant entitles the holder to the right to purchase one share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Company may elect to redeem the Public Warrants subject to certain conditions, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant if (i) 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption is provided to the holders, and (ii) the last reported sale price of the Company’s Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending on the third business day prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. Upon issuance of a redemption notice by the Company, the warrant holders have a period of 30 days to exercise for cash, or on a cashless basis. As of September 30, 2024, there were 9,802,138 Public Warrants issued and outstanding (Refer to Note 5 for fair value measurement). The Public Warrants are accounted for as a derivative liability. The fair value of the Public Warrants is measured at each reporting period based on the listed price for the warrants, with subsequent changes in the fair value recognized in the condensed consolidated statement of operations at each reporting date.
The calculated fair value of the derivative liability for the Public Warrants as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $0.9 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the Public Warrants included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was a gain of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the Public Warrants included in the condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $1.0 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
The Private Warrants may not be redeemed by the Company so long as the Private Warrants are held by the initial purchasers, or such purchasers’ permitted transferees. The Private Warrants have terms and provisions identical to those of the Public Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period, except if the Private Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers’ permitted transferees, then the Private Warrants are redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
21
On August 18, 2022, the Private Warrants were transferred from the initial purchasers to permitted transferees and remain unredeemable by the Company. As of September 30, 2024, there were 3,272,834 Private Warrants issued and outstanding (Refer to Note 5 for fair value measurement).The Private Warrants are accounted for as a derivative liability. The fair value of the Private Warrants is determined using the Black- Scholes option-pricing model, with subsequent changes in the fair value recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations at each reporting date.
The calculated fair value of the derivative liability for the Private Warrants as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $1.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the Private Warrants included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was a gain of $0.7 million and $0.3 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the Private Warrants included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $2.4 million and $2.9 million, respectively.
Significant inputs into the Black-Scholes option-pricing models used to value the Private Warrants at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:
Valuation Assumptions
Stock Price
0.78
0.98
Strike Price
11.50
Volatility (annual) (%)
172.70%
144.50%
Risk-free rate (%)
3.59%
4.00%
Estimated time to expiration (years)
2.42
3.17
Dividend yield (%)
Equity Classified Warrants
Series C Preferred Stock Financing Warrants
During 2020, a subsidiary of Legacy Rigetti issued and sold an aggregate of 54.5 million shares of its Series C Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $1.15 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $56.2 million (the “Series C Preferred Stock Financing”). In conjunction with the Series C Preferred Stock Financing, the Company issued a total of 5,248,183 warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock to the Series C investors (the “Series C Warrants”). The Series C Warrants have a $0.01 per share exercise price and a 10-year term to expiration. The Series C Warrants can be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis. As of September 30, 2024, there were 972,578 Series C Warrants issued and outstanding.
The Company determined that the Series C Warrants met the requirements for equity classification under ASC 480 and ASC 815. The Company estimated the fair value of the Series C Warrants using the Black-Scholes model and allocated approximately $1.2 million in proceeds from the Series C Preferred Stock to the value of the Series C Warrants on a relative fair value basis, which was recorded to additional paid in capital.
Customer Warrant
In February 2020, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 2,680,607 shares of Class A Common Stock to a customer in conjunction with a revenue arrangement (the “Customer Warrant”). The Customer Warrant has an exercise price of $1.152 per share and has a 10-year term to expiration. The Customer Warrant vests upon the achievement of certain performance conditions (i.e., sales milestones) defined in the agreement, and upon a change of control, either 50% or 100% of the then unvested Customer Warrant will become fully vested, dependent on the acquiring party in the change of control transaction. The Customer Warrant can be exercised for cash or on a cashless basis. The Customer Warrant was assumed by the Company in connection with the Business Combination and converted into a warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock.
22
The Company followed the guidance in ASC 718 and ASC 606 for the accounting of non-cash consideration payable to a customer. The Company determined that the Customer Warrant met the requirements for equity classification under ASC 718 and measured the Customer Warrant based on its grant date fair value, estimated to be $0.2 million. The Company recorded this amount as a deferred asset and additional paid in capital as of the issuance date, as the Company believes it is probable that all performance conditions (i.e., sales milestones) in the Customer Warrant will be met. As of September 30, 2024, the deferred asset balance outstanding is approximately $0.1 million, which will be recognized as a reduction in revenue in future periods.
The vesting status of the Customer Warrant is as follows:
Vested Customer warrant shares
1,340,297
Unvested Customer warrant shares
1,340,310
2,680,607
(9) Earn-out Liabilities
Upon the closing of the Business Combination on March 2, 2022, SNII, Supernova Partners II, LLC and SNII’s directors and officers (collectively the “Sponsor Holders”) subjected certain shares of Common Stock that they own (the “Sponsor Vesting Shares”) to forfeiture for a five-year period following the closing of the Business Combination, with vesting occurring only if thresholds related to the weighted average price of Common Stock are met as described below (the “Earn-out Triggering Events”). Any such shares held by the Sponsor Holders that have not vested by the fifth anniversary of the closing of the Business Combination will be forfeited.
Sponsor Vesting Shares – Vesting Provisions:
The Earn-out liabilities are adjusted to fair value each reporting period using the Monte Carlo simulation model until such time as the Earn-Out Triggering Events are achieved or the Sponsor Vesting Shares are forfeited.
23
The calculated fair value of the Earn-out liabilities with respect to the Sponsor Vesting Shares as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $1.6 million and $2.2 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the Earn-out liabilities included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was a gain of $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The change in the fair value of the Earn-out liabilities included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $1.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively.
Significant inputs into the Monte Carlo simulation models as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are as follows:
Stock price
Simulated trading days
609
798
Annual volatility (%)
Estimated time to expiration (in years)
(10) Stockholders’ Equity
As of September 30, 2024, the Company has reserved the following shares of Common Stock for issuance upon the conversion, exercise or vesting of the underlying instruments:
Common Stock warrants
16,763,305
Stock-Based Awards—RSUs Outstanding
14,241,050
Stock-Based Awards—Options Outstanding
8,325,875
39,330,230
At-the-Market Offering Agreement
On March 15, 2024, the Company entered into an At-the-Market (“ATM”) Sales Agreement (the “ATM Agreement”) with B. Riley Securities, Inc. (“B. Riley”) and Needham & Company, LLC (“Needham”; each of B. Riley and Needham, a “Sales Agent” and collectively, the “Sales Agents”), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time in its sole discretion, shares of its common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the ATM Agreement. The Company is not obligated to make any sales under the ATM Agreement.
