Brand Engagement Network Inc.

NOTE A —NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND GOING CONCERN

Nature of Operations

Brand Engagement Network Inc. (formerly Blockchain Exchange Network Inc.) (together with its subsidiaries, “BEN” or “the Company”) was formed in Jackson, Wyoming on April 17, 2018, and was named in honor of the renowned Founding Father and inventor, Benjamin Franklin. In 2019, the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Datum Point Labs (“DPL”), and then was spun out of DPL in May 2021. BEN acquired DPL in December 2021.

The Company is a generative AI ("GenAI") company specializing in conversational AI solutions. Through its secure, human-like AI agents ("AI Agents"), available in different modalities, the Company seeks to transform consumer engagement and elevate customer experience, productivity, and business performance. The Company’s AI Agents are built on 16+ advanced AI modules spanning perception, understanding, and response, with advanced capabilities in natural language processing ("NLP"), multisensory awareness, sentiment and environmental analysis, and real-time individuation and personalization. The Company’s conversational AI solutions are tailored to meet the unique needs of its business customers - from AI Agent customization in look, sound, and feel, to conversation design, business system integration, and cross-platform execution.

Business Combination with DHC

On March 14, 2024, the Company consummated its previously announced business combination (the “Closing”) pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated September 7, 2023 (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”), by and among DHC Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company (“DHC”), Brand Engagement Network Inc., a Wyoming corporation (“Prior BEN”), BEN Merger Subsidiary Corp., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of DHC (“Merger Sub”) and DHC Sponsor, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sponsor”). The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, including the Domestication and the Merger (each as defined below) are collectively referred to herein as the “Business Combination.”

Prior to the Closing, as contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement, DHC became a Delaware corporation named “Brand Engagement Network Inc.” (the “Domestication”), and (i) each issued and outstanding Class A ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of DHC (the “Class A Shares”) was automatically converted, on aone-for-one basis, into a share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), of BEN, (ii) each issued and outstanding Class B ordinary share, par value $0.0001 per share, of DHC was automatically converted, on aone-for-one basis, into a share of Common Stock of BEN, (iii) each then-issued and outstanding public warrant of DHC, each representing a right to acquire one Class A Share for $11.50 was automatically converted, on aone-for-one basis, into a public warrant of BEN (a “Public Warrant”), which represents a right to acquire one share of Common Stock for $11.50, pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Warrant Agreement, dated March 4, 2021, by and between DHC and Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company (the “Warrant Agreement”), (iv) each then-issued and outstanding private placement warrant, each representing a right to acquire one Class A Share for $11.50 (a “Private Placement Warrant”), was automatically converted, on aone-for-one basis, into a private placement warrant of BEN, which represents a right to acquire one share of Common Stock for $11.50, pursuant to Section 4.5 of the Warrant Agreement, (v) each then-issued and outstanding unit of DHC, each representing a Class A Share and one-third of a DHC Public Warrant (a “Unit”), that had not been previously separated into the underlying Class A Share and one-third of one DHC Public Warrant upon the request of the holder thereof, were separated and automatically converted into one share of Common Stock and one-third of one Public Warrant.

Following the Domestication, on March 14, 2024, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into Prior BEN (the “Merger”), with Prior BEN surviving the Merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of BEN. In connection with the Merger, (i) all outstanding shares of Prior BEN’s common stock were exchanged for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio of 0.2701 (the “Exchange Ratio”) shares of Common Stock per one share of Prior BEN common stock, (ii) each then-issued and outstanding compensatory warrant of Prior BEN, each representing a right to acquire one share of Prior BEN common stock, were assumed by BEN and adjusted pursuant to the Exchange Ratio and in accordance with the terms of their agreements, into new compensatory warrants of BEN, and (iii) each then issued and outstanding option to purchase shares of Prior BEN common stock, each representing a right to acquire one share of Prior BEN common stock, were assumed by BEN and adjusted pursuant to the Exchange Ratio and in accordance with the terms of their agreements, into options to purchase Common Stock.

Except as otherwise indicated, references herein to “BEN,” the “Company,” or the “Combined Company,” refer to Brand Engagement Network Inc. Inc. on a post-Merger basis, and references to “Prior BEN” refer to the business of privately-held Brand Engagement Network Inc. prior to the completion of the Merger. References to “DHC” refer to DHC Acquisition Corp. prior to the completion of the Merger.

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company assumed 10,314,952 Public Warrants and 6,126,010 Private Placement Warrants.

Nasdaq Compliance

On December 30, 2024, the Company received a letter (the “Notice”) from the Listing Qualifications Department (the “Staff”) of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) notifying the Company that, for the previous 30 consecutive business days, the closing bid price for the Company’s Common Stock had been below the minimum $1.00 per share required for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the “Bid Price Requirement”). The Notice has no effect at this time on the Common Stock, which continues to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “BNAI”.

In accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company has been provided an initial period of 180 calendar days, or until June 28, 2025 (the “Compliance Date”), to regain compliance with the Bid Price Requirement. If, at any time before the Compliance Date, the bid price for the Common Stock closes at $1.00 or more for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days, the Staff will provide written notification to the Company that it has regained compliance with the Bid Price Requirement (unless the Staff exercises its discretion to extend the 10-day period).

Liquidity and Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared as though the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $47,017,149, a net loss of $33,715,429 and net cash used in operating activities of $14,039,704 during the year ended December 31, 2024. Management expects to continue to incur operating losses and negative cash flows from operations for at least the next 12 months. The Company has financed its operations to date from proceeds from the sale of Common Stock, exercises of warrants, the issuance of promissory notes and convertible debt, and its transactions with AFG Companies Inc. (“AFG”). On August 26, 2024, the Company entered into a Standby Equity Purchase Agreement (the “SEPA”) with YA II PN, Ltd. (“Yorkville”), whereby the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to sell up to $50,000,000 of its shares of Common Stock at the Company’s request any time during the 36 months following the execution of the SEPA, subject to certain conditions. However, the Company’s ability to access the proceeds from the SEPA is subject to market conditions, such as trading volume, the price of the Company’s Common Stock and other factors beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s current liquidity position raises substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be insufficient to meet its anticipated cash requirements for at least the next 12 months from the date the consolidated financial statements are issued. The Company will need to raise additional capital to continue to fund operations and product research and development. The Company believes that it will be able to obtain additional working capital through equity financings, additional debt, or other arrangements to fund future operations, and it intends to raise capital through equity or debt investments in the Company by third parties, including through the SEPA, however, the Company’s cannot conclude these are probable of being implemented or, if probable of being implemented, being in sufficient enough amounts to satisfy the Company’s contractual amounts as they presently exist that are coming due over the next 12 months as of the date of such filing.

