SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2024

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and disclosure required by the U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. In the opinion of management, all adjustments consisting of normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods have been included. The unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

In preparing the unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity U.S. GAAP, the management is required to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the unaudited consolidated financial statements. Significant estimates required to be made by management include, but are not limited to, the allowance for credit losses, useful lives of property and equipment and intangible asset, the impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill, valuation of stock-based compensation, valuation allowance of deferred tax assets, implicit interest rate of operating and finance leases, valuation of asset retirement obligations, valuation of investment in warrants, revenue recognition and purchase price allocation with respect to business combination. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Asset Retirement Obligations

Asset Retirement Obligations

Pursuant to the lease agreements for the office space, the Company is responsible to restore these spaces back to its original statute at the time of leaving. The Company recognizes an obligation related to these restorations as asset retirement obligation included in other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 410, “Asset Retirement Obligation Accounting”. The Company capitalizes the associated asset retirement cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related property and equipment. The following table presents changes in asset retirement obligations:

	September 30,			December 31,
	2024			2023
Beginning balance	$	208,732		$	138,018
Liabilities incurred		-			83,821
Accretion expense		257			428
Liabilities settled		(3,779	)		-
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(4,392	)		(13,535	)
Ending balance	$	200,818		$	208,732

Software Development Costs

Software Development Costs

Software development costs are expensed as incurred until the point the Company establishes technological feasibility. Technological feasibility is established upon completion of a detailed program design or the completion of a working model. Costs incurred by the Company between establishment of technological feasibility and the point at which the product is ready for general release are capitalized and amortized over the economic life of the related products. The Company’s software development costs incurred subsequent to achieving technological feasibility have not been significant and all software development costs have been expensed as incurred.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, software development costs expensed as incurred amounted to $307,931 and $289,303, respectively. These software development costs were included in the research and development expenses.

Investment in Warrants

Investment in Warrants

Investment in warrants represents stock warrants of its consulting service customers. The warrants are measured at fair value and any changes in fair value are recognized in other income (expenses). Investment in warrants is classified as long-term if the warrants are exercisable over one year after the date of receipt.

Investments in Marketable Securities

Investments in Marketable Securities

Investments in marketable securities represent equity securities registered for public sale with readily determinable fair value. The marketable securities were obtained through stocks of its customers as noncash consideration from consulting services and through exercise of stock warrants of its consulting service customers and measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in other income (expenses).

Investment in Equity Securities

Investment in Equity Securities

Investment in equity securities represents investment in a privately held entity that does not have a readily determinable fair value or report net asset value. Investment in equity securities is accounted for using a measurement alternative, under which this investment is measured at cost, adjusted for observable price changes and impairments, with changes recognized in other income (expenses). Investment in equity securities is classified as long-term if the Company anticipates to dispose of the investment over one year after the date of receipt based on information available as of the date the unaudited consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company did not recognize any impairment loss on investment in equity securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Investment in SAFE

Investment in SAFE

Investment in SAFE represents investment in a privately held entity that does not have a readily determinable fair value or report net asset value through a simple agreement for future equity (“SAFE”). Investment in SAFE is accounted for using a measurement alternative, under which this investment is measured at cost, adjusted for observable price changes and impairments, with changes recognized in other income (expenses). Investment in SAFE is classified as long-term if the Company anticipates the equity financing or dissolution or liquidity event prescribed in the SAFE to take place over one year after the date of receipt based on information available as of the date the unaudited consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company did not recognize any impairment loss on investment in SAFE for the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Intangible Asset, Net

Intangible Asset, Net

Intangible asset represents the customer relationship acquired from business acquisition of Sigmaways and its subsidiaries. The acquired intangible asset is recognized and measured at fair value at the time of acquisition and is amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated economic useful life of the respective asset. The estimated useful life of the customer relationship is 8 years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Other Than Goodwill

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Other Than Goodwill

Long-lived assets with finite lives, primarily property and equipment, operating lease right-of-use assets and intangible asset, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the estimated cash flows from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition are below the asset’s carrying value, then the asset is deemed to be impaired and written down to its fair value. There were no impairments of these assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023.

Goodwill

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Others”, goodwill is subject to at least an annual assessment for impairment or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment may exist, applying a fair-value based test. Fair value is generally determined using a discounted cash flow analysis.

Foreign Currency Translation

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of HeartCore Japan, HeartCore Capital Advisors and HeartCore Financial – Japan is the Japanese Yen (“JPY”). The functional currency of HeartCore USA, HeartCore Financial and Sigmaways is the United States Dollar (“US$”). The functional currency of Sigmaways B.V. is the Euro (“EUR”). The functional currency of Sigmaways Technologies is the Canada Dollar (“CAD”). The functional currency of HeartCore Luvina is the Vietnam Dong (“VND”). Transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are translated into the functional currency using the applicable exchange rates at the balance sheet dates. The resulting exchange differences are recorded in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

The reporting currency of the Company is the US$, and the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been expressed in US$. In accordance with ASC Topic 830-30, “Translation of Financial Statements”, assets and liabilities of the Company whose functional currency is not US$ are translated into US$, using the exchange rate on the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at average rates prevailing during the period. The gains and losses resulting from the translation of financial statements are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income within the unaudited consolidated statements of changes in shareholders’ equity.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenues under ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”.

