10-K: KwikClick Faces Going Concern Doubts Amidst IP Battle

Sentiment:

Annual Report


KwikClick, Inc. reports significant net losses and negative working capital for 2025, raising substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern, compounded by ongoing intellectual property litigation.

Capital raiseThe company needs to raise substantial amounts of additional capital for organic growth and acquisitions.Management intends to increasingly utilize stock or stock-based awards to compensate people and organizations providing services or investment.The company has historically been funded primarily from private placements of stock and loans from company affiliates and may continue to be so funded.Management may determine that additional capital will be required in the form of equity or debt securities.The company's inability to raise sufficient capital on commercially acceptable terms, or at all, could have a material adverse effect.
Worse than expectedThe company continues to report a net loss of $1,316,827 and has not achieved profitability in any year of operation.KwikClick has significant negative working capital of $3,771,219 and an accumulated deficit of $13,675,781, indicating a weak financial position.Cash and cash equivalents decreased from $192,996 to $106,468 year-over-year.The company's ability to continue as a going concern is in substantial doubt, as stated by management and the independent auditors.Material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting were identified, which can lead to inaccurate financial reporting and operational inefficiencies.The ongoing legal proceeding regarding intellectual property ownership poses a significant threat, potentially leading to impairment of assets and discontinuation of the core business.

Summary

  • KwikClick, Inc. reported a net loss of $1,316,827 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, an improvement from a $1,956,424 net loss in 2024.
  • The company used $202,102 in cash from operations in 2025, a significant reduction from $1,232,462 used in 2024.
  • Total net revenue increased substantially to $1,287,477 in 2025 from $157,371 in 2024, driven by custom design services ($1,098,392 in 2025 vs. $72,505 in 2024) and brand services ($183,085 in 2025 vs. $84,866 in 2024).
  • Operating expenses increased to $2,487,389 in 2025 from $1,914,551 in 2024, primarily due to a $712,433 increase in loss on disposal of long-lived assets.
  • The company had negative working capital of $3,771,219 and an accumulated deficit of $13,675,781 as of December 31, 2025.
  • Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $106,468 at year-end 2025 from $192,996 at year-end 2024.
  • An adversary proceeding filed by NAI Liquidation Trust claims ownership of KwikClick's intellectual property, which, if unsuccessful for KwikClick, could lead to impairment of $514,000 in intangible assets and discontinuation of its sales platform.
  • The company effected a one-for-forty (1:40) reverse stock split on June 26, 2025.
  • Material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting were identified, including insufficient segregation of duties, lack of controls over revenue contracts and related party transactions, and inadequate corporate governance policies.

Sentiment

Score: 2

Explanation: StockSavvy.ai views this filing with a low sentiment score due to the explicit 'going concern' doubt, weak financial position, significant related-party debt, and critical legal challenges to its core intellectual property, despite revenue growth.

Positives

  • Net revenue increased significantly by over 700% to $1,287,477 in 2025 from $157,371 in 2024, indicating strong growth in platform adoption and custom design services.
  • The net loss decreased to $1,316,827 in 2025 from $1,956,424 in 2024, showing an improvement in profitability.
  • Cash used in operations decreased substantially to $202,102 in 2025 from $1,232,462 in 2024, indicating improved operational efficiency and cash management.
  • The company started generating positive cash flows in the fourth quarter of 2025, primarily due to two new customer contracts providing $50,000 monthly for 18 months (starting Dec 2024) and $125,000 monthly for 12 months (starting Oct 2025).
  • KwikClick has been granted four patents since inception, with several more patent applications pending, aiming to protect its first-mover advantage and technology.
  • The company's platform integrates with Shopify and plans integrations with WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento, expanding its market reach.

