Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s estimates include revenue recognition, stock-based compensation expense, bonus and warranty accrual, income tax valuation allowances and reserves, recovery of long‑lived assets, lease liability, inventory valuation, allowance for doubtful accounts and available-for-sale securities. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Investments in Available-for-Sale Securities

The Company classifies its debt securities, which are reported at estimated fair value with unrealized gains and losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, as available-for-sale securities. Investments in securities with maturities of less than one year, or where management’s intent is to use the investments to fund current operations, or to make them available for current operations, are classified as short-term investments. Realized gains, realized losses and declines in value of securities judged to be other-than-temporary, are included in other income (expense) within the consolidated statements of operations. The cost of investments for purposes of computing realized and unrealized gains and losses is based on the specific identification method. Interest earned on securities is also included in other income (expense) within the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company recognizes other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) of a debt security for which there has been a decline in fair value below amortized cost if (i) management intends to sell the security, (ii) it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis, or (iii) the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. The amount by which amortized cost exceeds the fair value of a debt security that is considered to have OTTI is separated into a component representing the credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and a component related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive loss. The measurement of the credit loss component is equal to the difference between the debt security’s amortized cost basis and the present value of its expected future cash flows discounted at the security’s effective yield. If the Company intends to sell the security, or if it is more likely than not it will be required to sell the security before recovery, an OTTI write-down is recognized in earnings equal to the entire difference between the amortized cost basis and fair value of the security. As the Company did not have available-for-sale securities as of December 31, 2022 and did not have any unrealized losses as of December 31, 2021, there was no OTTI of its available-for-sale securities as of either balance sheet date.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value measurements are based on the premise that fair value is an exit price representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, the following three-tier fair value hierarchy has been used in determining the inputs used in measuring fair value:


Level 1	–	Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities on the reporting date.

Level 2	–	Pricing inputs are based on quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3	–	Pricing inputs are generally unobservable and include situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the investment. The inputs into the determination of fair value require management’s judgment or estimation of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities. The fair values are therefore determined using factors that involve considerable judgment and interpretations, including but not limited to private and public comparables, third-party appraisals, discounted cash flow models, and fund manager estimates.

The carrying value of financial instruments classified as current assets and current liabilities approximate fair value due to their liquidity and short-term nature. Investments that are classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair value, which is determined using quoted market prices, broker or dealer quotations or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The carrying value of the SVB Term Loan (see Note 8) is estimated to approximate its fair value as the interest rate approximates the market rate for debt with similar terms and risk characteristics.

The NuvoGen obligation relates to an asset purchase transaction with a then-common stockholder of the Company (see Note 10). As of December 31, 2022, the estimated aggregate fair value of the NuvoGen obligation is approximately $3.9 million, determined using a Monte Carlo simulation with key assumptions including future revenue, volatility, discount and risk-free rates. The estimated fair value of the NuvoGen obligation represents a Level 3 measurement.

Inventory

Inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The Company determines the cost of inventory using the first-in, first out method. The Company estimates the recoverability of inventory by reference to internal estimates of future demands and product life cycles, including expiration. The Company periodically analyzes its inventory levels to identify inventory that may expire prior to expected sale or has a cost basis in excess of its estimated realizable value and records a charge to expense for such inventory as appropriate. The Company classifies inventory as long-term when it expects to utilize the inventory beyond its normal operating cycle.

The Company charges cost of sales for inventory provisions to write-down our inventory to the lower of cost or net realizable value or for obsolete or excess inventory. Most of its inventory provisions relate to excess quantities of products, based on our inventory levels and future product purchase commitments compared to assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Once inventory has been written-off or written-down, it creates a new cost basis for the inventory that is not subsequently written-up, any increase in demand forecasted or inventory value of such inventory is not realized until such inventory is sold.

Equipment that is under evaluation for purchase remains in inventory as the Company maintains title to the equipment throughout the evaluation period. The period of time customers use to evaluate the Company’s equipment generally ranges from 90 to 180 days, and in certain circumstances the evaluation period may need to be extended beyond that period. However, in no case will the evaluation period exceed one year. If the customer has not purchased the equipment or entered into a reagent rental agreement with the Company after evaluating the product for one year, the equipment is returned to the Company or the customer is allowed to continue use of the equipment, in which case the equipment is written off to selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations. HTG EdgeSeq instruments at customer locations under evaluation agreements are included in finished goods inventory. Finished goods inventory under evaluation was approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at historical cost and depreciated over their useful lives, which range from three to five years, using the straight-line method. Equipment used in the field is amortized using the straight-line method over the lesser of the period of the related reagent rental or the estimated useful life. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the lesser of the remaining lease term or the estimated useful life.