The assumptions upon which the Company has based its estimates are routinely evaluated and may be subject to change. The actual amount of the Company’s expenditures will vary depending upon several factors including but not limited to the design, timing, and the progress of the Company’s research and development programs, and the level of financial resources available. The Company can adjust its operating plan spending based on available financial resources.

The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

NOTE B —SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The Company’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the accounts of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for consolidated financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete consolidated financial statements. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been omitted pursuant to instructions, rules, and regulations prescribed by the SEC.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Actual results and outcomes could differ significantly from the Company’s estimates, judgments, and assumptions. Significant estimates in the Company’s consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, assumptions used to measure stock-based compensation, valuation of the intangible assets acquired from DM Lab (see Note D), useful lives of intangible assets, warrant liabilities, derivative liabilities, and deferred customer acquisition costs.

These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Changes in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could materially differ from those estimates and assumptions.

Segment and geographic information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources in assessing performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) is the Chief Executive Officer. The CODM manages the Company’s operations on a consolidated basis for the purpose of allocating resources. The Company views its operations as, and manages its business in, one operating segment.

The accounting policies of its segment are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The CODM assesses performance for its segment based on net loss, which is reported on the consolidated statements of operations. The measure of segment assets is reported on the balance sheet as total assets. The CODM uses cash forecast models in deciding how to invest into the segment. The CODM analyzes the Company’s net loss and monitors budget versus actual results to assess the performance of the Company. Significant expenses are not regularly available or reviewed by the CODM. Other segment expenses include other income (expenses), net, which were $2,758,542 and $(50,752) during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

The Company has an office in the Republic of Korea dedicated to research and development activities.

Significant Risks and Uncertainties

There can be no assurance that the Company’s research and development will be successfully commercialized. Developing and commercializing goods and services require significant time and capital and is subject to regulatory review and approval as well as competition from other AI technology companies. The Company operates in an environment of rapid change and is dependent upon the continued services of its employees and consultants and obtaining and protecting intellectual property.

Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable

The Company accounts for revenue in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) for all periods presented. The core principle of ASC 606 is to recognize revenue for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. This principle is achieved by applying the following five-step approach:

1)Identification of the Contract, or Contracts, with a Customer.

2)Identification of the Performance Obligations in the Contract.

3)Determination of the Transaction Price.

4)Allocation of the Transaction Price to the Performance Obligations in the Contract.

5)Recognition of Revenue when, or as, Performance Obligations are Satisfied.

Trade receivables represent amounts due from customers and are stated net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on management’s assessment of the collectability of specific customer accounts, the aging of the accounts receivable, historical experience, and other currently available evidence. If there is a deterioration of a major customer’s credit worthiness or actual defaults are higher than the historical experience, management’s estimates of the recoverability of amounts due the Company could be adversely affected. Trade receivables of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are net of an allowance for expected credit losses amounting to $50,000 and $20,000, respectively.

The Company capitalizes the incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer. The Company’s incremental costs are related to the shares issued in connection with the Exclusive Reseller Agreement (“Reseller Agreement”) with AFG in August 2023 (Note J). The Company terminated the Reseller Agreement, resulting in impairment of deferred customer acquisition costs of $13,475,000, recorded in the consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2024. The Company hadno such costs as of December 31, 2023.

Impairment of Definite Lived Intangible Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated undiscounted net cash flows, before interest, the Company will recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference between its carrying amount and its estimated fair value. If impairment is recognized, the reduced carrying amount of the asset will be accounted for as its new cost. Generally, fair values are estimated using discounted cash flow, replacement cost or market comparison analyses. The process of evaluating for impairment requires estimates as to future events and conditions, which are subject to varying market and economic factors. Therefore, it is reasonably possible that a change in an estimate resulting from judgments as to future events could occur which would affect the recorded amounts of the asset. No impairment losses were recorded during the year ended December 31, 2023.

In-Process Research and Development

The fair value of in-process research and development (“IPR&D”) acquired in an asset acquisition, that has been determined to have alternative future uses in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (“ASC 350”), is capitalized as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the completion of the related research and development activities in accordance with ASC 350 or the determination that impairment is necessary. If the related research and development is completed, the asset is reclassified as a definite-lived asset at the time of completion and is amortized over its estimated useful life as research and development costs in accordance with ASC 730-10-25-2(c) and ASC 350. During the second quarter of 2024, the Company’s IPR&D was completed and reclassified as a definite-lived asset and began amortizing over its estimated useful life of 5 years.

During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company didnot recognize an impairment charge related to its indefinite-lived IPR&D.

Research and Development Costs

Costs incurred in connection with research and development activities are expensed as incurred. These costs include rent for facilities, hardware and software equipment costs, employee related costs, consulting fees for technical expertise, prototyping, and testing.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for stock-based awards (including stock options, restricted stock units, and restricted stock awards) in accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation. Determining the appropriate fair value of stock-based awards requires numerous assumptions, some of which are highly complex and subjective. The Company estimates the fair value of its stock option and warrant awards on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of each restricted stock award is measured as the fair value per share of the Company’s Common Stock at the date of grant.

Stock-based awards generally vest subject to the satisfaction of service requirements, or the satisfaction of both service requirements and achievement of certain performance conditions or market and service conditions. For stock-based awards that vest subject to the satisfaction of service requirements or market and service conditions, stock-based compensation is measured based on the fair value of the award on the date of grant and is recognized as stock-based compensation on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. For stock-based awards that have a performance component, stock-based compensation is measured based on the fair value on the grant date and is recognized over the requisite service period as achievement of the performance objective becomes probable. The Company accounts for forfeitures in the period in which they occur.

