Related Party Transactions

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

NOTE 8 – RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

2023 Transactions

Convertible Notes Payable

On May 23, 2023, pursuant to an Exchange Agreement, Mr. Ken Jisser, who became a director of the Company on March 9, 2023, exchanged $100,000 of Convertible Notes payable and accrued interest of $1,463 for 24,628 shares of common stock.

On May 23, 2023, pursuant to an Exchange Agreement, Mr. Stephen J. Garchik, who is a shareholder of the Company, exchanged $1,000,000 of Convertible Notes payable and $14,625 of accrued interest for 264,831 and 3,874 shares of common stock, respectively. As a result of such exchange, the issuance of shares in satisfaction of the Credit Facility referred to below and the purchase of additional shares of common stock in May 2023, (See Note 9 “Shareholders’ Equity”), Mr. Garchik is now a holder of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

Issuance of Common Stock

On May 23, 2023, Messrs. Rhoniel Daguro, CEO, Ken Jisser, Michael Thompson, members of the Company’s Board of Directors and Joseph Trelin, the Chairman of the Board, each purchased 12,500 shares of Company’s common stock at a price of $50,000.

On November 20, 2023, Messrs. Rhoniel Daguro, CEO and Director, and Joseph Trelin, the Chairman of the Board, each purchased 8,333 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $50,000. Michael Thompson, also a Director purchased 16,667 shares of Company’s common stock at a price of $100,000. Stephen Garchik, a holder of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, purchased 166,667 shares of Company’s common stock at a price of $1,000,000.

Credit Facility

On March 21, 2022 the Company entered into the Original Facility Agreement with Mr. Stephen Garchik, an accredited investor, who is both a current shareholder of the Company and a Note Investor, pursuant to which Mr. Garchik agreed to provide a $10.0 million unsecured standby line of credit facility that will rank behind the Convertible Notes. Pursuant to the Original Facility Agreement, the Company agreed to pay Mr. Garchik the Facility Commitment Fee of 12,500 shares of our common stock upon the effective date of the Original Facility Agreement. Upon request by Mr. Garchik and until the full amount due under the Original Agreement is repaid in full, the Company agreed to provide for the nomination of one designee specified in writing by Garchik for appointment to our board directors and for subsequent election to our board of directors and to recommend such nominee for election to our board of directors. On April 18, 2022, Joseph Trelin, as Garchik’s designee under the Original Facility Agreement, was appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company. By virtue of such right of nomination Mr. Garchik considered himself a “director by deputization”.

As described in Note 6 “Working Capital Facility”, the Original Facility Agreement was amended and restated effective March 8, 2023 pursuant to which amendment the amount of the facility was reduced to $3.6 million, an initial advance of $900,000 was made and subsequent advances under the A&R Facility Agreement are subject to various conditions including the granting of a security interest over substantially all the Company’s assets. Under the A&R Facility Agreement Garchik had a one-time right for the nomination of four designees specified in writing by Garchik for appointment to our board of directors. On March 9, 2023 Rhoniel Daguro, Ken Jisser, Michael Thompson and Thomas Szoke as Garchik’s designees under the A&R Facility Agreement, were appointed as members of the Board of Directors of the Company.

On May 25, 2023, the Company and Mr. Garchik agreed to cancel the Initial Promissory Note, terminated the A&R Facility Agreement and Guaranty and satisfied and offset the outstanding balance of the Note in the principal amount of $900,000 and $29,250 accrued and unpaid interest with the purchase price of 245,634 and 7,983 shares of common stock, respectively.

Executive Officers

On March 23, 2023, the Company and Thomas Thimot entered into a Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release for the purposes of separation of Mr. Thimot from the Company as Chief Executive Officer and an employee by mutual consent and settling, compromising and resolving all claims between them. Mr. Thimot’s resignation was effective March 23, 2023. In addition to the Company paying all accrued but unpaid salary and providing reimbursement for all outstanding expenses, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Thimot $325,000 which shall be deferred until the earlier of April 1, 2025 and a change of control of the Company. Mr. Thimot will also be eligible for certain health benefits. The exercise period with respect to Mr. Thimot’s stock option to acquire 32,812 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $62.40 per share was extended through March 23, 2027. All unvested grants or other equity awards lapsed and are no longer exercisable as of the separation date.

