Fair Value Measurements

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

The Company utilizes a valuation hierarchy that prioritizes fair value measurements based on the types of inputs used for the various valuation techniques related to its financial assets and financial liabilities. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are described as follows:

Level 1 – Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets.

Level 2 – Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.

In accordance with the fair value hierarchy described above, the following table sets forth the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:


			December 31, 2021
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Financial assets
Cash equivalents and restricted cash (Money Market Accounts)	$	49,051,061	$	49,051,061	$	—	$	—


			December 31, 2020
	Total		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Financial assets
Restricted cash (Money Market Account)	$	50,367	$	50,367	$	—	$	—
Liabilities
Convertible Promissory Notes	$	5,829,292	$	—	$	—	$	5,829,292

As further described in Note 6, the Company issued convertible promissory notes from inception through April 2019 (the “Junior Convertible Notes”) to various investors and from October 2019 through March 2020, the

Company issued convertible bridge notes to the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (the “Convertible Bridge Notes”). During April 2020, certain of the Junior Convertible Notes were converted into Senior Convertible Notes (the “Senior Convertible Notes”) (collectively, the “Convertible Promissory Notes”).

Due to the number of embedded provisions contained in the Convertible Promissory Notes and Convertible Bridge Notes, the fair value option, as prescribed by ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, was elected and applied to all Convertible Promissory Note and Convertible Bridge Note issuances since the Company’s inception in 2015, in connection with the preparation of these financial statements. The fair value of the Convertible Promissory Notes and Convertible Bridge Notes was determined using a scenario-based analysis that estimates the fair value based on the probability-weighted present value of expected future investment returns, considering each of the possible outcomes available to the noteholders, including various IPO, settlement, equity financing, corporate transaction and dissolution scenarios.

The Company adjusted the carrying value of its Convertible Promissory Notes and Convertible Bridge Notes to their estimated fair value at each reporting date, with any related increases or decreases in the fair value recorded as change in fair value of convertible promissory notes in the consolidated statement of operations. The change in fair value of convertible promissory notes within the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 consolidated statement of operations also includes reversals of gains and losses previously recognized by the Company upon conversion of the notes (Note 6).

The fair value of the Senior Convertible Notes at December 31, 2020 was calculated using an option pricing model (“OPM”) framework and utilized the back-solve method for inferring and allocating the equity value predicated on the concurrent sale of Series A Stock. This method was selected as it was concluded that the sale of the Series A Stock was an arm’s-length transaction. Application of the OPM back-solve method involves making assumptions for the expected time to liquidity and volatility, and then solving for the value of equity such that value for the most recent financing equals the amount paid.

The following table presents a roll-forward of the aggregate fair values of the Company’s Convertible Promissory Notes (Note 6) for which fair value is determined by Level 3 inputs:


	2021		2020
Balance at beginning of year	$	5,829,292	$	21,842,931
Issuance of Convertible Bridge Notes	—		25,000
Fair value adjustments	(9,317)		(9,877,857)
Accrued interest	46,315		660,408
Conversion of Junior Convertible Notes into Series Seed Stock	—		(6,291,288)
Conversion of Senior and Convertible Bridge Notes into Series A Stock	(5,866,290)		(529,902)
Balance at end of year	$	—	$	5,829,292

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details