SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

This summary of significant accounting policies is presented to assist in understanding the Company’s financial statements. These accounting policies conform to accounting principles, generally accepted in the United States of America, and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the financial statements.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Empire Technologies, LLC (“Empire”). All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, Empire had no activity. Empire had no assets or liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016.

The Company acquired 19.5 % of Couponicate for a nominal cost in the year ended December 31, 2012. The entity has no assets or liabilities and has no net income or loss.

Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when all applicable recognition criteria have been met, which generally include (a) persuasive evidence of an existing arrangement; (b) fixed or determinable price; (c) delivery has occurred or service has been rendered; and (d) collectability of the sales price is reasonably assured. For software and technology development contracts the Company recognizes revenues on a percentage of completion method based upon several factors including but not limited to (a) estimate of total hours and milestones to complete; (b) total hours completed; (c) delivery of services rendered; (d) change in estimates; and (e) collectability of the contract.

The Company had two major customers including their affiliates which generated approximately 28.4% (18.0% and 10.4%) of its revenue in the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

The Company had two major customers including their affiliates which generated approximately 45.3% (23.8% and 21.5%) of its revenue in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016.

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company had five customers representing 18%, 14%, 14%, 13% and 10% (an aggregate of approximately 69%) of the outstanding accounts receivable. At December 31, 2016, the Company had two customers representing 29% and 18% (an aggregate of approximately 47%) of the outstanding accounts receivable.

Certain Software as a Service (SaaS) are prepared and invoiced on an annual basis. Any funds received for services not provided yet are held in deferred revenue, and are recorded as revenue when earned.

Research, Development, and Computer Software, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Capitalization of Software Development Costs

In accordance with ASC 350-40, the Company capitalizes certain computer software and software development costs incurred in connection with developing or obtaining computer software for internal use when both the preliminary project stage is completed and it is probable that the software will be used as intended. Capitalized software costs include only (i) external direct costs of materials and services utilized in developing or obtaining computer software, (ii) compensation and related benefits for employees who are directly associated with the software project and (iii) any interest costs incurred while developing internal-use computer software. Capitalized software costs are included in intangible assets on our balance sheet and amortized on a straight-line basis when placed into service over the estimated useful lives of the software (see Note 6).

Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant estimates include the fair value of the Company’s stock, stock-based compensation, fair values relating to derivative liabilities, debt discounts and the valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Research and Development Expense, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Research and Technology Expenses

Research and technology expenses are expensed in the period costs are incurred. For the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, research and technology expenses totaled $181,303 and $343,712 respectively.

Fiscal Period, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fiscal Year End

The Company has a fiscal year ending on December 31.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers cash in savings accounts to be cash equivalents. The Company considers any short-term, highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less as cash and cash equivalents.

Marketable Securities, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Marketable Securities

The Company has elected the fair value option under ASC 825 for its marketable securities. Marketable securities are classified as available for sale and consist of common stock holdings of publicly traded companies. These securities are marked to market at the end of each reporting period based on the closing price of the security at each balance sheet date. Changes in fair value are recorded as unrealized gains or losses in the consolidated statement of operations in accordance with ASC 320.

Cost Method Investments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Non-marketable Securities

From time to time, the Company invests in the securities of other entities where there exists no active market for the securities held. Non-marketable securities are recorded at the cost of the investment.

Receivables, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company establishes an allowance for bad debts through a review of several factors including historical collection experience, current aging status of the customer accounts, and financial condition of the Company’s customers. The Company does not generally require collateral for its accounts receivable. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company incurred $3,202 and $0 as bad debt expense. There was an allowance for doubtful accounts of $-0- as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at the cost of acquisition or construction and depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Costs associated with repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Costs associated with improvements which extend the life, increase the capacity or improve the efficiency of the Company’s property and equipment are capitalized and depreciated over the remaining life of the related asset. Gains and losses on dispositions of equipment are reflected in operations. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are 5 to 7 years.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill, Intangible Assets, and Long-Lived Assets

Goodwill is carried at cost and is not amortized. The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis at the end of each fiscal year, relying on a number of factors including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and marketplace data. Company management uses its judgment in assessing whether goodwill has become impaired between annual impairment tests according to specifications set forth in ASC 350. The Company completed an evaluation of goodwill at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and determined that there was no impairment.

