Risk Factors Dashboard
Once a year, publicly traded companies issue a comprehensive report of their business, called a 10-K. A component mandated in the 10-K is the ‘Risk Factors’ section, where companies disclose any major potential risks that they may face. This dashboard highlights all major changes and additions in new 10K reports, allowing investors to quickly identify new potential risks and opportunities.
View risk factors by ticker
Search filings by term
Risk Factors - RGTI
-New additions in green
-Changes in blue
-Hover to see similar sentence in last filing
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risk and uncertainties described above under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. If any of the events or developments described below were to occur, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could suffer materially, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also adversely affect our business.
Risks Related to Our Financial Condition and Status as an Early-Stage Company
We will require a significant amount of cash for expenditures as we invest in ongoing research and development and business operations and may need additional capital sooner than planned to pursue our business objectives and respond to business opportunities, challenges or unforeseen circumstances, and we cannot be sure that additional financing will be available. If we are unable to raise additional funding when needed, we may be required to delay, limit or substantially reduce our quantum computing development efforts.
Our business and future plans for expansion are capital-intensive, and the specific timing of cash inflows and outflows may fluctuate substantially from period to period. Our business and future plans for expansion are capital-intensive, and the specific timing of cash inflows and outflows may fluctuate substantially from period to period. We will require a significant amount of cash for expenditures as we invest in ongoing research and development and business operations. For example, in addition to our continuing investment in our technology roadmap we continue to invest in the expansion of and upgrades to our Fab-1 facility. For example, in addition to our continuing investment in our technology roadmap we may continue to invest in the expansion of and upgrades to our Fab-1 facility. The actual amounts we may be required to spend on these and other matters may be greater and more significant than our expectations. Further, pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement with Quanta, we agreed to invest at least $250 million in the field of quantum computing, in furtherance of our technology roadmap, over a five-year period commencing in February 2025.
In connection with the Collaboration Agreement, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Quanta, pursuant to which we agreed to sell and issue to Quanta in a private placement transaction 3,020,412 shares of our Common Stock at a price per share of $11.58782, for an aggregate value of approximately $35.0 million. The closing of the private placement transaction is subject to regulatory clearance. If such regulatory clearance is not obtained by December 31, 2025, the Securities Purchase Agreement may be terminated by either party; in the event of such termination, the Collaboration Agreement may also be terminated by either party. If any of the termination events were to occur, we may never close the private placement with Quanta and/or we may never realize the anticipated benefits of the Collaboration Agreement, which may have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations. See also “We have and may in the future enter into collaboration agreements and similar arrangements with third parties for the manufacturing of our products, and these agreements and similar arrangements may never achieve their anticipated goals, which may have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations.”
We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities should be sufficient to meet our anticipated operating cash needs for at least the next three years based on our current business plan, and expectations and assumptions considering current macroeconomic conditions. Our operating plan may change because of factors currently unknown, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned, through public or private equity or debt financings or other sources, such as strategic collaborations or other transactions. In addition, we may seek additional capital even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for current or future operating plans. Such financings may result in dilution to stockholders, issuance of securities with priority as to liquidation and dividend and other rights more favorable than common stock, imposition of debt covenants and repayment obligations or other restrictions that may adversely affect our business. Any funds we raise may not be sufficient to enable us to continue to implement our long-term business strategy. Further, our ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by worsening global economic conditions and disruptions to and volatility in the credit and financial markets in the United States and current and future military conflicts and wars around the world including related sanctions and tariffs and trade protection measures. Further, our ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to and volatility in the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from, the continuing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, recent and potential future disruptions in access to bank deposits or lending commitments due to bank failures and military conflict with Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions imposed against Russia. There can be no assurance that deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. There can be no assurance that further deterioration in credit and financial markets and confidence in economic conditions will not occur. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our products and services and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. A severe or prolonged economic downturn could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for 27 Table of Contents our products and services and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. If the equity and credit markets deteriorate, it may make any necessary financing more difficult, more costly, and more dilutive. If the equity and credit markets continue to deteriorate, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult, more costly, and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could impair our ability to achieve our growth strategy, could harm our financial performance and stock price, could require us to delay or abandon our business plans, and could require us to delay, limit, or substantially reduce our quantum computing development efforts. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could impair our ability to achieve our growth strategy, could harm our financial performance and stock price and could require us to delay or abandon our business plans.
22
If we are unable to obtain sufficient capital we would be unable to fund our operations and may be required to evaluate alternatives, which could include dissolving and liquidating our assets in which case we may receive less than the value at which those assets are carried on our audited financial statements, and/or seeking protection under bankruptcy laws, and a determination to file for bankruptcy could occur at a time that is earlier than when we would otherwise exhaust our cash resources, and it is unclear to what extent we would be able to pay our obligations, and, accordingly, it is further unclear whether and to what extent any resources would be available for distribution to stockholders. This could potentially cause us to cease operations and result in a complete or partial loss of your investment in our securities. Any such loss or lack of access to these funds could adversely impact our short-term liquidity and ability to meet our operating expense obligations. We cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the economic climate and financial market and geopolitical conditions could adversely impact our business. We cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.
There can be no assurance that financing will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all. In addition, our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of securities could be significantly impacted by the resale of our securities by holders of our securities which could result in a significant decline in the trading price of our securities and potentially hinder our ability to raise capital at terms that are acceptable to us or at all.
We are in our early stages and have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to forecast the future results of our operations. We are in our early stages and have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to forecast our future results of operations. We have in the past failed to meet publicly announced milestones and may fail to meet projected technological milestones in the future. In addition, we have in the past changed our technology roadmap, including the anticipated milestones and timing thereof.
Our business was founded in 2013 and has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017. As a result of our limited operating history, our ability to accurately forecast the future results of operations is limited and subject to a number of uncertainties, including our ability to plan for and model future growth. Our business was founded in 2013 and has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017. As a result of our limited operating history, our ability to accurately forecast the future results of operations is limited and subject to a number of uncertainties, including our ability to plan for and model future growth. Our ability to generate revenues will largely be dependent on our ability to develop and produce quantum computers with increasing numbers of quantum bits (“qubits”) and with increasing levels of performance. As of the date hereof, we have deployed a quantum computer having 84 qubits with a 99.0% two-qubit gate fidelity utilizing iSWAP gates and 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity utilizing fSim gates based on internal testing. We are still in the technology development phase. Our scalable business model has not been formed as of yet and our technology roadmap may not be realized as quickly as hoped, or even at all. We have in the past failed to meet publicly announced milestones and may fail to meet projected technological milestones in the future. We have in the past changed our technology roadmap, including the anticipated milestones and timing thereof, including in each of the years ended 2018, 2022 and 2023. We may further update the technology roadmap in the future, including anticipated milestones and anticipated timeline for milestones. Furthermore, we may be unable to achieve the milestones in our technology roadmap on their announced anticipated timeline or at all, including our next generation of modular system architecture, targeted qubit counts and fidelities. Furthermore, we may be unable to achieve the milestones in our technology roadmap on their announced anticipated timeline or at all. The development of our scalable business model will likely require the incurrence of a substantially higher level of costs than incurred to date, while our revenues will not substantially increase unless and until more powerful, scalable, higher performing computers are produced, which requires a number of technological advancements which may not occur on the currently anticipated timetable or at all. As a result, our historical results should not be considered indicative of our future performance. Further, in future periods, our growth could slow or decline for a number of reasons, including but not limited to slowing demand for sales of our on-premise quantum computers, QCaaS or QCS, increased competition, changes to technology, inability to scale up or improve performance of our technology, a decrease in the growth of the market, or our failure, for any reason, to continue to take advantage of growth opportunities. Further, in future periods, our growth could slow or decline for a number of reasons, including but not limited to slowing demand for our Quantum Cloud Services (“Quantum Cloud Services” or “QCS”), increased competition, changes to technology, inability to scale up or improve performance of our technology, a decrease in the growth of the market, or our failure, for any reason, to continue to take advantage of growth opportunities.
We have also encountered, and will continue to encounter, risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by growing companies in rapidly changing industries. 28 Table of Contents We have also encountered, and will continue to encounter, risks and uncertainties frequently experienced by growing companies in rapidly changing industries. If our assumptions regarding these risks and uncertainties and our future growth are incorrect or change, or if we do not address these risks successfully, our operating and financial results could differ materially from our expectations, and our business could suffer. Our success as a business ultimately relies upon fundamental research and development breakthroughs in the coming years. There is no certainty these research and development milestones will be achieved as quickly as hoped, or even at all.
We have a history of operating losses and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future. We have a history of operating losses and expect to incur significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future.
We incurred net losses of $201.0 million and $75.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $554.7 million. We believe that we will continue to incur operating and net losses each quarter until at least the time we begin generating significant revenue from our narrow quantum advantage or broad quantum advantage quantum computers, which may never occur. Even if our computers achieve narrow quantum advantage or broad quantum advantage, we may never become profitable.
We may incur significantly higher losses in future periods as we, among other things, continue to incur significant expenses in connection with the design, development and manufacturing of our quantum computers; and as we expand our research and development activities; invest in manufacturing capabilities; build up inventories of components for our quantum computers; increase our sales and marketing activities; develop our infrastructure; and increase our general and administrative functions to support our growing operations and our being a public company. We expect the rate at which we will incur losses to be significantly higher in future periods as we, among other things, continue to incur significant expenses in connection with the design, development and manufacturing of our quantum computers; and as we expand our research and development activities; invest in manufacturing capabilities; build up inventories of components for our quantum computers; increase our sales and marketing activities; develop our infrastructure; and increase our general and administrative functions to support our growing operations and our being a public company.
23
We may find that these efforts are more expensive than we currently anticipate or that these efforts may not result in revenues, which would further increase our losses. If we are unable to achieve and/or sustain profitability, or if we are unable to achieve the growth that we expect from these investments, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our business model is unproven and may never allow us to cover our costs.
Our operating results may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic and market conditions. Our operating results may be adversely affected by unfavorable economic and market conditions. In the future we may be required to record significant charges for impairment of our long-lived assets, other assets or investments.
An adverse change in market conditions, including a sustained decline in our stock price, negative changes to the Company’s position in the market, or lack of growth in demand for our products and services could be considered to be an impairment triggering event. An adverse change in market conditions, including a sustained decline in our stock price, negative changes to the Company’s position in the market, or lack of growth in demand for our products and services could be considered to be an impairment triggering event. Such changes in the future could impact valuation assumptions relating to the recoverability of assets and may result in impairment charges to our long-lived assets, other assets or investments, which would have a negative impact on our operating results and harm our business.
There are inherent uncertainties in management’s estimates, judgments and assumptions used in assessing recoverability of intangible, and other long-lived assets. There are inherent uncertainties in management’s estimates, judgments and assumptions used in assessing recoverability of goodwill, intangible, and other long-lived assets. Any material changes in key assumptions, including failure to meet business plans, a deterioration in the U.S. and global financial markets, an increase in interest rates or an increase in the cost of equity financing by market participants within the industry or other unanticipated events and circumstances, may decrease our projected cash flows or increase discount rates and could potentially result in an impairment charge. From time to time, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our consolidated financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our long-lived assets is determined, which might have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations. From time to time, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our consolidated financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill or intangible and other long-lived assets is determined, which might have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations.
We may not be able to scale our business quickly enough to meet customer and market demand, which could result in lower profitability or cause us to fail to execute on our business strategies. 29 Table of Contents We may not be able to scale our business quickly enough to meet customer and market demand, which could result in lower profitability or cause us to fail to execute on our business strategies.
In order to grow our business, we will need to continually evolve and scale our business and operations to meet customer and market demand. In order to grow our business, we will need to continually evolve and scale our business and operations to meet customer and market demand. Quantum computing technology has never been sold at large-scale commercial levels. Evolving and scaling our business and operations places increased demands on our management as well as our financial and operational resources to:
● | attract new customers and grow our customer base; |
● | maintain and increase the rates at which existing customers use our platform, sell additional products and services to our existing customers, and reduce customer churn; |
● | invest in our platform and product offerings; |
● | effectively manage organizational change; |
● | accelerate and/or refocus research and development activities; |
● | expand manufacturing and supply chain capacity; |
● | increase sales and marketing efforts; |
● | broaden customer support and services capabilities; |
● | maintain or increase operational efficiencies; |
● | implement appropriate operational and financial systems; and |
● | establish and maintain effective financial disclosure controls and procedures. |
Commercial traction of quantum computing technology may never occur. Commercial traction of quantum computing technology may never occur. As noted above, there are significant technological challenges associated with developing, producing, marketing and selling products and services in the advanced technology industry, including our products and services, and we may not be able to resolve all of the difficulties that may arise in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. As noted above, there are significant technological challenges associated with developing, producing, marketing and selling services in the advanced technology industry, including our services, and we may not be able to resolve all of the difficulties that may arise in a timely or cost-effective manner, or at all. We may not be able to cost effectively manage production at a scale or quality consistent with customer demand in a timely or economic manner.
Our ability to scale is dependent also upon components we must source from multiple industries including: from the electronics and semi-conductor industries with low-noise microwave components, CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs; from the cryogenic industry with dilution refrigerators and associated helium gas products; and from the semiconductor industry with silicon wafers and other specialty materials, tooling and measurement equipment. Our ability to scale is dependent also upon components we must source from multiple industries including: from the electronics industry with low-noise microwave components, CPUs, GPUs, FPGAs; cryogenic industry with dilution refrigerators and associated helium gas products; and from the semiconductor industry with silicon wafers and other specialty materials, tooling and measurement equipment. Shortages or supply interruptions in any of these components will have an adverse impact on our ability to deliver revenues. Shortages or supply interruptions in any of these components will adversely impact our ability to deliver revenues.
24
If large-scale development of our quantum computers commences, our computers may contain defects in design and manufacture that may cause them to not perform as expected or that may require repair and design changes. Our quantum computers are inherently complex and incorporate technology and components that have not been used for other applications and that may contain defects and errors, particularly when first introduced. We have a limited frame of reference from which to evaluate the long-term performance of our computers. There can be no assurance that we will be able to detect and fix any defects in our quantum computers in a timely manner that does not disrupt our sales of products and services to our customers.
If our technology fails to perform as expected, customers may seek out a competitor or turn away from quantum computing entirely, each of which could adversely affect our sales and brand and could adversely affect our business, prospects and results of operations. If defects in our technology lead to erroneous outputs, third parties relying on those outputs may draw from them erroneous conclusions, creating a risk that we will be liable to those third parties.
If we cannot evolve and scale our business and operations effectively, we may not be able to execute our business strategies in a cost-effective manner and our business, financial condition, profitability and results of operations could be adversely affected. If we cannot evolve and scale our business and operations effectively, we may not be able to execute our business strategies in a cost-effective manner and our business, financial condition, profitability and results of operations could be adversely affected.
Even if the market in which we compete achieves its anticipated growth levels, our business could fail to grow at similar rates, if at all.
Our success will depend upon our ability to expand, scale our operations, and increase our sales and support capability. Our success will depend upon our ability to expand, scale our operations, and increase our sales and support capability. Even if the market in which we compete meets the size estimates and growth forecasted, our business could fail to grow at similar rates, if at all.
Our growth is dependent upon our ability to successfully sell quantum computers, expand our solutions and services, retain customers, bring in new customers and retain critical talent. Our growth is dependent upon our ability to successfully expand our solutions and services, retain customers, bring in new customers and retain critical talent. Unforeseen issues associated with scaling up and constructing quantum computing technology at commercially viable levels could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Unforeseen issues associated with scaling up and constructing quantum computing technology at commercially viable levels could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our growth is dependent upon our ability to successfully market and sell our quantum computers, and quantum computing services and solutions. We do not have experience with the large-scale production and sale of quantum computing technology. Our growth and long-term success will depend upon the development of our sales and retention capabilities.
Moreover, because of our unique technology, our customers will require particular support and service functions, some of which are not currently available, and may never be available. Moreover, because of our unique technology, our customers will require particular support and service functions, some of which are not currently available, and may never be available. If we experience delays in adding such support capacity or servicing our customers efficiently or experiencing unforeseen issues with the reliability of our technology, we could overburden our servicing and support capabilities. Similarly, increasing the number of our products and services would require us to rapidly increase the availability of these services. Failure to adequately support and service our customers may inhibit our growth and ability to expand.
There is no assurance that we will be able to ramp our business to meet our sales, manufacturing, installation, servicing and quantum computing targets globally, that expected growth levels will prove accurate or that the pace of growth or coverage of our customer infrastructure network will meet customer expectations. For example, our competitors may achieve certain narrow and/or broad quantum milestones faster than us, which may negatively impact our business and prospects. Failure to grow at rates similar to that of the quantum computing industry may adversely affect our operating results and ability to effectively compete within the industry.
We may not manage growth effectively, including with respect to our employee base, and managing our operations successfully. We may not manage growth effectively, including with respect to our employee base, and managing our operations successfully.
Our failure to manage growth effectively could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. Our failure to manage growth effectively could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. We anticipate that a period of significant expansion will be required to address potential growth. This expansion will place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources. For example, expansion of and upgrades to our Fab 1 facility is continual and ongoing, and we may not complete the expansion and upgrades on terms originally anticipated, in a timely manner or at all, which could have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For example, the expansion of our Fab 1 facility is ongoing and we may not complete the expansion on terms originally anticipated, in a timely manner or at all, which could have a material impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Expansion and upgrades require significant cash investments and management resources and there is no guarantee that they will generate additional sales of our products or services, or that we will be able to avoid cost overruns or be able to hire additional personnel to support us. Expansion will require significant cash investments and management resources and there is no guarantee that they will generate additional sales of our products or services, or that we will be able to avoid cost overruns or be able to hire additional personnel to support us. In addition, we also need to ensure our compliance with regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions applicable to the sale, installation and servicing of our products. In addition, we will also need to ensure our compliance with regulatory requirements in various jurisdictions applicable to the sale, installation and servicing of our products.
To manage the growth of our operations and personnel, we must establish, and maintain appropriate and scalable operational and financial systems, procedures and controls and establish and maintain a qualified finance, administrative and operations staff. We may be unable to acquire the necessary capabilities and personnel required to manage growth or to identify, manage and exploit potential strategic relationships and market opportunities.