Any shares offered and sold in the ATM offering will be issued pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 and the related prospectus supplement. Under the ATM Agreement, the sales agents may sell shares of common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company will pay the sales agents a commission rate of up to 3% of the gross sales proceeds of any shares sold and has agreed to provide the sales agents with customary indemnification, contribution and reimbursement rights. The ATM Agreement contains customary representations and warranties and conditions to the placements of the shares pursuant thereto.
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company raised gross proceeds of $12.3 million pursuant to the ATM offering through the sale of 11,294,746 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $1.09 per share. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company raised gross proceeds of $39.8 million pursuant to the ATM offering through the sale of 30,718,121 shares of its common stock at a weighted average price of $1.30 per share. The net proceeds from the ATM offering during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 were $12.0 million and $38.8 million, respectively, after deducting sales agent commissions of $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, up to $60.2 million of Company common stock remains available for sale pursuant to the ATM offering.
Common Stock Purchase Agreement
The Company entered into a Common Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with B. Riley Principal Capital II, LLC (“B. Riley”) on August 11, 2022 pursuant to which the Company was able to issue and sell to B. Riley the lesser of i) $75.0 million in aggregate gross purchase price of newly issued shares of the Company’s Common Stock or ii) an amount not to exceed 23,648,889 shares of Common Stock (such number of shares equal to approximately 19.99% of the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the execution of the agreement and inclusive of 171,008 shares of Common Stock issued to B. Riley on August 11, 2022 as consideration for entering into the Purchase Agreement).
In consideration of the parties entering into the foregoing agreement, the parties also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement on August 11, 2022, pursuant to which the Company provides B. Riley with registration rights with respect to such Common Stock and pursuant to which the Company filed a registration statement covering the resale of such Common Stock.
During the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company did not sell Common Stock under the Purchase Agreement, which was terminated as of February 15, 2024. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company received net proceeds of $12.8 million from the issuance and sale of 10,056,799 shares of Common Stock to B. Riley under the Purchase Agreement. As of February 15, 2024, there were no remaining shares available for sale under the Purchase Agreement; the agreement has terminated.
The Company was not able to sell Common Stock under the Purchase Agreement for an extended period in early 2023 while its share price was trading below $1.00 per share. As a result, the Company recognized impairment charges during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 of $0.8 million for previously deferred offering costs primarily related to the Purchase Agreement, which were recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. No impairment charges were recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2023.
(11) Share-Based Compensation
2013 Equity Incentive Plan
In 2013, the Company adopted the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan ( the “2013 Plan”) which provided for the grant of qualified incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonqualified stock options (“NSOs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) or other awards to the Company’s employees, officers, directors, advisors, and outside consultants. After the Business Combination became effective on March 2, 2022, no additional awards were issued under the 2013 Plan. Awards outstanding under the 2013 Plan will continue to be governed by such plan; however, the Company will not grant any further awards under the 2013 Plan.
2022 Equity Incentive Plan
In connection with the Business Combination (Note 2), the shareholders approved the Rigetti Computing, Inc. 2022 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”) which provides for the grant of ISOs, NSOs, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, RSUs, performance awards and other forms of awards to employees, directors, and consultants, including employees and consultants of the Company’s affiliates. As of September 30, 2024, there were 25,544,172 shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan, of which 5,539,149 shares remain available for future issuance. The number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2022 Plan will automatically increase on January 1st of each year for a period of nine years commencing on January 1, 2023 and ending on (and including) January 1, 2032, in an amount equal to 5% of the total number of shares of common stock of all classes outstanding on a fully diluted basis on December 31 of the preceding year; provided, however, that the board of directors of the Company may act prior to January 1st of a given year to provide that the increase for such year will be a lesser number of shares of Common Stock. Accordingly, as of January 1, 2024, the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the “2022 Plan” increased by 9,119,816 shares.
25
Stock Option Activity
The following is a summary of stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
Weighted
Weighted-
Average
Aggregate
Exercise
Contractual
Intrinsic
Options Outstanding
Price Per Share
Life (in years)
Outstanding, December 31, 2023
7,049,290
0.82
8.23
2,017
Granted
1,605,070
1.51
Exercised
(306,470)
0.27
Forfeited and expired
(22,015)
Outstanding and expected to vest, September 30, 2024
0.97
7.97
Exercisable, September 30, 2024
3,703,963
0.63
6.69
1,145
The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was $1.32 and $1.33 per share, respectively. The intrinsic value of an option is the amount by which the market price of the underlying common stock exceeds the option’s exercise price. The intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was $0.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively.
The Company received proceeds from stock option exercises of $0.1 million and $1.0 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to employees was $0.5 million and $1.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options granted to employees was $0.5 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options was $4.3 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.51 years.
Fair Value of Stock Option Grants
The fair value of each stock option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses the assumptions noted in the table below. Expected volatility for the Company’s Common Stock was determined based on a blended average of the historical volatility of the Company’s Common Stock, a peer group of similar public companies and the implied volatility from the Company’s traded warrants. The Company has not been public for a sufficient length of time to derive expected volatility solely from trading in its common stock. The expected term of stock options granted was calculated using the simplified method, which represents the average of the contractual term and the weighted-average vesting period of the option. The Company uses the simplified method because it does not have sufficient historical option exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate expected term.
The assumed dividend yield is based upon the Company’s expectation of not paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The risk-free rate is based upon the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the period equivalent to the expected term of the stock option. In determining the exercise prices for stock options granted, the Company’s board of directors has utilized the fair value of the Common Stock as of the grant date.
Before the Business Combination, the fair value of the Common Stock had been determined by the board of directors at each award grant date based upon a variety of factors, including the results obtained from an independent third-party valuation, the Company’s financial position and historical financial performance, the status of technological developments within the Company, the composition and ability of the current engineering and management team, an evaluation or benchmark of the Company’s competition, the current business climate in the marketplace, the illiquid nature of the Company’s common stock, arm’s-length sales of the Company’s capital stock, the effect of the rights and preferences of the preferred shareholders, and the prospects of a liquidity event, among others.
26
All of the Company’s outstanding stock options have a time-based vesting condition ranging from 1-5 years, except that 500,000 stock options granted in 2022 have a market-based vesting condition.
The range of valuation assumptions used as inputs to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to value stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 were as follows:
Time-based Stock Option
Grants
Strike price
$0.98 - $2.03
113% - 130%
Risk- free rate (%)
4.24% - 4.45%
Expected term (years)
5.50 - 6.02
RSUs
The following is a summary of RSU activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2024:
Weighted Average
Grant Date Fair
Non-vested at December 31, 2023
11,517,422
2.20
7,305,872
1.07
Vested
(3,810,319)
2.61
Forfeited
(771,925)
1.82
Non-vested at September 30, 2024
1.54
The aggregate fair value of outstanding RSUs based on the closing share price of the Company’s common stock at September 30, 2024, was $11.2 million. The total fair value of RSUs that vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the vesting date, was $4.3 million and $3.8 million, respectively.
