Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Preparation and Liquidity

(a) Basis of preparation and liquidity

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared by red violet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”).

The Company accounted for the Spin-off in accordance with ASC 805-50-30-5 Initial Measurement- Transactions Between Entities Under Common Control – Transfer Date Measurement and therefore the net assets transferred from Fluent to red violet upon the Spin-off were reflected in red violet’s consolidated financial statements at Fluent’s carrying values at the time of the Spin-off.

The Company reported a net loss of $11,076 and $6,868 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,647 for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $8,053 for the year ended December 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $15,860.

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had available cash and cash equivalents of $11,776, an increase of $1,826 from $9,950 as of December 31, 2018. Based on this available cash and cash equivalents, and the projections of growth in revenue and operating results in the coming year, the Company believes that it will have sufficient cash resources to finance its operations and expected capital expenditures for the next twelve months.

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant transactions among the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Although the Spin-off was completed on March 26, 2018, the Company has reflected the Spin-off in these financial statements as if it occurred on March 31, 2018 as the Company determined that the impact is not material to the consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements present the consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows of red violet and its subsidiaries. For periods prior to the Spin-off, these financial statements were prepared on a consolidated and combined basis because certain of the entities were under common control. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated between the consolidated and combined entities.

The historical consolidated and combined financial results presented prior to the Spin-off may not be indicative of the results that would have been achieved by the Company had it operated as a separate, standalone entity prior to the Spin-off. The consolidated and combined financial statements presented prior to the Spin-off do not reflect any changes that were expected to occur in the Company’s operations in connection with or as a result of the Spin-off.

Use of Estimates

(b) Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires red violet’s management to make estimates and assumptions relating to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets, recoverability of the carrying amount of goodwill and intangible assets, share-based compensation and income tax provision. These estimates are often based on complex judgments and assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

(c) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and bank deposits with original maturities of three months or less, which are unrestricted as to withdrawal and use.

The Company’s cash and bank deposits were held in major financial institutions located in the United States, which management believes have high credit ratings. The cash and bank deposits held in the United States, denominated in USD, amounted to $11,776 and $9,950 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Financial instruments and related items, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of cash investments. The Company places its temporary cash instruments with well-known financial institutions within the United States, and, at times, may maintain balances in United States banks in excess of the $250 US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit. The Company monitors the credit ratings of the financial institutions to mitigate this risk.

Accounts Receivable

(d) Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are due from customers and are generally unsecured, which consist of amounts earned but not yet collected. None of the Company’s accounts receivable bear interest.

The allowance for doubtful accounts is management’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Company’s existing accounts receivable. Management determines the allowance based on reviews of customer-specific facts and economic conditions. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers. The amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts was $40 and $77 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Property and Equipment

(e) Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation or amortization. Expenditures for maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are charged to expense in the period incurred. Betterments and additions are capitalized. Property and equipment are depreciated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or lease terms that are reasonably assured. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:

Computer and network equipment	5-7 years
Furniture, fixtures and office equipment	5 years
Leasehold improvements	7 years

When items of property and equipment are retired or otherwise disposed of, loss/income is charged or credited for the difference between the net book value and proceeds received thereon.

Intangible Assets Other Than Goodwill

(f) Intangible assets other than goodwill

The Company’s intangible assets are initially recorded at the capitalized actual costs incurred, their acquisition cost, or fair value if acquired as part of a business combination, and amortized on a straight-line basis over their respective estimated useful lives, which are the periods over which the assets are expected to contribute directly or indirectly to the future cash flows of the Company. The Company’s intangible assets represent software developed for internal use. Intangible assets have estimated useful lives of 5-10 years.

In accordance with ASC 350-40, “Software — Internal use software,” the Company capitalizes eligible costs, including salaries and staff benefits, share-based compensation expense, travel expenses incurred by relevant employees, and other relevant costs of developing internal-use software that are incurred in the application development stage when developing or obtaining software for internal use. Once the software developed for internal use is ready for its intended use, it is amortized on a straight-line basis over its useful life.