The Black-Scholes option-pricing model requires the use of judgments and assumptions, including fair value of its Common Stock, the option’s expected term, the expected price volatility of the underlying stock, risk free interest rates and the expected dividend yield.

The Black-Scholes model assumptions are further described below:

•Common stock — the fair value of the Company’s Common Stock.

•Expected Term — The expected term of employee options with service-based vesting is determined using the “simplified” method, as prescribed in the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, whereby the expected life equals the arithmetic average of the vesting term and the original contractual term of the option due to the Company’s lack of sufficient historical data. The expected term of nonemployee options is equal to the contractual term.

•Expected Volatility — The Company lacks its own historical stock data. Therefore, it estimates its expected stock volatility based primarily on the historical volatility of a publicly traded set of peer companies.

•Risk-Free Interest Rate — The Company bases the risk-free interest rate on the U.S. Treasury yield curve commensurate with the expected term of each option.

•Expected Dividend —The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and does not plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and, therefore, uses an expected dividend yield of zero in its valuation models.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly-liquid investments, readily convertible to cash, and which have a remaining maturity date of three months or less at the date of purchase, to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents are recorded at fair value and are held for the purpose of meeting short-term liquidity requirements, rather than for investment purposes. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalent balances in the form of business checking accounts and money market accounts, the balances of which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits.

Capitalized Internal-Use Software Costs

Pursuant to ASC 350-40, Internal-Use Software, the Company capitalizes development costs for internal use software projects once the preliminary project stage is completed, management commits to funding the project, and it is probable that the project will be completed, and the software will be used to perform the function intended. The Company ceases capitalization at such time as the computer software project is substantially complete and ready for its intended use. The determination that a software project is eligible for capitalization and the ongoing assessment of recoverability of capitalized software development costs requires considerable judgment by management with respect to certain external factors, including, but not limited to, estimated economic life and changes in software and hardware technologies.

The Company capitalizes costs for internal-use software once project approval, funding, and feasibility are confirmed. These costs primarily consist of external consulting fees and direct labor costs. When the internal-use software is ready for its intended use, the Company reclassifies the internal-use software to developed software intangible assets and amortizes the asset over an estimated useful life ranging from 3 to 5 years. No impairment losses were recorded for the year ended December 31, 2024.

Leases

The Company determines whether an arrangement is or contains a lease, its classification, and its term at the lease commencement date. Leases with a term greater than one year will be recognized on the balance sheet as right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, current lease liabilities, and if applicable, long-term lease liabilities. The Company includes renewal options to extend the lease term where it is reasonably certain that it will exercise these options. Lease liabilities and the corresponding ROU assets are recorded based on the present values of lease payments over the lease term. The interest rate implicit in lease contracts is typically not readily determinable. As such, the Company utilizes the appropriate incremental borrowing rates, which are the rates that would be incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis, over similar terms, amounts equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Payments for non-lease components or that are variable in nature that do not depend on a rate or index are not included in the lease liability and are typically expensed as incurred. If significant events, changes in circumstances, or other events indicate that the lease term or other inputs have changed, the Company would reassess lease classification, remeasure the lease liability using revised inputs as of the reassessment date, and adjust the ROU assets. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term for operating classified leases.

Foreign Currency Transactions

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are a result of the effect of exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currency. Gains and losses arising from foreign currency transactions and the effects of remeasurements are captured within the net loss within statement of operations. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses were not material for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Warrant Liabilities

The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued share purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC Topic 480, Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity, ASC Topic 505, Equity, and ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”). The Company accounts for the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants in accordance with the guidance contained in ASC 815 under which the warrants do not meet the criteria for equity treatment and must be recorded as liabilities. Accordingly, the Company classifies the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants as liabilities at their fair value and adjust the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants to fair value at each reporting period. This liability is subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company accounts for financial instruments under ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements(“ASC 820”). This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. To increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels as follows:

Level 1 — quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2 — observable inputs other than Level 1, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, and model-derived prices whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and

Level 3 — assets and liabilities whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

The following fair value hierarchy table presents information about the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

The Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants assumed in connection with the Business Combination were accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815 and are presented within warrant liabilities on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The warrant liabilities are initially measured at fair value at the day of the Business Combination and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within change in fair value of warrant liabilities in the consolidated statements of operations.

The fair value of the Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants is estimated based on the closing price of the Public Warrants, an observable market quote but is classified as a Level 2 fair value measurement due to the level of trading volume in an active market.

Net Loss per Share

Basic loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding during the period. Diluted loss per share reflects the potential dilution, using the treasury stock method that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue Common Stock were exercised or converted into Common Stock or resulted in the issuance of Common Stock that then shared in the loss of the Company. In computing diluted loss per share, the treasury stock method assumes that outstanding instruments are exercised/converted, and the proceeds are used to purchase Common Stock at the average market price during the period. Instruments may have a dilutive effect under the treasury stock method only when the average market price of the Common Stock during the period exceeds the exercise price/conversion rate of the instruments. The Company accounts for stock issued in spin-out transactions and consummations of mergers of entities under common control retrospectively. For diluted net loss per share, the weighted-average number of shares of Common Stock is the same for basic net loss per share due to the fact that when a net loss exists, potentially dilutive securities are not included in the calculation when the impact is anti-dilutive.

The following potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares of Common Stock outstanding because their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive:

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which requires disclosure of incremental segment information on an annual and interim basis. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 on a retrospective basis. The Company incorporated the improved segment disclosures in the summary of significant accounting policies, herein.

Recently Issued but Not Yet Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires additional disclosure of certain amounts included in the expense captions presented on the Statement of Operations as well as disclosures about selling expenses. This ASU is effective on a prospective basis, with the option for retrospective application, for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026 and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this standard on its disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands the disclosures required for income taxes. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis while retrospective application is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of this pronouncement on its disclosures.