Fair Value of RSUs Awards
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company issued 7,305,872 time-based RSUs. The time-based RSUs vest over periods ranging from 1-4 years and require continuous employment.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company issued 4,227,929 time-based RSUs and 3,850,000 market-based RSUs. The time-based RSUs vest over periods ranging from 1-4 years and require continuous employment. The market-based RSUs vest only if certain share price thresholds are achieved and require continuous employment. Based upon the terms of such awards, 50% of the shares vest if the Company’s Common Stock trades at or above $2.00 per share, and the other 50% of the shares vest if the Company’s Common Stock trades at or above $4.00 per share, for 20 out of 30 trading days through the fifth anniversary of the grant date.
The fair value of the Company’s time-based RSUs was calculated based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of the Company’s market-based RSUs was calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation model at the date of grant. The weighted-average grant date fair value for RSUs granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 was $1.07 and $0.56 per RSU, respectively.
Stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs granted to employees was $2.9 million and $8.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense related to RSUs granted to employees was $3.2 million and $7.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. As of September 30, 2024, the unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs was $17.7 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.09 years.
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Summarized Stock-Based Compensation Expenses
The table below summarizes total stock-based compensation expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively (in thousands):
:
2,379
2,990
6,567
6,893
Selling, general and administrative expenses
1,048
678
3,138
1,834
Total stock-based compensation expenses
3,668
(12)
Revenue Recognition
The following tables depict the disaggregation of revenue according to the type of good or service and timing of transfer of goods or services for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively (in thousands):
Collaborative research, professional services and materials, and sales of quantum computers
2,306
2,266
8,224
6,560
Access to quantum computing systems
72
839
292
2,072
Revenue recognized at a point in time
412
523
748
Revenue recognized over time
2,693
7,993
7,884
Selected condensed consolidated balance sheet line items that reflect accounts receivable, contract assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
December 31, 2022
Trade receivables
5,851
2,650
6,143
Unbilled receivables
533
92
(886)
(343)
(961)
Changes in deferred revenue from contracts with customers were as follows:
Balance at beginning of period
Deferral of revenue
(771)
(1,829)
Recognition of deferred revenue
228
2,318
Total deferred revenue at end of period
(472)
Amounts recognized as revenue from beginning contract liabilities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was an immaterial amount and $0.2 million, respectively. Amounts recognized as revenue from beginning contract liabilities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 totaled $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively. Remaining performance obligations represent the portion of the transaction price that has not yet been satisfied or achieved.
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As of September 30, 2024, the aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations was approximately $3.1 million. The Company expects to recognize estimated revenues related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially satisfied) during the next twelve months.
The Company has not identified any costs that are incremental to the acquisition of customer contracts that would be capitalized as deferred costs on the balance sheet in accordance with ASC 340-40. Accordingly, the Company does not have any capitalized contract fulfillment costs as of September 30, 2024 or December 31, 2023, respectively.
(13) Concentrations, Significant Customers and Geographic Areas
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments in the form of corporate bonds and trade accounts receivable. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are placed with high-credit-quality financial institutions, and at times exceed federally insured limits. To date, the Company has not experienced any credit loss relating to its cash and cash equivalents or short-term investments.
Significant customers that represent 10% or more of revenue are set forth in the following tables:
Customer A
17%
30%
19%
32%
Customer B
14%
*
11%
Customer C
21%
Customer D
23%
Customer E
20%
13%
Customer F
15%
Customer G
10%
* Customer accounted for less than 10% of revenue in the respective periods.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, sales to government entities comprised 95.84% and 92.53% of the Company’s total revenue, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 sales to government entities comprised 77.25% and 77.65% of the Company’s total revenue, respectively.
Significant customers that represent 10% or more of accounts receivable are set forth in the following tables:
39%
16%
12%
27%
* Customer accounted for less than 10% of accounts receivable in the respective periods.
The following table presents a summary of revenue by geography (in thousands):
United States
1,548
5,688
8,174
Europe
767
2,241
458
Asia and Others
63
587
Total revenue
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Revenues from external customers are attributed to individual countries based on the physical location in which the services are provided or the particular customer location with whom the Company has contracted.
(14) Net Loss Per Share
The following table presents the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
Numerator:
Denominator:
Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic and diluted
Net loss per share - basic and diluted
There are 3,059,273 Sponsor Vesting Shares that were not included in the computations of basic and diluted net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023 because the contingencies for the issuance of these shares have not been met. The weighted-average common shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 include 972,578 weighted-average shares for warrants having an exercise price of $0.01 per share each. The weighted-average common shares outstanding for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 include 1,094,494 and 1,349,367 weighted-average shares for warrants having an exercise price of $0.01 per share each, respectively.
The Company’s potential dilutive securities, which include stock options, restricted stock units and warrants have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share as the effect would be anti-dilutive. Therefore, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per share is the same.
The Company excluded the following potential common shares from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, and 2023:
Common Stock warrants (1)
14,450,417
Stock Options
5,802,495
Restricted Stock Units
12,285,160
37,017,342
32,538,072
(15)
Income Taxes
The Company did not record income tax expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 due to the Company’s loss position and full valuation allowance.
The effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate, primarily due to the Company’s history of incurring losses which have not been benefited and other permanent differences. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain.
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The Company has deferred tax assets as a result of temporary differences between the taxable income on its tax returns and GAAP income, R&D tax credit carry forwards and federal and state net operating loss carry forwards. A deferred tax asset generally represents future tax benefits to be received when temporary differences previously reported in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements become deductible for income tax purposes, when net operating loss carry forwards could be applied against future taxable income, or when tax credit carry forwards are utilized in the Company’s tax returns. Realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon future earnings, if any, the timing and amount of which are uncertain. Accordingly, the net U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Company’s federal net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards, and other tax attributes are subject to annual limitation because of prior cumulative changes in the Company’s ownership and may be further limited in the future if additional ownership changes occur. Similar rules apply under state tax laws. These ownership changes limit the amount of net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards that can be utilized annually to reduce the Company’s federal and state income tax liability, if any. Such annual limitations could result in the expiration of the net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards before their utilization. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company assessed whether an ownership change, as defined by Section 382, occurred from its formation through December 31, 2022. Based upon this assessment, the Company reduced the gross deferred tax assets related to its federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and federal research and development tax credit carryforwards. For financial statement purposes, the Company previously included the federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards in the deferred tax assets with a full valuation allowance. Due to the valuation allowance, the reduction in the net operating loss carryforwards and research and development tax credit carryforwards did not have an impact on the Company’s net loss for the year ended December 31, 2023.