Goodwill

(g) Goodwill

Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the balance of goodwill of $5,227 was as a result of the acquisition of Interactive Data, LLC (“Interactive Data”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of red violet, effective on October 2, 2014.

In accordance with ASC 350, “Intangibles - Goodwill and Other,” goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment, or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable, by assessing qualitative factors or performing a quantitative analysis in determining whether it is more likely than not that its fair value exceeds the carrying value. A quantitative step one assessment involves determining the fair value of each reporting unit using market participant assumptions. Should an impairment exist, the Company would recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value up to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

The measurement date of our annual goodwill impairment test is October 1. On October 1, 2019 and 2018, the Company performed qualitative assessments on the reporting unit and, based on this assessment, no events have occurred to indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carry amount. The Company concluded that goodwill was not impaired as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

For purposes of reviewing impairment and the recoverability of goodwill, the Company must make various assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors in determining the fair values, including market multiples, discount rates, etc.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

(h) Impairment of long-lived assets

Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their respective useful lives and, along with other long-lived assets, are evaluated for impairment periodically whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their related carrying amounts may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC 360-10-15, “Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” In evaluating long-lived assets for recoverability, including finite-lived intangibles and property and equipment, the Company uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and eventual disposition in accordance with ASC 360-10-15. To the extent that estimated future undiscounted cash inflows attributable to the asset, less estimated future undiscounted cash outflows, are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the difference between the carrying value of such asset and its fair value. Assets to be disposed of and for which there is a committed plan of disposal, whether through sale or abandonment, are reported at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.

Asset recoverability is an area involving management judgment, requiring assessment as to whether the carrying value of assets can be supported by the undiscounted future cash flows. In calculating the future cash flows, certain assumptions are required to be made in respect of highly uncertain matters such as revenue growth rates, gross margin percentages and terminal growth rates.

We concluded there was no impairment as of December 31, 2019 and 2018.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

(i) Fair value of financial instruments

ASC 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures,” establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy prioritizes the inputs into three levels based on the extent to which inputs used in measuring fair value are observable in the market.

These tiers include:

• Level 1 – defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

• Level 2 – defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and

• Level 3 – defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.

The fair value of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables approximate their carrying amount because of the short-term nature of these instruments.

Revenue Recognition

(j) Revenue recognition

On January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” (“Topic 606”) using the modified retrospective method applied to all contracts that were not completed contracts at the date of initial application. There was no impact on the opening accumulated deficit as of January 1, 2018 due to the adoption of Topic 606. Revenue is recognized when control of goods or services is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The Company’s performance obligation is to provide on demand solutions to its customers by leveraging its proprietary technology and applying machine learning and advanced analytics to its massive data repository. The pricing for the customer contracts is based on usage, a monthly fee, or a combination of both.

Revenue is generally recognized on (a) a transactional basis determined by the customers’ usage, (b) a monthly fee or (c) a combination of both. Revenue pursuant to transactions determined by the customers’ usage is recognized when the transaction is complete, and either party may terminate the transactional agreement at any time. Revenue pursuant to contracts containing a monthly fee is recognized ratably over the contract period, which is generally 12 months, and the contract shall automatically renew for additional, successive 12-month terms unless written notice of intent not to renew is provided by one party to the other at least 30 days or 60 days prior to the expiration of the then current term. The Company’s revenue is recorded net of applicable sales taxes billed to customers.

Available within Topic 606, the Company has applied the portfolio approach practical expedient in accounting for customer revenue as one collective group, rather than individual contracts. Based on the Company’s historical knowledge of the contracts contained in this portfolio and the similar nature and characteristics of the customers, the Company has concluded the financial statement effects are not materially different than if accounting for revenue on a contract by contract basis.

Revenue is recognized over a period of time since the performance obligation is delivered in a series. The Company’s customers simultaneously receive and consume the benefits provided by the Company’s performance as and when provided. Furthermore, the Company has elected the “right to invoice” practical expedient, available within Topic 606, as its measure of progress, since it has a right to payment from a customer in an amount that corresponds directly with the value of its performance completed-to-date. The Company's revenue arrangements do not contain significant financing components.