To determine revenue recognition for contracts with customers, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, including variable consideration to the extent that it is probable that a significant future reversal will not occur, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the respective performance obligations in the contract, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Revenues amount represents the invoiced value, net of a value-added tax (“Consumption Tax”) and applicable local government levies. The Consumption Tax on sales are calculated at 10% of gross sales in Japan and Vietnam, 5% of gross sales in Canada, 21% of gross sales in Netherlands and nil of gross sales in the United States.

The Company currently generates its revenue from the following main sources:

Revenues from On-premise Software

Licenses for on-premise software provide the customers with a right to use the software as it exists when made available to the customers. The Company provides on-premise software in the form of both perpetual licenses and term-based licenses which grant the customers with the right for a specified term. Revenues from on-premise licenses are recognized upfront at the point in time when the software is made available to the customers. Licenses for on-premise software are typically sold to the customers with maintenance and support services in a bundle. Revenues under the bundled arrangements are allocated based on the relative standalone selling prices (“SSP”) of on-premise software and maintenance and support service. The SSP for maintenance and support services is estimated based upon observable transactions when those services are sold on a standalone basis. The SSP of on-premise software is typically estimated using the residual approach as the Company is unable to establish the SSP for on-premise licenses based on observable prices given the same products are sold for a broad range of amounts (that is, the selling price is highly variable) and a representative SSP is not discernible from past transactions or other observable evidence.

Revenues from Maintenance and Support Services

Maintenance and support services provided with software licenses consist of trouble shooting, technical support and the right to receive unspecified software updates when and if available during the subscription. Revenues from maintenance and support services are recognized over time as such services are performed. Revenues for consumption-based services are generally recognized as the services are performed and accepted by the customers.

Revenues from Software as a Service (“SaaS”)

The Company’s software is available for use as hosted application arrangements under subscription fee agreements without licensing the rights of the software to the customers. Subscription fees from these applications are recognized over time on a ratable basis over the customer agreement term beginning on the date the Company’s solution is made available to the customers. The subscription contracts are generally one year or less in length.

Revenues from Software Development and Other Miscellaneous Services

The Company provides customers with software development and support services pursuant to their specific requirements, which primarily compose of consulting, integration, training, custom application, and workflow development. The Company also provides other miscellaneous services, such as 3D Space photography. The Company generally recognizes revenues at a point in time when control is transferred to the customers and the Company is entitled to the payment, which is when the promised services are delivered and accepted by the customers.

Revenues from Customized Software Development and Services

The Company’s customized software development and services revenues primarily include revenues from providing software development solutions and other support services to its customers. The contract pricing is at stated billing rates per hour. These contracts are generally short-term in nature and not longer than one year in duration. For services provided under the contracts that result in the transfer of control over time, the underlying deliverable in the contracts is owned and controlled by the customers and does not create an asset with an alternative use to the Company. The Company recognizes revenues on rate per hour contracts based on the amount billable to the customers, as the Company has the right to invoice the customers in an amount that directly corresponds with the value to the customers of the Company’s performance to date.

Revenues from Consulting Services

The Company provides public listing related consulting services to customers pursuant to the specific requirements prescribed in the contracts, which primarily include communicating with intermediary parties, preparing required documents related to the initial public offering and supporting the listing process. The consulting service contracts normally include both cash and noncash considerations. Cash consideration is paid in installment payments and is recognized in revenues over the period of the contract by reference to progress toward complete satisfaction of that performance obligation. Noncash consideration is in the form of warrants of the customers and is measured at fair value at contract inception. Noncash consideration that is variable for reasons other than only the form of the consideration is included in the transaction price, but is subject to the constraint on variable consideration. The Company assesses the estimated amount of the variable noncash consideration at contract inception and subsequently, to determine when and to what extent it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenues recognized will not occur once the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved. Only when the significant revenues reversal is concluded probable of not occurring can variable consideration be included in revenues. Based on evaluation of likelihood and magnitude of a reversal in applying the constraint, the variable noncash consideration is recognized in revenues until the underlying uncertainties have been resolved.

The Company records reduction to revenues for estimated customer returns and allowances. The Company bases its estimates on historical rates of customer returns and allowances as well as the specific identification of outstanding returns. The actual amount of customer returns and allowances, which is inherently uncertain, may differ from the Company’s estimates. If the Company determines that actual or expected returns or allowances are significantly higher or lower than the reserves it established, it would record a reduction or increase, as appropriate, to revenues in the period in which it makes such a determination. Reserves for customer refunds are included within other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. At a minimum, the Company reviews and refines these estimates on a quarterly basis.