25
Our ability to use net operating loss carryforwards and other tax attributes may be limited.
We have incurred losses during our history, do not expect to become profitable in the near future and may never achieve profitability. We have incurred losses during our history, do not expect to become profitable in the near future and may never achieve profitability. To the extent that we continue to generate taxable losses, unused losses will carry forward to offset future taxable income, if any, until such unused losses expire, if at all. As of December 31, 2024 we had U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $282.0 million.
Under current law, U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards generated in taxable periods beginning after December 31, 2017, may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such net operating loss carryforwards is limited to 80% of taxable income. It is uncertain if and to what extent various states will conform to current federal law.
In addition, under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), our federal net operating loss carryforwards, federal research and development tax credit carryforwards and other tax attributes are subject to annual limitations because of prior cumulative changes in our ownership and may be further limited in the future if additional ownership changes occur. An “ownership change” pursuant to Section 382 of the Code generally occurs if one or more stockholders or groups of stockholders who own at least 5% of a company’s stock increase their ownership by more than 50 percentage points over their lowest ownership percentage within a rolling three-year period. Similar rules apply under state tax laws. Similar rules may apply under state tax laws. Our ability to utilize our federal net operating loss carryforwards, federal research and development tax credit carryforwards and other tax attributes to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities is limited because of prior ownership changes, including changes in connection with the Business Combination (as described in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K) and other transactions, and may be further limited in the future if additional ownership changes occur. See Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for information regarding our federal net operating loss carryforwards, federal research and development tax credit carryforwards and other tax attributes.
If we earn taxable income, such limitations will most likely result in increased future income tax liability and have an adverse effect on our future cash flows. If we earn taxable income, such limitations could result in increased future income tax liability and our future cash flows could be adversely affected. We have recorded a valuation allowance related to our net operating loss carryforwards and other deferred tax assets due to the uncertainty of the ultimate realization of the future benefits of those assets.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
We have not produced quantum computers with high qubit counts or at volume and we face significant barriers in our attempts to produce quantum computers, including the need to invent and develop new technology. If we cannot successfully overcome those barriers, our business will be negatively impacted and could fail.
Producing quantum computers is a difficult undertaking. Producing quantum computers is a difficult undertaking. There are significant engineering challenges that we must overcome to build our quantum computers. We are still in the development stage and face significant challenges in completing development of our quantum computers and in producing quantum computers in sufficient volumes. Some of the development challenges that could prevent the introduction of our quantum computers include, but are not limited to, failure to find scalable ways to manipulate qubits, failure to reduce error rates, failure to transition quantum systems to leverage low-cost components, and failure to realize multi-chip quantum computer technology.
Even if we complete development and achieve volume production of our quantum computers, if the cost, accuracy, performance characteristics or other specifications of our quantum computers fall short of our expectations, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected. 33 Table of Contents Even if we complete development and achieve volume production of our quantum computers, if the cost, accuracy, performance characteristics or other specifications of the quantum computer fall short of our expectations, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.
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.
Our successful execution of our technology roadmap is based on the development of multiple generations of quantum computing systems and the achievement of our targeted qubit counts and fidelities, including hardware that demonstrates narrow quantum advantage and broad quantum advantage, 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 subsequent generations of our quantum computers.
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 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 or results of operations. See “We are in our early stages and have a limited operating history, which makes it difficult to forecast our future results of operations.”
26
If our computers fail to achieve quantum advantage, our business, financial condition and future prospects may be harmed. Moreover, the standards by which we measure our progress may be based on assumptions and expectations that are not accurate or that may change as quantum computing evolves.
Quantum advantage refers to the moment when a quantum computer can compute faster than traditional computers, while quantum supremacy is achieved once quantum computers are powerful enough to complete calculations that traditional supercomputers cannot perform at all. Quantum advantage refers to the moment when a quantum computer can compute faster than traditional computers, while quantum supremacy is achieved once quantum computers are powerful enough to complete calculations that traditional supercomputers cannot perform at all. Narrow quantum advantage is when a quantum computer is able to solve practical problems in production workloads with improved accuracy, speed or cost. Broad quantum advantage is when quantum advantage is seen in many applications and developers prefer quantum computers to a traditional computer. No current quantum computers, including our quantum hardware, have reached broad quantum advantage, and may never reach such advantage. Achieving narrow quantum advantage and broad quantum advantage will be critical to the success of any quantum computing company, including ours. However, achieving quantum advantage would not necessarily lead to commercial viability of the technology that accomplished such advantage, nor would it mean that such system could outperform classical computers in tasks other than the one used to determine a quantum advantage. In addition, the definitions and expectations with respect to what constitutes quantum advantage, including the anticipated stages of quantum technology maturation, may continue to evolve and may also diverge from others in the industry. Quantum computing technology, including narrow quantum advantage and broad quantum advantage, may take years or decades to be realized, if ever.
In addition, the standards by which we measure our progress may be based on assumptions and expectations that are not accurate or that may change as quantum computing evolves. For example, we measure the performance of our systems by gate fidelity and median gate speed, among other ways, and utilized iSWAP gates and fSIM gates as part of our internal testing. To the extent others utilize the same gates in fidelity testing, they may apply the test differently and therefore there may be no comparability between such results.
There may be other measures that are utilized in the future to measure our progress and the progress of others in the industry and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on our current performance measures.
If we cannot develop quantum computers that have quantum advantage, customers may not continue to purchase our products and services. If we cannot develop quantum computers that have quantum advantage, customers may not continue to purchase our products and services. If other companies’ quantum computers reach narrow quantum advantage or broad quantum advantage prior to the time we reach such capabilities, it could lead to a loss of customers. If any of these events occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may expend our resources to pursue particular products, designs, sectors or investments and we may fail to capitalize on such products, designs, sectors or investments and/or forego other products, designs, sectors or investments that may have been more profitable or for which there may have been a greater likelihood of success. We may expend our resources to pursue particular products, designs, sectors or investments and we may fail to capitalize on such products, designs, sectors or investments and/or forego other products, designs, sectors or investments that may have been more profitable or for which there may have been a greater likelihood of success.
Because we have limited financial and operational resources, we must prioritize our research and development for use of quantum computing within certain products, designs, sectors or investments. Because we have limited financial and operational resources, we must prioritize our research and development for use of quantum computing within certain products, designs, sectors or investments. Correctly prioritizing our research and development activities is particularly important for us due to the breadth of companies building or seeking to build universal, gate-model quantum computing systems that can meet the requirements for solving commercial problems.
As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities in other products, designs, sectors or investments that later prove to have greater commercial potential and ability to achieve quantum advantage. For example, although we currently believe that quantum machine learning for finance is poised to be an early domain of quantum advantage through rapid value capture from quick integration, the risks associated with developing a product that can compute algorithms that scale efficiently to real-world size applications and will be applicable to multiple use cases and competition in creating such a product, among others, could outweigh the benefits.
We may fail to capitalize on the products, designs, sectors, or investments we choose to pursue, and our resource allocation decisions may cause us to forego viable or more profitable products, designs, sectors or investments, which would have an adverse effect on our business, prospects and financial results. We may fail to capitalize on the products, designs, sectors, or investments we choose to pursue, and our resource allocation decisions may cause us to or forego viable or more profitable products, designs, sectors or investments, which would have an adverse effect on our business, prospects and financial results.
The quantum computing industry is competitive on a global scale and we may not be successful in competing in this industry or establishing and maintaining confidence in our long-term business prospects among current and future partners and customers. The quantum computing industry is competitive on a global scale and we may not be successful in competing in this industry or establishing and maintaining confidence in our long-term business prospects among current and future partners and customers.
The markets in which we operate are rapidly evolving and highly competitive. The markets in which we operate are rapidly evolving and highly competitive. As the marketplace continues to mature and new technologies and competitors enter, we expect competition to intensify. Our current competitors include:
● | large, well-established tech companies that generally compete across our products, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon and IBM; |
27
● | large research organizations funded by sovereign nations such as China, Russia, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, and those in the European Union as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and we believe additional countries in the future; |
● | less-established public and private companies with competing technology, including companies located outside the United States; and |
● | new or emerging entrants seeking to develop competing technologies. |
We compete based on various factors, including technology, performance, open architecture, multi-cloud availability, brand recognition and reputation, customer support and differentiated capabilities, including ease of administration and use, scalability and reliability, data governance and security. We compete based on various factors, including technology, performance, multi-cloud availability, brand recognition and reputation, customer support and differentiated capabilities, including ease of administration and 35 Table of Contents use, scalability and reliability, data governance and security. Many of our competitors have substantially greater brand recognition, customer relationships, and financial, technical and other resources, including an experienced sales force and customer service organization and sophisticated supply chain management. Many of our competitors have substantially greater brand recognition, customer relationships, and financial, technical and other resources, including an experienced sales force and sophisticated supply chain management. They may be able to respond more effectively than us to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards, customer requirements and buying practices. In addition, many countries are focused on developing quantum computing solutions either in the private or public sector and may subsidize quantum computers which may make it difficult for us to compete. Many of these competitors do not face the same challenges we do in growing our business. In addition, other competitors might be able to compete with us by bundling their other products in a way that does not allow us to offer a competitive solution.
Additionally, we must be able to achieve our objectives in a timely manner such that we don’t lose ground to competitors, including competing technologies. Additionally, we must be able to achieve our objectives in a timely manner lest quantum computing lose ground to competitors, including competing technologies. For example, our competitors may achieve certain narrow and/or broad quantum milestones faster than us, which may negatively impact our business and prospects. Because there are a large number of market participants, including certain sovereign nations, focused on developing quantum computing technology, we must dedicate significant resources to achieving any technical objectives on the timelines established by our management team. Any failure to achieve objectives in a timely manner could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
For all of these reasons, competition may have a negative impact our ability to maintain and grow consumption of our platform or put downward pressure on our prices and gross margins, any of which could materially harm our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition. For all of these reasons, competition may negatively impact our ability to maintain and grow consumption of our platform or put downward pressure on our prices and gross margins, any of which could materially harm our reputation, business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We depend on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of our revenue and the loss or temporary loss of a major customer for any reason could harm our financial condition. We depend on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of our revenue and the loss or temporary loss of a major customer for any reason could harm our financial condition.
We have historically generated most of our revenue from a limited number of customers. We have historically generated most of our revenue from a limited number of customers. Revenue from U.S. government entities accounted for 54.2% and 74.2% of our total revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, respectively. Because of the concentrated nature of our customer base, our quarterly revenue and results of operations may fluctuate from quarter to quarter and are difficult to estimate, and any delay, reduction or cancellation of orders or services rendered or any acceleration or delay in anticipated purchases or grants and awards by our larger customers could materially affect our revenue and results of operations in any quarterly period. For further information regarding our customer concentration, refer to Note 16 of our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. For further information regarding our customer concentration, refer to Note 2 to the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
We may be unable to sustain or increase our revenue from our larger customers, grow revenues with new or other existing customers, or offset the discontinuation of concentrated purchases by our larger customers with purchases by new or existing customers. We may be unable to sustain or increase our revenue from our larger customers, grow revenues with new or other existing customers, or offset the discontinuation of concentrated purchases by our larger customers with purchases by new or existing customers. These larger customers could also reduce or discontinue their purchases of our products and services in the event they transition to internally developed products and services or determine to divide their purchases of our products and services between us and a second source. We expect that such concentrated purchases will continue to contribute materially to our revenue for the foreseeable future and that our results of operations may fluctuate materially as a result of such larger customers’ buying patterns or funding cycles. The loss or temporary loss of such customers, or a significant delay or reduction in their purchases, could materially harm our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
A significant portion of our revenue currently depends on contracts with the public sector, and our failure to receive and maintain government contracts or changes in the contracting or fiscal policies of the public sector could have a material adverse effect on our business. A significant portion of our revenue currently depends on contracts with the public sector, and our failure to receive and maintain government contracts or changes in the contracting or fiscal policies of the public sector could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We derive a significant portion of our revenue from contracts with U.S. federal and foreign governments and government agencies, and we believe that the success and growth of our business will continue to depend on our successful procurement of government contracts. We have historically derived, and expect to continue to derive, a significant portion of our revenue from contracts with agencies of the U.S. federal and foreign governments, either directly by us or through other government contractors. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, sales to government entities comprised 89.4% and 80.9% of our total revenue, respectively.
28
Contracts with government agencies are subject to a number of challenges and risks. The bidding process for government contracts can be highly competitive, expensive, and time-consuming, often requiring significant upfront time and expense without any assurance that these efforts will generate revenue. We also must comply with laws and regulations relating to the formation, administration, and performance of contracts, which provide public sector customers with rights, many of which are not typically found in commercial contracts. In addition, our perceived relationship with the U.S. government could adversely affect our business prospects in certain non-U.S. geographies or with certain non-U.S. governments.
Accordingly, our business, financial condition, results of operations, and growth prospects may be adversely affected by certain events or activities, including, but not limited to:
● | Changes in government fiscal or procurement policies, or decreases in government funding available for procurement of goods and services generally, or for our federal government contracts specifically; |
● | Government entities exercising termination for convenience rights on our existing government contracts with such government entities; |
● | Changes in government programs or applicable requirements; |
● | Restrictions in the grant of personnel security clearances to our employees; |
● | Ability to maintain facility clearances required to perform on classified contracts for U.S. federal government and foreign government agencies; |
● | Changes in the political environment, including before or after a change to the leadership within the government administration, and any resulting uncertainty or changes in policy or priorities and resultant funding; |
● | Changes in the government’s attitude towards the capabilities that we offer; |
● | Changes in the government’s attitude towards us as a company or our platforms; |
● | Appeals, disputes, or litigation relating to government procurement, including but not limited to bid protests by unsuccessful bidders on potential or actual awards of contracts to us or our partners by the government; |
● | The adoption of new laws or regulations or changes to existing laws or regulations; |
● | Budgetary constraints, including automatic reductions as a result of “sequestration” or similar measures and constraints imposed by any lapses in appropriations for the federal government or certain of its departments and agencies; |
● | Influence by, or competition from, third parties with respect to pending, new, or existing contracts with government customers; |
● | Changes in political or social attitudes with respect to security or data privacy issues; |
● | Potential delays or changes in the government appropriations or procurement processes, including as a result of events such as war, incidents of terrorism, natural disasters, and public health concerns or epidemics, such as the coronavirus pandemic; and |
● | Increased or unexpected costs or unanticipated delays caused by other factors outside of our control. |
Any of the foregoing events or activities, among others, could cause governments and governmental agencies to delay or refrain from entering into contracts with us and/or purchasing our computers in the future, reduce the size or timing of payments with respect to our services to, or purchases from, existing or new government customers, or otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, and growth prospects.
Our ability to commercialize our quantum computers in the future may be dependent upon our relationships with cloud providers.
We currently offer access to quantum computing as a service (“Quantum Computing as a Service” or “QCaaS”), both directly to our end users with our own Quantum Cloud Services and indirectly to end users through public cloud providers such as Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure Quantum who integrate our QCS into their own quantum computing platforms. We currently offer access to quantum computing as a service (“Quantum Computing as a Service” or “QCaaS”), both directly to our end users with our own Quantum Cloud Services and indirectly to end users through public cloud providers such as Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure Quantum who integrate our QCS into their own quantum computing platforms. These public cloud partners operate a service in direct competition with our providing direct access to QCS. In addition, we intend to partner with additional partners to provide access to our QCaaS. Cloud computing partnerships could be terminated, or not scale as anticipated, or even at all.
29
There is risk that one or more of the public cloud providers, such as AWS and Azure, could use their respective control of their public clouds to control market pricing of the services, restrict access, embed innovations or privileged interoperating capabilities in competing products, bundle competing products and leverage their public cloud customer relationships to exclude us from opportunities. Further, they have the resources to acquire or partner with existing and emerging providers of competing technology and thereby accelerate adoption of those competing technologies. All of the foregoing could make it difficult or impossible for us to provide products and services that compete favorably with those of the public cloud providers.
Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider. Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider. Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider. Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider.
Currently, our customer agreement with AWS remains in effect until (i) terminated for convenience, which we may do for any reason by providing AWS notice and closing our account and which AWS may do for any reason by providing us at least 30 days’ notice or (ii) terminated for cause, which either party may do if the other party has an uncured material breach and which AWS may do immediately upon notice. Currently, our customer agreement with AWS remains in effect until (i) terminated for convenience, which we may do for any reason by providing AWS notice and closing our account and which AWS may do for any reason by providing us at least 30 days’ notice or (ii) terminated for cause, which either party may do if the other party has an uncured material breach and which AWS may do immediately upon notice. Although alternative data center providers could host our business on a substantially similar basis to AWS, transitioning the cloud infrastructure currently hosted by AWS to alternative providers could potentially be disruptive, and we could incur significant one-time costs. If we are unable to renew our agreement with AWS on commercially acceptable terms, our agreement with AWS is prematurely terminated, or it adds additional infrastructure providers, we may experience costs or downtime in connection with the transfer to, or the addition of, new data center providers. If AWS or other infrastructure providers increase the costs of their services, our business, financial condition, or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.
Any material change in our contractual and other business relationships with our partners, could result in reduced use of our systems, increased expenses, including service credit obligations, and harm to our brand and reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any material change in our contractual and other business relationships with our partners, could result in reduced use of our systems, increased expenses, including service credit obligations, and harm to our brand and reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We rely on access to high performance third party classical computing through public clouds, high performance computing centers and on-premises computing infrastructure to deliver performant quantum solutions to customers. 38 Table of Contents We rely on access to high performance third party classical computing through public clouds, high performance computing centers and on-premises computing infrastructure to deliver performant quantum solutions to customers. We may not be able to maintain high quality relationships and connectivity with these resources which could make it harder for us to reach customers or deliver solutions in a cost-effective manner.
Our QCS incorporates high performance classical computing through public clouds to provide services to end users and our partners. Our QCS incorporates high performance classical computing through public clouds to provide services to end users and our partners. These services are predominantly on AWS.