(16)
Restructuring and severance
In February 2023, the Company announced an updated business strategy, including revisions to the Company’s technology roadmap. In connection with this updated strategy, the Company implemented a workforce reduction to focus the organization and its resources on nearer-term strategic priorities. The reduction in the workforce impacted approximately 50 employees or approximately 28% of the Company’s then workforce. Affected employees were offered separation benefits, including severance payments and temporary healthcare coverage assistance. The Company began implementing activities with respect to the revised business plan, updated technology roadmap and reduction in workforce in February 2023 and incurred a restructuring charge of $1.0 million which was paid in full during 2023. Work activities regarding the revised business plan and updated technology roadmap are ongoing.
In addition to the charge for restructuring, the Company also incurred $1.0 million for contractual severance benefits related to executive officers of the Company that were terminated in the year ended December 31, 2023. The remaining balance in the Company’s accrual for contractual severance benefits related to executive officers as of December 31, 2023 of $0.2 million was paid out monthly through February 2024.
(17) Leases
On September 24, 2024, the Company entered into a lease amendment for its corporate headquarters located in Berkeley, California which, among other things, extends the lease term by three years to October 31, 2028, sets new annual rental rates effective as of November 1, 2025 and provides an option to extend the term of the lease for an additional five years.
The Company remeasured the lease liability over the remaining lease term of 4.1 years using an incremental borrowing rate of 6.32%. The effect of the lease amendment increased the Company’s operating lease liabilities and operating lease right-of-use assets by $2.3 million.
As of September 30, 2024, the weighted-average remaining term and weighted-average remaining discount rate for the Company’s operating leases is 4.69 years and 7.64%, respectively.
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Maturities of operating lease liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
Years Ending December 31,
551
2,235
2,313
2027
2,380
2028
2,293
Thereafter
1,175
Total operating lease payments
10,947
Less: Imputed interest
(1,765)
Present value of operating lease liabilities
9,182
Operating lease liabilities, current
Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent
(18)
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is party to litigation and other legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. While the results of any litigation or other legal proceedings are uncertain, the Company is not currently a party to any material legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to the Company, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The Company accrues loss contingencies when it is both probable that a loss will be incurred and when the amount of the loss or range of loss can be reasonably estimated.
Indemnification Provisions
The Company’s agreements include provisions indemnifying customers against intellectual property and other third-party claims. In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its directors, executive officers and certain other officers that require the Company, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise as a result of their affiliation with the Company. The Company has not incurred any costs as a result of such indemnification obligations and has not recorded any liabilities related to such obligations in the consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements, such as statements of our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Any statements that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. When used, the words “believe,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “target,” “estimate,” “expect,” “will,” “continue,” “project,” “forecast,” “goal,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “potential,” and the like, and/or future tense or conditional constructions (“will,” “may,” “could,” “should,” etc.), or similar expressions, identify certain of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those described under Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated under Part II “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. See “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Overview
We build quantum computers and the superconducting quantum processors that power them. We believe quantum computing represents one of the most transformative emerging capabilities in the world today. By leveraging quantum mechanics, we believe our quantum computers process information in fundamentally new, more powerful ways than classical computers. When scaled, it is anticipated that these systems will be poised to solve problems of staggering computational complexity at unprecedented speed.
With the goal of unlocking this opportunity, we have developed the world’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. We believe that this patented and patent pending, modular chip architecture is the building block for new generations of quantum processors that we expect to achieve a clear advantage over classical computers. Our long-term business model centers on revenue generated from sales of quantum processing units (QPUs) and quantum computing systems made accessible via the cloud in the form of Quantum Computing as a Service (“QCaaS’) products. However, the substantial majority of our revenues are derived from development contracts, and we anticipate this market opportunity will continue to represent an important source of revenue for at least the next several years as we work to ramp up sales of QPUs and our QCaaS business. Additionally, we are working to further develop a revenue stream and forging important customer relationships by entering into technology development contracts with various partners.
We are a vertically integrated company. We own and operate Fab-1, a dedicated and integrated laboratory and manufacturing facility, through which we own the means of producing our breakthrough multi-chip quantum processor technology. We leverage our chips through a full-stack product development approach, from quantum chip design and manufacturing through cloud delivery. We believe this full-stack development approach offers both the fastest and lowest risk path to building commercially valuable quantum computers.
We have been generating revenue since 2018, primarily through partnerships with government agencies and commercial organizations; however, we have not yet generated profits. We have incurred significant operating losses since inception. Our net losses were $75.1 million and $71.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and our net loss was $48.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. We expect to continue to incur additional losses for the foreseeable future as we invest in research, development, and infrastructure consistent with our long-term business strategy. As of September 30, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $401.8 million.
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities should be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating cash needs until midway through the first quarter of 2026, based on our current business plan, and expectations and assumptions considering current macroeconomic conditions.
Accordingly, based on our estimates and current business plan, we expect that we will need to obtain additional capital to fund our research and development efforts and business objectives as currently planned. Our estimate does not assume any additional financing, and there is no assurance that additional financing will be available.
If we are unable to raise additional funding when needed and on attractive terms, we may be required to delay, limit, or substantially reduce our quantum computing development efforts.
In February 2023, we announced an updated business strategy, including revisions to our technology roadmap. In connection with this updated strategy, we implemented a workforce reduction beginning in February 2023 to focus the organization and our resources on nearer-term strategic priorities and our efforts to achieve narrow quantum advantage.
Key achievements in 2023 included the launch of the Ankaa 84-qubit Ankaa™-2 system to customers via Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services (QCS). The Ankaa-2 system achieved 98% median 2-qubit fidelity, which represents a 2.5x performance improvement compared to our previous QPUs.
We plan to continue working to improve the performance of our QPUs with the goal of reaching at least 99% 2-qubit gate fidelity on an anticipated Ankaa-3 84-qubit system by the end of 2024. We plan to introduce a new modular system architecture in 2025. By mid-year 2025, we expect to release a 36-qubit system based on four 9-qubit chips tiled together with a targeted 99.5% median 2-qubit fidelity. By the end of 2025, we expect to release a system with over 100 qubits with a targeted 99.5% median 2-qubit fidelity. We plan to develop Lyra™, an anticipated 336-quibit system, thereafter.