Costs incurred in the development and installation of software for internal use and in the development of the Company’s website are expensed or capitalized, depending on whether they are incurred in the preliminary project stage (expensed), application development stage (capitalized), or post-implementation stage (expensed). Amounts capitalized following project completion are amortized on a straight-line basis over the useful life of the developed asset, which is generally three years.

Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset group to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset group exceeds its estimated future cash flow, an impairment charge is recognized in the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds the fair value of the asset group. Although the Company has accumulated losses since inception, the Company believes the future cash flows will be sufficient to exceed the carrying value of the Company’s long-lived assets. There were no impairments of long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021.

Leases

Arrangements meeting the definition of a lease are classified as operating or financing leases and are recorded on the consolidated balance sheets as both a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for each type of lease, calculated by discounting fixed lease payments over the lease term at the rate implicit in the lease or the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. Lease liabilities are increased by interest and reduced by payments each period, and the right-of-use asset is amortized over the lease term. For operating leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right-of-use asset result in straight-line rent expense over the lease term. For financing leases, interest on the lease liability and the amortization of the right-of-use asset results in front-loaded expense over the lease term. Variable lease expenses are recorded to rent expense as incurred.

In calculating the right-of-use asset and lease liability, the Company elects to combine lease and non-lease components for all classes of assets currently under lease, including facilities and computer equipment. The Company excludes short-term leases having initial terms of 12 months or less as an accounting policy election and recognizes rent expense on short-term leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term for these leases.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from contracts with customers is recognized when, or as, the Company satisfies its performance obligations by delivering the promised goods or service deliverables to the customers. A good or service deliverable is transferred to a customer when, or as, the customer obtains control of that good or service deliverable. A performance obligation may be satisfied over time or at a point in time. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied over time is recognized by measuring the Company’s progress in satisfying the performance obligation in a manner that depicts the transfer of the goods or services to the customer. Revenue from a performance obligation satisfied at a point in time is recognized at the point in time that the Company determines the customer obtains control over the promised good or service deliverable. The amount of revenue recognized reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those promised goods or services (i.e., the “transaction price”). In determining the transaction price, the Company considers multiple factors, including the effects of variable consideration. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price only to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainties with respect to the amount are resolved. In determining when to include variable consideration in the transaction price, the Company considers the range of possible outcomes, the predictive value of its past experiences, the time period of when uncertainties expect to be resolved and the amount of consideration that is susceptible to factors outside of the Company’s influence, such as the judgment and actions of third parties.

For contracts where the period between when the Company transfers a promised good or service to the customer and when the customer pays is one year or less, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component.

As the Company’s agreements for product and product-related services revenue have an expected duration of one year or less, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not disclose information about its remaining performance obligations.

The Company has also made a policy election to exclude from the measurement of the transaction price all taxes assessed by a government authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue producing transaction and collected by the Company from a customer. Such taxes may include but are not limited to sales, use, value added and certain excise taxes.

See Note 9 for additional discussion of the Company’s revenue recognition policies.

Product Warranty

The Company generally provides a one-year warranty on its HTG EdgeSeq platform covering the performance of system hardware and software in conformance with customer specifications under normal use and protecting against defects in materials and workmanship. The Company may, at its option, replace, repair or exchange products covered under valid warranty claims. A provision for estimated warranty costs is recognized at the time of sale, through cost of product and product-related services revenue, based upon recent historical experience and other relevant information as it becomes available. Customers have the option to purchase an extended warranty after the one-year warranty period expires. The Company continuously assesses the adequacy of its product warranty accrual by reviewing actual claims and adjusts the provision as needed. Warranty accrual is included in accrued liabilities and other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

Stock-based Compensation

The Company incurs stock-based compensation expense relating to grants of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and stock options to employees, consultants and non-employee directors under its equity incentive plans, and stock purchase rights granted under its employee stock purchase plans. The Company recognizes expense for stock-based awards based on the fair value of awards on the date of grant. The fair value of RSUs is based on the quoted market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The fair value of stock purchase rights and stock options granted pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The determination of the fair value utilizing the Black-Scholes option pricing model is affected by the fair value of the Company’s stock price and several assumptions, including volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate, and dividend yield. Generally, these assumptions are based on historical information and judgment is required to determine if historical trends may be indicators of future outcomes. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax base of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established against net deferred tax assets for the uncertainty it presents of our ability to use the net deferred tax assets, in this case, primarily carryforwards of net operating tax losses and research and development tax credits. In assessing the realizability of net deferred tax assets the Company has assessed the likelihood that net deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and to the extent that it is “more likely than not” that the assets will not be recovered or there is an insufficient history of operating profits, a valuation allowance is established. The Company records the valuation allowance in the period it determines that it is more likely than not that net deferred tax assets will not be realized. For the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company has provided a full valuation allowance for all net deferred tax assets due to their current realization being considered remote in the near term. Uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return are accounted for using the more likely than not threshold for financial statement recognition and measurement. Therefore, for income tax positions where it is not more likely than not that a tax benefit will be sustained in a court of last resort, the Company does not recognize a tax benefit in its financial statements.