Any material change in our contractual and other business relationships with AWS or other cloud providers, could result in reduced use of our systems, increased expenses, including service credit obligations, and harm our brand and reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any material change in our contractual and other business relationships with AWS or other cloud provider, could result in reduced use of our systems, increased expenses, including service credit obligations, and harm our brand and reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider. Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider. Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider. Further, if our contractual and other business relationships with our partners are terminated, either by the counterparty or by us, suspended or suffer a material change to which we are unable to adapt, such as the elimination of services or features on which we depend, we would be unable to provide our QCaaS business at the same scale and would experience significant delays and incur additional expense in transitioning customers to a different public cloud provider.
We depend on certain suppliers to source products. We depend on certain suppliers to source products. Failure to maintain our relationship with any of these suppliers, or a failure to replace any of these suppliers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We buy our products and supplies from suppliers that manufacture and source products from the United States and abroad. We buy our products and supplies from suppliers that manufacture and source products from the United States and abroad. We enter into agreements with many of our suppliers that provide us with exclusive or restrictive distribution rights, limiting our competitors’ ability to source materials from such suppliers. Our ability to identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers and enter into exclusive or restrictive distribution rights agreements with suppliers who can satisfy our standards for quality and our need to access products and supplies in a timely and efficient manner is a significant challenge. Any failure to maintain our relationship with any of our key suppliers, or a failure to replace any such supplier that is lost, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Any failure to maintain our relationship with any of our top ten largest suppliers, or a failure to replace any such supplier that is lost, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We may be required to replace a supplier if their products do not meet our quality or safety standards. We may be required to replace a supplier if their products do not meet our quality or safety standards. In addition, our suppliers could discontinue selling products at any time for reasons that may or may not be in our control or the suppliers’ control, including shortages of raw materials, environmental and social supply chain issues, pandemic, labor disputes or weather conditions. Disruptions in transportation lines or ongoing military conflicts and wars around the world, including related sanctions, may also cause global supply chain issues that affect us or our suppliers. Disruptions in transportation lines or the ongoing military conflict involving Russia and Ukraine may also cause global supply chain issues that affect us or our suppliers. We generally have multiple sources of supply, however, in some cases, materials are provided by a single supplier.
30
The loss of, or substantial decrease in the availability of, products from our suppliers, or the loss of a key supplier, temporarily or permanently, could result in a material shortage of products, which could lead to price escalations that we may be unable to offset by our prices to our customers. When supply chain issues are later resolved and prices return to normal levels, we may be required to reduce the prices at which we sell our products to our customers in order to remain competitive. In addition, even where these risks do not materialize, we may incur costs as we prepare contingency plans to address such risks. Our operating results and inventory levels could suffer if we are unable to promptly replace a supplier who is unwilling or unable to satisfy our requirements with a supplier providing similar products. In addition, our suppliers’ ability to deliver products may also be affected by raw material and commodity cost volatility or financing constraints caused by credit market conditions, which could materially and negatively impact our net sales and operating costs, at least until alternate sources of supply are arranged. Any delay or unavailability of key products required for our development activities could delay or prevent us from further developing our systems and applications on our expected timelines or at all.
Additionally, our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by our inability to continue sourcing products from our suppliers. 39 Table of Contents Additionally, our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows could be materially and adversely affected by our inability to continue sourcing products from our suppliers. A weak or declining economy could strain our suppliers, possibly resulting in supply disruption. In addition, there is a risk that our current or future suppliers, service providers, manufacturers or other partners may not survive such difficult economic times, which could directly affect our ability to attain our operating goals on schedule and on budget. Although we seek to have alternate sources and recover increases in input costs through price increases in our products, shortages, supply chain interruptions or regulatory changes or other governmental actions could result in the need to change suppliers or incur cost increases that cannot, in the short term, or in some cases even in the long-term, be offset by our prices.
We have and may in the future enter into collaboration agreements and similar arrangements with third parties for the manufacturing of our products, and these agreements and similar arrangements may never achieve their anticipated goals, which may have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations.
We may enter into agreements with third parties for the manufacture and development of components for our current and future quantum computers. For example, in February 2025, one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into the Collaboration Agreement with Quanta for the development of certain components to be incorporated into our current and future quantum computers. However, no statements of work were entered into by the parties in connection with the entry into the Collaboration Agreement, and there can be no assurance that we will ever enter into a statement of work with Quanta pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement. If no statement of work has been entered into by December 31, 2025, either party may terminate the Collaboration Agreement. In that instance, or if statements of work are entered into but do not achieve the anticipated results, we may never realize the anticipated benefits of the Collaboration Agreement. In addition, pursuant to the Collaboration Agreement, each of the parties agreed to invest at least $250 million over the next five years in the field of quantum computing (and Quanta’s investment will be towards personnel and capital expenditures for developing products and services and manufacturing capability in furtherance of the Rigetti Sub product roadmap). If the Collaboration Agreement is terminated before Quanta fulfills any or all of its investment commitment, we may not receive the anticipated benefits from the Collaboration Agreement.
Further, we also entered into the Securities Purchase Agreement with Quanta in connection with the Collaboration Agreement, pursuant to which Quanta agreed to purchase in a private placement transaction certain shares of our common stock for an aggregate value of approximately $35 million (the “Private Placement”). However, the closing of the Private Placement is subject to, among other things, the expiration of a 30-day waiting period after our submission of a classification request to the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce (the “BIS Clearance”). If the BIS Clearance is not obtained by December 31, 2025, the Securities Purchase Agreement may be terminated by either party; in the event of such termination, the Collaboration Agreement may also be terminated by either party. If any of the termination events were to occur, we may never close the Private Placement and/or we may never realize the anticipated benefits of the Collaboration Agreement, which may have a materially adverse impact on our business operations and our financial position or results of operations.
We may face unknown supply chain issues that could delay the development or introduction of our products and negatively impact our business and operating results.
We are reliant on third-party suppliers for components necessary to develop and manufacture our quantum computing solutions. We are reliant on third-party suppliers for components necessary to develop and manufacture our quantum computing solutions. Any of the following factors (and others) could have an adverse impact on the availability of these components:
● | our inability to enter into agreements with suppliers on commercially reasonable terms, or at all; |
● | difficulties of suppliers ramping up their supply of materials to meet our requirements; |
● | a significant increase in the price of one or more components, including due to industry consolidation occurring within one or more component supplier markets or as a result of decreased production capacity at manufacturers; |
31
● | any reductions or interruption in supply, including disruptions to our global supply chain as a result of the ongoing military conflicts and wars around the world and sanctions related thereto (including as a result of disruptions in global shipping, the transport of products, energy supply, cybersecurity incidents and banking systems as well as our ability to control input costs) or otherwise; |
● | financial problems of either manufacturers or component suppliers; |
● | significantly increased freight charges, raw material costs, rising electrical power costs and other expenses associated with our business; |
● | other factors beyond our control or which we do not presently anticipate, could also affect our suppliers’ ability to deliver components to us on a timely basis; |
● | a failure to develop our supply chain management capabilities and recruit and retain qualified professionals; |
● | a failure to adequately authorize procurement of inventory by our contract manufacturers; or |
● | a failure to appropriately cancel, reschedule or adjust our requirements based on our business needs. |
If any of the aforementioned factors were to materialize, it could negatively impact our research and development efforts or cause us to halt production of our quantum computing solutions and/or entail higher manufacturing costs, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition and could materially damage customer relationships. If any of the aforementioned factors were to materialize, it could cause us to halt production of our quantum computing solutions and/or entail higher manufacturing costs, any of which could materially adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition and could materially damage customer relationships.
Even if we are successful in developing quantum computing systems and executing our strategy, competitors in the industry may achieve technological breakthroughs which render our quantum computing systems obsolete or inferior to other products. Even if we are successful in developing quantum computing systems and executing our strategy, competitors in the industry may achieve technological breakthroughs which render our quantum computing systems obsolete or inferior to other products.
Our continued growth and success depends on our ability to innovate and develop quantum computing technology in a timely manner and effectively market these products. Our continued growth and success depends on our ability to innovate and develop quantum computing technology in a timely manner and effectively market these products. Without timely innovation and development, our quantum computing solutions could be rendered obsolete or less competitive by changing customer preferences or because of the introduction of a competitor’s newer technologies. We believe that many competing technologies will require a technological breakthrough in one or more problems related to science, fundamental physics or manufacturing. While it is uncertain whether such technological breakthroughs will occur in the next several years, that does not preclude the possibility that such technological breakthroughs could eventually occur. Any technological breakthroughs which render our technology obsolete or inferior to other products, could have a material effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may be unable to reduce the cost of developing our quantum computers, which may prevent us from pricing our quantum systems competitively. We may be unable to reduce the cost of developing our quantum computers, which may prevent us from pricing our quantum systems competitively.
The success of our business is dependent upon the cost per qubit decreasing over the next several years as our quantum computers advance, which is based on achieving anticipated economies of scale related to demand for our computer systems, technological innovation and negotiations with third-party parts suppliers. The success of our business is dependent upon the cost per qubit decreasing over the next several years as our quantum computers advance, which is based on achieving anticipated economies of scale related to demand for our computer systems, technological innovation and negotiations with third-party parts suppliers. If we do not achieve economies of scale or if the anticipated cost savings do not materialize, we may be unable to achieve a lower cost per qubit, which would make our quantum computing solution less competitive than those produced by our competitors and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Due to macroeconomic headwinds, including inflation, we have experienced and may continue to experience increased costs, including with respect to labor and products. Due to macroeconomic headwinds, we have experienced and may continue to experience increased costs, including with respect to labor and products.
The quantum computing industry is in its early stages and volatile, and if it does not develop, if it develops slower than we expect, if it develops in a manner that does not require use of our quantum computing solutions, if it encounters negative publicity or if our solution does not drive commercial engagement, the growth of our business will be harmed. The quantum computing industry is in its early stages and volatile, and if it does not develop, if it develops slower than we expect, if it develops in a manner that does not require use of our quantum computing solutions, if it encounters negative publicity or if our solution does not drive commercial engagement, the growth of our business will be harmed.
The nascent market for quantum computers is still rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, competitive pricing and competitive factors, evolving government regulation and industry standards, and changing customer demands and behaviors. The nascent market for quantum computers is still rapidly evolving, characterized by rapidly changing technologies, competitive pricing and competitive factors, evolving government regulation and industry standards, and changing customer demands and behaviors. If demand for quantum computers in general does not develop as expected, or develops more slowly than expected, our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results could be harmed.
In addition, our growth and future demand for our products is highly dependent upon the adoption by developers and customers of quantum computers, as well as on our ability to demonstrate the value of quantum computing to our customers. 41 Table of Contents In addition, our growth and future demand for our products is highly dependent upon the adoption by developers and customers of quantum computers, as well as on our ability to demonstrate the value of quantum computing to our customers. Delays in future generations of our quantum computers or technical failures at other quantum computing companies could limit acceptance of our solutions. Negative publicity concerning our solutions or the quantum computing industry as a whole could limit acceptance of our solutions. Negative publicity concerning our solution or the quantum computing industry as a whole could limit acceptance of our solution. We believe quantum computing will solve many large-scale problems. However, such problems may never be solvable by quantum computing technology.
32
If our clients and partners do not perceive the benefits of our solutions, or if our solutions do not drive member engagement, then demand for our products may not develop at all, or it may develop slower than we expect. If any of these events occur, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. If progress towards quantum advantage ever slows relative to expectations, it could adversely impact revenues and customer confidence to continue to pay for testing, access and “quantum readiness.” This would harm or even eliminate revenues in the period before quantum advantage.
We could suffer disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with our quantum computing systems, our production technology partners or with the public cloud, data centers and internet infrastructure on which we rely. We could suffer disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with our quantum computing systems, our production technology partners or with the public cloud, data centers and internet infrastructure on which we rely.
Our business depends on our quantum computing systems being available. Our business depends on our quantum computing systems being available. We have experienced and may in the future experience, disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with our systems. We have experienced, and may in the future further experience, disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with our systems. We have also experienced and may in the future experience, disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with the public cloud and internet infrastructure on which our systems rely. We have also experienced, and may in the future further experience, disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with the public cloud and internet infrastructure on which our systems rely. These problems can be caused by a variety of factors, including failed introductions of new functionality, vulnerabilities and defects in proprietary and open-source software, hardware components, human error or misconduct, capacity constraints, design limitations, or denial of service attacks or other security-related incidents. We do not have a contractual right with our public cloud providers that compensates us for any losses due to availability interruptions in the public cloud.
Any disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with our quantum computing systems or with the public cloud and internet infrastructure on which we rely, could result in reduced use of our systems, increased expenses, including service credit obligations, and harm to our brand and reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any disruptions, outages, defects and other performance and quality problems with our quantum computing systems or with the public cloud and internet infrastructure on which we rely, could result in reduced use of our systems, increased expenses, including service credit obligations, and harm to our brand and reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If we cannot successfully execute our strategy, including in response to changing customer needs and new technologies and other market requirements, or achieve our objectives in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed. If we cannot successfully execute on our strategy, including in response to changing customer needs and new technologies and other market requirements, or achieve our objectives in a timely manner, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
The quantum computing market is characterized by rapid technological change, changing user requirements, uncertain product lifecycles and evolving industry standards. The quantum computing market is characterized by rapid technological change, changing user requirements, uncertain product lifecycles and evolving industry standards. We believe that the pace of innovation will continue to accelerate as technology changes and different approaches to quantum computing mature on a broad range of factors, including system architecture, error correction, performance and scale, ease of programming, user experience, markets addressed, types of data processed, and data governance and regulatory compliance. Our future success depends on our ability to continue to innovate and increase customer adoption of our quantum solutions. If we are unable to enhance our quantum computing systems to keep pace with these rapidly evolving customer requirements, or if new technologies emerge that are able to deliver competitive products at lower prices, more efficiently, with better functionality, more conveniently, or more securely than our platform, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected. If we are unable to enhance our quantum computing system to keep pace with these rapidly evolving customer requirements, or if new technologies emerge that are able to deliver competitive products at lower prices, more efficiently, with better functionality, more conveniently, or more securely than our platform, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.
We are highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain senior executive leadership and other key employees, such as quantum physicists, software engineers and other key technical employees, which is critical to our success. 42 Table of Contents We are highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain senior executive leadership and other key employees, such as quantum physicists, software engineers and other key technical employees, which is critical to our success. If we fail to retain talented, highly qualified senior management, engineers and other key employees or attract them when needed, such a failure could negatively impact our business.
Our future success is highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain our executive officers, key employees and other qualified personnel. Our future success is highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain our executive officers, key employees and other qualified personnel. As we build our brand and become more well known, there is an increased risk that competitors or other companies may seek to hire our personnel. As we build our brand and become more well known, there is increased risk that competitors or other companies may seek to hire our personnel. The loss of the services provided by these individuals will have an adverse impact on the achievement of our business strategy. The loss of the services provided by these individuals will adversely impact the achievement of our business strategy. These individuals could leave our employment at any time, as they are “at will” employees. A loss of a member of senior management, or an engineer or other key employee particularly to a competitor, could also place us at a competitive disadvantage. Effective succession planning is also important to our long-term success and may cause disruption to our business due to, among other things, diverting management’s attention away from the operations of the business or causing a deterioration in morale. An inadequate transition in our management may cause disruption to our business due to, among other things, diverting management’s attention away from the operations of the business or causing a deterioration in morale. Failure to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and smooth transitions involving key employees could hinder our strategic planning and execution.
Our future success also depends on our continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate, and retain highly qualified and skilled employees. Our future success also depends on our continuing ability to attract, develop, motivate, and retain highly qualified and skilled employees. The market for highly skilled workers and leaders in the quantum computing industry is extremely competitive. In particular, hiring qualified personnel specializing in supply chain management, engineering and sales, as well as other technical staff and research and development personnel is critical to our business and the development of our quantum computing systems. Some of these professionals are hard to find and we may encounter significant competition in our efforts to hire them. Many of the other companies with which we compete for qualified personnel have greater financial and other resources than we do.
The effective operation of our supply chain, including the acquisition of critical components and materials, the development and commercialization of our quantum computing technologies and the effective operation of our managerial and operating systems all depend upon our ability to attract, train and retain qualified personnel in the aforementioned specialties.
33
Additionally, changes in immigration and work permit laws and regulations or the administration or interpretation of such laws or regulations could impair our ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees. If we cannot attract, train and retain qualified personnel in this competitive environment, we may experience delays in the development of our quantum computing technologies and otherwise be unable to develop and grow our business as projected, or even at all.
Our future growth and success depends on our ability to sell effectively to government entities and large enterprises.
Our potential customers tend to be government agencies and large enterprises. Our potential customers tend to be government agencies and large enterprises. Therefore, our future success will depend on our ability to effectively sell our products to such customers. Sales to these end-customers involve risks that may not be present (or that are present to a lesser extent) with sales to non-governmental agencies or smaller customers. These risks include, but are not limited to, (i) increased purchasing power and leverage held by such customers in negotiating contractual arrangements with us and (ii) longer sales cycles and the associated risk that substantial time and resources may be spent on a potential end-customer that elects not to purchase our solutions. Sales to government agencies are often fixed fee development contracts, which involve additional risks. Sales to government agencies are typically under fixed fee development contracts, which involve additional risks. See “-If our cost and time estimates for fixed fee arrangements do not accurately anticipate the cost of servicing those arrangements, we could experience losses on these arrangements or our profitability could be reduced. ”
In addition, government contracts generally include the ability of government agencies to terminate early which, if exercised, would result in a lower contract value and lower than anticipated revenues generated by such arrangements. See “Contracts with U.S. government entities subject us to risks including early termination, audits, investigations, sanctions and penalties.”
Government agencies and large organizations often undertake a significant evaluation process that results in a lengthy sales cycle. Our contracts with government agencies are typically structured in phases, with each phase subject to satisfaction of certain conditions. As a result, the actual scope of work performed pursuant to any such contracts, in addition to related contract revenue, could be less than total contract value. In addition, product purchases by such organizations are frequently subject to budget constraints, multiple approvals and unanticipated administrative, processing and other delays. Finally, these organizations typically have longer implementation cycles, require greater product functionality and scalability, require a broader range of services, demand that vendors take on a larger share of risks, require acceptance provisions that can lead to a delay in revenue recognition and expect greater payment flexibility. All of these factors can add further risk to business conducted with these potential customers and could lead to lower revenue results than originally anticipated.