We also plan to continue to pursue sales of Novera™, our first commercially available QPU launched in 2023, which features a 9-qubit chip, tunable couplers for fast 2-qubit operations and a 5-qubit chip for testing single-qubit operations.
We believe that this business plan should enable us to concentrate our software application development strategy on what we believe to be the highest likelihood applications for demonstrating nearer term narrow quantum advantage.
In February 2023, the reduction in the workforce impacted approximately 50 employees or 28% of our then workforce. We began implementing activities with respect to the revised business plan and reduction in workforce in February 2023. Affected employees were offered separation benefits, including severance payments and temporary healthcare coverage assistance. We incurred a $1.0 million restructuring charge in the three months ended March 31, 2023, for severance payments and temporary healthcare coverage for affected employees. In addition to the restructuring charge, we also incurred $1.0 million of expenses for contractual severance benefits related to executive officers of the Company that were terminated in the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Macroeconomic Considerations
Unfavorable conditions in the economy in the United States and abroad may negatively affect the growth of our business and have affected our results of operations. For example, macroeconomic events, including rising inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates, the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and sanctions related thereto, the state of war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and the related risk of a larger conflict have led to economic uncertainty globally. The effect of macroeconomic conditions may not be fully reflected in the results of operations until future periods. If, however, economic uncertainty increases or the global economy worsens, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be harmed. For further discussion of the potential impacts of macroeconomic events on our business, financial condition, and operating results, see the section titled Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, including the risk factor titled “Unstable market and economic conditions have had and may continue to have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and share price.”
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We have experienced and may experience further increases in the cost of raw materials, component parts, and labor, which we largely attribute to inflation, the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates, high demand, and supply chain restraints. Rising costs and supply chain constraints have been further exacerbated by the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and sanctions related thereto, the state of war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and the related risk of a larger conflict.
We expect these increased costs will persist for the foreseeable future and may increase. Additionally, inflation and rising interest rates may result in an economic recession globally or in the U.S., which could lead to a reduction in product demand, a decrease in corporate capital expenditures, prolonged unemployment, labor shortages, reduction in consumer confidence, adverse geopolitical and macroeconomic events, or any similar negative economic condition.
Economic conditions in some parts of the world have been worsening, with disruptions to, and volatility and uncertainty in, the credit and financial markets in the U.S. and worldwide resulting from uncertainty in the levels of future economic activity, inflation and interest rates. It is not possible at this time to estimate the long-term impact that these and related events could have on our business, as the impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
If these conditions persist and deepen, we could experience an inability to access additional capital, or our liquidity could otherwise be impacted. If we are unable to raise capital when needed and on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs and other efforts. However, like many other companies, we are continuing to take actions to monitor our operations to account for the increases in the cost of capital. Specifically, this includes efforts to enhance our operational efficiency, including with respect to capital expenditures, maximize our R&D productivity spend through strategic collaborations, and being highly selective in hiring top-tier talent.
Key Components of Results of Operations
We generate revenue through our development contracts, as well as from our sales of QPUs, and our QCaaS offerings and other services including training and provision of quantum computing components. Development contracts are generally multi-year, non-recurring arrangements pursuant to which we provide professional services regarding collaborative research in practical applications of quantum computing to technology and business problems within the customer’s industry or organization and assists the customer in developing quantum algorithms and applications to assist customers in areas of business interest.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue consists primarily of all direct and indirect costs associated with sales of QPUs, QCaaS offerings and development contracts and other services, including materials, employee costs for program management and personnel associated with the delivery of goods and services to customers, and sub-contract costs for work performed by third parties. Cost of revenue also includes an allocation of facility costs, depreciation and amortization directly related to the development contracts and QCaaS offerings and other services.
Operating Expenses
Our operating expenses primarily consist of research and development, and selling, general and administrative expenses.
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Research and Development
Research and development expenses include compensation, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, outside consultant fees, facility costs, depreciation and amortization, materials and components purchased for research and development. We expect research and development expenses to increase as we continue to invest in quantum computing and the superconducting quantum processors needed for quantum computers. We do not currently capitalize any research and development expenditures. Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses include compensation, employee benefits, stock-based compensation, insurance, facility costs, professional service fees, and other general overhead costs other than those associated with sales of QPUs and providing development contracts, QCaaS offerings and other services. We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to increase as we grow our business, particularly to the extent we achieve narrow and broad quantum advantage, and anticipate subsequently enhancing our product and service offerings, expanding our customer base, and implementing new marketing strategies.
In February 2023, we announced an updated business strategy, including revisions to our technology roadmap. In connection with this updated strategy, we implemented a workforce reduction in order to focus the organization and its resources on nearer-term strategic priorities. The reduction in the workforce impacted approximately 50 employees or approximately 28% of our then workforce. Affected employees were offered separation benefits, including severance payments and temporary healthcare coverage assistance.
Provision for Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. 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 and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets 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. A valuation allowance is recorded for deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. We have recorded a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets.
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Results of Operations
Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table sets forth our results of operations for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
2024 versus 2023
2024 vs. 2023
$ Change
% Change
(727)
(23)
%
(116)
(1)
340
1,882
97
(1,067)
(47)
(1,998)
(30)
(304)
(2)
(3,888)
(10)
(249)
(2,191)
(11)
NM
(991)
(553)
(7,070)
5,072
(9)
740
(50)
1,702
(37)
(179)
4,642
5,037
(117)
2,551
(147)
2,876
(122)
7,896
9,436
(127)
7,382
(33)
14,508
Revenue decreased by $0.7 million and $0.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The decreases were due to lower QCaaS revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 of $0.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively, offset in part by higher revenue from development contracts and sales of QPUs. Our development contracts are typically fixed price milestone or cost share-based contracts and the timing and amounts of revenue recognized in any given period will vary significantly based on the delivery of the associated milestones and/or the work performed. The timing and delivery of sales of QPUs and QCaaS will also vary and impact revenue in any given quarterly or annual period. Revenue is expected to vary in terms of timing and size, resulting in significant fluctuations in revenue levels in future periods.
For the next few years, we expect much of our revenue to be generated from development contracts and anticipated sales of on-premises QPUs.
Cost of revenue increased by $0.3 million and $1.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The increases in cost of revenue are primarily due to changes in the composition of our revenue and variability in the pricing and terms of our development contracts. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we entered into a new contract to deliver a 24-qubit quantum computing system having higher costs and a lower gross margin profile than most of our other contracts. The increase in cost of revenue resulting from the unfavorable mix was partially offset by the impact of lower revenue.
We expect that cost of revenue and total gross profit as a percentage of revenue will vary in future quarterly and annual periods due to changes in the composition of our revenue and variability in the pricing and terms of our development contracts.
