Research Solutions Inc
For the period ended Sep 30, 2024. Filed Nov 14, 2024.
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A company's report for each of its first three quarters. The financial statements are not audited. It shows how the business has moved since the last annual report, and what management says changed.
Sep 30, 2024 · Filed Nov 14, 2024
RSSS$1.820.0%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
What changed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-03-31; filed 2024-05-13.
0001558370-24-007952
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsCurrent report: 10-Q
Period ended 2024-09-30; filed 2024-11-14.
0001558370-24-015749
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 68 previous paragraphs and 62 current paragraphs.
34 unchanged; 23 reworded; 5 added; 7 removed; 4 previous and 0 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 39 previous and 25 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (5)
Current report
allow for searching and identifying relevant research and then purchasing that research through one of our other solutions. In addition, these tools increasingly enable users to find insights in other datasets adjacent to STM content, such as Clinical Trial, Patent, Life Science & MedTech Regulatory information, Competitor and Technology landscape insights, in addition to searching the customer’s internal datasets. Scite.ai includes full text search capability on most of the worlds STM content providing better search results and citation information as supporting or contrasting evidence. This powers our AI assistant and literature search engine and gives researchers better insights into any topic. The advanced search solutions are sold through a seat, enterprise, or individual license. These Platforms are deployed as a single, multi-tenant system across our entire customer base. Customers securely access the Platforms through online web interfaces and via web service APIs that enable customers to leverage Platform features and functionality from within in-house and third-party software systems. The Platforms can also be configured to satisfy a customer’s individual preferences. We leverage our Platforms’ efficiencies in scalability, stability and development costs to fuel rapid innovation and competitive advantage.
Current report
Manage – Our References solution offers a comprehensive reference management solution with built-in document delivery capabilities specifically designed to meet the collaboration and security needs of research intensive organizations. This user-friendly Platform enables researchers to seamlessly organize their literature, collaborate with team members, and access a vast collection of scientific content. By integrating organization tools with instant access to millions of scholarly articles, our References solution streamlines the research workflow and enhances productivity for scientific professionals.
Current report
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
Current report
Net cash used in operating activities was $755,571 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and resulted primarily from a decrease in deferred revenue of $646,830 and an increase in accounts receivable of $112,965.
Current report
Net cash used in investing activities was $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
Removed paragraphs (7)
Previous report
Manage – Our References solution allows users to access the article inside the Platform including setting up personal folders or team folders and allows researchers to markup and take notes on the articles in a supported browser on a desktop or tablet.
Previous report
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Previous report
Total revenue increased $4,746,650, or 17.1%, for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the prior year, due to the following:
Previous report
Net loss increased $1,161,247 or 592.8%, for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased operating expenses, partially offset by increased gross profit as described above.
Previous report
Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,872,356 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and resulted primarily from an increase in deferred revenue of $986,044, an increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses of $947,789 and an increase in fair value of vested restricted common stock of $925,550, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $1,545,695.
Previous report
Net cash used in investing activities was $327,426 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and resulted primarily from the payment for non-refundable deposit for asset acquisition of $297,450.
Previous report
We entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with Silicon Valley Bank (“SVB”) on July 23, 2010, which, as amended, provides for a revolving line of credit for the lesser of $2,500,000, or 80% of eligible accounts receivable. The line of credit matured on February 28, 2024 and was not renewed. There were no outstanding borrowings on the line of credit at maturity and all security interests and liens related to the Loan and Security Agreement have been released.
Reworded paragraphs (23)
Previous wording
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes to those financial statements that are included elsewhere in this report. Our discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023.
Current wording
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes to those financial statements that are included elsewhere in this report. Our discussion includes forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, and intentions. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.
Previous wording
We provide software and related services to help research intensive organizations save time and money. We offer various software platforms (“Platform” or “Platforms”) that are typically sold to corporate, academic, government and individual researchers as cloud-based software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) via auto-renewing license agreements. Corporate, academic, and government customers typically sign up under annual agreements. Individual researchers can sign up under an annual or a month-to-month agreement and are typically billed monthly. Our Platforms also facilitate the sale of published scientific, technical, and medical (“STM”) content sold as individual articles (“Transactions”) either stand alone or via one or more of the research Platform solutions we provide. When one or more of the Platform solutions are used to purchase Transactions, customers pay for those transactions through monthly billing or via credit card for individual researchers. Our Platforms enable life science and other research-intensive organizations to accelerate their research and development activities through our advanced discovery tools (i.e. search), tools to access and buy STM articles required to support their research (i.e. acquire), as well as tools that manage that content across the enterprise and on an individual basis (i.e. manage). The Platforms typically deliver an ROI to the customer by reducing the amount of time it takes a research organization to find, acquire and manage content, in addition to also driving down the ultimate cost per article over time.