On March 23, 2023, the Company and Rhoniel A. Daguro, a director of the Company, entered an Offer Letter pursuant to which Mr. Daguro agreed to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company in consideration of an initial annual salary of $400,000. Mr. Daguro will be eligible for an annual target bonus of up to $375,000 based on performance milestones. For the period ending March 31, 2024, a bonus amount of $75,000 shall be payable upon the Company achieving increments of $1,000,000 in total contract value of all customer agreements less claw backs (“Bookings”) up to an aggregate of $5,000,000 in Bookings. For subsequent years, Mr. Daguro and the Compensation Committee of the Board will mutually agree as to the performance targets to be achieved, to earn the annual bonus. On April 10, 2023, the Company provided Mr. Daguro with an initial grant of options to purchase 306,875 shares of common stock at the exercise price of $3.176 per share for a period of ten years vesting subject to achievement of performance and service conditions. On June 28, 2023, the Company made an additional grant of options to Mr. Daguro to acquire 183,125 shares of common stock at the exercise price of $5.48 for a period of ten years vesting subject to achievement of performance and service conditions.

The employment of Mr. Daguro is at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause. The Company also entered an Executive Retention Agreement with Mr. Daguro, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide specified severance and bonus amounts and to accelerate the vesting on his equity awards upon termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, as each term is defined in the agreement. In the event of a termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, Mr. Daguro is entitled to receive an amount equal to 100% of his base salary, the actual bonus earned but unpaid for the previous year and any bonus that was earned but unpaid prior to the termination date. Further, upon termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, the Company will reimburse Mr. Daguro for the cost of continuation of health coverage for Mr. Daguro and his eligible dependents pursuant to COBRA until the earlier of 12 months following the termination date, the date Mr. Daguro and his dependents are eligible for health coverage from a new employer or the date Mr. Daguro and his eligible dependents are no longer eligible for COBRA.

On April 12, 2023, the Company entered an Offer Letter with Thomas R. Szoke, a director of the Company, pursuant to which Mr. Szoke agreed to serve as Chief Technology Officer in consideration of an initial annual salary of $250,000. Mr. Szoke received an initial signing bonus of $20,833 and will be eligible for an annual target bonus of up to $200,000 based on performance milestones. For the period ending March 31, 2024, a bonus amount of $40,000 shall be payable upon our company achieving increments of $1,000,000 in total contract value of all customer agreements less claw backs (“Bookings”) up to an aggregate of $5,000,000 in Bookings. For subsequent years, Mr. Szoke and the Compensation Committee of the Board will mutually agree as to the performance targets to be achieved, to earn the annual bonus. The vesting criteria of Mr. Szoke’s Stock Options to acquire 12,500 shares of common stock previously granted to Mr. Szoke on March 14, 2023 (the “Original Grant”) were amended pursuant to an Amended and Restated Stock Non-Statutory Option Agreement providing for vesting subject to achievement of performance and service conditions. All other terms of the Original Grant were not changed. On June 28, 2023, the Company made an additional grant of options to Mr. Szoke to acquire 50,000 shares of common stock at the exercise price of $5.48 per share for a period of ten years vesting subject to achievement of performance and service conditions. Additionally, on December 21, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Szoke options to acquire 5,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $9.25 for ten years, vesting over twelve months.