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Research and development expenses decreased by $0.3 million and $3.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
The decrease in research and development expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, is mainly due to a $0.8 million reduction in IT costs due to systems rationalization and a $0.6 million reduction in stock-based compensation expenses, partially offset by a $0.5 million increase in facilities costs due to higher property and use taxes, and a $0.5 million increase in salaries and employee related costs due to additional salaries and headcount. All other research and development costs increased by a cumulative $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023.
The decrease in research and development expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, is largely due to a $2.0 million decrease in salaries and employee related costs due to our February 2023 restructuring and because more engineering time was used to deliver revenue, a $2.6 million decrease in IT costs due to systems rationalization and a $1.0 million reduction in depreciation expense. These decreases were offset in part by an increase in facilities costs of $1.6 million due to higher property and use tax payments. All other research and development costs increased by a cumulative $0.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
We anticipate that R&D expenditures will grow in the future as we continue to focus on our technology roadmap and long-term goal of achieving broad quantum advantage.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by $0.2 million and $2.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
The decrease for the three months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023, is primarily due to $1.1 million of expense recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2023 for the Ampere Forward Agreement, which expired in October 2023. The reduction for the three months ended September 30, 2024 related to the Ampere Forward Agreement was mostly offset by higher expenses for salaries, stock-based compensation and IT expenses.
The decrease for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, is primarily due to $2.2 million of expense recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2023 for the Ampere Forward Agreement and an impairment charge of $0.8 million for deferred offering costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in stock-based compensation expenses of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Stock compensation expenses were favorably impacted during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 due to forfeitures resulting from the February 2023 restructuring. All other expenses decreased by a cumulative $0.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
We expect selling, general and administrative expenses to increase over the longer term, particularly after we potentially achieve quantum advantage, and plan to subsequently enhance our sales and service offerings, expand our customer base, and implement new marketing strategies.
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In February 2023, we announced an updated business strategy, including revisions to our technology roadmap. In connection with this updated strategy, we implemented a workforce reduction in order to focus the organization and our resources on nearer-term strategic priorities. The reduction in the workforce impacted approximately 50 employees or approximately 28% of our then workforce. Affected employees were offered separation benefits, including severance payments and temporary healthcare coverage assistance.
We began implementing activities with respect to our revised business plan, updated technology roadmap and reduction in workforce in February 2023, resulting in a $1.0 million restructuring charge for the three months ended March 31, 2023. No further restructuring charges related to this action are expected.
Other income and (expense), net
Our outstanding debt carries a variable rate of interest. Interest expenses decreased by $0.7 million and $1.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The reduction in interest expense was due to principal repayments and the lower outstanding principal throughout the nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Interest income was $1.2 million and $3.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, down from $1.3 million and $3.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The decrease in interest income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, when compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, is due to lower balances of invested cash and available-for-sale investments, offset in part by higher rates of interest earned on our investments.
Change in Fair Value of Warrant Liabilities
A discussion of the change in the fair value of the warrant liabilities is included in Note 8 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The change in fair value of our warrant liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was a gain of $1.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively. The change in fair value of our warrant liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $3.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively. The change in fair value for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily due to the change in our stock price and related share price volatility.
Change in Fair Value of Earn-Out Liabilities
A discussion of the change in the fair value of the earn-out liabilities is included in Note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The change in fair value of our earn-out liabilities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was a gain of $0.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively. The change in fair value of our earn-out liabilities three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was a loss of $1.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively. The change in fair value for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily due to the change in our stock price and related share price volatility.
39
We did not record income tax expense during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 or 2023 due to the Company’s loss position and full valuation allowance.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We have incurred net losses and negative cash flows since inception. Historically, we have financed our operations primarily through proceeds from the Business Combination (see Note 2 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023), issuance of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, convertible notes, venture backed debt and revenues. Our net losses were $75.1 million and $71.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and our net loss was $48.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. We expect to continue to incur additional losses for the foreseeable future as we invest in research, development, and infrastructure consistent with our long-term business strategy. As of September 30, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $401.8 million.
We received net proceeds of $225.6 million from the closing of the Business Combination on March 2, 2022. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we received proceeds of $12.8 million, from the sale of 10,056,799 shares of our common stock to B. Riley under a Purchase Agreement which has since terminated, because there are no remaining shares available for sale under the agreement. On March 15, 2024, we entered into an ATM Sales Agreement pursuant to which we may offer and sell, from time to time at our sole discretion, shares of our common stock, having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000, subject to certain limitations as set forth in the ATM Sales Agreement. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, we received net proceeds of $38.8 million from the sale of 30,718,121 shares of our common stock under the ATM sales agreement.
We believe that our existing balances of cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments should be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating cash needs for at least the next 12 months, and to midway through the first quarter of 2026, based on our current business plan, and expectations and assumptions considering current macroeconomic conditions. Based on our estimates and current business plan, we expect that we will need to obtain additional capital to fund our research and development efforts and business objectives as currently planned. Our estimate does not assume any additional financing and we cannot be sure that additional financing will be available. If we are unable to raise additional funding when needed and on attractive terms, we may be required to delay, limit or substantially reduce our quantum computing development efforts. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be wrong and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect, and future capital requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including those described in the section under Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated under Part II “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Inflation and rising interest rates may result in an economic recession globally or in the U.S., which could lead to a reduction in product demand, a decrease in corporate capital expenditures, prolonged unemployment, labor shortages, reduction in consumer confidence, adverse geopolitical and macroeconomic events, or any similar negative economic condition. Economic conditions in some parts of the world have been worsening, with disruptions to, and volatility and uncertainty in, the credit and financial markets in the U.S. and worldwide resulting from the effects of inflation and rising interest rates.
These conditions have been further exacerbated by recent and potential future disruptions due to the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine and sanctions related thereto, the state of war between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and the related risk of a larger conflict.
It is not possible at this time to estimate the long-term impact that these and related events could have on our business, as the impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. If these conditions persist and deepen, we could experience an inability to access additional capital, or our liquidity could otherwise be impacted.
40
If we are unable to raise capital when needed and on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs and/or other efforts. A recession or additional market corrections resulting from the impact of difficult macroeconomic conditions or disruption could materially affect our business and the value of our securities.
Our cash requirements include employee-related costs such as salaries and benefits; materials and components for research and development; working capital requirements; capital expenditures for our quantum chip fabrication facility; quantum computing refrigerators and other requirements; planned development of multiple generations of quantum processors; anticipated investments to scale our operations in the future; and strategic collaborative arrangements and investments.