We may not be able to accurately estimate the future supply and demand for our quantum computers, which could result in a variety of inefficiencies in our business and hinder our ability to generate revenue. We may not be able to accurately estimate the future supply and demand for our quantum computers, which could result in a variety of inefficiencies in our business and hinder our ability to generate revenue. If we fail to accurately predict our manufacturing requirements, we could incur additional costs or experience delays.
It is difficult to predict our future revenues and appropriately budget for our expenses, and we may have limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect our business. It is difficult to predict our future revenues and appropriately budget for our expenses, and we may have limited insight into trends that may emerge and affect our business. We anticipate being required to provide forecasts of our demand to our current and future suppliers prior to the scheduled delivery of products to potential customers. Currently, there is no historical basis for making judgments on the demand for our quantum computers or our ability to develop, manufacture, and deliver quantum computers, or our profitability, if any, in the future. If we overestimate our requirements, our suppliers may have excess inventory, which indirectly would increase our costs. If we underestimate our requirements, our suppliers may have inadequate inventory, which could interrupt the manufacturing of our products and result in delays in shipments and revenues. If we underestimate our requirements, our suppliers may have inadequate inventory, which could interrupt manufacturing of our products and result in delays in shipments and revenues. In addition, the lead times for materials and components that our suppliers order may vary significantly and depend on factors such as the specific supplier, contract terms and demand for each component at a given time. In addition, lead times for materials and components that our suppliers order may vary significantly and depend on factors such as the specific supplier, contract terms and demand for each component at a given time. If we fail to order sufficient quantities of product components in a timely manner, the delivery of quantum computers, QcaaS or QCS to our potential customers could be delayed, which would harm our business, financial condition and operating results. If we fail to order sufficient quantities of product components in a timely manner, the delivery of quantum computers and related compute time to our potential customers could be delayed, which would harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our quantum computing systems may not be compatible with some or all industry-standard software and hardware in the future, which could harm our business.
We have focused our efforts on creating quantum computing hardware, the operating system for such hardware, a suite of low-level software programs that optimize execution of quantum algorithms on our hardware, application programing interfaces (“APIs”) to access our systems, software development kits (“SDKs”) for system and application developers, and quantum programming languages for low- and high-level application developers. We have focused our efforts on creating quantum computing hardware, the operating system for such hardware, a suite of low-level software programs that optimize execution of quantum algorithms on our hardware, application programing interfaces (“APIs”) to access our systems, software development kits (“SDKs”) for system and application developers, and quantum programming languages for low- and high-level application developers. The industry is rapidly evolving, and customers have many choices for programming languages, application libraries, APIs, and SDKs, some of which may not be compatible with our own languages, APIs or SDKs. Our quantum computing solutions are designed today to be compatible with most major quantum software development kits, including Qiskit, Cirq, and Open QASM, all of which are open source. If a proprietary (not open source) software toolset became the standard for quantum application development in the future by a competitor, usage of our hardware might be limited as a result which would have a negative impact on the Company. Similarly, if a piece of hardware became a necessary component for quantum computing (for instance, quantum networking) and we cannot integrate with it the result might have a negative impact on the Company.
34
If our customers are unable to achieve compatibility between other software and hardware and our hardware, it could impact our relationships with such customers or with customers, generally, if the incompatibility is more widespread.
In addition, the mere announcement of an incompatibility problem relating to our products with higher level software tools could cause us to suffer reputational harm and/or lead to a loss of customers. In addition, the mere announcement of an incompatibility problem relating to our products with higher level software tools could cause us to suffer reputational harm and/or lead to a loss of customers. Any adverse impacts from the incompatibility of our quantum computing solutions could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
If we are unable to maintain our current strategic partnerships or we are unable to develop future collaborative partnerships, our future growth and development could be negatively impacted.
We rely on our current collaborative partners and third parties and may rely heavily on future collaborative partners and third parties to develop key, relevant algorithms and programming to make our quantum systems commercially viable. We have entered into, and may enter into, strategic partnerships to develop and commercialize our current and future research and development programs with other companies to accomplish one or more of the following:
● | obtain expertise; |
● | obtain sales and marketing services or support; |
● | obtain equipment and facilities; |
● | develop relationships with potential future customers; and |
● | generate revenue. |
We may not be successful in establishing or maintaining suitable partnerships, and we may not be able to negotiate collaboration agreements having satisfactory terms to the Company, or at all. We may not be successful in establishing or maintaining suitable partnerships, and we may not be able to negotiate collaboration agreements having terms satisfactory to the Company, or at all. Failure to make or maintain these arrangements or a delay or failure in a collaborative partner’s performance under any such arrangements could harm our business and financial condition.
If our information technology systems or data, or those of third parties upon which we rely, are or were compromised, we could experience adverse consequences resulting from such compromise, including but not limited to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; loss of intellectual property or other confidential business information; and other adverse consequences, which may adversely affect our business. If our information technology systems or data, or those of third parties upon which we rely, are or were compromised, we could experience adverse consequences resulting from such compromise, including but not limited to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and other adverse consequences, which may adversely affect our business.
In the ordinary course of our business, we and the third parties upon which we rely, collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share (collectively, process), proprietary, confidential, and sensitive data, including personal data, intellectual property, controlled unclassified information and trade secrets (collectively, sensitive information). Cybersecurity incidents such as malicious internet-based activity, online and offline fraud, denial-of-service attacks, ransomware attacks, business email compromises, computer malware, viruses, and social engineering (including through deep fakes or other attacks using artificial intelligence which may be increasingly more difficult to identify as fake, and phishing attacks) as well as natural disasters and other similar activities threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our sensitive information and information technology systems, and those of the third parties upon which we rely.
Such threats are prevalent in the technology industry and our customers’ industries and continue to rise, are increasingly difficult to detect, and come from a variety of sources, including traditional computer “hackers,” threat actors, “hacktivists,” organized criminal threat actors, personnel (such as through theft or misuse), sophisticated nation states, and nation-state-supported actors. The techniques may be used to sabotage or to obtain unauthorized access to our platform, systems, networks, or physical facilities where our quantum computers are stored, and we may be unable to implement adequate preventative measures or stop cybersecurity incidents from occurring or expanding in scope. U.S. law enforcement agencies have indicated to us that quantum computing technology is of particular interest to certain malicious cyber threat actors, including nation-state-supported actors. In addition, our cybersecurity risk could be increased as a result of the ongoing military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the related sanctions imposed against Russia.
During times of war and other major conflicts, we, the third parties upon which we rely, may be vulnerable to a heightened risk of cybersecurity incidents, including retaliatory cyber-attacks, that could materially disrupt our systems and operations, our third-party information systems, supply chain, and ability to produce, sell and distribute our goods and services. During times of war and other major conflicts, we, the third parties upon which we rely, may be vulnerable to a heightened risk of these attacks, including retaliatory cyber-attacks, that could materially disrupt our systems and operations, supply chain, and ability to produce, sell and distribute our goods and services. We and the third parties upon which we rely are subject to a variety of evolving threats, including but not limited to social-engineering attacks (including through deep fakes, which may be increasingly more difficult to identify as fake, and phishing attacks), malicious code (such as viruses and worms), malware (including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions), denial-of-service attacks (such as credential stuffing), credential harvesting, personnel misconduct or error, ransomware attacks, supply-chain attacks, software bugs, server malfunctions, software or hardware failures, loss of data or other information technology assets, adware, telecommunications failures, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other similar threats. We and the third parties upon which we rely are subject to a variety of evolving threats, including but not limited to social-engineering attacks (including through phishing attacks), malicious code (such as viruses and worms), malware (including as a result of advanced persistent threat intrusions), denial-of-service attacks (such as credential stuffing), credential harvesting, personnel misconduct or error, ransomware attacks, supply-chain attacks, software bugs, server malfunctions, software or hardware failures, loss of data or other information technology assets, adware, telecommunications failures, earthquakes, fires, floods, and other similar threats.
35
In particular, severe ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent and can lead to significant interruptions in our operations, loss of sensitive data and income, reputational harm, and diversion of funds. Extortion payments may alleviate the negative impact of a ransomware attack, but we may be unwilling or unable to make such payments due to, for example, applicable laws or regulations prohibiting such payments.
Remote work has become more common and has increased risks to our information technology systems and data, as more of our employees utilize network connections, computers and devices outside our premises or network, including working at home, while in transit and in public locations. In addition, future or past business transactions (such as acquisitions or integrations) could expose us to additional cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, as our systems could be negatively affected by vulnerabilities present in acquired or integrated entities’ systems and technologies. Furthermore, we may discover security issues that were not found during due diligence of such acquired or integrated entities, and it may be difficult to integrate companies into our information technology environment and security program.
We rely on third-party service providers and technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive information in a variety of contexts. We rely on third-party service providers and technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive information in a variety of contexts. Our platform is built to be accessed through third-party public cloud providers such as AWS. These providers may also experience cybersecurity incidents and attacks to their products which may impact our systems. These providers may also experience breaches and attacks to their products which may impact our systems. Cybersecurity incidents may also result from non-technical means, such as actions by an employee with access to our systems. Data security breaches may also result from non-technical means, such as actions by an employee with access to our systems. Our ability to monitor these third parties’ information security practices is limited, and these third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place. If our third-party service providers experience a cybersecurity incident or other interruption, we could experience adverse consequences. If our third-party service providers experience a security incident or other interruption, we could experience adverse consequences. While we may be entitled to damages if our third-party service providers fail to satisfy their privacy or security-related obligations to us, any award may be insufficient to cover our damages, or we may be unable to recover such award.
We may expend significant resources or modify our business activities to try to protect against security incidents. We may expend significant resources or modify our business activities to try to protect against security incidents. Certain data privacy and security obligations may require us to implement and maintain specific security measures to protect our information technology systems and sensitive information. Certain data privacy and security obligations may require us to implement and maintain specific security measures or industry-standard or reasonable security measures to protect our information technology systems and sensitive information. While we and our third-party cloud providers have implemented security measures designed to protect against cybersecurity incidents, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective and these measures could fail or may be insufficient. While we and our third-party cloud providers have implemented security measures designed to protect against security breaches, these measures could fail or may be insufficient, resulting in the unauthorized disclosure, modification, misuse, destruction, or loss of sensitive or confidential information. Although we take steps designed to detect, mitigate, and remediate vulnerabilities in our information systems (such as our hardware and/or software, including that of third parties upon which we rely), but we may not be able to detect and remediate all vulnerabilities on a timely basis because the threats and techniques used to exploit the vulnerability change frequently and are often sophisticated in nature. Therefore, such vulnerabilities could be exploited but may not be detected until after a cybersecurity incident has occurred. Therefore, such vulnerabilities could be exploited but may not be detected until 48 Table of Contents after a security incident has occurred.
In addition, applicable data privacy and security obligations may require us to notify relevant stakeholders, including affected individuals, customers, regulators, and investors of cybersecurity incidents. Such disclosures are costly, and the disclosure or the failure to comply with such requirements could lead to adverse consequences. Actual or perceived cybersecurity incidents affecting sensitive information about the Company, our partners, our customers or third parties could expose us and the parties affected to a risk of loss or misuse of this information, resulting in litigation and potential liability, paying damages, regulatory inquiries or actions, damage to our brand and reputation or other harm to our business. These reporting requirements, rules and regulations, coupled with the increase in potential litigation exposure associated with being a public company, could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or board committees or to serve as executive officers, or to obtain certain types of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, on acceptable terms. Our efforts to prevent and overcome these challenges could increase our expenses and may not be successful. If we fail to detect or remediate a cybersecurity incident in a timely manner, or it otherwise affects our customers or impacts our ability to operate our platform, we may experience adverse consequences, such as government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information (including personal data); litigation (including class claims); indemnification obligations; negative publicity; material damage to our reputation; monetary fund diversions; diversions of management attention; interruptions in our operations (including availability of data); financial loss; and other similar harms. If we fail to detect or remediate a security breach in a timely manner, or a breach otherwise affects our customers, or if we suffer a cyber-attack that impacts our ability to operate our platform, we may experience adverse consequences, such as government enforcement actions (for example, investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information (including personal data); litigation (including class claims); indemnification obligations; negative publicity; material damage to our reputation; monetary fund diversions; interruptions in our operations (including availability of data); financial loss; and other similar harms.
Cybersecurity incidents and attendant consequences may cause customers to stop using our services, deter new customers from using our services, and negatively impact our ability to grow and operate our business. Cybersecurity incidents also may result in current or future competitors obtaining sensitive information, including proprietary information.
Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations. Our contracts may not contain limitations of liability, and even where they do, there can be no assurance that limitations of liability in our contracts are sufficient to protect us from liabilities, damages, or claims related to our data privacy and security obligations. We cannot be sure that our insurance coverage will be adequate or sufficient to protect us from or to mitigate liabilities arising out of our privacy and security practices, that such coverage will continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that such coverage will pay future claims.
In addition to experiencing a cybersecurity incident, third parties may gather, collect, or infer sensitive information about us from public sources, data brokers, or other means that reveal competitively sensitive details about our organization and could be used to undermine our competitive advantage or market position. In addition to experiencing a security incident, third parties may gather, collect, or infer sensitive information about us from public sources, data brokers, or other means that reveals competitively sensitive details about our organization and could be used to undermine our competitive advantage or market position.
36
Unfavorable conditions in our industry or the global economy could limit our ability to grow our business and negatively affect our results of operations.
Our results of operations have varied and may continue to vary based in part on the impact of changes in our industry or the global economy on us or our customers and potential customers. Our results of operations have varied and may continue to vary based on the impact of changes in our industry or the global economy on us or our customers and potential customers. Negative conditions in the general economy both in the United States and abroad, including conditions resulting from changes in gross domestic product growth, inflation, financial and credit market fluctuations, international trade relations and tariffs, pandemics, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare, and terrorist attacks on the United States or elsewhere, could cause a decrease in business investments, including the progress on development of quantum technologies, and negatively affect the growth of our business. Negative conditions in the general economy both in the United States and abroad, including conditions resulting from changes in gross domestic product growth, financial and credit market fluctuations, international trade relations, pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare, and terrorist attacks on the United States or elsewhere, could cause a decrease in business investments, including the progress on development of quantum technologies, and negatively affect the growth of our business. In addition, in challenging economic times, our current or potential future customers may experience cash flow problems and as a result may modify, delay or cancel plans to purchase our products and services. Additionally, if our customers are not successful in generating sufficient revenue or are unable to secure financing, they may not be able to pay, or may delay payment of, accounts receivable. Moreover, our key suppliers may reduce their output or become insolvent, thereby adversely impacting our ability to execute our research and development plans or manufacture our products . Moreover, our key suppliers may reduce their output or become insolvent, thereby adversely impacting our ability to manufacture our products.
Furthermore, uncertain economic conditions may make it more difficult for us to raise funds through borrowings or private or public sales of debt or equity securities. Furthermore, uncertain economic conditions may make it more difficult for us to raise funds through borrowings or private or public sales of debt or equity securities. We cannot predict the timing, strength or duration of any economic slowdown, instability or recovery, generally or within any particular industry.
Government actions and regulations, such as tariffs and trade protection measures, may limit our ability to obtain products from our suppliers or sell our products and services to customers. 49 Table of Contents Government actions and regulations, such as tariffs and trade protection measures, may limit our ability to obtain products from our suppliers or sell our products and services to customers. Political challenges between the United States and countries in which our suppliers are located, and changes to trade policies, including tariff rates and customs duties, trade relations between the United States and those countries and other macroeconomic issues could adversely impact our business. The United States administration has announced tariffs on certain products imported into the United States, and some countries have imposed tariffs in response to the actions of the United States. There is also a possibility of future tariffs, trade protection measures or other restrictions imposed on our products or on our customers by the United States or other countries that could have a material adverse effect on our business. Our technology may be deemed a matter of national security and as such our customer base may be tightly restricted. We may accept government grants that place restrictions on the business’ ability to operate.
Unstable market and economic conditions have had and may continue to have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and share price. Unstable market and economic conditions have had and may continue to have serious adverse consequences on our business, financial condition and share price.
At times in the past, the global economy, including credit and financial markets, has experienced extreme volatility and disruptions, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates, increases in inflation rates, higher interest rates, bank failures and uncertainty about economic stability. The global economy, including credit and financial markets, has experienced extreme volatility and disruptions, including severely diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence, declines in economic growth, increases in unemployment rates, increases in inflation rates, higher interest rates, bank failures and uncertainty about economic stability. Any volatility or disruptions in market and economic conditions may have adverse consequences on us or the third parties on whom we rely. Any volatility and disruptions may have adverse consequences on us or the third parties on whom we rely. If general economic conditions were to deteriorate or remain uncertain for an extended period, our liquidity may be harmed and the trading price of our Common Stock could decline. If general economic conditions were to deteriorate or remain uncertain for an extended period of time, our liquidity and ability to repay our outstanding debt may be harmed and the trading price of our Common Stock could decline.
If the equity and credit markets deteriorate, including as a result of political unrest or war, it may make any necessary financing more difficult to obtain in a timely manner or on favorable terms, more costly or more dilutive, and we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs and other efforts. Increased inflation rates have and are expected to adversely affect us by increasing our costs, including labor and employee benefit costs, and costs for equipment and system components associated with system development. In addition, higher inflation could also increase our customers’ operating costs, which could result in reduced budgets for our customers and potentially less demand for our systems. Any significant increases in inflation and related increase in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
If in the future a financial institution in which we hold funds fails or is subject to significant adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets, we could be subject to a risk of loss of all or a portion of such uninsured funds or be subject to a delay in accessing all or a portion of such uninsured funds. In addition, if in the future a financial institution in which we hold funds fails or is subject to significant adverse conditions in the financial or credit markets, we could be subject to a risk of loss of all or a portion of such uninsured funds or be subject to a delay in accessing all or a portion of such uninsured funds. Any such loss or lack of access to these funds could adversely impact our short-term liquidity and ability to meet our operating expense obligations. Further, these events may make financings more difficult to obtain, and additional financing might not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; difficulties obtaining financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, as well as our ability to continue to grow our operations. Further, these events may make equity or debt financing more difficult to obtain, and additional equity or debt financing might not be available on reasonable terms, if at all; difficulties obtaining equity or debt financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, as well as our ability to continue to grow our operations.