The employment of Mr. Szoke is at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause. The Company also entered an Executive Retention Agreement with Mr. Szoke, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide specified severance and bonus amounts and to accelerate the vesting on his equity awards upon termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, as each term is defined in the agreement. In the event of a termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, Mr. Szoke is entitled to receive an amount equal to 100% of his base salary, the actual bonus earned but unpaid for the previous year and any bonus that was earned but unpaid prior to the termination date. Further, upon termination upon a change of control or an involuntary termination, the Company will reimburse Mr. Szoke for the cost of continuation of health coverage for Mr. Szoke and his eligible dependents pursuant to COBRA until the earlier of 12 months following the termination date, the date Mr. Szoke and his dependents are eligible for health coverage from a new employer or the date Mr. Szoke and his eligible dependents are no longer eligible for COBRA.

On May 11, 2023, the Company entered a Retention Agreement with Hang Pham, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide specified retention bonus amounts subject to certain performance conditions in the aggregate amount of up to $240,625 and to accelerate the vesting on her equity awards upon termination. This Agreement replaces the previous Executive Retention Agreement dated April 25, 2022, which was terminated and a release granted in relation thereto. Ms. Pham resigned as Chief Financial Officer effective August 15, 2023.

On July 31, 2023, the Company and Edward Sellitto entered an Offer Letter pursuant to which Mr. Sellitto agreed to serve as Chief Financial Officer of the Company commencing August 15, 2023 in consideration of an annual salary of $250,000. As of January 1, 2024, Mr. Sellitto’s annual salary was increased to $275,000. Mr. Sellitto will be eligible for an annual target bonus of up to 60% of base salary based on achievement of performance milestones, as Mr. Sellitto and the Compensation Committee of the Board, will mutually agree for each year. The bonus shall be pro-rated for the year 2023. At the outset of employment, Mr. Sellitto was provided with a grant of options to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock vesting subject to achievement of performance and service conditions at an exercise price of $8.87, with an exercise period of 10 years. Additionally, on December 21, 2023, the Company granted Mr. Selitto options to acquire 7,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $9.25 for ten years, vesting over twelve months. The employment of Mr. Sellitto will be at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without formal cause.

Board of Directors

Messrs. Thomas Thimot, Phillip L. Kumnick, Philip R. Broenniman, Michael A. Gorriz and Ms. Neepa Patel tendered their resignations from the Board of Directors of the Company on March 9, 2023. The Board of Directors appointed Joseph Trelin to the Company’s Compensation and Audit Committees. On March 9, 2023, the Board of Directors appointed Rhon Daguro, Ken Jisser, Michael Thompson and Thomas Szoke as additional directors of the Company and reduced the size of the Board of Directors from 8 directors to 7 directors. The Company granted Messrs. Jisser, Thompson and Szoke 12,500 options each at the exercise price of $2.64 per share.

On March 16, 2023, the Company appointed Joseph Trelin as the Chairman of the Board, Michael Koehneman as Chairman of the Governance Committee and appointed Michael Thompson to the Company’s Compensation and Governance Committees.

On June 28, 2023, the Company granted 15,625 options each at the exercise price of $5.48 per share to Messrs. Joseph Trelin, Michael Koehneman and Ms. Jacqueline White and 3,125 options each at the exercise price of $5.48 to Messrs. Jisser and Thompson, in accordance with the Company’s compensation policy for non-employee directors. Each such option vests over a period of twelve months. Mr. Trelin retired from the Board effective February 20, 2024 and the Board vested the unvested portion of these options, amounting to 6,511 shares. See Note 1 – “Subsequent Events”