We will require a significant amount of cash for expenditure as we invest in ongoing research and development and business operations. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from sales of QPUs, our development contracts and other services, including our QCaaS offerings, we expect to finance our cash needs primarily through our existing cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments, potential securities financings or other capital sources. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the ownership interest of our stockholders will be, or could be, diluted, and the terms of these securities may include liquidation or other preferences that adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders.
Debt financing and equity financing, if available, may involve agreements that include covenants limiting or restricting our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends. If we are unable to raise additional funds through equity or debt financings when needed and on attractive terms, we may be required to delay, limit, or substantially reduce our quantum computing development efforts. Our future capital requirements and the adequacy of available funds will depend on many factors, including those described in the section under Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated under Part II “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Furthermore, we currently have on file with the SEC an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which allows us to offer and sell up to an aggregate amount of $250.0 million of any combination of common stock, common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon exercise of warrants from time to time, pursuant to which we have entered into an ATM offering for the sale of up to an aggregate amount of $100 million of common stock from time to time, of which $60.2 million of common stock remains available for sale as of the date hereof.
Amended Loan Agreement – Trinity Capital
As of September 30, 2024, the total principal amount outstanding under the Amended Loan Agreement was $12.9 million. The Amended Loan Agreement bears interest at a rate equal to the greater of 11% or the US Prime Rate plus 7.50% per annum, payable monthly, and is secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of our assets.
Our cash commitments as of September 30, 2024 were primarily as follows (in thousands):
Short-term
Long-term
Financing obligations
1,805
Estimated cash interest on financing obligations
2,011
390
Operating lease
2,217
8,730
25,843
14,918
10,925
Financing obligations consist of payments related to the Amended Loan Agreement with Trinity Capital. Operating lease obligations consist of obligations under non-cancelable operating leases for our offices, facilities and equipment. The table above does not include amounts owed for purchases of capital equipment; supplies; materials; or fixed or minimum services under non-cancelable contracts.
Cash Flows Used in Operating Activities
Our cash flows from operating activities are significantly affected by our ability to achieve significant growth to offset expenditures related to research and development, and selling, general and administrative activities. Our operating cash flows are also affected by our working capital needs to support growth in personnel-related expenditures and fluctuations in accounts payable and other current assets and liabilities.
Net cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 was $42.1 million, primarily resulting from our net loss of $48.0 million, partially offset by non-cash expenses totaling $13.2 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities had a $7.2 million negative impact on net cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.
Net cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $38.2 million, primarily resulting from our net loss of $62.5 million, partially offset by non-cash charges totaling $24.9 million. Changes in operating assets and liabilities had a minimal impact on net cash used in operating activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Cash used in operating activities increased by $3.9 million to $42.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, from $38.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Our net loss decreased by $14.5 million to $48.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Non-cash charges impacting our net loss decreased by $11.8 million to $13.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, from $24.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Operating assets and liabilities had a $6.7 million unfavorable impact on the change in cash used in operating activities during nine months ended September 30, 2024, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Cash Flows (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 totaled $0.8 million, resulting from $98.5 million of purchases of available-for-sale securities and $9.8 million of purchases of property and equipment, offset in part by $107.5 million of maturities of available-for-sale securities.
Cash provided by investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 totaled $11.5 million, resulting from $98.1 million of maturities of available-for -sale securities, partially offset by $7.5 million of purchases of property and equipment and $79.0 million of purchases of available-for-sale securities.
Investments in property and equipment relate primarily to process computing equipment, quantum computing refrigerators, and development tools for our chip fabrication facility.
Net cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 increased by $12.3 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023, primarily due to an increase in purchases of property and equipment and fluctuations in the level of investment in available-for-sale securities.
Cash Flows Provided by Financing Activities
Cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 totaled $41.8 million. We received net proceeds of $12.8 million from the sale of 10,056,799 shares of common stock to B. Riley through our prior Purchase Agreement and net proceeds of $38.8 million from the sale of 30,718,121 shares of common stock pursuant to our ATM program. Proceeds from the sale of common stock were offset in part by principal payments of $9.5 million under the Amended Loan Agreement with Trinity Capital and payments of $0.5 million for deferred offering costs.
Cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 totaled $10.5 million, reflecting $15.1 million of proceeds from the sale of 8.2 million shares of common stock to B. Riley through the Purchase Agreement, and $1.0 million of proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants, offset in part by principal payments of $5.4 million under the Amended Loan Agreement and payments of $0.1 million for deferred financing costs.
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Net cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 increased by $31.2 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to a $36.6 million increase in proceeds from the sale of common stock through our prior Purchase Agreement with B. Riley and our ATM program in the nine months ended September 30, 2024, offset in part by a $4.1 million increase in principal payments under the Amended Loan Agreement and a reduction in proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants.
We expect to satisfy our cash needs primarily through on-hand cash, cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments, the sale of common stock through the ATM Agreement, subject to market and other conditions, and other potential securities financings or capital sources.
Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgements and Estimates
This discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. 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. We also make estimates and assumptions pertaining to revenue generated and 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 these estimates 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.
There have been no material changes to our critical accounting estimates from those described under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Critical accounting estimates are defined as those reflective of significant judgments, estimates and uncertainties, which may result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. Within our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, we have disclosed our critical accounting estimates that we believe have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. Historically, our assumptions, judgments and estimates relative to our critical accounting estimates have not differed materially from actual results.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
A description of recently issued accounting pronouncements that may potentially impact our financial position and results of operations is disclosed in Note 2 of our condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2024 included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company Status
In April 2012, the JOBS Act was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” may 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. Therefore, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Following the Business Combination, we still qualify as an emerging growth company and plan to take advantage of the extended transition period that emerging growth company status permits. During the extended transition period, it may be difficult or impossible to compare our financial results with the financial results of another public company that complies with public company effective dates for accounting standard updates because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
We will remain an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act until the earliest of (a) December 31, 2026, the last day of our first fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of SNII’s initial public offering, (b) the last date of our fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.24 billion, (c) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the rules of the SEC with at least $700.0 million of outstanding securities held by non-affiliates or (d) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the previous three years.
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We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as the market value of our voting and non-voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our voting and non-voting Common Stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information required under this item.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2024. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, our management concluded that, as of September 30, 2024, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weakness described below related to our overall closing and financial reporting processes.