If our cost and time estimates for fixed fee arrangements do not accurately anticipate the cost of servicing those arrangements, we could experience losses on these arrangements and our profitability could be reduced. If our cost and time estimates for fixed fee arrangements do not accurately anticipate the cost of servicing those arrangements, we could experience losses on these arrangements and our profitability could be reduced.
Our development contracts are often fixed fee arrangements invoiced on a milestone basis. Our development contracts are typically fixed fee arrangements invoiced on a milestone basis. If we underestimate the amount of effort required to deliver on a contract and/or the period of time required to achieve the milestone, our profitability could be reduced. If the actual costs of completing the contract exceed the agreed upon fixed price, we would incur a loss on the arrangement.
37
In the past we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, leading to a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. These material weaknesses were subsequently remediated following implementation and testing of a series of new controls and procedures. If we identify additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, it may adversely affect our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results in the future, and may adversely affect investor confidence, our reputation, our ability to raise additional capital and our business operations and financial condition. If we fail to remediate such material weaknesses, if we identify additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, it may adversely affect our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results in the future, and may adversely affect investor confidence, our reputation, our ability to raise additional capital and our business operations and financial condition. If we fail to remediate such material weaknesses, if we identify additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, it may adversely affect our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results in the future, and may adversely affect investor confidence, our reputation, our ability to raise additional capital and our business operations and financial condition.
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 financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. 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 financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In the past we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, leading to a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. These material weaknesses were subsequently remediated following implementation and testing of a series of new controls and procedures.
We cannot ensure that the measures we have taken to date, and actions we may take in the future, will prevent or avoid potential future material weaknesses due to a failure to implement and maintain adequate internal control over financial reporting or circumvention of these controls. In addition, in the future our controls and procedures may not be adequate to prevent or identify irregularities or errors or to facilitate the fair presentation of our financial statements.
Any failure to maintain effective controls could limit our ability to prevent or detect a misstatement of our accounts or disclosures that could result in additional material misstatements of our annual or interim financial statements. In such a case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to the listing requirements of the Nasdaq. In such case, we may be unable to maintain compliance with securities law requirements regarding timely filing of periodic reports in addition to the listing requirements of the Nasdaq. In addition, we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, the Nasdaq Stock Market or other regulatory authorities as well as shareholder litigation which would require additional financial and management resources, and investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price may decline as a result. In addition, we could be 52 Table of Contents subject to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, the Nasdaq Stock Market or other regulatory authorities as well as shareholder litigation which would require additional financial and management resources, and investors may lose confidence in our financial reporting and our stock price may decline as a result.
As a result, our ability to obtain any additional financing, or additional financing on favorable terms, could be materially and adversely affected, which in turn, could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and the market value of our common stock and require us to incur additional costs to improve our internal control systems and procedures. In addition, the perceptions of the Company among customers, suppliers, lenders, investors, securities analysts and others could also be adversely affected. In addition, perceptions of the Company among customers, suppliers, lenders, investors, securities analysts and others could also be adversely affected.
Our facilities or operations could be damaged or adversely affected as a result of prolonged power outages, natural disasters and other catastrophic events. 53 Table of Contents Our facilities or operations could be damaged or adversely affected as a result of prolonged power outages, natural disasters and other catastrophic events.
Our facilities or operations could be adversely affected by power outages as well as events outside of our control, such as natural disasters and other calamities. Our facilities or operations could be adversely affected by power outages as well as events outside of our control, such as natural disasters and other calamities. We cannot assure you that any backup systems will be adequate to protect us from the effects of fire, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, power loss resulting from such natural disasters, telecommunications failures, break-ins, war, riots, terrorist attacks or similar events. Any of the foregoing events may give rise to interruptions, breakdowns, system failures, technology platform failures or internet failures, which could cause delays in development and fabrication, the loss or corruption of data or malfunctions of software or hardware as well as adversely affect our ability to provide services. A significant power outage may disrupt our operations and could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. A significant power outage could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our International Expansion
Because our success depends, in part, on our ability to expand sales internationally, our business will be susceptible to risks associated with international operations.
We currently maintain offices and have personnel in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. We currently maintain offices and have sales personnel in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. In the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, our non-U.S. revenue was approximately 41.4% and 7.6% of our total revenue, respectively. Depending on customer opportunities and our ability to access quantum engineering talent, we may continue to expand our international operations, which may include opening offices in new jurisdictions. Any additional international expansion efforts that we are undertaking and may undertake may not be successful. In addition, conducting international operations subjects us to new risks, some of which we have not generally faced in the United States or other countries where we currently operate. These risks include, among other things:
● | unexpected costs and errors in the localization of our platform and solutions, including translation into foreign languages and adaptation for local culture, practices and regulatory requirements; |
● | lack of familiarity and burdens of complying with foreign laws, legal standards, privacy and cybersecurity standards, regulatory requirements, foreign export control rules, tariffs and other barriers, and the risk of penalties to our customers and individual members of management or employees if our practices are deemed to not be in compliance; |
38
● | practical difficulties of enforcing intellectual property rights in countries with varying laws and standards and reduced or varied protection for intellectual property rights in some countries; |
● | an evolving legal framework and additional legal or regulatory requirements for data privacy and cybersecurity, which may necessitate the establishment of systems to maintain data in local markets, requiring us to invest in additional data centers and network infrastructure, and the implementation of additional employee data privacy documentation (including locally-compliant data privacy notice and policies), all of which may involve substantial expense and may cause us to need to divert resources from other aspects of our business, all of which may adversely affect our business; |
● | unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, taxes, trade laws, tariffs, export quotas, custom duties or other trade restrictions; |
● | difficulties in managing systems integrators and technology partners; |
● | differing technology standards; |
● | different pricing environments, longer sales cycles, longer accounts receivable payment cycles and difficulties in collecting accounts receivable; |
● | increased financial accounting and reporting burdens and complexities; |
● | difficulties in managing and staffing international operations including the proper classification of independent contractors and other contingent workers, differing employer/employee relationships and local employment laws; |
● | increased costs involved with recruiting and retaining an expanded employee population outside the United States through cash and equity-based incentive programs and unexpected legal costs and regulatory restrictions in issuing our shares to employees outside the United States; |
● | global political and regulatory changes that may lead to restrictions on immigration and travel for our employees; |
● | fluctuations in exchange rates that may decrease the value of foreign-based revenue; |
● | potentially adverse tax consequences, including the complexities of foreign value added tax (or other tax) systems, restrictions on the repatriation of earnings, and transfer pricing requirements; and |
● | permanent establishment risks and complexities in connection with international payroll, tax and social security requirements for international employees. |
Additionally, operating in international markets also requires significant management attention and financial resources. Additionally, operating in international markets also requires significant management attention and financial resources. We cannot be certain that the investment and additional resources required in establishing operations in other countries will produce desired levels of revenue or profitability.
Compliance with laws and regulations applicable to our global operations also substantially increases the cost of doing business in foreign jurisdictions. Compliance with laws and regulations applicable to our global operations also substantially increases our cost of doing business in foreign jurisdictions. We have limited experience in marketing, selling and supporting our platform outside of the United States. Our limited experience in operating our business internationally increases the risk that any potential future expansion efforts that we may undertake will not be successful. If we invest substantial time and resources to expand our international operations and are unable to do so successfully and in a timely manner, our business, financial condition, revenues, results of operations or cash flows will suffer. We may be unable to keep current with changes in government requirements as they change from time to time. Failure to comply with these regulations could harm our business. In many countries, it is common for others to engage in business practices that are prohibited by our internal policies and procedures or other regulations applicable to us. In many countries, it is common for others to 45 Table of Contents engage in business practices that are prohibited by our internal policies and procedures or other regulations applicable to us. Although we have implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with these laws and policies, there can be no assurance that all of our employees, contractors, partners and agents will comply with these laws and policies.
Violations of laws or key control policies by our employees, contractors, partners or agents could result in delays in revenue recognition, financial reporting misstatements, enforcement actions, reputational harm, disgorgement of profits, fines, civil and criminal penalties, damages, injunctions, other collateral consequences or the prohibition of the importation or exportation of our solutions and could harm our business, financial condition, revenues, results of operations or cash flows.
39
Our international sales and operations subject us to additional risks and costs, including the ability to engage with customers in new geographies, exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, that can adversely affect our business, financial condition, revenues, results of operations or cash flows.
We derive a significant portion of revenue from our customers in the United States. We derive a significant portion of revenue from our customers in the United States. We may expand our international operations if we are able to achieve narrow or broad quantum advantage. However, there are a variety of risks and costs associated with our international sales and operations, which may include making additional investments prior to the proven adoption of our solutions, the cost of conducting our business internationally and hiring and training international employees and the costs associated with complying with local law. Furthermore, we cannot predict the rate at which our platform and solutions will be accepted in international markets by potential customers.
We currently have sales, customer support and engineering personnel outside the United States in the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada; however, our sales, support and engineering organization outside the United States is smaller than our U.S. sales organization. We believe our ability to attract new customers to purchase our QPUs or subscribe to our platform, or to attract existing customers to expand their purchase of our QPUs or to renew or expand their use of our platform is directly correlated to the level of engagement we obtain with the customer. We believe our ability to attract new customers to subscribe to our platform or to attract existing customers to renew or expand their use of our platform is directly correlated to the level of engagement we obtain with the customer. To the extent we are unable to effectively engage with non-U.S. customers due to our limited sales force capacity, we may be unable to effectively grow in international markets.
Given our international presence, we are exposed to the effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Given our international presence, we are exposed to the effects of fluctuations in currency exchange rates. While we have primarily transacted with customers in U.S. dollars, we expect to continue to generate some revenues, denominated in foreign currencies. Additionally, fluctuations in the value of the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may make our QPUs or subscriptions more expensive for international customers, which could harm our business. Additionally, we incur expenses for employee compensation and other operating expenses at our non-U.S. locations in the local currency for such locations. Fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and other currencies could result in an increase to the U.S. dollar equivalent of such expenses. These fluctuations could cause our results of operations to differ from our expectations or the expectations of our investors. Additionally, such foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations could make it more difficult to detect underlying trends in our business and results of operations.
Our international operations may subject us to greater than anticipated tax liabilities. Our international operations may subject us to greater than anticipated tax liabilities.
The amount of taxes we pay in different jurisdictions depends on the application of the tax laws of various jurisdictions, including the United States, to our international business activities, changes in tax rates, new or revised tax laws or interpretations of existing tax laws and policies, and our ability to operate our business in a manner consistent with our corporate structure and intercompany arrangements. The amount of taxes we pay in different jurisdictions depends on the application of the tax laws of various jurisdictions, including the United States, to our international business activities, changes in tax rates, new or revised tax laws or interpretations of existing tax laws and policies, and our ability to operate our business in a manner consistent with our corporate structure and intercompany arrangements. The taxing authorities of the jurisdictions in which we operate may challenge our methodologies for pricing intercompany transactions pursuant to our intercompany arrangements or disagree with our determinations as to the income and expenses attributable to specific jurisdictions. If such a challenge or disagreement were to occur, and our position was not sustained, we could be required to pay additional taxes, interest, and penalties, which could result in one-time tax charges, higher effective tax rates, reduced cash flows, and lower overall profitability of our operations. Our financial statements could fail to reflect adequate reserves to cover such a contingency. Similarly, a taxing authority could assert that we are subject to tax in a jurisdiction where we believe we have not established a taxable connection, often referred to as a “permanent establishment” under international tax treaties, and such an assertion, if successful, could increase our expected tax liability in one or more jurisdictions.
Risks Related to Litigation and Government Regulation
We are subject to stringent and evolving U.S. state, federal and foreign laws, regulations and rules, contractual obligations, industry standards, policies and other obligations related to privacy, data use and security. Our actual or perceived failure to comply with such obligations could lead to regulatory investigations or actions; litigation; fines and penalties; disruptions of our business operations; reputational harm; loss of revenue or profits; loss of customers or sales; and otherwise, could adversely affect us and our business.
In the ordinary course of business, we collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share (collectively, “process”) personal data and other sensitive information, including proprietary and confidential business data, trade secrets, and intellectual property. In the ordinary course of business, we collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share (collectively, “processing”) personal data and other sensitive information, including proprietary and confidential business data, trade secrets, and intellectual property. We are, therefore, subject to numerous data privacy and security obligations, such as state and federal laws and regulations, guidance, industry standards, external and internal privacy and security policies, contractual requirements, and other obligations related to privacy, data use and security.
In the United States, federal, state, and local governments have enacted numerous data privacy and security laws, including data breach notification laws, personal data privacy laws, consumer protection laws (e. In the United States, federal, state, and local governments have enacted numerous data privacy and security laws, including data breach notification laws, personal data privacy laws, consumer protection laws (e. g., Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act), and other similar laws (e.g., wiretapping laws). In the past few years, numerous U.S. states—including California, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah—have enacted comprehensive privacy laws that impose certain obligations on covered businesses, including providing specific disclosures in privacy notices and affording residents with certain rights concerning their personal data.
40
As applicable, such rights may include the right to access, correct, or delete certain personal data, and to opt-out of certain data processing activities, such as targeted advertising, profiling, and automated decision-making. The exercise of these rights may impact our business and ability to provide our products and services. Certain states also impose stricter requirements for processing certain personal data, including sensitive information, such as conducting data privacy impact assessments. These state laws allow for statutory fines for noncompliance. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act amended by the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (“CCPA”), applies to personal data of consumers, business representatives, and employees who are California residents, and requires businesses to provide specific disclosures in privacy notices and honor requests of such individuals to exercise certain privacy rights. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), applies to personal information of consumers, business representatives, and employees, and requires businesses to provide specific disclosures in privacy notices and grants consumers resident in California new rights with respect to the collection of their personal data. The CCPA provides for fines of up to $7,500 per intentional violation and allows private litigants affected by certain data breaches to recover significant statutory damages. The CCPA provides for civil penalties of up to $7,500 per violation and allows private litigants affected by certain data breaches to recover significant statutory damages. Similar laws are being considered in several other states, as well as at the federal and local levels. These developments further complicate compliance efforts, and increase legal risk and compliance costs for us, and the third parties upon whom we rely.
Our employees and personnel use generative artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies to perform their work, and the disclosure and use of personal information in generative AI technologies is subject to various privacy laws and other privacy obligations. Additionally, several states and localities have enacted measures related to the use of AI and machine learning in products and services. These developments may further complicate compliance efforts, and may increase legal risk and compliance costs for us, the third parties upon whom we rely, and our customers. These developments further complicate compliance efforts, and increase legal risk and compliance costs for us, and the third parties upon whom we rely.
Outside of the United States, foreign governments are raising similar privacy and data security concerns. Outside of the United States, foreign governments are raising similar privacy and data security concerns. In particular, the United Kingdom’s GDPR (“UK GDPR”) imposes strict requirements for processing personal data. For example, under the UK GDPR, companies may face temporary or definitive bans on data processing and other corrective actions; fines of up to 17.5 million pounds or 4% of annual global revenue, whichever is greater; or private litigation related to processing of personal data brought by classes of data subjects or consumer protection organizations authorized at law to represent their interests. For example, under the UK GDPR, companies may face temporary or definitive bans on data processing and 54 Table of Contents other corrective actions; fines of up to 17.5 million pounds or 4% of annual global revenue, whichever is greater; or private litigation related to processing of personal data brought by classes of data subjects or consumer protection organizations authorized at law to represent their interests. In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) and various related provincial laws, as well as Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (“CASL”), may apply to our operations.
In the ordinary course of business, we may transfer personal data from the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions to the United States or other countries. In the ordinary course of business, we may transfer personal data from the United Kingdom (UK), Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions to the United States or other countries. The UK and other jurisdictions have enacted laws requiring data to be localized or limiting the transfer of personal data to other countries. In particular, the UK has significantly restricted the transfer of personal data to the United States and other countries whose privacy laws it believes are inadequate. Other jurisdictions may adopt similarly stringent interpretations of their data localization and cross-border data transfer laws. Although there are currently various mechanisms that may be used to transfer personal data from the UK to the United States in compliance with law, such as the UK’s international data transfer addendum, these mechanisms are subject to legal challenges, and there is no assurance that we can satisfy or rely on these measures to lawfully transfer personal data to the United States.
If there is no lawful manner for us to transfer personal data from the UK or other jurisdictions to the United States, or if the requirements for a legally-compliant transfer are too onerous, we could face significant adverse consequences, including the interruption or degradation of our operations, the need to relocate part of or all of our business or data processing activities to other jurisdictions at significant expense, increased exposure to regulatory actions, substantial fines and penalties, the inability to transfer data and work with partners, vendors and other third parties, and injunctions against our processing or transferring of personal data necessary to operate our business. Additionally, companies that transfer personal data out of the UK to other jurisdictions, particularly to the United States, are subject to increased scrutiny from regulators, individual litigants, and activist groups.
We are also bound by contractual obligations related to data privacy and security, and our efforts to comply with such obligations may not be successful. We are also bound by contractual obligations related to data privacy and security, and our efforts to comply with such obligations may not be successful. For example, certain privacy laws, such as the UK GDPR and CCPA, require our customers to impose specific contractual restrictions on their service providers. For example, certain privacy laws, such as the UK GDPR CCPA, require our customers to impose specific contractual restrictions on their service providers. We publish privacy policies, marketing materials and other statements, such as compliance with certain certifications or self-regulatory principles, regarding data privacy and security. If these policies, materials or statements are found to be deficient, lacking in transparency, deceptive, unfair, or misrepresentative of our practices, we may be subject to investigation, enforcement actions by regulators or other adverse consequences.
Obligations related to data privacy and security are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating regulatory uncertainty. Obligations related to data privacy and security are quickly changing, becoming increasingly stringent, and creating regulatory uncertainty. Additionally, these obligations may be subject to differing applications and interpretations, which may be inconsistent or conflict among jurisdictions. Preparing for and complying with these obligations requires us to devote significant resources, which may necessitate changes to our services, information technologies, systems, and practices and to those of any third parties that process personal data on our behalf. In addition, these obligations may require us to change our business model. We may at times fail (or be perceived to have failed) in our efforts to comply with our data privacy and security obligations. Moreover, despite our efforts, our personnel or third parties on whom we rely may fail to comply with such obligations, which could negatively impact our business operations.