Negatives

  • The company has not been profitable during any of its years of operation and reported a net loss of $1,316,827 in 2025.
  • KwikClick has a weak balance sheet with negative working capital of $3,771,219 and an accumulated deficit of $13,675,781 as of December 31, 2025.
  • Cash and cash equivalents decreased to $106,468 at year-end 2025 from $192,996 at year-end 2024.
  • The company relies heavily on related-party loans, with $3,288,543 owed to CEO Fred Cooper and $5,238 to CFO Jeffrey Yates as of December 31, 2025.
  • There is no assurance that the company can obtain additional necessary financing on reasonable terms, or at all, to sustain its existence and growth.
  • The common stock lacks a meaningful public market, institutional or analyst support, and is considered a penny stock, making it difficult to trade and potentially subject to significant dilution from future fundraising.
  • Operating expenses increased by $572,838 in 2025, largely due to a $712,433 loss on disposal of long-lived assets, reflecting a shift in product development strategies and increasing costs to pursue intellectual property rights.
  • The company's internal control over financial reporting was deemed ineffective as of December 31, 2025, due to material weaknesses including insufficient segregation of duties, lack of controls over revenue contracts and related party transactions, and inadequate corporate governance policies.

Risks

  • The company is a developing company that only recently started generating revenue and is not well established in its markets, with a weak balance sheet and lack of liquidity.
  • There is no assurance of future profitability, and the company faces many risks that could prevent it from achieving profits.
  • The common stock lacks a meaningful public market, institutional or analyst support, and may be considered a penny stock, restricting trading and affecting liquidity.
  • The trading price of the common stock may be volatile and could drop quickly and unexpectedly, especially for micro-cap and small-cap companies.
  • Quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly due to factors beyond control, making financial performance difficult to predict.
  • The company is adversely affected by difficult economic conditions and turmoil in financial markets, which could impact revenues, operations, and cash flow.
  • Inability to raise needed capital on acceptable terms could delay or fail business plans and materially adversely affect the company.
  • Significant dilution of common stock is expected from fundraising and issuance of employee, director, and consultant incentive shares, as well as for acquisitions.
  • Raising capital by selling common stock is difficult and expensive for OTC-traded companies, potentially involving high broker fees and pre-pricing stock sell-offs.
  • Debt financing is difficult to obtain and, if secured, could increase risk due to cash requirements for debt service, restrictive covenants, and potential default.
  • Financing decisions may be made without stockholder approval, potentially not aligning with all stockholders' best interests.
  • Lack of investor relations, public relations, and advertising resources puts the company at a disadvantage with potential acquisition candidates, investors, and customers.
  • Sales of existing common stock by stockholders could cause the trading price to fall due to low trading volume and small public float.
  • An increase in interest rates may make the common stock less attractive relative to other investments.
  • Increases in taxes and regulatory compliance costs may reduce revenue and adversely affect margins.
  • Regulatory uncertainties regarding potential adverse changes in federal and state laws and governmental regulations materially adversely affect the business.
  • A small number of stockholders, particularly Fred W. Cooper (49.07% ownership), have significant influence over the company, potentially preventing or delaying changes in control.
  • Retaining and attracting directors and officers may be expensive, and current directors may have conflicts of interest due to involvement in other businesses.
  • The company indemnifies its directors and officers, and certain other parties, which could reduce capital available for operations or distributions to investors.
  • Technology disruptions or failures, misuse/disclosure of personal data, or inability to protect against cyber incidents could lead to service interruptions, data loss, liability, and reputational damage.
  • The software underlying the platform may contain undetected errors or vulnerabilities, impacting user experience and functionality.
  • Business, financial performance, and growth depend on the ability to attract and retain an active and engaged community of buyers and sellers.
  • Reliance on third-party services and technology (cloud, marketing, payments, shipping) means disruptions or failures from these providers could significantly harm the business.
  • Continued and unimpeded access to third-party services, platforms, and infrastructure (internet, mobile networks, postal services) is crucial, and any restrictions or increased costs could harm the business.
  • Inability to adequately protect intellectual property (patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks) could harm the business, as enforcement efforts are costly and uncertain.
  • Reliance on network marketing companies as a significant customer base exposes the company to extensive regulation and scrutiny of direct-selling organizations, and non-compliance by these companies could harm KwikClick's business.
  • Intense competition from a wide range of online and offline competitors (Etsy, Amazon, eBay, Shopify, social commerce channels) may prevent effective competition or require significant resource expenditure.
  • Dependence on widely adopted mobile, social, search, and advertising solutions means changes or limitations by these platforms could cause marketplace use to decline.
  • Marketing efforts may not be effective, especially with changes in search engine algorithms, social media policies, ad-blocking software, and data privacy regulations.
  • Enforcement of marketplace policies may negatively impact brand, reputation, or financial performance due to errors, inconsistent standards, or negative public perception.
  • Failure to deal effectively with constantly evolving fraud or other illegal activity could harm the business, reputation, and financial performance.
  • The brand may be harmed if third parties or community members use KwikClick for illegal or unethical business practices.
  • Claims that items listed by sellers are counterfeit, infringing, illegal, or harmful could lead to liability, regulatory investigations, and costly litigation.
  • Involvement in litigation and regulatory matters (consumer protection, product liability, security, privacy, antitrust) is expensive, time-consuming, and may require strategic changes.
  • Expanding and evolving regulations in privacy and user data protection (GDPR, CCPA, CPRA, international laws) create technological, economic, and cross-border business impediments and compliance costs.
  • The company may be subject to evolving sales and other tax regimes in various jurisdictions, which may harm the business due to complexity, uncertainty, and compliance costs.
  • A large number of U.S. and non-U.S. laws, many evolving and potentially conflicting, apply to the business, and non-compliance could result in significant fines, penalties, and reputational harm.
  • Intellectual property claims, even if untrue, could be costly to defend, damage the brand, require significant damages, and limit the ability to use certain technologies.