The fair value of the Company’s reporting unit is dependent upon the Company’s estimate of future cash flows and other factors. The Company’s estimates of future cash flows include assumptions concerning future operating performance and economic conditions and may differ from actual future cash flows. Estimated future cash flows are adjusted by an appropriate discount rate derived from the Company’s market capitalization plus a suitable control premium at date of the evaluation.

The financial and credit market volatility directly impacts the Company’s fair value measurement through the Company’s weighted average cost of capital that the Company uses to determine its discount rate and through the Company’s stock price that the Company uses to determine its market capitalization. Therefore, changes in the stock price may also affect the amount of impairment recorded.

The Company recognizes an acquired intangible asset apart from goodwill whenever the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights, or when it can be separated or divided from the acquired entity and sold, transferred, licensed, rented or exchanged, either individually or in combination with a related contract, asset or liability. Such intangibles are amortized over their useful lives. Impairment losses are recognized if the carrying amount of an intangible asset subject to amortization is not recoverable from expected future cash flows and its carrying amount exceeds its fair value.

The Company reviews its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, identifiable intangibles, and goodwill annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. To determine recoverability of its long-lived assets, the Company evaluates the probability that future undiscounted net cash flows will be less than the carrying amount of the assets.

Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company’s long-lived assets, including intangibles, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the historical-cost carrying value of an asset may no longer be appropriate. The Company assesses recoverability of the asset by comparing the undiscounted future net cash flows expected to result from the asset to its carrying value. If the carrying value exceeds the undiscounted future net cash flows of the asset, an impairment loss is measured and recognized. An impairment loss is measured as the difference between the net book value and the fair value of the long-lived asset.

Long-lived assets were evaluated for impairment and no impairment losses were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Share-based Compensation, Option and Incentive Plans Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock based compensation

The Company measures the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award. For employees and directors, the fair value of the award is measured on the grant date and for non-employees the fair value of the award is generally re-measured on vesting dates and interim financial reporting dates until the service period is complete. The fair value amount is then recognized over the period during which services are required to be provided in exchange for the award, usually the vesting period. Stock-based compensation expense is recorded by the Company in the same expense classifications in the consolidated statements of operations, as if such amounts were paid in cash.

Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. These assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse.

The Company has net operating loss carryforwards available to reduce future taxable income. Future tax benefits for these net operating loss carryforwards are recognized to the extent that realization of these benefits is considered more likely than not. To the extent that the Company will not realize a future tax benefit, a valuation allowance is established.

Basic earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing net income, or loss, by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share and basic earnings (loss) per share are not included in the net loss per share computation until the Company has Net Income. Diluted loss per share including the dilutive effects of common stock equivalents on an “as if converted” basis would reduce the loss per share and thereby be antidilutive.

Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Earnings (Loss) Per Share

Potentially dilutive securities excluded from the computation of basic and diluted net earnings (loss) per share are as follows:

	2017		2016
Preferred stock		7,108,996		9,122,007
Options to purchase common stock		25,095,557		25,731,207
Warrants to purchase common stock		47,997,335		63,433,041
Restricted stock units		3,908,471		1,252,620
Totals		84,110,359		99,538,875

Derivatives, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Derivative Instrument Liability

The Company accounts for derivative instruments in accordance with ASC 815, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments and hedging activities, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other financial instruments or contracts and requires recognition of all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value, regardless of hedging relationship designation. Accounting for changes in fair value of the derivative instruments depends on whether the derivatives qualify as hedging relationships and the types of relationships designated are based on the exposures hedged. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company did not have any derivative instruments that were designated as hedges.

On October 9, 2015, the Company issued convertible promissory notes representing $2,500,000 in aggregate principal together with warrants exercisable for up to 25,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The warrants have a strike price of $0.10 and term of 5 years. Also, on April 11, 2017, pursuant to the terms of the purchase agreement entered into in connection with the convertible promissory notes and warrants issued on October 9, 2015, the Company issued an additional $50,000 convertible promissory note together with warrants exercisable for up to 500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock on the same terms and conditions as the convertible promissory notes and warrants issued by the Company on October 9, 2015.

 

In addition, in 2016 and 2017, in connection with the sale of the Company’s common stock, the Company issued warrants exercisable for up to 1,792,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. The warrants have a strike price of $0.25 and a term of 5 years.