Current wording
We are a vertical SaaS and artificial intelligence (“AI”) company providing software and related services to help research intensive organizations simplify the research process, save time and money. We offer various software platforms (“Platform” or “Platforms”) that are typically sold to corporate, academic, government and individual researchers as cloud-based software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) via auto-renewing license agreements. Corporate, academic, and government customers typically sign up under annual or multi-year agreements paid annually in advance. Individual researchers can sign up under an annual or a month-to-month agreement and are typically billed monthly. Our Platforms also facilitate the sale of published scientific, technical, and medical (“STM”) content sold as individual articles (“Transactions”) either stand alone or via one or more of the research Platform solutions we provide. When one or more of the Platform solutions are used to purchase Transactions, customers pay for those transactions through monthly billing or via credit card for individual researchers. In addition, our Platforms facilitate rights and permissions for customers to re-use content, ensuring copyright compliance for research, regulatory and marketing use cases as well as the utilization of content with AI applications and for the training of AI models. Our Platforms enable life science and other research-intensive organizations to simplify their research and development activities through our advanced search (i.e. Discovery Tools), tools to access and buy STM articles required to support their research (i.e. Access), as well as tools that manage that content across the enterprise and on an individual basis (i.e. Manage). The Platforms also include advanced AI (“Generative AI”) based assistants to help researchers understand the quality of the articles they are reviewing, speed up the review process, and to more fully understand how various research papers relate to each other. In addition to STM content, the Platforms provide additional context to the research process by including the ability to search and assimilate a variety of other types of data such as Patent, Clinical Trial, Regulatory and Competitive Intelligence data. They also typically deliver a return on investment to the customer by reducing the amount of time it takes a research organization to find, acquire and manage content, in addition to also driving down the ultimate cost per article and overall research costs over time.
Previous wording
Discover – These solutions facilitate search (discovery) across virtually all STM articles available. The solutions we offer include free (basic) search solutions and advanced search tools like the Resolute.ai and scite.ai products. These tools allow for searching and identifying relevant research and then purchasing that research through one of our other solutions. In addition, these tools increasingly enable users to find insights in other datasets adjacent to STM content, such as Clinical Trial, Patent, Life Science & MedTech Regulatory information, Competitor and Technology landscape insights in addition to searching the customer’s internal datasets. The advanced search solutions are sold through a seat, enterprise, or individual license.
Current wording
Discovery Tools – Our Scite.ai and Resolute.ai solutions facilitate search (discovery) across virtually all STM articles available. These solutions include basic search solutions and advanced search tools. These tools
Previous wording
Acquire – Our Article Galaxy (AG) solution allows for research organizations to load their entitlements (subscriptions, discount or token packages, and their existing library of articles) and AG manages those entitlements in the background enabling the researchers to focus on acquiring articles they need quickly and efficiently at the lowest possible cost. When used in conjunction with our discovery Platforms, customers can initiate orders, route orders based on the lowest cost to acquire, obtain spend and usage reporting, automate authentication, and connect seamlessly to in-house and third-party software systems.
Current wording
Access – Our Article Galaxy® (“AG”) and Article Galaxy Scholar (Academic Library version) (“AGS”)solutions allow for research organizations to load their entitlements (subscriptions, discount or token packages, and their existing content library of articles) and AG/AGS manages those entitlements in the background enabling the researchers to focus on acquiring articles they need quickly and efficiently at the lowest possible cost. When used in conjunction with our Discovery Tools Platforms, customers can initiate orders, route orders based on the lowest cost to acquire, obtain spend and usage reporting, automate authentication, and connect seamlessly to in-house and third-party software systems. In addition, Article Galaxy facilitates rights and permissions for various re-use cases, including the utilization in AI applications and training of AI applications, ensuring copyright compliance for our customers.
Previous wording
We use Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) in several parts of the research workflow today and will continually add capability as we move forward. Today we offer an AI based recommendation engine in our Discover, Acquire, and Manage Platform solutions. We also offer an AI based “assistant” in some of our solutions to allow the researcher to ask questions about articles, groups of articles (folders), and more. We also have the capability to provide full text search on STM content in the scite.ai Platform where the publisher gives us the rights to do so.