Future Outlook

KwikClick anticipates increasing revenues during fiscal 2026 with an expectation for positive cash flows, driven by recent enrollment of additional brands on its platform and increasing interest in custom design services. The company intends to increasingly utilize stock or stock-based awards to compensate service providers and may require additional capital in the form of equity or debt securities for future growth and strategic objectives. However, there is substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern if it cannot generate sufficient revenue or raise additional funds.

Management Comments

  • "We believe the Company will be able to generate increasing revenues during fiscal 2026 with an expectation for positive cash flows."
  • "While our majority shareholder has committed to continue to provide funding for the foreseeable future, there is no assurance that we can increase revenues and/or obtain additional necessary financing, much less on reasonable terms."
  • "The Company intends to increasingly utilize stock or stock-based awards to compensate people and organizations who are or will be providing services or investment to the Company."
  • "Management may determine that additional capital will be required in the form of equity or debt securities."
  • "The Company believes that the code base and functionality of its software platform differs materially from any intellectual property owned by NewAge. The Company intends to vigorously defend and assert its intellectual property rights."
  • "The Company is committed to remediating the material weaknesses identified above, fostering continuous improvement in internal controls and enhancing its overall internal control environment."
  • "Given our limited number of accounting and financial personnel we may not be able to fully remediate this weakness until the Company reaches a critical size with the resources to hire additional personnel."

Industry Context

StockSavvy.ai notes that KwikClick operates in the highly competitive e-commerce and affiliate marketing space, directly competing with established giants like Amazon, Etsy, Wish, and Shopify, as well as social networking sites like Facebook and TikTok. The company's unique 'wave compensation system' and focus on turning every customer into a salesperson aims to differentiate it from traditional affiliate and network marketing models. However, the industry is subject to rapidly evolving regulations concerning data privacy, consumer protection, and platform liability, which could impose significant compliance burdens and costs, particularly for a developing company with limited resources. The reliance on network marketing companies for a significant customer base also exposes KwikClick to the regulatory scrutiny inherent in that segment.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • KwikClick's reported net revenue of $1.29 million in 2025 is significantly lower than industry leaders like Amazon (over $570 billion in 2023) or Shopify (over $7 billion in 2023), reflecting its status as a developing company in a highly competitive market.
  • The company's accumulated deficit of $13.68 million and negative working capital of $3.77 million indicate a financial position far below the robust balance sheets of established e-commerce platforms, which typically demonstrate strong profitability and positive cash flows.
  • The reliance on related-party loans for a substantial portion of its funding ($3.29 million from CEO Fred Cooper) is not a standard practice for mature, publicly traded companies and highlights the difficulty in securing traditional financing.
  • The identified material weaknesses in internal controls, particularly regarding segregation of duties and contract execution, fall short of the robust governance standards expected of publicly traded companies, especially those with significant transaction volumes.
  • While KwikClick's patent portfolio is a positive, the ongoing legal dispute over intellectual property ownership with NAI Liquidation Trust presents a critical risk that is not typical for well-established industry players, who generally have clearer IP protections or the resources to quickly resolve such disputes.