The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to the customers. The Company has determined that its contracts do not include a significant financing component. The Company records a contract asset, which is included in accounts receivable, current or non-current, in the consolidated balance sheets, when revenues are recognized prior to invoicing. The Company factors certain accounts receivable upon or after the performance obligation is being met. The Company records deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets when revenues are recognized subsequent to cash collection for an invoice. Deferred revenue is reported net of related uncollected deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets. The amount of revenues recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 that were included in the opening deferred revenue balance was approximately $1.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

Disaggregation of Revenues

The Company disaggregates its revenues from contracts by product/service types, as the Company believes it best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of the revenues and cash flows are affected by economic factors. The Company’s disaggregation of revenues by revenue stream for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 is as following:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenues from on-premise software	$	681,065	$	396,647	$	2,335,225	$	1,457,836
Revenues from maintenance and support services		557,432		650,603		1,734,480		2,226,802
Revenues from software as a service (“SaaS”)		55,092		148,857		347,040		497,430
Revenues from software development and other miscellaneous services		428,968		474,859		1,392,987		1,561,655
Revenues from customized software development and services		2,243,504		2,405,907		6,543,156		6,332,479
Revenues from consulting services		13,884,350		612,035		14,610,643		6,442,229
Total revenues	$	17,850,411	$	4,688,908	$	26,963,531	$	18,518,431

The Company’s disaggregation of revenues by product/service is as following:

	For the Three Months Ended September 30,				For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenues from customer experience management platform	$	1,549,000	$	1,403,932	$	5,029,173	$	4,696,241
Revenues from process mining		13,720		99,618		188,182		390,374
Revenues from robotic process automation		48,171		58,051		206,735		271,520
Revenues from task mining		83,667		74,958		236,887		277,725
Revenues from customized software development and services		2,243,504		2,405,907		6,543,156		6,332,479
Revenues from consulting services		13,884,350		612,035		14,610,643		6,442,229
Revenues from others		27,999		34,407		148,755		107,863
Total revenues	$	17,850,411	$	4,688,908	$	26,963,531	$	18,518,431

As of September 30, 2024 and 2023, and for the periods then ended, the majority of the long-lived assets (excluding intangible asset) and revenues generated were attributed to the Company’s operation in Japan.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to credit risk consist primarily of accounts receivable, note receivable and other receivable. The Company usually does not require collateral or other security to support these receivables. The Company conducts periodic reviews of the financial condition and payment practices of its customers to minimize collection risk on accounts receivable.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, customer A represents 49.3% of the Company’s total revenues. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, customer B and C represent 14.2% and 13.6%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenues.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, no vendor accounts for more than 10% of the Company’s total purchases. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, vendor A, B, C and D represent 26.4%, 26.2%, 22.1% and 15.9%, respectively, of the Company’s total purchases.

Stock-based Compensation

Stock-based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation awards in accordance with ASC Topic 718, “Compensation – Stock Compensation”. The cost of services received from employees and non-employees in exchange for awards of equity instruments is recognized in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) based on the estimated fair value of those awards on the grant date and amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period or vesting period. The Company records forfeitures as they occur.

Business Combinations

Business Combinations

The Company accounts its business combinations using the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805. The purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to the tangible assets, liabilities, identifiable intangible asset acquired and non-controlling interests, if any, based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over those fair values is recorded as goodwill. Acquisition-related expenses are expensed as incurred.

Consideration transferred in a business combination is measured at the fair value as of the date of acquisition. Where the consideration in an acquisition includes contingent consideration, and the payment of which depends on the achievement of certain specified conditions post-acquisition, the contingent consideration is recognized and measured at its fair value at the acquisition date and is recorded as a liability. It is subsequently carried at fair value with changes in fair value reflected in earnings.

In a business combination achieved in stages, the Company remeasures the previously held equity interest in the acquiree immediately before obtaining control at its acquisition-date fair value and the remeasurement gain or loss, if any, is recognized in the unaudited consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

Fair value is determined based upon the guidance of ASC Topic 820, “Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures”, and generally are determined using Level 2 inputs and Level 3 inputs. The determination of fair value involves the use of significant judgments and estimates. The Company utilizes the assistance of a third-party valuation appraiser to determine the fair value as of the date of acquisition.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

The Company performs fair value measurements in accordance with ASC Topic 820. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC Topic 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. An asset’s or a liability’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. ASC Topic 820 establishes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

● Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

● Level 2: inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly; or

● Level 3: unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair values of the assets or liabilities.

As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the carrying values of current assets, except for investments in marketable securities, and current liabilities approximated their fair values reported in the consolidated balance sheets due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

Assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are summarized below (also see NOTE 6):

Fair Value Measurements as of September 30, 2024
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Value at September 30, 2024
Investments in marketable securities		7,349,575		-		-		7,349,575
Long-term investment in warrants		-		-		551,787		551,787

Fair Value Measurements as of December 31, 2023
	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Fair Value at December 31, 2023
Investments in marketable securities		642,348		-		-		642,348
Long-term investment in warrants		-		-		2,004,308		2,004,308

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which expands annual and interim disclosure requirements for reportable segments, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU No. 2023-07 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2023, on a retrospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvement to Income Tax Disclosures, to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures, primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. ASU No. 2023-09 is effective for public companies for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2024, on a prospective basis. For all other entities, it is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2025, on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this ASU on its unaudited consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.