In accordance with ASC 815, these outstanding warrants are deemed to be derivatives. The value of the derivative instrument will fluctuate with the price of the Company’s common stock and is recorded as a current liability on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets. The change in the value of the liability is recorded as “unrealized gain (loss) on derivative liability” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. This is a non-cash income (expense) item and is adjusted in the “operating activities” of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the derivative liability was stated at $2,984,010 and $3,478,626, respectively. The change in fair value of $155,027 was driven by the increased value of the Company’s common stock in the period and recorded as the “Loss on change in derivative liability” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. As the warrants are exercised or expire, the derivative liability will be adjusted on the balance sheet and an adjustment will be reflected in stockholders equity under additional paid-in capital.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, consisting of cash equivalents, short-term investments, account and notes receivable, accounts and notes payable, short-term borrowings and certain other liabilities, approximate their fair value due to their relatively short maturities. The carrying amount of the Company’s long-term debt approximates fair value since the stated rate of interest approximates a market rate of interest.

Fair Value Measurement, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is an estimate of the exit price, representing the amount that would be received to upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants (i.e., the exit price at the measurement date). Fair value measurements are not adjusted for transaction cost. Fair value measurement under generally accepted accounting principles provides for use of a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels:

Level 1: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable, either directly or indirectly, and reasonably available. Observable inputs reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflect the assumptions that the Company develops based on available information about what market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability.

An asset or liability’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Availability of observable inputs can vary and is affected by a variety of factors. The Company uses judgment in determining fair value of assets and liabilities and Level 3 assets and liabilities involve greater judgment than Level 1 and Level 2 assets or liabilities.

In October and November 2015 and April 2017, the Company issued warrants with an exercise price of $0.10 in connection with convertible debt instruments. The five year warrants also contain a provision that the warrant exercise price will automatically be adjusted for any common stock equity issuances at less than $0.10 per share. The Company determined that the warrants were not afforded equity classification because the warrants are not considered to be indexed to the Company’s own stock due to the anti-dilution provision. Accordingly, the warrants are treated as a derivative liability and are carried at fair value.

 

The Company estimated the fair value of these derivative warrants at initial issuance and again at each balance sheet date. The changes in fair value are recognized in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption “unrealized gain/(loss) – derivative liability” until such time as the derivative warrants are exercised or expire. The Company used the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model to estimate the fair value as of the dates of issuance, the price of the Company stock ranged $0.031 to $0.187, volatility was estimated to be 102% to 172%, the risk free rate ranged 1.14% to 1.79% and the remaining term was 5 years.

 

In 2016 and 2017, the Company issued warrants with an exercise price of $0.25 in connection with the sale of the Company’s common stock. The five year warrants also contain a provision that the warrant exercise price will automatically be adjusted for any common stock equity issuances at less than $0.25 per share. The Company determined that the warrants were not afforded equity classification because the warrants are not considered to be indexed to the Company’s own stock due to the anti-dilution provision. Accordingly, the warrants are treated as a derivative liability and are carried at fair value.

 

The Company estimated the fair value of these derivative warrants at initial issuance and again at each balance sheet date. The changes in fair value are recognized in earnings in the Consolidated Statements of Operations under the caption “unrealized gain/ (loss) – derivative liability” until such time as the derivative warrants are exercised or expire. The Company used the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model to estimate the fair value and as of the dates of issuance, the price of the Company stock ranged $0.152 to $0.195, volatility was estimated to be from 169% to 178%, the risk free rate ranged 1.22% to 1.87% and the remaining term was 5 years. The estimated initial fair value of these warrants of $280,777 during 2016 and $6,062 during 2017 was reclassified from equity to liability at the date of issuance.

 

On May 2, 2017, a warrant holder exercised a warrant to acquire 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock under a cashless provision. The Company used the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model to estimate the fair value and as of the date of exercise, the price of the Company stock was $0.20, volatility was estimated at 171%, the risk free rate of 1.45% and the remaining term was 3.4 years. The estimated fair value of the warrant of $184,569 was reclassified from liability to equity at the date of exercise.