Current wording
AI models are integral to powering the unique insights our platforms provide as well as the user experience customers enjoy. Natural language processing (“NLP”) and AI models are used to enhance metadata, define connections between topics and content items as well as to generate data and metrics employed to enable users to rapidly identify and understand the value of content they need for their research. We also use state of the art AI models, such as Large Language Models to include Generative AI “assistants” in several parts of the research workflow today and will continually add capability as we move forward. Today we employ Generative AI technologies as a basis for our recommendation engine in our Discovery Tools, Access, and Manage Platform solutions. In addition, Generative AI based “assistants” in some of our solutions allow the researcher to ask questions about articles, groups of articles (folders), and more. We also have the capability to provide near full text search on STM content in the Scite.ai solution where the publisher gives us the rights to do so. The ability to not only mine an article’s full text but also show snippets of full text is unique to our Company and allows our Generative AI assistants to provide highly accurate results with a very low incidence of hallucinations as part of a Retrieval Augmented Generation framework focused just on STM content. We plan to release several new Platform solutions to enhance the research workflows described above and add new solutions to support the analysis functions that exist in our typical customer base.
Previous wording
Our Platforms are deployed as a single, multi-tenant system across our entire customer base. Customers securely access the Platform through online web interfaces and via web service APIs that enable customers to leverage Platform features and functionality from within in-house and third-party software systems. The Platform can also be configured to satisfy a customer’s individual preferences. We leverage our Platform efficiencies in scalability, stability and development costs to fuel rapid innovation and to gain a competitive advantage.
Current wording
Our Platforms are generally deployed as a single, multi-tenant system across our entire customer base. Customers securely access the Platforms through online web interfaces and via web service APIs that enable customers to leverage Platform features and functionality from within in-house and third-party software systems. Our Platforms can also be configured to satisfy a customer’s individual preferences. We leverage our Platforms efficiencies in scalability, stability and development costs to fuel rapid innovation and to gain a competitive advantage.
Previous wording
We provide our researchers with a single source to the universe of published STM content that includes over 100 million existing STM articles and over 2 to 4 million newly published STM articles each year. STM content is sold to our customers on a per transaction basis. Researchers and knowledge workers in life science and other research-intensive organizations generally require single copies of published STM journal articles for use in their research activities. These individuals are our primary users and while they typically purchase the articles via one of our Platform solutions, we do have some customers that just order articles from us on behalf of end-users in their organizations.
Current wording
We provide our researchers with a single source to the universe of published STM content that includes over 200 million existing STM journal articles for instant download, 50 million journal articles for rent, 10 million online book chapters, and 45 million only in print journal articles. In addition, we add between 2 to 4 million newly published STM articles each year. STM content is rented or sold to our customers on a per transaction basis. Researchers and knowledge workers in life science and other research-intensive organizations generally require single copies of published STM journal articles for use in their research activities. These individuals are our primary users and while they typically purchase the articles via one of our Platform solutions, we do have some customers that just order articles from us on behalf of end-users in their organizations.
Previous wording
Core to many of our Platform solutions is providing our customers with ways to find and download digital versions of STM articles that are critical to their research. Customers submit orders for the articles they need which we source and electronically deliver to them generally in under an hour; in most cases under one minute. This service is generally known in the industry as single article delivery or document delivery. We also obtain the necessary permission licenses from the content publisher or other rights holder so that our customer’s use complies with applicable copyright laws. We have arrangements with hundreds of content publishers that allow us to distribute their content. The majority of these publishers provide us with electronic access to their content, which allows us to electronically deliver single articles to our customers often in a matter of minutes. While a vast majority of the articles are available in electronic form, the Company also has workflows to deliver older paper-based articles through relationships we have built with libraries around the world.
Current wording
Core to many of our Platform solutions is providing our customers with ways to find and download digital versions of STM articles that are critical to their research. Customers submit orders for the articles they need which we source and electronically deliver to them generally in under an hour; in most cases in seconds. This service is generally known in the industry as single article delivery or document delivery. We also obtain the necessary permission licenses from the content publisher or other rights holder so that our customer’s use complies with applicable copyright laws and we are expanding these services to include the use of content in AI applications and for the training of AI models. We have arrangements with hundreds of content publishers that allow us to distribute their content. The majority of these publishers provide us with electronic access to their content, which allows us to electronically deliver single articles to our customers often in a matter of seconds. While a vast majority of the articles are available in electronic form, the Company also has workflows to deliver older paper-based articles through relationships we have built with libraries around the world.
Previous wording
Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. We derive our revenues from two sources: annual licenses that allow customers to access and utilize certain premium features of our cloud-based SaaS research intelligence platforms (Platforms) and the transactional sale of STM content managed, sourced and delivered through the Platform (Transactions).
Current wording
Revenues are recognized when control of the promised goods or services are transferred to a customer, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. We derive our revenues from two sources: annual or monthly licenses that allow customers to access and utilize certain premium features of our cloud-based SaaS research intelligence platforms (“Platform” or “Platforms”) and the transactional sale of STM content managed, sourced and delivered through the Platform (“Transactions”).
Previous wording
We charge a subscription fee that allows customers to access and utilize certain premium features of our Platforms. Revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the subscription agreement, which is typically one year, provided
Current wording
We charge a subscription fee that allows customers to access and utilize certain premium features of our Platforms. Revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the subscription agreement, which is typically one year, provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Billings or payments received in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue.