41
If we or the third parties on which we rely fail, or are perceived to have failed, to address or comply with applicable data privacy and security obligations, we could face significant consequences, including but not limited to: government enforcement actions (e.g., investigations, fines, penalties, audits, inspections, and similar); litigation (including class-action claims); additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; bans on processing personal data; orders to destroy or not use personal data; and imprisonment of company officials.
Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, or financial condition, including but not limited to: loss of customers; interruptions or stoppages in our business operations; interruptions or stoppages of data collection needed to train our algorithms; inability to process personal data or to operate in certain jurisdictions; limited ability to develop or commercialize our products; expenditure of time and resources to defend any claim or inquiry; adverse publicity; or substantial changes to our business model or operations. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, or financial condition, including but not limited to: loss of customers; interruptions or stoppages in our business operations; interruptions or stoppages of data collection needed to train our algorithms; inability to process personal data or to operate in certain jurisdictions; limited ability to develop or commercialize our products; expenditure of time and resources to defend any claim or inquiry; adverse publicity; or substantial changes to our business model or operations.
Contracts with U.S. government entities subject us to risks including early termination, audits, investigations, sanctions and penalties.
We have several contracts with various government entities, including contracts with the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency and the Department of Energy, among others, and we may enter into additional contracts with U.S. government entities in the future, which subjects our business to statutes and regulations applicable to companies doing business with the government, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation. These government contracts customarily contain provisions that give the government substantial rights and remedies, many of which are not typically found in commercial contracts and which are unfavorable to contractors. For instance, most U.S. government agencies include provisions that allow the government to unilaterally terminate or modify contracts for convenience, and in that event, the counterparty to the contract may generally recover only its incurred or committed costs and settlement expenses and profit on work completed prior to the termination. If the government terminates a contract for default, the defaulting party may be liable for any extra costs incurred by the government in procuring undelivered items from another source.
In addition, government contracts normally contain additional requirements that may increase our costs of doing business, reduce our profits, and expose us to liability for failure to comply with these terms and conditions. In addition, government contracts normally contain additional requirements that may increase our costs of doing business, reduce our profits, and expose us to liability for failure to comply with these terms and conditions. These requirements include, for example:
● | specialized disclosure and accounting requirements unique to government contracts; |
● | cybersecurity safeguards and assessments beyond what are typically required by commercial equivalents; |
● | financial and compliance audits that may result in potential liability for price adjustments, recoupment of government funds after such funds have been spent, civil and criminal penalties, or administrative sanctions such as suspension or debarment from doing business with the U.S. government; |
● | public disclosures of certain contract and company information; and |
● | mandatory socioeconomic compliance requirements, including labor requirements, non-discrimination and affirmative action programs and environmental compliance requirements. |
Government contracts are also generally subject to greater scrutiny by the government, which can initiate reviews, audits and investigations regarding our compliance with government contract requirements. Government contracts are also generally subject to greater scrutiny by the government, which can initiate reviews, audits and investigations regarding our compliance with government contract requirements. In addition, if we fail to comply with government contracting laws, regulations and contract requirements, our contracts may be subject to termination, and we may be subject to financial and/or other liability under our contracts, the Federal Civil False Claims Act (including treble damages and other penalties), or criminal law. In particular, the False Claims Act’s “whistleblower” provisions also allow private individuals, including present and former employees, to sue on behalf of the U.S. government. Any penalties, damages, fines or suspension could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results.
We are subject to U.S. and foreign anti-corruption, anti-bribery and similar laws, and non-compliance with such laws can subject us to criminal or civil liability and harm our business.
We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act, and other anti-bribery, and anti-corruption laws in countries in which we conduct activities. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws have been enforced aggressively in recent years and are interpreted broadly to generally prohibit companies, their employees, and their third-party intermediaries from authorizing, promising, offering, providing, soliciting, or accepting, directly or indirectly, improper payments or benefits to or from any person whether in the public or private sector. We may engage with partners and third-party intermediaries to market our services and to obtain necessary permits, licenses, and other regulatory approvals. In addition, we or our third-party intermediaries may have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or state-owned or affiliated entities.
42
We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of these third-party intermediaries, and of our employees, representatives, contractors, partners, and agents, even if we do not explicitly authorize such activities. We cannot provide any assurance that all of our employees and agents will not take actions in violation of our policies and applicable law, for which we may be ultimately held responsible.
Detecting, investigating, and resolving actual or alleged violations of anti-corruption laws can require a significant diversion of time, resources, and attention from senior management. In addition, noncompliance with anti-corruption or anti-bribery laws could subject us to whistleblower complaints, investigations, sanctions, settlements, prosecution, enforcement actions, fines, damages, other civil or criminal penalties, injunctions, suspension or debarment from contracting with certain persons, reputational harm, adverse media coverage, and other collateral consequences.
We are subject to government export and import controls that could impair our ability to compete in international markets due to licensing requirements and subject us to liability if we are not in compliance with applicable laws. We are subject to governmental export and import controls that could impair our ability to compete in international markets due to licensing requirements and subject us to liability if we are not in compliance with applicable laws.
Our products and technologies are subject to U.S. export control and import laws and regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, U.S. Customs regulations, and various economic and trade sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls. U.S. export control and economic sanctions laws include restrictions or prohibitions on the sale or supply of certain products, technologies, and services to U.S. Government embargoed or sanctioned countries, governments, persons and entities. In addition, certain of our products and technology are subject to export licensing or approval requirements. In addition, certain products and technology may be subject to export licensing or approval requirements. Exports of our products and technology must be made in compliance with export control and sanctions laws and regulations. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we and certain of our employees could be subject to substantial civil or criminal penalties, including the possible loss of export or import privileges; fines, which may be imposed on us and responsible employees or managers; and, in extreme cases, the incarceration of responsible employees or managers.
In addition, changes in our products or technologies or changes in applicable export or import laws and regulations may create delays in the introduction and sale of our products and technologies in international markets or, in some cases, prevent the export or import of our products and technologies to certain countries, governments or persons altogether. In addition, changes in our products or technologies or changes in applicable export or import laws and regulations may create delays in the introduction and sale of our products and technologies in international markets or, in some cases, prevent the export or import of our products and technologies to certain countries, governments or persons altogether. Any change in export or import laws and regulations, shift in the enforcement or scope of existing laws and regulations, or change in the countries, governments, persons or technologies targeted by such laws and regulations, could also result in decreased use of our products and technologies, or in our decreased ability to export or sell our products and technologies to existing or potential customers. Any decreased use of our products and technologies or limitation on our ability to export or sell our products and technologies would likely adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Further, the operation of our products within a fully operational quantum system may depend on products and technologies supplied by third parties. Changes in third party products or technologies or changes in applicable export or import laws and regulations may create delays in the introduction and sale of our products and technologies to customers or, in some cases, prevent sales of our products and technologies to certain countries, governments or persons altogether. In addition, changes in our products or technologies or changes in applicable export or import laws and regulations may create delays in the introduction and sale of our products and technologies in international markets or, in some cases, prevent the export or import of our products and technologies to certain countries, governments or persons altogether. Any change in export or import laws and regulations, shift in the enforcement or scope of existing laws and regulations, or change in the countries, governments, persons or technologies targeted by such laws and regulations, could also result in decreased use of our products and technologies, or in our decreased ability to sell our products and technologies to existing or potential customers. Any decreased use of our products and technologies or limitation on our ability to sell our products and technologies would likely adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any decreased use of our products and technologies or limitation on our ability to export or sell our products and technologies would likely adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We expect to incur significant costs in complying with these regulations. We expect to incur significant costs in complying with these regulations. Regulations related to quantum computing are currently evolving and we face risks associated with changes to these regulations.
Our business is exposed to risks associated with litigation, investigations and regulatory proceedings. Our business is exposed to risks associated with litigation, investigations and regulatory proceedings.
We may in the future face legal, administrative and regulatory proceedings, claims, demands and/or investigations involving stockholder, consumer, competition and/or other issues relating to our business on a global basis. We may in the future face legal, administrative and regulatory proceedings, claims, demands and/or investigations involving stockholder, consumer, competition and/or other issues relating to our business on a global basis. Litigation and regulatory proceedings are inherently uncertain, and adverse rulings could occur, including monetary damages, or an injunction stopping us from engaging in certain business practices, or requiring other remedies, such as compulsory licensing of patents. An unfavorable outcome or settlement may result in a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial position and overall trends. In addition, regardless of the outcome, litigation can be costly, time-consuming, and disruptive to our operations. Any claims or litigation, even if fully indemnified or insured, could damage our reputation and make it more difficult to compete effectively or to obtain adequate insurance in the future. In addition, the laws and regulations our business is subject to are complex and change frequently. We may be required to incur significant expense to comply with changes in, or remedy violations of, these laws and regulations.
43
Furthermore, while we maintain insurance for certain potential liabilities, such insurance does not cover all types and amounts of potential liabilities and is subject to various exclusions as well as caps on recoverable amounts. Even if we believe a claim is covered by insurance, insurers may dispute our entitlement to recovery for a variety of potential reasons, which may affect the timing and, if the insurers prevail, the amount of our recovery. 57 Table of Contents Even if we believe a claim is covered by insurance, insurers may dispute our entitlement to recovery for a variety of potential reasons, which may affect the timing and, if the insurers prevail, the amount of our recovery.
We may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm our financial condition and liquidity if we are not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims. We may become subject to product liability claims, which could harm our financial condition and liquidity if we are not able to successfully defend or insure against such claims.
We may become subject to product liability claims, even those without merit, which could harm our business prospects, operating results, and financial condition. We may become subject to product liability claims, even those without merit, which could harm our business prospects, operating results, and financial condition. We may face an inherent risk of exposure to claims in the event our quantum computers do not perform as expected or malfunction. We may face inherent risk of exposure to claims in the event our quantum computers do not perform as expected or malfunction. A successful product liability claim against us could require us to pay a substantial monetary award. Moreover, a product liability claim could generate substantial negative publicity about our quantum computers and business and inhibit or prevent the commercialization of other future quantum computers, which would have material adverse effects on our brand, business, prospects and operating results. Moreover, a product liability claim could generate substantial negative publicity about our quantum computers and business and inhibit or prevent commercialization of other future quantum computers, which would have material adverse effects on our brand, business, prospects and operating results. Any insurance coverage might not be sufficient to cover all potential product liability claims. Any lawsuit seeking significant monetary damages either in excess of our coverage, or outside of our coverage, may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business and financial condition. We may not be able to secure additional product liability insurance coverage on commercially acceptable terms or at reasonable costs when needed, particularly if we do face liability for our products and are forced to make a claim under our policy.
We are subject to requirements relating to environmental and safety regulations and environmental remediation matters, which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and reputation. We are subject to requirements relating to environmental and safety regulations and environmental remediation matters which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and reputation.
We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, solid and hazardous waste storage, treatment and disposal, and remediation of releases of hazardous materials. We are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations governing, among other things, solid and hazardous waste storage, treatment and disposal, and remediation of releases of hazardous materials. There are significant capital, operating and other costs associated with compliance with these environmental laws and regulations. Environmental laws and regulations may become more stringent in the future, which could increase costs of compliance or require us to manufacture with alternative technologies and materials.
Federal, state and local authorities also regulate a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, health, safety and permitting in addition to the environmental matters discussed above. Federal, state and local authorities also regulate a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, health, safety and permitting in addition to the environmental matters discussed above. New legislation and regulations may require us to make material changes to our operations, resulting in significant increases to the cost of production.
Our manufacturing process will have hazards such as but not limited to hazardous materials, machines with moving parts, and high voltage and/or high current electrical systems typical of large manufacturing equipment and related safety incidents. Our manufacturing process will have hazards such as but not limited to hazardous materials, machines with moving parts, and high voltage and/or high current electrical systems typical of large manufacturing equipment and related safety incidents. There may be safety incidents that damage machinery or product, slow or stop production, or harm employees. Consequences may include litigation, regulation, fines, increased insurance premiums, mandates to temporarily halt production, workers’ compensation claims, or other actions that impact our brand, finances, or ability to operate.
Changes in tax laws or regulations that are applied adversely to us may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition, or results of operations. Changes in tax laws or regulations that are applied adversely to us may have a material adverse effect on our business, cash flow, financial condition, or results of operations.
New tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances could be enacted at any time. New tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances could be enacted at any time. For instance, the Inflation Reduction Act imposes, among other rules, a 15% minimum tax on the book income of certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases. For instance, the recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act imposes, among other rules, a 15% minimum tax on the book income of certain large corporations and a 1% excise tax on certain corporate stock repurchases. Further, existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances could be interpreted differently, changed, repealed, or modified at any time. Any such enactment, interpretation, change, repeal, or modification could adversely affect us, possibly with retroactive effect. In particular, changes in corporate tax rates, the realization of our net deferred tax assets, the taxation of foreign earnings, and the deductibility of expenses under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or any future tax reform legislation, could have a material impact on the value of our deferred tax assets, result in significant one-time charges, and increase our future tax expenses.
Risks Related to Intellectual Property
Any failure to obtain, maintain and protect our intellectual property rights could impair our ability to protect and commercialize our proprietary products and technology and cause us to lose our competitive advantage.
Our success depends, in significant part, on our ability to obtain, maintain, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights, including patents and trade secrets. Our success depends, in significant part, on our ability to obtain, maintain, enforce and defend our intellectual property rights, including patents and trade secrets. We rely upon a combination of the intellectual property protections afforded by patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws in the United States and other jurisdictions, as well as license agreements and other contractual protections, to establish, maintain and enforce rights in our proprietary technologies. In addition, we seek to protect our intellectual property rights through nondisclosure and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants, and through non-disclosure agreements with business partners and other third parties.
44
However, we may not be able to prevent unauthorized use of our intellectual property. Our trade secrets may also be compromised, which could cause us to lose our competitive advantage. Third parties may attempt to copy or otherwise obtain, use or infringe our intellectual property.
Monitoring and detecting unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and the steps we have taken or will take to prevent infringement or misappropriation may not be sufficient. Monitoring and detecting unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly, and the steps we have taken or will take to prevent infringement or misappropriation may not be sufficient. Any enforcement efforts we undertake, including litigation, could be time-consuming and expensive and could divert management’s attention, which could harm our business, results of operations, and financial condition. In addition, existing intellectual property laws and contractual remedies may afford less protection than needed to safeguard our intellectual property portfolio, and third parties may develop competitive offerings in a manner that leaves us with limited means to enforce our intellectual property rights against them.
Patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws vary significantly throughout the world. Patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws vary significantly throughout the world. A number of foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. Therefore, our intellectual property rights may not be as strong or as easily enforced outside of the United States and efforts to protect against the unauthorized use of our intellectual property rights, technology and other proprietary rights may be more expensive and difficult outside of the United States.
Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights could result in our competitors using our intellectual property to offer products, potentially resulting in the loss of some of our competitive advantage and a decrease in our revenue, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. Failure to adequately protect our intellectual property rights could result in our competitors using our intellectual property to offer products, potentially resulting in the loss of some of our competitive advantage and a decrease in our revenue, which would adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our inability to secure patent protection or enforce our patent rights could have a material adverse effect on our ability to prevent others from commercializing similar products or technology. Our inability to secure patent protection or enforce our patent rights could have a material adverse effect on our ability to prevent others from commercializing similar products or technology.
The application and registration of patents involves complex legal and factual questions. The application and registration of patents involves complex legal and factual questions. As a result, we cannot be certain that the patent applications that we file will result in patents being issued, or that our patents and any future patents that do issue will afford protection against competitors with similar technology. Numerous patents and pending patent applications owned by others exist in the fields in which we have developed and are developing our technology, and this may make it difficult for us to obtain certain patent coverage on our own. Any of our existing or pending patents may also be challenged by others on the basis that they are otherwise invalid or unenforceable. Furthermore, patent applications filed in foreign countries are subject to laws, rules and procedures that differ from those of the United States, and thus we cannot be certain that foreign patent applications related to issued U.S. patents will be issued.
Even if our patent applications succeed, it is still uncertain whether these patents will be contested, circumvented, invalidated or limited in scope in the future. Even if our patent applications succeed, it is still uncertain whether these patents will be contested, circumvented, invalidated or limited in scope in the future. The rights granted under any issued patents may not provide us with meaningful protection or competitive advantages. The intellectual property rights of others could bar us from licensing and exploiting any patents that issue from our pending applications, and the claims under any patents that issue from our patent applications may not be broad enough to prevent others from developing technologies that are similar or that achieve results similar to ours. In addition, patents issued to us may be infringed upon or designed around by others and others may obtain patents that require license or design around, either of which would increase costs and may adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results. In addition, patents issued to us may be infringed upon or designed around by others and others may obtain patents that it needs to license or design around, either of which would increase costs and may adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
We may face patent infringement and other intellectual property claims that could be costly to defend, result in injunctions and significant damage awards, or limit our ability to use certain key technologies in the future, all of which could harm our business. We may face patent infringement and other intellectual property claims that could be costly to defend, result in injunctions and significant damage awards, or limit our ability to use certain key technologies in the future, all of which could harm our business.
Our success depends, in part, on our ability to develop and commercialize our products, services and technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of third parties. Our success depends, in part, on our ability to develop and commercialize our products, services and technologies without infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of third parties. However, we may not be aware that our products, services or technologies are infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating third-party intellectual property rights and such third parties may bring claims alleging such infringement, misappropriation or violation.
For example, there may be issued patents of which we are unaware, held by third parties that, if found to be valid and enforceable, could be alleged to be infringed by our current or future products, services or technologies. For example, there may be issued patents of which we are unaware, held by third parties that, if found to be valid and enforceable, could be alleged to be infringed by our current or future products, services or technologies. Also, because patent applications can take years to issue and are often afforded confidentiality for some period of time, there may currently be pending applications, unknown to us, that later result in issued patents that could cover our current or future products, services or technologies. The strength of our defenses will depend on the rights asserted, the interpretation of these rights, and our ability to invalidate the asserted rights. However, we could be unsuccessful in advancing non-infringement and/or invalidity arguments in our defense. Companies that have developed and are developing technology are often required to defend against litigation claims based on allegations of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of intellectual property rights. Companies that have developed and are developing technology are often required to defend against litigation claims based on allegations of infringement, misappropriation or other violations of intellectual property rights. Our products, services or technologies may not be able to withstand third-party claims against their use. In addition, as compared to us, many companies have the capability to dedicate substantially greater resources to enforce their intellectual property rights and to defend claims that may be brought against them.