Corporate Governance

Change TypeDescriptionEffective DateImpact Assessment
Committee ReorganizationThe Board reorganized its Audit Committee, Governance Committee, and Compensation Committee in May 2023.2023-05-01Aims to improve oversight, but committees have not yet adopted formal charters, limiting their effectiveness.
Committee FormationThe Company has yet to form a Nominating Committee.Absence of a Nominating Committee may hinder structured board member selection and diversity.
Internal Control Weakness Segregation of DutiesInsufficient segregation of duties in the finance and accounting functions due to limited personnel.2025-12-31Increases risk of errors and fraud; remediation is challenging given limited personnel until critical size is reached.
Internal Control Weakness Revenue ContractsLack of controls surrounding the execution of revenue contracts with customers, including inconsistency in obtaining executed contracts and formal approval of terms.2025-12-31Creates uncertainty regarding contract terms and collectability, impacting revenue recognition accuracy and financial stability.
Internal Control Weakness Related Party TransactionsLack of controls surrounding related party transactions, specifically the absence of executed debt agreements.2025-12-31Increases risk of disputes, lack of clarity on terms, and potential enforceability issues for significant related-party loans.
Internal Control Weakness Board OversightInadequate corporate governance policies, including inconsistency in holding regular board meetings and lack of formal documentation for board decisions.2025-12-31Weakens board oversight and accountability, potentially leading to suboptimal decision-making and increased operational risk.

Legal Proceedings

  • On May 31, 2023, NAI Liquidation Trust, successor to NewAge, Inc., filed an adversary proceeding against KwikClick in the NewAge Chapter 11 bankruptcy case (Delaware Case #22-10819).
  • NAI Liquidation Trust contends it is the rightful owner of KwikClick's intellectual property.
  • KwikClick believes its code base and software functionality differ materially from any intellectual property owned by NewAge and intends to vigorously defend its rights.
  • If KwikClick does not prevail, it may be required to impair substantially all of its intangible assets (carrying value approximately $514,000 as of December 31, 2025) and may be forced to discontinue its on-going fee-based sales platform.
  • The litigation is in its early stages, and an estimate of reasonably possible loss cannot be made at this time.
  • If KwikClick is unable to defend itself, it is unlikely that the Company will be able to continue as a going concern.

Related Party Transactions

  • As of December 31, 2025, KwikClick had outstanding obligations due to Fred Cooper (CEO) totaling $3,288,543 of principal and accrued interest.
  • As of December 31, 2025, KwikClick had outstanding obligations due to Jeffrey Yates (CFO) totaling $5,238 of principal and accrued interest.
  • During 2025, Fred Cooper provided $232,000 in funding, with a repayment of $50,000 in principal under a promissory note originated in 2022.
  • During 2025, the CFO advanced an unsecured $5,000 loan to the Company, with no repayment in 2025.
  • In the event of default on the loan from Fred Cooper, Mr. Cooper may take possession of KwikClick's intellectual property and other assets, which could materially adversely affect the business.
  • The company has not adopted formal policies and procedures for the review, approval, or ratification of related party transactions, but directors will approve any such transactions moving forward.