Previous wording
We charge a transactional service fee for the electronic delivery of single articles, and a corresponding copyright fee for the permitted use of the content. We recognize revenue from single article delivery services upon delivery to the customer provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. All articles are in PDF format and delivered to customers via various electronic methods. Each of these delivery methods is trackable, with ability to monitor such things as the date and time when the link was e-mailed and the time and IP address used to download the article.
Current wording
We charge a transactional service fee for the electronic delivery of single articles, and a corresponding copyright fee for the permitted use of the content. We recognize revenue from single article delivery services upon delivery to the customer provided all other revenue recognition criteria have been met.
Previous wording
Please refer to footnote 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q for a discussion of Recent Accounting Pronouncements.
Current wording
Please refer to footnote 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this Form 10-Q for a discussion of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements.
Previous wording
Comparison of the Three and Nine Months Ended March 31, 2024 and 2023
Current wording
Comparison of the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 and 2023
Previous wording
Total revenue increased $1,773,246, or 17.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the prior year, due to the following:
Current wording
Total revenue increased $1,983,511, or 19.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the prior year, due to the following:
Previous wording
Total cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue decreased 6.3%, from 61.1% for the previous year to 54.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Current wording
Total cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue decreased 7.8%, from 59.9% for the previous year to 52.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024.
Previous wording
Net income decreased $160,541 or 67.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased operating expenses, partially offset by gross profit as described above.
Current wording
Net income increased $1,657,047, or 167.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the prior year, primarily due to increased gross profit and decreased operating expenses as described above.
Previous wording
As of March 31, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $4,221,424, compared to $13,545,333 as of June 30, 2023, a decrease of $9,323,909. This decrease was primarily due to cash used in investing activities.
Current wording
As of September 30, 2024, we had cash and cash equivalents of $6,924,773, compared to $6,100,031 as of June 30, 2024, an increase of $824,742. This increase was primarily due to cash provided by operating activities.
Previous wording
Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,589,791 for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 and resulted primarily from an increase in fair value of vested restricted common stock of $1,603,820, an increase in deferred revenue of $768,347, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $739,883.
Current wording
Net cash provided by operating activities was $843,119 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and resulted primarily from a decrease in accounts receivable of $566,194 and a decrease in prepaid royalties of $494,713, partially offset by a decrease in deferred revenue of $992,792.
Previous wording
Net cash used in investing activities was $10,081,507 for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 and resulted primarily from the payment for the Scite acquisition of $7,305,493 and the payment for the ResoluteAI acquisition of $2,718,253.
Current wording
Net cash used in investing activities was $2,752,078 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and resulted primarily from the payment for the ResoluteAI acquisition of $2,718,253.
Previous wording
Net cash used in financing activities was $17,056 for the nine months ended March 31, 2023 and resulted from the repurchase of common stock of $74,556, partially offset by the proceeds from the exercise of options of $57,500.
Current wording
Net cash used in financing activities was $16,119 for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and resulted from repurchase of common stock of $16,119.
Previous wording
Net cash used in financing activities was $836,984 for the nine months ended March 31, 2024 and resulted from repurchase of common stock of $522,024 and the payment of contingent acquisition consideration of $314,960.
Current wording
Net cash used in financing activities was $156,325 for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and resulted from the payment of contingent acquisition consideration of $110,190 and the repurchase of common stock of $46,135.
Previous wording
In addition to our GAAP results, we present Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense, other income (expense), foreign currency transaction loss, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, income from discontinued operations and gain on sale of discontinued operations. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which our managers can affect in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations that period. Non-GAAP adjustments to our results prepared in accordance with GAAP are itemized below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar
Current wording
In addition to our GAAP results, we present Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. However, Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income, income from operations or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), plus interest expense, other income (expense) including any change in fair value of contingent earnout liability, foreign currency transaction loss, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, income from discontinued operations and gain on sale of discontinued operations. Management considers our core operating performance to be that which our managers can affect in any particular period through their management of the resources that affect our underlying revenue and profit generating operations that period. Non-GAAP adjustments to our results prepared in accordance with GAAP are itemized below. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.
Previous wording
Set forth below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:
Current wording
Set forth below is a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023:
Rearranged previous paragraphs (4)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Using Resolute.ai and scite.ai technology, we plan to release several new Platform solutions to enhance the research workflows described above and add new solutions to support the analysis functions that exist in our typical customer base.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
all other revenue recognition criteria have been met. Billings or payments received in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenue.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
Total cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue decreased 4.2%, from 61.1% for the previous year to 56.9%, for the nine months ended March 31, 2024.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.