In October and November 2017, the Company offered, as an inducement to exercise, to reduce the exercise price of previously issued warrants from $0.10 per share to $0.07 per share. The Company used the Black-Scholes Option Pricing model to estimate the change in fair value and the dates of exercise, the price of the Company’s common stock was $0.139 to $0.1549, volatility estimated from 165% to 166%, risk free rate from 1.60% to 1.99% and remaining term from 2.94 to 4.42 years. The estimated fair value of the change in warrant fair value of $13,262 was charged to current period interest expense. The estimated fair value of the warrants at the dates of exercise of $574,342 was reclassified from liability to equity at the date of exercise(s). In connection with the offering, the exercise price of an aggregate of 1,792,000 previously issued warrants with anti-dilutive provisions were reset from $0.25 to $.07 per share

At December 31, 2017, the price of the Company stock was $0.1549, volatility was estimated to be 163.9%, the risk free rate from 1.98% to 2.20% and the remaining term ranged from 2.77 to 4.03 years. As of December 31, 2017, the fair value of the warrants was determined to be $2,984,010, resulting in an unrealized loss on the change in the fair value of this derivative liability of $155,027 for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

The following are the Company’s assets and liabilities, measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:

			Fair Value
	Fair Value		Hierarchy
Assets
Marketable securities, December 31, 2017	$	750	Level 1
Marketable securities, December 31, 2016	$	1,200	Level 1
Liabilities
Derivative Liability , December 31, 2017	$	2,984,010	Level 3
Derivative Liability , December 31, 2016	$	3,478,626	Level 3

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Adoption of Accounting Standards

In July 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-11, Earnings Per Share (Topic 260), Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (Topic 480), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815). The amendments in Part I of this Update change the classification analysis of certain equity-linked financial instruments (or embedded features) with down round features.

When determining whether certain financial instruments should be classified as liabilities or equity instruments, a down round feature no longer precludes equity classification when assessing whether the instrument is indexed to an entity’s own stock. The amendments also clarify existing disclosure requirements for equity-classified instruments. As a result, a freestanding equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded conversion option) no longer would be accounted for as a derivative liability at fair value as a result of the existence of a down round feature. For freestanding equity classified financial instruments, the amendments require entities that present earnings per share (EPS) in accordance with Topic 260 to recognize the effect of the down round feature when it is triggered. That effect is treated as a dividend and as a reduction of income available to common shareholders in basic EPS. Convertible instruments with embedded conversion options that have down round features are now subject to the specialized guidance for contingent beneficial conversion features (in Subtopic 470-20, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options), including related EPS guidance (in Topic 260). The amendments in Part II of this Update recharacterize the indefinite deferral of certain provisions of Topic 480 that now are presented as pending content in the Codification, to a scope exception.

Those amendments do not have an accounting effect. For public business entities, the amendments in Part I of this Update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, including adoption in an interim period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. The Company anticipates early adoption of this pronouncement effective January 1, 2018.  As such, the impact would the reclassification of the December 31, 2017 fair values of our warrant and derivative liabilities to equity.

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-11 by electing the retrospective method to the outstanding financial instruments with a down round feature by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the statement of financial position as of the beginning of the fiscal year. Accordingly, the Company reclassified the fair value of the reset provisions embedded in previously issued warrants with embedded anti-dilutive provisions from liability to equity (accumulated deficit) in aggregate of $2,984,010.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific revenue recognition guidance throughout the Industry Topics of the Accounting Standards Codification. The updated guidance states that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also provides for additional disclosures with respect to revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The standard will be effective for the first interim period within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and the Company will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective approach effective January 1, 2018.

The most significant impact of the standard relates to capitalizing costs to acquire contracts, which have historically been expensed as incurred. As of December 31, 2017, the Company’s sales commission plans have included multiple payments, including initial payments in the period a customer contract is obtained and deferred payments over the life of the contract as future payments are collected from the customers. Under the standard, only the initial payment is subject to capitalization as the deferred payments require a substantive performance condition of the employee. These initial commission payments will be capitalized in the period a customer contract is obtained and will be amortized consistent with the transfer of the goods or services to the customer over the expected period of benefit. The expected period of benefit is the contract term, except when the commission payment is expected to provide economic benefit to the Company for a period longer than the contract term, such as for new customer or incremental sales where renewals are expected and renewal commissions are not commensurate with initial commissions. Such commissions will be amortized over the greater of contract term or technological obsolescence period when the underlying contracted products are technology-based, such as for the SaaS-based platforms, or the expected customer relationship period when the underlying contracted products are not technology-based, such as for patient experience survey products.

The Company has determined that the adoption of ASU-2014-09 will not have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

There are various other updates recently issued, most of which represented technical corrections to the accounting literature or application to specific industries and are not expected to a have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.