NOTE C —MERGER WITH DHC

On March 14, 2024, Prior BEN completed the Merger with DHC as discussed in Note A. The Merger was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization under U.S. GAAP because the primary assets of DHC were cash and cash equivalents. For financial reporting purposes Prior BEN was determined to be the accounting acquirer based upon the terms of the Merger and other factors, including: (i) Prior BEN stockholders owned approximately 76% of the Combined Company and (ii) Prior BEN management held all key positions of management. Accordingly, the Merger was treated as the equivalent of Prior BEN issuing stock to assume the net liabilities of DHC. As a result of the Merger, the net liabilities of DHC were recorded at their historical cost in the consolidated financial statements and the reported operating results prior to the Merger are those of Prior BEN. The following table summarizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as part of the reverse recapitalization:

Total transaction costs were $4,121,000, of which $858,292 were charged directly to additional paid-in capital to the extent of cash received. The transaction costs in excess of cash acquired of $3,341,055 were charged to general and administrative expenses during the year ended December 31, 2024.

NOTE D —ACQUISITIONS

On May 3, 2023, in connection with the development the Company’s core technology, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with DM Lab Co., LTD (“DM Lab”), to acquire certain assets and assume certain liabilities in exchange for 4,325,043 shares of Common Stock with a fair value of $16,012,750 and $257,112 in cash consideration including $107,112 in transaction-related costs.

The Company accounted for the transaction with DM Lab as an asset acquisition as the acquired set passed the screen test and as such did not meet the criteria to be considered a business according to ASC 805, Business Combinations. The total consideration paid including transaction-related costs was allocated to identifiable intangible and tangible assets acquired based on their acquisition date estimated fair values. The largest asset acquired was the in-process research and development intangible asset which the Company determined had alternative future uses and capitalized as an indefinite-lived intangible asset until the completion of the related research and development activities in accordance with ASC 350 or the determination that impairment is necessary. The in-process research and development intangible asset was valued using the multi-period excess earnings method which requires several judgements and assumptions to determine the fair value of intangible assets, including growth rates, EBITDA margins, and discount rates, among others. This nonrecurring fair value measurement is a Level 3 measurement within the fair value hierarchy. The following table summarizes the fair value of consideration transferred and its allocation to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values.

NOTE E —PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following:

NOTE F —PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment include equipment, furniture, and capitalized software. Furniture and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ofthree years. Capitalized software costs are amortized straight-line over an estimated useful life ranging from 5 to 10 years.

Property and equipment consists of the following:

For the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 depreciation and amortization of property and equipment totaled $215,286 and $539,957, respectively.

NOTE G —INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following table summarizes intangible assets included on the consolidated balance sheet:

Total amortization expense was $2,513,125 and $98,033 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Future amortization of intangible assets are estimated to be as follows:

NOTE H —ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following:

NOTE I —DEBT

Promissory Note

On November 11, 2024, the Company issued a promissory note in the aggregate original principal amount of approximately $1,700,000 to Yorkville (the “Promissory Note”). The Promissory Note does not bear interest, subject to a potential increase of the interest rate to 18.0% per annum upon the occurrence of certain events of default as described in the Promissory Note. The Company was required to make monthly cash payments beginning on December 15, 2024, and continuing on the same day of each successive calendar month of principal in the amount of the sum of (i) $0.4 million of principal (or the outstanding principal amount if less than such amount), plus (ii) a payment premium in an amount equal to 5% of the principal amount being paid, if applicable, and (iii) any accrued and unpaid interest as of each Installment Date. The Company shall, at its own option, repay each Installment Amount either (i) in cash on or before each Installment Date, or (ii) by submitting one or more an advance notice(s) under the SEPA (as defined below), on or before the applicable Installment Date, or any combination of (i) or (ii) as determined by the Company. If the Company repays the Installment Amount in cash, the cash payment shall include the Payment Premium. If the Company elects an Advance Repayment for all or a portion of an Installment Amount, then no Payment Premium will apply. In addition, for so long as the Promissory

Note is outstanding, with respect to any advance notice submitted by the Company under the SEPA, the Company shall select an Option 2 Pricing Period (as defined in the SEPA), unless otherwise agreed by Yorkville. The Promissory Note matures on March 11, 2025, and was issued at an original issue discount of 10%. During the year ended December 31, 2024,962,023 shares of Common Stock were issued to Yorkville resulting in the reduction of the Promissory Note of $817,518. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $90,625 in interest expense related to the Promissory Note. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining balance of $849,149 was included within short-term debt in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Convertible Notes

On April 12, 2024, the Company issued a convertible promissory note to J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, acting through its Cohen & Company Capital Markets division (“CCM”) in the principal amount of $1,900,000 (the “Cohen Convertible Note”), to settle outstanding invoices totaling $1,900,000 related to investment banking services rendered to the Company in connection with the Business Combination. Beginning on October 14, 2024, interest will accrue at the fixed rate of 8% per annum on the outstanding principal amount until the Cohen Convertible Note is paid in full. Interest is payable monthly in cash or in-kind at the election of the Company. The Company may prepay the Cohen Convertible Note in whole or in part at any time or from time to time without penalty or premium. The Company may be required to prepay all or a portion of the Cohen Convertible Note upon the consummation of certain capital raising activities as described therein. The maturity date of the Cohen Convertible Note is March 14, 2025. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company recognized $29,597 in interest expense related to the Cohen Convertible Note.

