Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Convertible Instruments

The Company has utilized various types of financing to fund its business needs, including convertible debt and convertible preferred stock with detachable warrants. The Company considers guidance within Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (ASC 470-20), ASC 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity (ASC 480), and ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) when accounting for the issuance of its convertible securities. Additionally, the Company reviews the instruments to determine whether they are freestanding or contain an embedded derivative and, if so, whether they should be classified in permanent equity, mezzanine equity or as a liability at each reporting period until the amount is settled and reclassified into equity.

When multiple instruments are issued in a single transaction, the Company allocates total proceeds from the transaction among the individual freestanding instruments identified. The allocation is made after identifying (1) all the freestanding instruments and (2) the subsequent measurement basis for those instruments. The subsequent measurement basis determines how the proceeds are allocated. Generally, proceeds are allocated based on one of the following methods:


•	Fair value method - The instrument being analyzed is allocated a portion of the proceeds equal to its fair value, with the remaining proceeds allocated to the other instruments as appropriate.


•	Relative fair value method - The instrument being analyzed is allocated a portion of the proceeds based on the proportion of its fair value to the sum of the fair values of all the instruments covered in the allocation.


•	Residual value method - The instrument being analyzed is allocated the remaining proceeds after an allocation is made to all other instruments covered in the allocation.

Generally, when there are multiple instruments issued in a single transaction that have different subsequent measurement bases, the proceeds from the transaction are first allocated to the instrument that is subsequently measured at fair value (i.e. - instruments accounted for as a derivative liability) at its issuance date fair value, with the residual proceeds allocated to the instrument not subsequently measured at fair value. In the event both instruments in the transaction are not subsequently measured at fair value (i.e. equity-classified instruments), the proceeds from the transaction are allocated to the freestanding instruments based on their respective fair values, using the relative fair value method.

After the proceeds are allocated to the freestanding instruments, resulting in an initial discount on the host contract, those instruments are further evaluated for embedded features (i.e. conversion options) that require bifurcation and separate accounting as a derivative financial instrument pursuant to ASC 815. Embedded derivatives are initially and subsequently measured at fair value. Under ASC 815, a portion of the proceeds received upon the issuance of the hybrid contract is allocated to the fair value of the derivative. See Note 4 for additional discussion on the identified embedded derivatives associated with the Company’s convertible notes.

The Company accounts for convertible instruments in which it is determined that the embedded conversion options should not be bifurcated from their host instruments, in accordance with ASC 470-20. Under ASC 470-20, the Company records, when necessary, discounts to convertible notes or convertible preferred stock for the intrinsic value of conversion options embedded in the convertible instruments based upon the differences between the fair value of the underlying common stock at the commitment date of the transaction and the effective conversion price embedded in the convertible instrument, unless limited by the proceeds allocated to such instrument. See Note 4 and Note 10 for additional discussion on the identified embedded features (conversion options) associated with the Company’s convertible notes and convertible preferred stock and resulting beneficial conversion features recorded.

The Company allocates issuance costs between the individual freestanding instruments identified on the same basis as proceeds were allocated. Issuance costs associated with the issuance of stock or equity contracts (i.e. equity-classified warrants and convertible preferred stock) are recorded as a charge against the gross proceeds of the offering. Issuance costs associated with the issuance of debt (i.e. convertible debt) is recorded as a direct reduction of the carrying amount of the debt liability, however, if debt issuance costs exceed the carrying amount of the debt, issuance costs are recorded to additional paid-in capital as a reduction of the beneficial conversion feature. Any issuance costs associated with the issuance of liability-classified warrants are expensed as incurred.

Income Taxes

In accordance with ASC 270, Interim Reporting, and ASC 740, Income Taxes, the Company is required at the end of each interim period to determine the best estimate of its annual effective tax rate and then apply that rate in providing for income taxes on a current year-to-date (interim period) basis. For the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company recorded no tax expense or benefit due to the expected current year loss and its historical losses. The Company had not recorded its net deferred tax asset as of either March 31, 2017 or December 31, 2016 because it maintained a full valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets as management has determined that it is not more likely than not that the Company will realize these future tax benefits. As of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the Company had no uncertain tax positions.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB and rules are issued by the SEC that we adopt as of the specified date. Unless otherwise noted, management does not believe that any recently issued accounting pronouncements issued by the FASB or guidance issued by the SEC had, or is expected to have, a material impact on the Company’s present or future consolidated financial statements.