45
If a third party is able to obtain an injunction preventing us from using or accessing such third-party intellectual property rights, or if we cannot license or develop alternative technology for any infringing aspect of our business, we may be forced to limit or stop sales of our products, services or technologies or cease business activities related to such intellectual property. Although we carry general liability insurance, our insurance may not cover potential claims of this type or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. We cannot predict the outcome of lawsuits and cannot ensure that the results of any such actions will not have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and harm our business and operating results. Further, there could be public announcements of the intellectual property litigation, and if securities analysts, investors or others perceive the potential impact to be negative or risks to be substantial, it could have an adverse effect on the price of our Common Stock.
● | Any intellectual property litigation to which we might become a party, or for which we are required to provide indemnification, regardless of the merit of the claim or our defenses, may require us to do one or more of the following: |
● | cease selling or using solutions or services that incorporate the intellectual property rights that allegedly infringe, misappropriate or violate the intellectual property of a third party; |
● | make substantial payments for legal fees, settlement payments or other costs or damages; |
● | obtain a license, which may not be available on reasonable terms or at all, to sell or use the relevant technology; |
● | redesign the allegedly infringing solutions to avoid infringement, misappropriation or violation, which could be costly, time-consuming or impossible; or |
● | indemnify third parties using our products or services. |
The occurrence of infringement claims may grow as the market for our products, services and technologies grows. Accordingly, our exposure to damages resulting from infringement claims could increase and this could further exhaust our financial and management resources.
We rely on certain open-source software in our quantum systems. We rely on certain open-source software in our quantum systems. If licensing terms change, our business may be adversely affected.
Our platform utilizes software licensed to us by third-party authors under “open-source” licenses and we expect to continue to utilize open-source software in the future. Our platform utilizes software licensed to us by third-party authors under “open-source” licenses and we expect to continue to utilize open-source software in the future. The use of open-source software may entail greater risks than the use of third-party commercial software, as open-source licensors generally do not provide warranties or other contractual protections regarding infringement claims or the quality of the code. To the extent that our platform depends upon the successful operation of the open-source software we use, any undetected errors or defects in this open-source software could prevent the deployment or impair the functionality of our platform, delay new solution introductions, result in a failure of our platform and injure our reputation. For example, undetected errors or defects in open-source software could render us vulnerable to breaches or security attacks, and, in conjunction, make our systems more vulnerable to data breaches.
Furthermore, some open-source licenses require the release of proprietary source code combined with, linked to or distributed with such open-source software to be released to the public. Furthermore, some open-source licenses require the release of proprietary source code combined with, linked to or distributed with such open-source software to be released to the public. If we combine, link or distribute our proprietary software with open-source software in a specific manner, we could, under some open-source licenses, be required to release the source code of our proprietary software to the public. This would allow our competitors to create similar solutions with lower development effort and time and ultimately put us at a competitive disadvantage.
Although we monitor our use of open-source software to avoid subjecting our platform to conditions we do not intend to attach to such platform or our proprietary code, we cannot assure you that our processes for controlling such use will be effective. Although we monitor our use of open-source software to avoid subjecting our platform to conditions we do not intend to attach to such platform or our proprietary code, we cannot assure you that our processes for controlling such use will be effective. If we are held to have breached the terms of an open-source software license, we could be required to seek licenses from third parties to continue operating using our solution on terms that are not economically feasible, to re-engineer our solution or the supporting computational infrastructure to discontinue use of code, or to make generally available, in source code form, portions of our proprietary code. This could allow our competitors to create similar solutions with lower development effort and time and ultimately put us at a competitive disadvantage.
46
Some of our intellectual property has been or may be conceived or developed through government-funded research and thus may be subject to federal regulations providing for certain rights for the U.S. government or imposing certain obligations on us, such as a license to the U.S. government under such intellectual property, “march-in” rights, certain reporting requirements and a preference for U.S.-based companies, and compliance with such regulations may limit our exclusive rights and our ability to contract with non-U.S. manufacturers.
As a result, the U.S. government may have certain rights to intellectual property embodied in our current or future product candidates pursuant to the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, or the Patent and Trademark Law Amendments Act. These U.S. government rights include a non-exclusive, non-transferable, irrevocable worldwide license to use inventions for any governmental purpose.
In addition, the U.S. government has the right, under certain limited circumstances, to require the licensor to grant exclusive, partially exclusive or non-exclusive licenses to any of these inventions to a third party if it determines that (1) adequate steps have not been taken to commercialize the invention, (2) government action is necessary to meet public health or safety needs or (3) government action is necessary to meet requirements for public use under federal regulations (also referred to as “march-in” rights).
The U.S. government also has the right to take title to these inventions if the licensor fails to disclose the invention to the government or fails to file an application to register the intellectual property within specified time limits. Intellectual property generated under a government funded program is also subject to certain reporting requirements, compliance with which may require us to expend substantial resources. In addition, the U.S. government requires that any products embodying any of these inventions or produced through the use of any of these inventions be manufactured substantially in the United States, and some of our license agreements require that we comply with this requirement.
This preference for U.S. industry may be waived by the federal agency that provided the funding if the owner or assignee of the intellectual property can show that reasonable but unsuccessful efforts have been made to grant licenses on similar terms to potential licensees that would be likely to manufacture the products substantially in the United States or that under the circumstances domestic manufacture is not commercially feasible. To the extent any of our owned or licensed future intellectual property is also generated through the use of U.S. government funding, the provisions of the Bayh-Dole Act may similarly apply.
Risks related to an Investment in our Securities and other General Matters
The market price of our Common Stock and Public Warrants has been and may continue to be volatile.
The price of our Common Stock and Public Warrants has been and may continue to be volatile and has and may fluctuate or decline significantly in response to numerous factors, some of which are beyond our control. The securities markets have experienced and continue to experience significant volatility. As a result of this volatility, investors in our common stock may not be able to sell their shares at or above the prices they paid. Further, as a result of this volatility it may be difficult for us to attract new investments, including additional offerings of our securities, on terms we consider reasonable, or at all.
In the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2024, the market price of our Common Stock varied between a high of $19.35 on December 27, 2024 and a low of $0.66 on September 9, 2024 and the market price of our Public Warrants varied between a high of $8.60 on December 27, 2024 and a low of $0.06 on September 23, 2024. Market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of shares of our Common Stock or Public Warrants regardless of our operating performance. Our operating results could be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors due to a number of potential factors, including:
● | our ability to meet our technological milestones, including any delays; |
● | changes in the industries in which we and our customers operate; |
● | variations in our operating performance and the performance of our competitors in general; |
● | material and adverse impact of military conflicts and wars around the world; |
● | actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results; |
● | publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors or our industry; |
● | the public’s reaction to our press releases, our other public announcements and our filings with the SEC; |
● | our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or our competitors may give to the market; |
● | additions and departures of key personnel; |
47
● | changes in laws and regulations affecting our business; |
● | commencement of, or involvement in, litigation involving the Company; |
● | changes in our capital structure, such as future issuances of securities or the incurrence of additional debt; |
● | the volume of shares of our Common Stock available for public sale, including the significant percentage of shares of our Common Stock that may be offered for resale; |
● | the public’s response to press releases or other public announcements by us or third parties, including our filings with the SEC; |
● | guidance, if any, that we provide to the public, any changes in this guidance or our failure to meet this guidance, including with respect to our technology roadmap; |
● | the development and sustainability of an active trading market for our stock; |
● | actions by institutional or activist stockholders; |
● | changes in accounting standards, policies, guidelines, interpretations or principles; and |
● | other events or factors, including recessions, increases in inflation and interest rates, disruptions to banking systems, foreign currency fluctuations, international tariffs, social, political and economic risks, natural disasters, acts of war (including the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine), terrorism or responses to such events. |
These market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our Common Stock and our Public Warrants regardless of the operating performance of the Company. These market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our Common Stock and our Public Warrants regardless of the operating performance of the Company. In the past, following periods of market volatility, stockholders have instituted securities class action litigation. If we are involved in securities litigation, it could have a substantial cost and divert resources and the attention of executive management from our business regardless of the outcome of such litigation.
The volatility in our stock price can also affect the listing of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market. To maintain such listing, we are required to meet certain listing requirements, including a minimum closing bid price of $1.00 per share. In September 2024, we received a letter from the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC, indicating that, based on the closing bid price for the previous 30 days, the listing of our Common Stock was not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share. While we regained compliance in November 2024, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market continued listing requirements in the future or regain compliance with respect to any future deficiencies. This could impair the liquidity and market price of our common stock. In addition, the delisting of our common stock from a national exchange would have a material adverse effect on our access to capital markets, and any limitation on market liquidity or reduction in the price of our common stock because of that delisting would adversely affect our ability to raise capital on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
The filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K will render us a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act because our non-affiliated common stock public float was above $700.0 million as of the relevant determination date. We are therefore currently able to take advantage of the benefits associated with being a well-known seasoned issuer, such as filing a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3ASR that would be automatically effective upon filing (a “Form S-3ASR”). If at a specific measurement time in the future, our public float is below $700.0 million, we may no longer qualify as a well-known seasoned issuer and suffer negative consequences. If we do not qualify as a well-known seasoned issuer, we will not be able to file automatic shelf registration statements on Form S-3ASR and enjoy the benefits associated with such registration statements, such as automatic effectiveness immediately upon filing, permitting companies to omit more information from the base prospectus than permitted for other shelf registration statements, allowing companies to register unspecified amounts of securities and doing so without allocating among securities or between primary and secondary offerings, and permitting companies to pay filing fees on a “pay-as-you-go” basis at the time of each takedown from the shelf registration statement. We would also need to convert any Form S-3ASR to a non-automatic shelf registration statement. Not qualifying as a well-known seasoned issuer could also impact the views or perceptions of investors and analysts and may influence investors’ willingness to purchase or hold our securities or analysts’ recommendations regarding our securities.
We may fail to comply with the rules that apply to public companies, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which could result in sanctions or other penalties that would adversely impact our business. We may fail to comply with the rules that apply to public companies, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which could result in sanctions or other penalties that would adversely impact our business.
As a public company, and particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we have and will continue to incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and regulations regarding corporate governance practices. As a public company, and particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we will incur significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and regulations regarding corporate governance practices.
48
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the rules of the SEC, the listing requirements of the Nasdaq, and other applicable securities rules and regulations that impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. We have hired additional accounting, finance, and other personnel in connection with our efforts to comply with the requirements of being a public company and our management and other personnel devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these requirements. We have begun to hire additional accounting, finance, and other personnel in connection with our becoming, and our efforts to comply with the requirements of being, a public company, and our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time towards maintaining compliance with these requirements. These requirements have increased our legal and financial compliance costs and made some activities more time-consuming and costly. These requirements will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. Changes we have made and any changes we make in the future to comply with these obligations may not be sufficient to allow us to satisfy our obligations as a public company on a timely basis, or at all.
These reporting requirements, rules and regulations, coupled with the increase in potential litigation exposure associated with being a public company, could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or board committees or to serve as executive officers, or to obtain certain types of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, on acceptable terms.
Pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404, we are required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K with the SEC. Pursuant to Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K with the SEC. However, while we remain an emerging growth company, we are not required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm.
To achieve compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404, we engaged in a process to enhance our internal control over financial reporting, which was both costly and challenging. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude in the future, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404. See In the past we identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, leading to a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. These material weaknesses were subsequently remediated following implementation and testing of a series of new controls and procedures. If we identify additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, it may adversely affect our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results in the future, and may adversely affect investor confidence, our reputation, our ability to raise additional capital and our business operations and financial condition. If we fail to remediate such material weaknesses, if we identify additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, it may adversely affect our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results in the future, and may adversely affect investor confidence, our reputation, our ability to raise additional capital and our business operations and financial condition. If we fail to remediate such material weaknesses, if we identify additional material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, it may adversely affect our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results in the future, and may adversely affect investor confidence, our reputation, our ability to raise additional capital and our business operations and financial condition.
We have incurred and will continue to incur substantial costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will continue to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives. We have incurred and will continue to incur substantial costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will continue to devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives.
As a public company, we incur substantial legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the rules and regulations of the SEC and the listing standards of Nasdaq.
The Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business, financial condition and results of operations. Compliance with these rules and regulations increase our legal and financial compliance costs and increase demand on our systems, particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company. In addition, as a public company, we may be subject to shareholder activism, which can lead to additional substantial costs, distract management and impact the manner in which we operate our business in ways we cannot currently anticipate. As a result of the disclosure of information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition are more visible, which may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors. As a result of disclosure of information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition are more visible, which may result in threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors.
Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage the significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of the business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. These new obligations and constituents will require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of the business, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future. We do not intend to pay cash dividends for the foreseeable future.
We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the further development and expansion of our business and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance the further development and expansion of our business and do not intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, restrictions contained in future agreements and financing instruments, business prospects and such other factors as our board of directors deems relevant.
49
Our quarterly operating results have and may fluctuate significantly and could fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors due to many factors, some of which are beyond our control, resulting in a decline in our stock price.
Our quarterly operating results have and may fluctuate significantly because of several factors, including:
● | labor availability and costs for hourly and management personnel; |
● | profitability of our products, especially in new markets and due to seasonal fluctuations; |
● | changes in interest rates; |
● | impairment of long-lived assets; |
● | macroeconomic conditions, both nationally and locally; |
● | negative publicity relating to our products; |
● | changes in consumer preferences and competitive conditions; and |
● | expansion to new markets. |
Reports published by analysts, including projections in those reports that differ from our actual results, could adversely affect the price and trading volume of our securities. Reports published by analysts, including projections in those reports that differ from our actual results, could adversely affect the price and trading volume of our securities.
Securities research analysts have and may establish and publish their own periodic projections for us. Securities research analysts have and may establish and publish their own periodic projections for us. These projections may vary widely and may not accurately predict the results we actually achieve. Our share price may decline if our actual results do not match the projections of these securities research analysts. Similarly, if one or more of the analysts who write reports on us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our share price could decline. If one or more of these analysts fails to publish reports on us regularly, our share price or trading volume could decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of us or fails to publish reports on us regularly, our share price or trading volume could decline. If analysts cease coverage of us, the market price and volume for our securities could be adversely affected.
Sales of our securities, or the perception of such sales, by us or holders of our securities in the public market or otherwise could cause the market price for our securities to decline, and even in such case, certain holders of our securities may still have an incentive to sell our securities. Sales of our securities, or the perception of such sales, by us or holders of our securities in the public market or otherwise could cause the market price for our securities to decline and even in such case certain holders of our securities may still have an incentive to sell our securities.
The sale of our securities in the public market or otherwise, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our securities. The sale of our securities in the public market or otherwise, or the perception that such sales could occur, could harm the prevailing market price of shares of our securities. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also might make it more difficult for us to sell securities in the future at a time and price which we deem appropriate. Resales of our securities may cause the market price of our securities to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
The market price of our Common Stock could decline if holders of our shares sell them, including pursuant to resale registration statements, or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. The market price of our Common Stock could decline if holders of our shares sell them, including pursuant to the resale registration statements, or are perceived by the market as intending to sell them. As such, sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market could occur at any time. These sales, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our Common Stock.
Future issuances of our securities may adversely affect us, including the price of our securities and may be dilutive to existing securities holders.
In the future, we may incur debt or issue equity ranking senior to our Common Stock. In the future, we may incur debt or issue equity ranking senior to our Common Stock. Those securities will generally have priority upon liquidation. Such securities also may be governed by an indenture or other instrument containing covenants restricting our operating flexibility. Additionally, any convertible or exchangeable securities that we issue in the future may have rights, preferences and privileges more favorable than those of our Common Stock.
Because our decision to issue debt or equity in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, nature or success of our future capital raising efforts. As a result, future capital raising efforts may reduce the market price of our Common Stock and be dilutive to existing stockholders. In addition, our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities could be significantly impacted by the resale of shares of Common Stock by selling securityholders which could result in a significant decline in the trading price of our Common Stock and potentially hinder our ability to raise capital at terms that are acceptable to us or at all.
In addition, we may issue additional shares of Common Stock from time to time, including under our equity incentive plans or employee stock purchase plan, or preferred stock. Common Stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans will become eligible for sale in the public market once those shares are issued, subject to provisions relating to various vesting agreements and, in some cases, limitations on volume and manner of sale applicable to affiliates under Rule 144, as applicable.
50
We have filed registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act registering the issuance of shares of Common Stock subject to options or other equity awards issued or reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plan.
In addition, we have filed and may file in the future one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register additional shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to our equity incentive plans and employee stock purchase plan, including additional registration statements on Form S-8 to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to the “evergreen” provision thereunder. Shares registered under these registration statements on Form S-8 will be available for sale in the public market subject to vesting arrangements and exercise of options and the restrictions of Rule 144 in the case of our affiliates. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market could occur at any time. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock in the public market could occur at any time.
Any such issuances of additional shares of Common Stock or preferred stock:
● | may significantly dilute the equity interests of our investors; |
● | may subordinate the rights of holders of Common Stock if preferred stock is issued with rights senior to those afforded our Common Stock; |
● | could cause a change in control if a substantial number of shares of our Common Stock are issued, which may affect, among other things, our ability to use our net operating loss carry forwards, and could result in the resignation or removal of our present officers and directors; and |
● | may adversely affect prevailing market prices for our securities. |
Furthermore, we currently have on file with the SEC an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with a remaining available balance as of March 1, 2025 of $50 million (original balance of $250 million), which allows us to offer and sell 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 (the “Form S-3”). Upon filing this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we now qualify as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. For so long as we qualify as a “well-known seasoned issuer,” we may also issue an unspecified amount of shares of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and warrants pursuant to the Form S-3ASR. Sales of such securities under the Form S-3 or Form S-3ASR may be dilutive to existing securities holders and could cause the price of our securities to decline.