On December 14, 2024 (the “First Conversion Date”), $760,000 of the Cohen Convertible Note converted into 633,333 shares of Common Stock at $1.20 per share (the “Floor Price”). On the 14th day of each successive month commencing with January 14, 2025 (each such day, an “Additional Conversion Date” and together with the First Conversion Date, the “Conversion Dates”), CCM may convert a portion of Cohen Convertible Note to a number of shares equal to (i) up to 20% of the outstanding principal balance of the Cohen Convertible Note plus accrued interest due under the Cohen Convertible Note divided by (ii) a price per share (the “Conversion Purchase Price”) equal to 92.75% of the arithmetic average of the Daily Volume-Weighted Average Price (“VWAP”) for thefive VWAP Trading Days (as defined therein) ending on the VWAP Trading Day immediately preceding the applicable Conversion Date (subject to the Floor Price). As of December 31, 2024, the remaining balance of $1,140,000 was included within the convertible note in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Short-term Debt Related to Acquisition of DM Lab

As of December 31, 2024, the Company hadfour loans outstanding that were assumed in the DM Lab transaction, totaling $891,974, a decrease of $252,601 from the acquisition date due to the amount converted to equity on May 25, 2023. The loans carry varying interest rates ranging from 4.667% to 6.69%. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 the Company incurred interest expense of $49,060 and $31,217, respectively, which is included in interest expense in the consolidated statement of operations. All loans are due within 12 months from the balance sheet date and have no optional or mandatory redemption or conversion features. These obligations have been classified as current liabilities on the balance sheet and the fair value of the loans approximates the carrying amount due to their short-term nature. Additionally, there are no associated restrictive covenants, third-party guarantees, or pledged collateral. As of the reporting date, there have been no defaults on these loans. In January 2025, the Company obtained a waiver to extend the due dates of $668,674 of its short-term debt to January 2026.

NOTE J —STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

In August 2023, the Company entered into the Reseller Agreement with AFG whereby AFG agreed to operate as the exclusive channel partner and reseller of the Company’s software as a service in the motor vehicle marketing and manufacturing industry for a term offive years. The Company issued to AFG 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair value of $13,475,000 based on the closing stock price on the date of the Merger which is recorded within other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Additionally, the Company issued a non-transferable warrant (“Reseller Warrant”) that entitles AFG to purchase up to 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 and a fair value of $2.52 per warrant. The 3,750,000 warrants were cancelled in January 2025, upon the termination of the Reseller Agreement.

On March 14, 2024 in connection with the Closing, the issuance of 7,885,220 shares of Common Stock to DHC stockholders as consideration for the Merger was reflected on the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity. Further, upon completion of the Merger, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws were adopted, authorizing the issuance of 750,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value of $0.0001 per share.

In March 2024, concurrent with the Merger, the Company sold 550,000 shares of Common Stock to AFG for gross proceeds of $5,500,000.

On May 28, 2024, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “May SPA”) with certain investors (the “May Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell to the May Purchasers an aggregate of 1,980,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company at a price per share of $2.50 and an aggregate of 3,960,000 warrants to purchase 3,960,000 shares of Common Stock, which was divided intotwo tranches consisting of (i)1,980,000 warrants immediately exercisable for a term ofone year from (the “May One-Year Warrants”) and (ii)1,980,000 warrants immediately exercisable for a term offive years (the “May Five-Year Warrants,” together with the May One-Year Warrants, the “May Warrants”), each with an exercise price of $2.50 per share, subject to customary adjustments, for an aggregate purchase price of $4,950,000.

On May 30, 2024, the Company issued to the May Purchasers an aggregate of 200,000 Shares and 400,000 Warrants (consisting of 200,000 One-Year Warrants and 200,000 Five-Year Warrants) for aggregate gross proceeds of $500,000. Upon the issuances of such shares of Common Stock, an aggregate of 1,260,000 May One-Year Warrants and 1,260,000 May Five-Year Warrants were issued to the May Purchasers and were immediately exercisable. The remaining shares were issued to an escrow account and such shares along with the May Warrants remain in escrow until the conditions in the May SPA are satisfied. The May Purchasers are required to pay to the Company monthly cash installments in the amounts and on the dates as determined in the May SPA ending on October 29, 2024. For every $2.50 paid to the Company, the Company will release one share of Common Stock and two May Warrants from escrow to the May Purchasers. If a May Purchaser fails to pay its required funding by the respective deadline, the May Purchaser’s entire commitment under the May SPA will become immediately due and payable. The Company has experienced delays in funding from certain of the investors under the May SPA. As of March 27, 2025, certain of such investors have failed to make their required fundings, giving effect to the tolling of all cure periods, in an aggregate amount of $963,750, and the Company is uncertain whether such amounts or future required fundings by such investors will be made. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company issued 1,670,000 shares of Common Stock to the May Purchasers for gross proceeds of $4,175,000. As of December 31, 2024,1,574,500 May One-Year Warrants and 1,594,500 May Five-Year Warrants are outstanding.

On July 1, 2024, the Company entered into a separate Securities Purchase Agreement (the “July SPA”) with The Williams Family Trust for the issuance and sale of 120,000 shares of Common Stock at a price per share of $2.50 and an aggregate of 240,000 warrants, consisting of (i)120,000 warrants with a term ofone year and (ii)120,000 warrants with a term offive years for an aggregate purchase price of $300,000. The warrants are immediately exercisable for Common Stock at a price of $2.50 per share. As of December 31, 2024, the 240,000 warrants remained outstanding.

On August 22, 2024, the Company entered into a Fee Conversion Agreement with Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue 151,261 shares of Common Stock at a value of $2.38 per share to Sponsor in exchange for the conversion of certain outstanding fees owed by the Company to the amount of $0.4 million. As a result, the Company recorded a gain on debt extinguishment of $98,318 during the year ended December 31, 2024.

On August 26, 2024, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “August SPA”) with certain investors (the “August Purchasers”), pursuant to which the Company will issue and sell an aggregate of 1,185,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at a price per share of $5.00, for an aggregate purchase price of $5,925,000.