Foreign Currency Translation and Foreign Currency Transactions

The Company has assets and liabilities, including accounts receivable and accounts payable, which are denominated in currencies other than its functional currency. These assets and liabilities are subject to re-measurement, the impact of which is recorded in selling, general and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of operations.

Adjustments resulting from translating foreign functional currency financial statements of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary into U.S. Dollars are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment, a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity.

Concentration Risks

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company maintains the majority of its cash balances in the form of cash deposits in checking and money market accounts in amounts in excess of federally insured limits. In accordance with the Loan Agreement, as of December 31, 2022, the Company's cash balances were held in operating accounts at and in a custodial account at U.S. Bank subject to a control agreement with Silicon Valley Bank. On March 12, 2023, the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve and FDIC announced that SVB depositors will have access to all of their money beginning on March 13, 2023. Management believes that the credit risk with regard to these deposits is not significant based on the quality of the financial institution or, with respect to deposits with SVB, as a result of the guarantee provided by the U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve and FDIC.

The Company sells its instruments, consumables, sample processing services, custom RUO assay design and collaborative development services primarily to biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions and molecular labs. The Company routinely assesses the financial strength of its customers and credit losses have been minimal to date.

The Company’s top two customers accounted for 16% and 14% of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared with the top two customers accounting for 20% and 10% of the Company’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021. The largest three customers accounted for approximately 37%, 24% and 13% of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2022. The largest two customers accounted for approximately 18% and 17% of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021. The third and fourth largest customers accounted for approximately 10% each of the Company’s accounts receivable as of December 31, 2021.

One vendor accounted for 13% of the Company’s accounts payable as of December 31, 2022, compared with two vendors who accounted for 28% and 16% of the Company’s accounts payable as of December 31, 2021.

The Company is also subject to supply chain risks related to the reliance on a single supplier to manufacture a subcomponent used in its HTG EdgeSeq instruments. Although there are a limited number of manufacturers for components of this type, the Company believes that other suppliers could provide similar products on comparable terms. However, a change in or loss of this supplier could significantly delay the delivery of products, which in turn would materially affect the Company’s ability to generate revenue.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The following are new FASB Accounting Standard Updates ("ASU") that had not been adopted by the Company as of December 31, 2022. The Company's management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting standards updates, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

In June 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-03, Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions ("ASU 2022-03"), which amends ASC 820 to clarify that a contractual sales restriction is not considered in measuring an equity security at fair value and to introduce new disclosure requirements for equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions that are measured at fair value. ASU 2022-03 applies to both holders and issuers of equity and equity-linked securities measured at fair value. The amendments in this ASU are effective for the Company in fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted for both interim and annual financial statements that have not yet been issued or made available for issuance. The Company is still evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the financial statements.

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt – Debt with Conversion and other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (“ASU 2020-06”), which simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by removing major separation models required under current GAAP. ASU 2020-06 removes certain settlement conditions that are required for equity contracts to qualify for the derivative scope exception and also simplifies the diluted earnings per share calculation in certain areas. The standard is effective for the Company effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. Early adoption is permitted, and adoption must be as of the beginning of the Company’s annual fiscal year. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which was subsequently amended by ASU 2018-19, ASU 2019-10 and ASU 2020-02, and requires the measurement of expected credit losses for financial instruments carried at amortized cost held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable forecasts. The updated guidance also amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities by requiring the recognition of impairments relating to credit losses through an allowance account and limits the amount of credit loss to the difference between a security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. In addition, the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position will no longer impact the determination of whether a credit loss exists. The main objective of this ASU is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. With the issuance of ASU 2019-10 in November 2019, the standard will be effective for the Company for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company's adoption of this standard on January 1, 2023 is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements or related footnote disclosures, given the high credit quality of the obligors to its available-for-sale debt securities and its history of minimal bad debt expense relating to trade accounts receivable.