Stakeholder Impact

  • Shareholders face significant dilution risk from future equity raises and stock-based compensation, as well as potential loss of investment if the company cannot continue as a going concern.
  • Employees, directors, and consultants are incentivized through stock options, stock appreciation rights, and stock awards, aligning their interests with company growth, but the value of these incentives is tied to the company's precarious financial health.
  • Customers (Brands) and users (affiliates, influencers, buyers) may experience disruptions or loss of trust if the company's platform is impacted by security breaches, technology failures, or the outcome of the intellectual property litigation.
  • Creditors, particularly related parties like Fred Cooper, face substantial risk given the company's weak balance sheet and going concern doubts, with the CEO having potential recourse to intellectual property in case of default.
  • Regulatory bodies may increase scrutiny due to identified material weaknesses in internal controls and the company's operations in a highly regulated e-commerce and network marketing environment.

Next Steps

  • Generate increasing revenues during fiscal 2026 to achieve positive cash flows.
  • Obtain additional equity or debt financing to fund future operations and strategic objectives.
  • Vigorously defend intellectual property rights in the adversary proceeding filed by NAI Liquidation Trust.
  • Implement remediation activities to address identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting, including improving segregation of duties, controls over revenue contracts, related party transactions, and board governance.
  • Evaluate the necessity of forming additional board committees and increasing the activities of the Audit and Compensation Committees as the business expands.
  • Continue to conceptualize and develop marketing strategies to attract and retain sellers and buyers.
  • Pursue integrations with other e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and Magento.

Key Dates

DateDescription
1993-11-16Company organized pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware.
2020Commenced KwikClick business operations.
2021-09-01License agreement with NewAge, Inc. started.
2022-12-31License agreement with NewAge, Inc. terminated in late 2022.
2023-05-31NAI Liquidation Trust filed an adversary proceeding against the Company in the Newage Chapter 11 bankruptcy case.
2023-06-01A prior adversarial action brought by NewAge was dismissed.
2023-06-19Grant date for warrants, with 1,312 shares exercised on May 30, 2025.
2024-12-01Arrangement with a brand to provide programming services began, providing $50,000 monthly for 18 months.
2024-12-09Granted 25,000 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2024-12-27Granted 37,500 warrants.
2024-12-31Fiscal year ended.
2025-02-01Entered into an operating lease for its Bountiful, Utah corporate headquarters.
2025-02-07Granted 6,250 warrants.
2025-03-31Granted 10,490 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2025-05-30Issued 1,312 common stock shares for warrants exercised.
2025-06-12Granted 1,250 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2025-06-26Effected a one-for-forty (1:40) reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
2025-06-30Aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was $3,931,890. Also, granted 14,151 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2025-08-27Granted 3,500 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2025-09-30Granted 35,932 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs), 10,334 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs), and 25,000 warrants.
2025-10-01Arrangement with another brand to provide programming services began, providing $125,000 monthly for 12 months.
2025-10-31Granted 19,310 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2025-11-30Granted 6,803 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2025-12-31Fiscal year ended. Also, granted 7,153 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs) and 12,605 stock settled appreciation rights (SARs).
2026-03-31Date of filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K.
2027-01-31Corporate headquarters operating lease expires.

Recommendation

strong sell

KwikClick faces severe financial distress, explicitly stating 'substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.' This is compounded by a weak balance sheet, significant related-party debt, and critical litigation challenging its core intellectual property. While revenue growth is notable, it has not translated into profitability or sufficient cash flow to alleviate liquidity concerns. The identified material weaknesses in internal controls further undermine investor confidence. For a seasoned investor, these factors present an unacceptably high risk of capital loss, warranting a strong sell recommendation.

Keywords

e-commerce platform, affiliate marketing, social selling, software as a service, SAAS, intellectual property, patent, network marketing, online marketplace, digital marketing, influencer marketing, loyalty programs, cashback rewards, risk management, corporate governance, SEC filing, 10-K, financial reporting, going concern, cybersecurity, data privacy, regulatory compliance

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