In connection with the August SPA, on August 26, 2024 (the “Assignment Effective Date”), the Company entered into that certain share assignment and lockup release agreement (the “Assignment Agreement”) with certain members of Sponsor and certain other existing stockholders and affiliates of the Company (collectively, the “Sponsor Members” and each a “Sponsor Member”) and the August Purchasers, pursuant to which, as an inducement to enter into the August SPA, the August Purchasers assumed, all of the Sponsor Members’ rights, title and interest in an aggregate of 1,185,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Sponsor Securities”) held by Sponsor on their behalf as of the Assignment Effective Date (the “Assignment”). In exchange for the Assignment by the Sponsor Members of the Sponsor Securities to the August Purchasers, the Company agreed to release 1,252,500 shares of Common Stock from certain restrictions on transfer contained in either a (i) prior letter agreement by and among the Company’s predecessor, DHC, Sponsor and the other signatories thereto or (ii) in certain lock-up agreements executed by certain of the Sponsor Members in connection with the consummation of the Company’s prior business combination. The Sponsor Members transferred an aggregate of 1,185,000 Sponsor Securities into an escrow account. The Sponsor Securities are released from the escrow account on a pro rata basis upon the making of the required findings on the terms and conditions described in the August SPA. In the event an August

Purchaser fails to make required funding contemplated by the August SPA, a pro rata portion of the Sponsor Securities shall be released from the escrow account to the Company and the Company will cancel such Sponsor Securities.

On August 26, 2024, in connection with the August SPA and the Assignment Agreement, the Company issued to the August Purchasers an aggregate of 100,000 shares for aggregate gross proceeds of $500,000. The remaining shares were issued to an escrow account and such shares remain in escrow until the conditions in the August SPA are satisfied. The August Purchasers are required to pay to the Company monthly cash installments in the amounts and on the dates as determined in the August SPA ending on April 5, 2025.

For every $5.00 paid to the Company, the Company will release one share of Common Stock under the August SPA and one share of Common Stock under the Assignment Agreement to the August Purchasers. If an August Purchaser fails to pay its required funding by the respective deadline, the investor’s entire commitment under the August SPA will become immediately due and payable. The Company has experienced delays in funding from certain of the investors under the August SPA. As of March 27, 2025, certain of such investors have failed to make their required fundings, giving effect to the tolling of all cure periods, in an aggregate amount of $1,250,000, and the Company is uncertain whether such amounts or future required fundings by such investors will be made. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company issued 110,000 shares of Common Stock to the August Purchasers for gross proceeds of $550,000.

On August 26, 2024, the Company entered into the SEPA with Yorkville. Pursuant to the SEPA, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to sell to Yorkville up to $50,000,000 of the Company’s shares of Common Stock, at the Company’s request any time during the commitment period commencing on August 26, 2024 (the “SEPA Effective Date”) and terminating on the 36-month anniversary of the SEPA Effective Date. Each issuance and sale by the Company to Yorkville under the SEPA (an “Advance”) is subject to a maximum limit equal to an amount equal to 100% of the aggregate volume traded of the Company’s Common Stock on Nasdaq for the five trading days immediately preceding an Advance notice. The shares will be issued and sold to Yorkville at a per share price equal to, at the election of the Company as specified in the relevant Advance notice: (i)96% of the Market Price (as defined below) for any period commencing on the receipt of the Advance notice by Yorkville and ending on 4:00 p.m. New York City time on the applicable Advance notice date (the “Option 1 Pricing Period”), and (ii)97% of the Market Price for any three consecutive trading days commencing on the Advance notice date (the “Option 2 Pricing Period,” and each of the Option 1 Pricing Period and the Option 2 Pricing Period, a “Pricing Period”). “Market Price” is defined as, for any Option 1 Pricing Period, the daily VWAP of the Common Stock on Nasdaq, and for any Option 2 Pricing Period, the lowest VWAP of the Common Stock on Nasdaq during the Option 2 Pricing Period. The Advances are subject to certain limitations, including that Yorkville cannot purchase any shares that would result in it beneficially owning more than 4.99% of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock at the time of an Advance or acquiring since the SEPA Effective Date under the SEPA more than 19.99% of the Company’s issued and outstanding Common Stock, as of the SEPA Effective Date (the “Exchange Cap”). The Exchange Cap will not apply under certain circumstances, including, where the Company has obtained stockholder approval to issue in excess of the Exchange Cap in accordance with the rules of Nasdaq or such issuances do not require stockholder approval under Nasdaq’s “minimum price rule.” Additionally, if the total number of shares of Common Stock traded on Nasdaq during the applicable Pricing Period is less than the Volume Threshold (as defined below), then the number of shares of Common Stock issued and sold pursuant to such Advance notice will be reduced to the greater of (i) 30% of the trading volume of the Common Stock on Nasdaq during the relevant Pricing Period as reported by Bloomberg L.P., or (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock sold by Yorkville during such Pricing Period, but in each case not to exceed the amount requested in the Advance notice. “Volume Threshold” is defined as a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient of (a) the number of shares in the Advance notice requested by the Company divided by (b) 0.30. As consideration for Yorkville’s commitment to purchase the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the SEPA, the Company paid Yorkville, (i) a structuring fee in the amount of $25,000 and (ii) a commitment fee (the “Commitment Fee”) of $500,000 by the issuance to Yorkville of an aggregate of 280,899 shares of Common Stock (“Commitment Shares”). Through December 31, 2024, the Company issued an aggregate of 280,899 shares of Common Stock to Yorkville, including the Commitment Fee. Upon execution of the SEPA, the Company expensed the $25,000 restructuring fee and $500,000 commitment fee within general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statements of operations during the year ended December 31, 2024.

The Company accounts for the SEPA as a derivative that grants the Company the right, but not the obligation, to issue additional shares of Common Stock. Due to certain settlement provisions, the SEPA is precluded from equity classification. The SEPA derivative is recognized at inception and accounted for on a fair value basis. The Company determined the fair value of the SEPA derivative at inception and as of December 31, 2024 to be de minimis.

Common Stock Warrants

In connection with the Business Combination, the Company assumed 10,314,952 Public Warrants and 6,126,010 Private Placement Warrants, which are all outstanding as of December 31, 2024. Each whole Public Warrant and Private Placement Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. The Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants were exercisable beginning on April 13, 2024 and expire on April 14, 2029.

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants, except that (x) the Private Placement Warrants and the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants were not transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a business combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and be non-redeemable as described above so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.