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, 65% and 58% of total revenue was attributable to customers with pricing contracts, respectively, versus 35% and 42% attributable to transactional customers, respectively. Pricing contracts are generally annual contracts or longer, with auto renewal.

If a customer pays consideration before the Company transfers services to the customer, those amounts are classified as deferred revenue. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the balance of deferred revenue was $128 and $26, respectively, all of which is expected to be realized in the next 12 months. In relation to the deferred revenue balance as of December 31, 2018, $26 was recognized into revenue during the year ended December 31, 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, $2,929 of revenue is expected to be recognized in the future for performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied, related to pricing contracts that have a term of more than 12 months. $1,820 of revenue will be recognized in 2020, $1,106 in 2021, and $3 in 2022. The actual timing of recognition may vary due to factors outside of the Company’s control. The Company excludes variable consideration related entirely to wholly unsatisfied performance obligations and contracts and recognizes such variable consideration based upon the right to invoice the customer.

Sales commissions are incurred and recorded on an ongoing basis over the term of the customer relationship. These costs are recorded in sales and marketing expenses.

In addition, the Company elected the practical expedient to not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which the Company recognizes revenue at the amount to which it has the right to invoice for services performed.

Cost of Revenue (Exclusive of Depreciation and Amortization)

(k) Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

Our cost of revenue primarily includes data acquisition costs and other cost of revenue. Data acquisition costs consist primarily of the costs to acquire data either on a transactional basis or through flat-fee data licensing agreements, including unlimited usage agreements. Data acquisition costs are recognized based on a straight-line amortization method. Other cost of revenue includes expenses related to third-party infrastructure fees. 

Advertising and Promotion Costs

(l) Advertising and promotion costs

Advertising and promotion costs are charged to operations as incurred. Advertising and promotion costs, included in sales and marketing expenses amounted to $108 and $198 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Share-based Compensation

(m) Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for share-based compensation to employees in accordance with ASC 718, “Compensation—Stock Compensation.” Under ASC 718, the Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award and, for those awards subject only to service condition, recognize the costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the entire award the employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award, which generally is the vesting period. For awards with performance and service conditions, we begin recording share-based compensation when achieving the performance criteria is probable and we recognize the costs using the accelerated attribution method.

The estimated number of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from our current estimates, such amount will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. Changes in our estimates and assumptions may cause us to realize material changes in share-based compensation expense in the future.

The Company has issued share-based awards with performance-based vesting criteria. Achievement of the milestones must be probable before the Company begins recording share-based compensation expense. When the performance-based vesting criteria is considered probable, the Company begins to recognize compensation expense at that time. In the period that achievement of the performance-based criteria is deemed probable, US GAAP requires the immediate recognition of all previously unrecognized compensation since the original grant date. As a result, compensation expense recorded in the period that achievement is deemed probable could include a substantial amount of previously unrecorded compensation expense related to the prior periods. For any share-based awards where performance-based vesting criteria is no longer considered probable, previously recognized compensation cost would be reversed. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has deemed the achievement of the performance-based criteria to be probable for all share-based awards with performance-based vesting criteria.

The Company applies ASU 2018-07, “Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which generally expands the scope of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees and supersedes the guidance in ASC 505-50, Equity-Based Payments to Non-employees, which previously included the accounting for nonemployee awards.

Income Taxes

(n) Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, “Income Taxes,” which requires the use of the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. 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 carry forwards. 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 or laws is recognized in income in the period that the change in tax rates or laws is enacted. A valuation allowance is provided to reduce the amount of deferred tax assets if it is considered more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertain tax positions. This interpretation requires that an entity recognizes in the consolidated financial statements the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company’s accounting policy is to accrue interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions, if and when required, as interest expense and a component of other expenses, respectively, in the consolidated statements of operations.

Loss Per Share

(o) Loss per share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock and is calculated using the treasury stock method for stock options and unvested shares. Common equivalent shares are excluded from the calculation in the loss periods as their effects would be anti-dilutive.