We are currently an “emerging growth company” and “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and to the extent we have taken advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies. We are currently an “emerging growth company” and “smaller reporting company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and to the extent we have taken advantage of certain exemptions from disclosure requirements available to emerging growth companies or smaller reporting companies, this could make our securities less attractive to investors and may make it more difficult to compare our performance with other public companies.
We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We are an “emerging growth company” within the meaning of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
As a result, our shareholders may not have access to certain information they may deem important. We could be an emerging growth company for up to five years, although circumstances could cause us to lose that status earlier, including if the market value of our Class A ordinary shares held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of June 30, in which case we would no longer be an emerging growth company as of the following fiscal year. We do not know if investors find our securities less attractive because we rely on these exemptions. We cannot predict whether investors will find our securities less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our securities less attractive as a result of our reliance on these exemptions, the trading prices of our securities may be lower than they otherwise would be, there may be a less active trading market for our securities and the trading prices of our securities may be more volatile.
Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that a company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such an election to opt out is irrevocable.
51
We have elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised and it has different application dates for public or private companies, we, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of our financial statements with another public company which is neither an emerging growth company nor an emerging growth company which has opted out of using the extended transition period, difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.
Delaware law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain certain provisions, including anti-takeover provisions, that limit the ability of stockholders to take certain actions and could delay or discourage takeover attempts that stockholders may consider favorable. Delaware law and our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws contain certain provisions, including anti-takeover provisions, that limit the ability of stockholders to take certain actions and could delay or discourage takeover attempts that stockholders may consider favorable.
Our Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) contain provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying, or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by the board of directors of Rigetti (the “Board”) and therefore depress the trading price of our Common Stock. Our Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of the Company (the “Bylaws”) and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) contain provisions that could have the effect of rendering more difficult, delaying, or preventing an acquisition deemed undesirable by the board of directors of Rigetti (the “Board”) and therefore depress the trading price of our Common Stock. These provisions could also make it difficult for stockholders to take certain actions, including electing directors who are not nominated by the current members of the Board or taking other corporate actions, including effecting changes in our management. Among other things, the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include provisions regarding:
● | providing for a classified board of directors with staggered, three-year terms; |
● | the ability of the Board to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, including “blank check” preferred stock, with any rights, preferences and privileges as they may designate, including the right to approve an acquisition or other change of control; |
● | provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by the resolution of the Board; |
● | provide that, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, any individual director or directors may be removed only with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class; |
● | provide that all vacancies, including newly created directorships, may, except as otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum; |
● | require that any action to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and not be taken by written consent or electronic transmission; |
● | provide that stockholders seeking to present proposals before a meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of stockholders must provide advance notice in writing, and also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice; |
● | provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer or by the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors; and |
● | not provide for cumulative voting rights, therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose. |
These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in the Board or management. These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in the Board or management.
52
The Certificate of Incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the United States federal district courts as the sole and exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, stockholders, employees or agents.
The Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for state law claims for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee, or stockholder of Rigetti to Rigetti or our stockholders; (iii) any action or claim against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Company, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws; (iv) any action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws; (v) any action or claim as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Company, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall be the sole and exclusive forum for state law claims for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any current or former director, officer or other employee, or stockholder of Rigetti to Rigetti or our stockholders, (iii) any action or claim against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Company, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, (iv) any action seeking to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws; (v) any action or claim as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware; and (vi) any action against the Company or any current or former director, officer or other employee or stockholder of the Company, governed by the internal-affairs doctrine of the law of the State of Delaware, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law. The foregoing provisions will not apply to any claims as to which the Delaware Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court, which is rested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than such court (including claims arising under the Exchange Act), or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, or to any claims arising under the Securities Act and, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the United States federal district courts will be the sole and exclusive forum for resolving any action asserting a claim arising under the Securities Act.
Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations thereunder. Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations thereunder. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such Securities Act claims.
To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, the Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, United States federal district courts shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce the forum provision with respect to claims under the federal securities laws.
This choice of forum provision in our Certificate of Incorporation may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. This choice of forum provision in our Certificate of Incorporation may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, or other employees, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims.
There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. There is uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce such provisions, and the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ charter documents has been challenged in legal proceedings. It is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable, and if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Furthermore, investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, investors cannot waive compliance with the federal securities laws and rules and regulations thereunder.
Our warrants, including our Public Warrants, Private Warrants and other warrants we have issued, and our Sponsor Vesting Shares are accounted for as liabilities and the changes in value of our Warrants and Sponsor Vesting Shares could have a material effect on our financial results. 71 Table of Contents Our warrants, including our Public Warrants, Private Warrants and other warrants we have issued, are accounted for as liabilities and the changes in value of our Warrants could have a material effect on our financial results.
We are subject to complex securities laws and regulations and accounting principles and interpretations. We are subject to complex securities laws and regulations and accounting principles and interpretations. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to interpret accounting principles and guidance and to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. We base our interpretations, estimates and judgments on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for the preparation of our financial statements. GAAP presentation is subject to interpretation by the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and various other bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate accounting principles and guidance. If one of these bodies disagrees with our accounting recognition, measurement or disclosure or any of our accounting interpretations, estimates or assumptions, it may have a significant effect on our reported results and may retroactively affect previously reported results.
53
On April 12, 2021, the Acting Director of the Division of Corporation Finance and Acting Chief Accountant of the SEC together issued a statement regarding the accounting and reporting considerations for warrants issued by special purpose acquisition companies entitled “Staff Statement on Accounting and Reporting Considerations for Warrants Issued by Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (“SPACs”)” (the “SEC Statement”).
Specifically, the SEC Statement focused on certain settlement terms and provisions related to certain tender offers following a business combination, which terms are similar to those contained in the warrant agreement governing our Warrants. Specifically, the SEC Statement focused on certain settlement terms and provisions related to certain tender offers following a business combination, which terms are similar to those contained in the warrant agreement governing our Warrants. As a result of the SEC Statement, we reevaluated the accounting treatment of our 8,625,000 Public Warrants and 4,450,000 Private Warrants and determined to classify the Warrants as derivative liabilities measured at fair value, with changes in fair value each period reported in earnings. As a result of the SEC Statement, Rigetti reevaluated the accounting treatment of the 8,625,000 Public Warrants and 4,450,000 Private Warrants, and determined to classify the Warrants as derivative liabilities measured at fair value, with changes in fair value each period reported in earnings.
As a result, included in our balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are derivative liabilities related to embedded features contained within our Warrants. As a result, included in Rigetti’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2022 contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are derivative liabilities related to embedded features contained within our Warrants. Accounting Standards Codification 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”), provides for the remeasurement of the fair value of such derivatives at each balance sheet date, with a resulting non-cash gain or loss related to the change in the fair value being recognized in earnings in the statements of operations. Our balance sheets as of December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 also include liabilities for Sponsor Vesting Shares, which are remeasured to fair value at each balance sheet date, with the resulting non-cash gain or loss related to the change in fair value being recognized in earnings in the consolidated statements of operations. As a result of the recurring fair value measurements, our financial statements and results of operations may fluctuate quarterly, based on factors which are outside of our control. As a result of the recurring fair value measurement, our financial statements and results of operations may fluctuate quarterly, based on factors, which are outside of our control.
Due to the recurring fair value measurements, we expect that we will recognize non-cash gains or losses on our Warrants and Sponsor Vesting Shares each reporting period and that the amount of such gains or losses could be material. The impact of changes in fair value on earnings may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.
No assurance can be given that additional guidance or new regulations or accounting principles and interpretations will not be released that would require a restatement of our financial statements with respect to treatment of the Warrants or the Sponsor Vesting Shares.
Any such restatement of our financial results could, among other potential adverse effects:
● | result in us incurring substantial costs; |
● | affect our ability to timely file our periodic reports until the restatement is completed; |
● | divert the attention of our management and employees from managing our business; |
● | result in material changes to our historical and future financial results; |
● | result in investors losing confidence in our operating results; |
● | subject us to securities class action litigation; and |
● | cause our stock price to decline. |
Our warrants are exercisable for Common Stock, the exercise of which would increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our stockholders.” Our Warrants are exercisable for Common Stock, the exercise of which would increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our stockholders.
As of December 31, 2024, the following warrants were outstanding:
● | Public Warrants and Private Warrants to purchase an aggregate of 13,074,972 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $11.50 per share. |
● | Series C Warrants (as defined herein) to purchase 793,800 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of $0.01. |
● | Other Warrants to purchase 2,715,755 shares of our common stock, including a Customer Warrant (as defined herein) to purchase an aggregate of 2,680,607 shares of Class A Common Stock with an exercise price of $1.152 per share. |
To the extent the aforementioned warrants are exercised, additional shares of Common Stock will be issued, which will result in dilution to the holders of Common Stock and increase the number of shares eligible for resale in the public market. We believe the likelihood that warrant holders will exercise their warrants, and therefore the amount of cash proceeds that we would receive, is dependent upon the trading price of our Common Stock. If the trading price for our Common Stock is less than $11.50 per share, we believe holders of our Public Warrants and Private Warrants will be unlikely to exercise their warrants. On March 5, 2025, the last reported sales price of our Common Stock was $8.18 per share.
54
Sales of substantial shares in the public market or the fact that warrants may be exercised could adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock. There is no guarantee that the Public Warrants or Private Warrants will ever be in the money prior to their expiration, and as such, the warrants may expire worthless. There is no guarantee that the warrants will be in the money following the time they become exercisable and prior to their expiration, and as such, the Warrants may expire worthless. See “The warrants may never be in the money, and they may expire worthless and the terms of the Public Warrants may be amended in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants approve of such amendment.”
The terms of the Public Warrants may be amended in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants approve of such amendment.
The warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement (the “warrant agreement”) between American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent, and Supernova. The warrant agreement provides that the terms of the warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision or correct any mistake but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of the Public Warrants. Accordingly, we may amend the terms of the Public Warrants in a manner adverse to a holder if holders of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants approve of such amendment and, solely with respect to any amendment to the terms of the Private Warrants or any provision of the warrant agreement with respect to the Private Warrants, 50% of the number of the then outstanding Private Warrants.
Although our ability to amend the terms of the Public Warrants with the consent of at least 50% of the then-outstanding Public Warrants is unlimited, examples of such amendments could be amendments to, among other things, increase the exercise price of the Public Warrants, convert the Public Warrants into cash, shorten the exercise period or decrease the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of a Public Warrant.
We may redeem your unexpired Public Warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to the holder, thereby making such Public Warrants worthless. We may redeem your unexpired Warrants prior to their exercise at a time that is disadvantageous to the holder, thereby making such Warrants worthless.
When the price per share of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00, we may redeem the outstanding warrants in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant as follows:
● | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
● | if, and only if, the closing price of the shares of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
If the foregoing conditions are satisfied, we issue a notice of redemption of the warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. Any such exercise would not be done on a “cashless” basis and would require the exercising warrant holder to pay the exercise price in cash for each warrant being exercised. The price of the shares of our Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. If and when the Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right even if we are unable to register or qualify the underlying securities for sale under all applicable state securities laws. Redemption of the outstanding Public Warrants could force you to: (i) exercise your Public Warrants and pay the exercise price therefore at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so; (ii) sell your Public Warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your warrants; or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding Public Warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your warrants. Redemption of the outstanding Warrants could force you to: (i) exercise your Warrants and pay the exercise price therefore at a time when it may be disadvantageous for you to do so; (ii) sell your Warrants at the then-current market price when you might otherwise wish to hold your Warrants; or (iii) accept the nominal redemption price which, at the time the outstanding Warrants are called for redemption, is likely to be substantially less than the market value of your Warrants.
When the price per share of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00, we may redeem the outstanding warrants in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.10 per warrant as follows:
● | upon a minimum of 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption provided that holders will be able to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis prior to redemption as described below; and |
● | if, and only if, the closing price of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $10.00 per share on the trading day prior to the date on which we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
55
Beginning on the date the notice of redemption is given until the warrants are redeemed or exercised, holders may elect to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis and could potentially receive up to a maximum of 0.361 shares of Common Stock per warrant or a minimum of 0.034 shares of Common Stock per warrant. The number of shares of Common Stock that a warrant holder will ultimately receive upon a cashless exercise in connection with a redemption by us, is based on the fair market value of our Common Stock on the redemption date, determined based on the volume weighted average price of our Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of the warrants, and the number of months that the corresponding redemption date precedes the expiration date of the warrants, as set forth in a table in the warrant agreement.
The value received upon exercise of the Warrants (1) may be less than the value the holders would have received if they had exercised their warrants at a later time where the underlying shares price is higher and (2) may not compensate the holders for the value of the Warrants, including because the number of shares of Common Stock received is capped at 0.361 per share of Common Stock per warrant (subject to adjustment) irrespective of the remining life of the warrants.
None of the Private Warrants will be redeemable by us, subject to certain circumstances, so long as they are held by the Supernova Partners II LLC (“Supernova Sponsor”) or its permitted transferees.
The warrant agreement designates the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us. 74 Table of Contents The warrant agreement designates the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by holders of warrants, which could limit the ability of warrant holders to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us.
The warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. The warrant agreement provides that, subject to applicable law, (i) any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the warrant agreement, including under the Securities Act, will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and (ii) that we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. Under the warrant agreement, we also agree that we will waive any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement do not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these provisions of the warrant agreement do not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of the Public Warrants or Private Warrants will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the forum provisions in our warrant agreement.
If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of the Public Warrants or Private Warrants, such holder will be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder. If any action, the subject matter of which is within the scope of the forum provisions of the warrant agreement, is filed in a court other than a court of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (a “foreign action”) in the name of any holder of the Public Warrants or Private Warrants, such holder will be deemed to have consented to: (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of New York in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the forum provisions (an “enforcement action”), and (y) having service of process made upon such warrant holder in any such enforcement action by service upon such warrant holder’s counsel in the foreign action as agent for such warrant holder.
This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. This choice-of-forum provision may limit a warrant holder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with our company, which may discourage such lawsuits. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our warrant agreement inapplicable or unenforceable with respect to one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and result in a diversion of the time and resources of our management and board of directors.
We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert management attention. We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert management attention.
The market price of our Common Stock is volatile and, in the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. The market price of our Common Stock may be volatile and, in the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Securities litigation against us could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention from other business concerns, which could seriously harm our business.
Information available in public media that is published by third parties, including blogs, articles, message boards and social and other media may include statements not attributable to the Company and may not be reliable or accurate.
We have received, and may continue to receive, a high degree of media coverage that is published or otherwise disseminated by third parties, including blogs, articles, message boards and social and other media. This includes coverage that is not attributable to statements made by our officers. Information provided by third parties may not be reliable or accurate and could materially impact the trading price of our Common Stock which could cause stockholders to lose their investments.
56
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk management and strategy
We have implemented and maintain various information security processes designed to identify, assess and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats to our critical computer networks, third party hosted services, communications systems, hardware and software, and our critical data, including intellectual property and confidential information that is proprietary, strategic or competitive in nature, including information regarding our product architecture, software, algorithms, and applications (“Information Systems and Data”).
Our information security function is supported by members of our legal team and a third party service provider, which helps identify, assess and manage the Company’s cybersecurity threats and risks, including through the use of the Company’s risk register. This team identifies and assesses risks from cybersecurity threats by monitoring and evaluating our threat environment and the Company’s risk profile using various methods including, for example: manual and automated tools; subscribing to and analyzing reports and services that identify cybersecurity threats; conducting scans of our threat environment; evaluating threats reported to us; conducting vulnerability assessments to identify vulnerabilities; and analyzing external threat intelligence feeds.
Depending on the environment, product, or system, we implement and maintain various technical, physical, and organizational measures, processes, standards and policies designed to manage and mitigate material risks from cybersecurity threats to our Information Systems and Data, including, for example: performing risk analyses, establishing an incident response policy, having vulnerability management processes, and implementing certain security certificates for certain functions of our business; encrypting certain data, using network security controls; segregating data; maintaining access and physical security controls; managing, tracking, and disposing of assets; and monitoring our systems. In addition, we may refer to and perform assessments against the Center for Internet Security’s Critical Security Controls to help inform our cybersecurity program, as well as perform assessments such as penetration tests.
Our assessment and management of material risks from cybersecurity threats are
Governance
Our board of directors addresses the Company’s cybersecurity risk management as part of its general oversight function.
Our cybersecurity risk assessment and management processes are implemented and maintained by our legal team along with third-party service providers in coordination with the CTO. The
57
Our CTO has over 20 years of experience in engineering and information technology management at various organizations. Our CTO collaborates regularly with our third-party service provider who provides a fractional Chief Information Security Officer, who has extensive experience in cybersecurity and a certification as a CISSP.
Cybersecurity Threats
As of December 31, 2024,
Recently Filed
Ticker * | File Date |
---|---|
CPPTL | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
TUSK | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
EQBK | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
FSUN | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
UBX | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
BSTT | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
NDLS | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
FNRN | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
SNBR | 1 day, 16 hours ago |
FCBC | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
MYFW | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
BRDG | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
AIMD | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
GRND | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
SPFI | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
ATRA | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
SGHT | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
CMCT | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
OB | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
NABL | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
NODK | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
RGTI | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
UNTY | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
HBT | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
ZCSH | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
ETCG | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
LXRX | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
EBTC | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
GSBC | 1 day, 17 hours ago |
CCFN | 1 day, 18 hours ago |
GPLB | 1 day, 18 hours ago |
BCBP | 1 day, 18 hours ago |
SBFG | 1 day, 18 hours ago |
HMST | 1 day, 19 hours ago |
CAC | 1 day, 19 hours ago |
BMNM | 1 day, 19 hours ago |
OFLX | 1 day, 19 hours ago |
FSTR | 1 day, 19 hours ago |
CARE | 1 day, 20 hours ago |
IBCP | 1 day, 21 hours ago |
BFST | 1 day, 21 hours ago |
LFWD | 1 day, 22 hours ago |
FNLC | 1 day, 23 hours ago |
COOK | 2 days ago |
ESPR | 2 days ago |
FORR | 2 days ago |
MASS | 2 days ago |
ADV | 2 days, 1 hour ago |
NBBK | 2 days, 1 hour ago |
WHF | 2 days, 1 hour ago |