In connection with the May SPA, the Company also entered into a Letter Agreement to Exercise Warrants (“May Warrant Exercise Agreement”) with certain of the May Purchasers (the “Required Warrant Parties”). Under the May Warrant Exercise Agreement, if the Company uses commercially reasonable efforts to raise an additional $3,250,000 in capital (excluding amounts raised under the May SPA) but is unable to do so by October 31, 2024, the Required Warrant Parties will be required to exercise for cash certain of their May Warrants on a monthly basis in the amounts and on the dates as determined in the May Warrant Exercise Agreement. For each May Warrant so exercised, the Company will issue one new May One-Year Warrant and one new May Five-Year Warrant (collectively, “May Reload Warrants”) each with an exercise price of $2.50 to the Required Warrant Party. A maximum of 2,600,000 May Reload Warrants may be issued pursuant to the May Warrant Exercise Agreement. Upon receipt of an aggregate of $3,250,000 of actual cash proceeds from the August SPA, the May Warrant Exercise Agreement will terminate automatically.

On August 26, 2024, in connection with the August SPA and the Assignment Agreement, the Company entered into a warrant purchase agreement (the “August Warrant Agreement”) with each of the warrantholders signatory thereto (the “Warrantholders”), pursuant to which the Company issued to the Warrantholders an aggregate of 960,000 warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “August Warrants”), with an exercise price of $5.00 per share with an expiration period of five years from the date of issuance.

Equity Compensation Plans

2021 Incentive Stock Option Plan

In May 2021, the Company adopted the 2021 Incentive Stock Option Plan (“2021 Option Plan”) that provides for the grant of the following types of stock awards: (i) incentive stock Options, (ii) non-statutory stock options, (iii) stock appreciation rights, (iv) restricted stock awards, (v) restricted stock unit awards, and (vi) other stock awards. The 2021 Option Plan was administered by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”). In connection with the Closing, all outstanding awards were assumed by BEN pursuant to the terms of the Business Combination Agreement and the Board of Directors declared that there will be no further issuances under the 2021 Option Plan. Forfeitures under the 2021 Option Plan are automatically added to shares available for issuance under the 2023 Plan.

2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan

In connection with the Closing, the 2023 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”) became effective. The 2023 Plan provides for the grant of the following types of stock awards: (i) incentive stock options, (ii) nonqualified stock options, (iii) stock appreciation rights, (iv) restricted stock, (v) restricted stock units, (vi) performance awards, (vii) dividend equivalent rights, (viii) performance awards, (ix) performance goals, (x) tandem awards, (xi) prior plan awards, and (xii) other awards. The 2023 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors. The 2023 Plan awards are available to employees, officers and contractors. The option grants authorized for issuance under the 2023 Plan may total up to 2,942,245 shares of Common Stock. As of December 31, 2024,3,555,701 shares remained available for grant under the 2023 Plan.

NOTE K —EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Option Awards

2024 Activity

Generally, options have a service vesting condition of 25% cliff after 1 year and then monthly thereafter for 36 months (2.067% per month). As of December 31, 2024,3,555,701 shares remained available for grant under the Company’s option plan.

The following table provides the estimates included in the inputs to the Black-Scholes pricing model for the options granted:

A summary of option activity for the years ended December 31, 2024 is as follows:

The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable as of December 31, 2024 was $91,919 and $69,357, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding and options exercisable as of December 31, 2023 was $9,516,700. At December 31, 2024, future stock-based compensation for options granted and outstanding of $1,162,120 will be recognized over a remaining weighted-average requisite service period of 1.0 year.

The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense related to options of $1,126,124 and $3,004,884 during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, to the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Common Stock Warrants

AFG Warrants

There were 3,750,000 warrants granted to AFG during the year ended December 31, 2024 at an exercise price of $10.00 and a fair value of $2.52 per warrant (Note J). The 3,750,000 warrants were cancelled in January 2025, upon the termination of the Reseller Agreement.

Compensatory Warrants

There were 84,525 warrants exercised in the years ended December 31, 2024 at a weighted average exercise price of $1.31 per share. As of December 31, 2024, there were 955,359 warrants outstanding at a weighted average exercise price of $3.20 per share, with expiration dates ranging from 2028 to 2033. The Company recorded $1,873,771 stock-based compensation expense related to warrants for the year ended December 31, 2023. There wasno such expense during the year ended December 31, 2024.

The following table provides the estimates included in the inputs to the Black-Scholes pricing model for the AFG and compensatory warrants granted:

The Company has recorded stock-based compensation related to its options and warrants in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations as follows:

Stock-based compensation capitalized as part of capitalized software costs for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $236,346 and $61,458, respectively, which is in addition to amounts included in the table above.

Restricted share awards

During the years ended December 31, 2024, the Company issued 464,244 restricted share awards to certain of its directors and officers. Of the restricted share awards granted,381,915 shares vested immediately upon grant, while 82,329 shares vested in the second half of 2024. The fair value of a restricted share award is equal to the fair market value price of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $687,924 for the year ended December 31, 2024 related to these restricted share awards.

The following table summarizes activity related to restricted share awards:

NOTE L -INCOME TAX

The components of our deferred tax assets are as follows:

The benefit of income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 consist of the following:

A reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate to the effective tax rate is as follows:

As of the Company’s last filed Federal returns on December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company has net operating losses of $4,974,489 and $1,104,955, respectively, available for carryforward to future years. These operating losses are indefinite lived, however their deductibility is limited under Internal Revenue Code 720.

As of December 31, 2024, the Company has a valuation allowance of $6,320,000 against all net domestic deferred tax assets, for which realization cannot be considered more likely than not at this time. The net change in the valuation allowance was $4,440,000 for the year ended December 31, 2024. Management assesses the need for the valuation allowance on an annual basis. In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers all positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies, and past financial performance.

On May 3, 2023 the Company acquired DM Lab in an asset purchase agreement, which is deemed an asset acquisition for tax purposes. Per the acquisition accounting, no goodwill was created in this transaction. As an asset deal, the fair value of the intangibles and fixed assets from the DM acquisition have the same book and tax basis’s as of the opening balance sheet date. The majority of the assets acquired were intangible assets and the intangible asset deferred account represents the difference between net book and net tax value of the acquired assets as of December 31, 2024.

Wyoming has no corporate income tax.