Contingencies

(p) Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is subject to loss contingencies that cover a wide range of matters. An estimated loss from a loss contingency such as a legal proceeding or claim is accrued if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In determining whether a loss should be accrued, the Company evaluates, among other factors, the degree of probability and the ability to make a reasonable estimate of the amount of loss.

Segment Reporting

(q) Segment reporting

The Company has only one operating segment, as defined by ASC 280, “Segment Reporting.”

Significant Concentrations and Risks

(r) Significant concentrations and risks

Concentration of credit risk

Assets that potentially subject the Company to significant concentration of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents, and accounts receivable. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, all of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents were deposited in financial institutions located in the United States, which management believes are of high credit quality. Accounts receivable are typically unsecured and are derived from revenue earned from customers. The risk with respect to accounts receivable is mitigated by credit evaluations the Company performs on its customers and its ongoing monitoring process of outstanding balances.

Concentration of customers

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, one individual customer accounted for 15% and 11% of the total revenue, respectively.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, there was no individual customer that accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s accounts receivable, net.

Concentration of suppliers

Our products and services depend extensively upon continued access to and receipt of data from external sources, including data received from the major credit bureaus, including our largest data supplier. The Company’s other data suppliers include strategic partners, as well as various government and public records repositories. Our largest data supplier, with whom we have expanded our relationship while securing what we believe to be favorable business terms over the years, accounted for approximately 40% of our total data acquisition costs for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to approximately 46% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The initial term of the agreement, as amended, with this supplier ends April 30, 2022, and continues thereafter on a month-to-month basis unless and until either party provides the other with a minimum of 30 days’ written notice of termination. During the term of the agreement, either party has the right to terminate the agreement: (i) in the event of the other party’s failure to cure a material breach, and (ii) in the event of the other party’s insolvency. In addition, this supplier may terminate this agreement by providing not less than 150 days’ advance written notice to us and we may terminate this agreement by providing not less than 24 months’ advance written notice to this supplier. The remaining minimum purchase commitments through the end of the initial term is $10.4 million. If we are unable to maintain our relationship with our largest data supplier, our ability to provide products and services could be negatively impacted, as we would need to secure comparable data on similar terms, which would require significant time, expense, and resources, and may in the short-term adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations and, if we are unable to establish a similar relationship with other data suppliers over time, could have a long-term material impact on our business and financial condition.

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, among data suppliers, one data supplier accounted for 43% and 42% of the Company’s total accounts payable, respectively.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

(s) Recently issued accounting standards

As an emerging growth company, the Company has left open the opportunity to take advantage of the extended transition period provided to emerging growth companies in Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act, however, it is the Company’s present intention to adopt any applicable new accounting standards timely.

In February 2016, Financial Accounting Standard Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Updates (“ASU”) No. 2016-02 (“ASU 2016-02”), “Leases (Topic 842),” which generally requires companies to recognize operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets on the balance sheet. In July 2018, FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, “Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases,” and ASU No. 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements.” Topic 842 is effective for public entities and private entities in the first quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020, respectively, on a modified retrospective basis. The Company adopted Topic 842 in the first quarter of 2019. The Company recorded a right-of-use asset and a total operating lease obligation on its consolidated balance sheet of approximately $3.0 million and $3.4 million, respectively, upon the adoption. Refer to Note 13, Leases, for further details.

In June 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 (“ASU 2016-13”), “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” In November 2018, FASB issued ASU No. 2018-19, “Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses,” which amends the scope and transition requirements of ASU 2016-13. Topic 326 requires a financial asset (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost basis to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. Topic 326 will become effective for public companies beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted, on a modified retrospective approach. Based on our preliminary evaluation, the Company does not expect this guidance will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2018, FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15 (“ASU 2018-15”), “Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract,” which requires an entity (customer) in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract to follow the guidance in Subtopic 350-40 to determine which implementation costs to capitalize as an asset related to the service contract and which costs to expense. It also requires the entity (customer) to expense the capitalized implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract over the term of the hosting arrangement, which includes reasonably certain renewals. This guidance will be effective for the Company for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020, on a retrospective or prospective basis and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.