Commercial Agreements

On June 6, 2023, the Company entered into a services agreement with The Pipeline Group, Inc. (“TPG”). Ken Jisser, a director of the Company, is the founder and CEO of TPG, a technology-enabled services company that aims to deliver business results for companies looking to build a predictable and profitable pipeline.  The agreement provides that TPG will assist in providing outsourced sales including business development resources for outbound calling, provide support for automated dialing technology, classify customer data and other sales related services for an initial term of one year. On October 25, 2023 and December 19, 2023, the Company entered into amendments to the above services agreement, pursuant to which TPG will provide certain additional services to the Company. In consideration of the services, the Company will pay TPG $98,000 per month during the remainder of the initial one-year term. During the period from June 6, 2023 through December 31, 2023 the Company paid TPG a total of $398,000. As of December 31, 2023 the Company had a balance of $84,000 in Accounts Payable related to amounts owed to TPG under the payment terms of this agreement. The foregoing is only a summary of the material terms of the agreements entered with TPG and does not purport to be a complete description of the rights and obligations of the parties thereunder. The summary of the agreement entered with TPG is qualified in its entirety by reference to the forms of such agreements, which were filed as exhibits to the Company’s Current Report and are incorporated by reference herein (See “Exhibits”).

2022 Transactions

Convertible Notes Payable

During the year ended December 31, 2022, two Directors, an affiliate of one of such Directors and one Executive Officer invested in $1.2 million of the Convertible Notes issued. See Note 7. In connection with the payment of interest on the Convertible Notes, 2,596 shares were issued to two Directors and an affiliate of one of the Directors.

Issuance of Common Stock

Two Directors and one Executive Officer invested $0.2 million in the common stock offering during the year ended December 31, 2022. See Note 8.

Credit Facility

On March 21, 2022 the Company entered into a Credit Facility with an accredited investor Mr. Stephen Garchik, who is both a current shareholder of the Company and a Note Investor, pursuant to which the accredited investor agreed to provide a $10.0 million unsecured standby line of credit facility that ranked behind the Convertible Notes. Pursuant to the Credit Facility, the Company agreed to pay the Lender the Facility Commitment Fee of 12,500 shares of our common stock upon the effective date of the Facility Agreement.

Executive Officers

On April 25, 2022, Stuart Stoller indicated his intention to resign as Chief Financial Officer of the Company in connection with his planned retirement. The resignation and retirement were effective date of June 17, 2022 at which time Annie Pham was appointed Chief Financial Officer in his place. In connection with his retirement, the Board of Directors approved the vesting of approximately 15,278 stock options which were unvested as of June 17, 2022. Additionally, the Board of Directors approved a consulting arrangement for Mr. Stoller to provide transitional services on an as needed basis.

On April 25, 2022, Ms. Pham and the Company entered into an Offer Letter pursuant to which Ms. Pham agreed to serve as Chief Financial Officer commencing June 20, 2022. Ms. Pham receives an annual salary of $275,000. In addition, Ms. Pham received a signing bonus in the amount of $25,000, which is fully refundable to the Company if Ms. Pham leaves her employment voluntarily or is terminated for cause prior to the first anniversary of the commencement of employment. Upon commencing employment, Ms. Pham was granted an option to acquire 43,750 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $19.28 and an exercise period of ten years subject to certain performance vesting requirements. In December 2022, Ms. Pham was granted an option to acquire 7,500 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $6.32 which will vest on December 31, 2023 with an exercise period of ten years. On May 11, 2023, the Company and Ms. Annie Pham, the CFO of the Company, entered a Retention Agreement, pursuant to which the Company agreed to provide specified retention bonus amounts subject to certain performance conditions in the aggregate amount of up to $240,625 and to accelerate the vesting on her equity awards upon termination. Mr. Pham also received one-year of medical coverage for an aggregate cost $57,715. This Agreement replaces the previous Executive Retention Agreement dated April 25, 2022, which was terminated, and a release granted in relation thereto. Ms. Pham resigned on August 15, 2023. 

Board of Directors

In April 2022, the Company appointed Joe Trelin as an additional independent director. The Company granted Mr. Trelin options to acquire 12,612 shares of common stock or a total of $270,000 at an exercise price of $25.04 per share for a term of ten years that vest one third per year after each Annual Meeting.

In September 2022 the Company granted additional options to acquire 4,371 shares of common stock each at an exercise price of $24.24 per share, to each of the non-employee Directors, by way of annual compensation under the Company’s compensation policy for non-employee directors, which vest monthly over a one-year-period.