The Company does not expect any material changes in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next twelve months. The Company files tax returns as prescribed by the laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by federal and state jurisdictions, where applicable. There are currently no pending tax examinations. The statute of limitations period is generally three years. Due to the extent of the net operating loss carryforward, however, all tax years remain open to examination.

NOTE M —RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

AFG Reseller Agreement

On August 19, 2023, the Company entered into Reseller Agreement, providing for, among other things, AFG to act as the Company’s exclusive reseller of certain products on terms and conditions set forth therein and, as partial consideration to AFG for such services, the Company issued 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock with an aggregate fair value of $13,475,000 based on the closing stock price on the date of the Merger. Additionally, the Company issued AFG a warrant to purchase up to 3,750,000 shares of Common Stock, with each warrant exercisable forone share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $10.00 and a fair value of $2.52 per warrant (Note J). The Company terminated the Reseller Agreement in January 2025, resulting in the forfeiture of the 3,750,000 warrants.

Advances to Officers and Directors

Certain officers and directors advanced funds to or were advanced from the Company on an undocumented, non-interested bearing, due on demand basis. As of December 31, 2024, $0 and $185,029 of amounts owed to related parties were included within accrued expenses and accounts payable, respectively, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. During the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded professional and other fees and cost related to consulting services from related parties of $246,029 and $571,215, respectively, within general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

Promissory Note

On June 30, 2023, the Company entered into a promissory note agreement with a related party for$620,000. The note bears interest at 7% per annum and matures on June 25, 2025. In June 2024 the Company issued 93,333 shares of Common Stock to extinguish the outstanding balance of$420,000, resulting in a gain on debt extinguishment of$97,992 during the year ended December 31, 2024.

Related Party Advance

The Company received non-interest bearing and payable upon demand related party advances from DHC’s Sponsor in connection with the Merger. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had $693,036 in related party advances in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

NOTE N —COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is subject to various legal and regulatory proceedings, claims, and assessments, as well as other contingencies, that arise in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues for these contingencies when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company regularly reviews and updates its accruals for contingencies and makes adjustments as necessary based on changes in circumstances and the emergence of new information.

Leases

In September 2024, the Company entered into an operating lease for its office space in South Korea which expires in 2027. The Company’s operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and related lease liability was initially measured at the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. The Company is responsible for payment of certain real estate taxes and other expenses on its lease. These amounts are generally considered to be variable and are not included in its measurement of the ROU asset and lease liability. The Company accounts for non-lease components, such as maintenance, separately from lease components.

During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company’s operating lease costs were $70,734. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining term of the Company’s operating lease was 2.7 years and the discount rate was 8%.

Operating cash used in operating leases was $68,654 during the year ended December 31, 2024.

Future maturities of the operating lease liability was as follows as of December 31, 2024:

Litigation

On January 16, 2025, the Company filed a lawsuit against AFG and its Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Wright Brewer III, in the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division alleging fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, and the concealment of a ransomware attack on its own network shortly before the Reseller Agreement was executed. Given that the litigation remains in its early stages, the Company is currently unable to estimate the potential range of recoverable damages or the potential loss or range of loss, if any, resulting from a favorable or unfavorable outcome.

Recoverables and liabilities for contingencies, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, penalties, and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a recoverable or liability has been earned or incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated.

Employment contracts

The Company has entered into employment contracts with its officers and certain employees that provide for severance and continuation benefits in the event of termination of employment either by the Company without cause or by the employee for good reason, both as defined in the agreements, along with any unpaid vested options, equity or earned bonuses. In addition, in the event of termination of employment following a change in control, as defined in each agreement the employee shall receive a prorated bonus payment and severance payments (as defined in each agreement).

Korea University

The Company entered into another sponsorship agreement in December 2023 for total consideration of up to 528.0 million Korean won (approximately $380,160) from January 2024 through December 2024. The Company can terminate the agreement upon written notice to Korea University for a period of at leastone month. As of December 31, 2024, the Company had paid 211.2 million Korean won (approximately $152,064). The sponsorship agreement with Korea

University is no longer active. As of December 31, 2024, the Company owed $194,688 which is included in accrued expenses within the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

NOTE O —SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On October 29, 2024, Company entered into a Share Purchase and Transfer Agreement with Christian Unterseer, in his individual capacity (“Unterseer”), CUTV GmbH, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (“CUTV”), and CUNEO AG, a stock corporation incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (“Cuneo” and together with Unterseer and CUTV, the “Sellers”) (the “Purchase Agreement”) pursuant to which the Sellers have agreed to sell all of the outstanding equity interests of Cataneo GmbH, a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany (“Cataneo”) to the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $19,500,000, consisting of (i) $9,000,000 in cash and (ii)4,200,000 shares of Common Stock at an agreed upon value of $2.50 per share (“Equity Consideration”) (the transactions governed by the Purchase Agreement, the “Acquisition”), subject to customary adjustments. Prior to the closing of the Acquisition (the “Closing Date”), the Sellers may elect to convert a portion of the Equity Consideration to cash for up to $3,000,000 at a price per share of $2.50. Additionally, an aggregate of 400,000 shares of Common Stock issued as part of the Equity Consideration shall be subject to an escrow arrangement for a period ofone year (the “Escrow Period”) following the Closing Date (the “Escrow Shares”). The Escrow Shares may be utilized to offset certain claims, fines, penalties, outstanding debts or other costs owed by the Sellers following the Closing Date. Thirty days prior to the end of the Escrow Period, certain of the Sellers shall have the right, but not the obligation, to cause the Company to repurchase their portion of the Escrow Shares at a price per share of $2.50.

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, as well as indemnification provisions subject to specified limitations. Among other things, the Sellers have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to cause Cataneo to conduct its business in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice, from the date of the Purchase Agreement until the Closing Date and not to take certain actions prior to the Closing Date without the prior written consent of the Company. On February 6, 2025, the Company and the Sellers entered into that certain Addendum to Share Purchase and Transfer Agreement (the “Addendum”), pursuant to which the parties amended certain provisions of the Purchase Agreement to provide the parties additional time to prepare for and close the Acquisition.