We have added additional controls over our year-end and quarter-end closing processes, which are still being tested. The material weakness related to our year-end and quarter-end overall closing and financial reporting processes will not be considered remediated until such time as management has concluded, through testing, that the additional controls which have been implemented are effective.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim condensed consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
After giving full consideration to the material weakness and the additional procedures that we performed, management has concluded that the condensed consolidated financial statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly present, in all material respects, our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented in conformity with GAAP; however, the material weakness could have resulted in a misstatement of account balances or disclosures that would be considered material to the annual or interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
Material Weakness
As previously disclosed, in connection with the preparation of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting related to the design and operation of our overall closing and financial reporting processes, including the timely preparation of account reconciliations, effective segregation of duties, particularly with respect to change management and logical access over IT systems, and a lack of timely review over the financial statement close process.
We have concluded that this material weakness is due to the fact that, between the date the Company went public pursuant to the Business Combination and December 31, 2022, the Company had limited resources and did not have the necessary business processes and related internal controls formally designed and implemented coupled with the appropriate resources with the appropriate level of experience and technical expertise to oversee our closing and financial reporting processes. This material weakness continued to exist as of September 30, 2024 because the necessary controls to remediate the material weakness have not been sufficiently tested.
Remediation Plan
Our remediation plan related to the material weakness over our overall closing and financial reporting processes included:
This material weakness will not be considered remediated unless and until such time as management designs and implements effective controls that operate for a sufficient length of time and concludes, through testing, that the controls are effective. The elements of our remediation plan can only be accomplished over time, and we can offer no assurance that these initiatives will ultimately have the intended effects. As management continues to evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, management may determine it is necessary to take additional measures or implement new controls to address the material weakness. Until the controls have been operating for a sufficient length of time and management has concluded, through testing, that the controls are operating effectively, the material weakness described above will continue to exist.
Management is monitoring the progress of the remediation plan and reports regularly to the audit committee of the board of directors on the progress and results of the remediation plan, including the identification, status and resolution of internal control deficiencies. We can provide no assurance that the measures we have taken will remediate the material weakness identified or that any additional material weaknesses or restatements of financial results will not arise in the future due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of these controls.
In addition, even if we are successful in strengthening our controls and procedures, in the future these controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities or errors or to facilitate the fair presentation of our financial statements.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have taken the actions described above to remediate the material weakness relating to our internal controls over financial reporting as described above. Other than the remediation efforts described above, there have been no other changes in our internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we may be subject to litigation and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. While the results of any litigation or other legal proceedings are uncertain, we are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings that, if determined adversely to us, would individually or taken together have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows. We accrue for loss contingencies when it is both probable that we will incur the loss and when we can reasonably estimate the amount of the loss or range of loss.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Below we are providing, in supplemental form, changes to our risk factors from those previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 provide additional discussion regarding these supplemental risks and we encourage you to read and carefully consider all of the risk factors disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, together with the below, for a more complete understanding of the risks and uncertainties material to our business.
Any future generations of hardware and software developed to demonstrate narrow quantum advantage and broad quantum advantage, each of which is an important anticipated milestone for our technology roadmap and commercialization, may not occur on our anticipated timeline or at all.
We plan to continue working to improve the performance of our QPUs with the goal of reaching at least 99% 2-qubit gate fidelity on an anticipated Ankaa-3 84-qubit system by the end of 2024. We plan to introduce a new modular system architecture in 2025. By mid-year 2025, we expect to release a 36-qubit system based on four 9-qubit chips tiled together with a targeted 99.5% median 2-qubit fidelity. By the end of 2025, we expect to release a system with over 100 qubits with a targeted 99.5% median 2-qubit fidelity. We plan to develop Lyra™, an anticipated 336-qubit system, thereafter.
Our successful execution of our technology roadmap is based on the development of multiple generations of quantum computing systems, including hardware that demonstrates narrow quantum advantage and broad quantum advantage, and the achievement of our targeted fidelities and targeted increase in the number of qubits, each of which is an important anticipated milestone for our technology roadmap and commercialization. The future success of our technology roadmap will depend upon our ability to continue to increase the number of qubits and decrease error rates in each subsequent generation of our quantum computer.
If we are unable to achieve the increase in the number of qubits or decrease in error rates on the timeframe that we anticipate, the availability of future generations of quantum computer systems may be materially delayed, or may never occur. In the past we have failed to meet publicly announced milestones and we may fail to meet projected milestones in the future. If our technology roadmap is delayed or never achieved, this would have a material impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our business is subject to federal laws regarding data protection, privacy, and information security, as well as confidentiality obligations under various agreements, and our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could adversely affect our business and operating results.
Our business operations are subject to the evolving requirements of the U.S. DoD Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program. CMMC mandates third-party assessments for companies working with U.S. government customers in order to verify adherence to specific cybersecurity standards which may be a prerequisite for certain new contract awards with DoD and civilian government agencies. While we are committed to implementing cybersecurity best practices, there is risk associated with not achieving certain standards in a timely manner or at all. These risks include the inability to bid on new contracts or to obtain follow-on awards for existing U.S. government work, and penalties for noncompliance which could negatively impact our revenue, profitability, and cash flow. Furthermore, compliance with CMMC may extend to our subcontractors and certain vendors which could also pose challenges for our supply chain. The associated costs of CMMC compliance are significant and may increase in the future, potentially affecting our operating results.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
None.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 6 – EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
Description
Form
File No.
Filing Date
2.1+
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 6, 2021, by and among Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd., Supernova Merger Sub, Inc., Supernova Romeo
8-K
001-40140
2.1
October 6, 2021
2.2
First Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 23, 2021, by and among Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd., Supernova Merger Sub, Inc., Supernova Romeo Merger Sub, LLC and Rigetti Holdings, Inc.
December 23, 2021
2.3
Second Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 10, 2022, by and among Supernova Partners Acquisition Company II, Ltd., Supernova Merger Sub, Inc., Supernova Romeo Merger Sub, LLC and Rigetti Holdings, Inc.
January 10, 2022
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Rigetti Computing, Inc.
March 7, 2022
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rigetti Computing, Inc.
November 14, 2022
4.1
Specimen Common Stock Certificate
4.2
Specimen Warrant Certificate
10.1
Amendment No. 3, dated as of September 20, 2024, to Standard Industrial/Commercial Multi-Tenant Lease – Gross dated as of April 15, 2015,
by and between Rigetti & Co., LLC, Temescal, LP, Contra Costa Industrial Park, II
September 24, 2024
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2022
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes- Oxley Act of 2002.
101.INS*
Inline XBRL Instance Document—the instance document does not appear in the interactive data file because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
101.SCH*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE*
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104*
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
Filed herewith
49
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ Subodh Kulkarni
By Subodh Kulkarni, President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)
/s/ Jeffrey A. Bertelsen
By Jeffrey A. Bertelsen, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)
Dated November 12, 2024