10-K/A: Vocodia Holdings Corp Restates 2024 Financials Amidst Significant Losses and Going Concern Doubts

Sentiment:

Annual Report Amendment


Vocodia Holdings Corp has filed an amendment to its 2024 annual report, restating financial statements due to a misclassified transaction, revealing increased net losses and raising substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern.

Delay expectedThe company suspended sales of its DISA product in January 2024 to update its functionality, leading to a significant delay in product availability and revenue generation.The improved DISA product is now anticipated to launch in the third quarter of 2025, indicating a prolonged period of limited product offerings.
Capital raiseThe company completed an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in February 2024, raising $5.95 million in gross proceeds.In January 2025, a convertible note agreement from December 20, 2024, was amended to increase the principal amount from $60,000 to $96,000, with an additional $30,000 received.In March 2025, the company entered into multiple new convertible notes: $56,000 at 12% interest, $30,000 at 15% interest (with $5,000 debt discount), $285,714.29 at 10% interest (with $85,714.29 debt discount), and another $30,000 at 15% interest (with $5,000 debt discount).On May 13, 2025, the company entered into a Senior Secured Convertible Note for a principal amount of $3,333,333 (including a $333,333 debt discount) at a 10% interest rate, along with warrants for 611,111,111 shares at an exercise price of $0.001 per share.Management explicitly states plans to continue raising funds and/or refinancing indebtedness to support operations.
Worse than expectedThe restatement increased the net loss for 2024 by $71,992, making the financial performance worse than previously reported.Revenue declined by a drastic 80% in 2024, indicating a significant operational setback and worse performance than expected for a technology company.The company transitioned from a gross profit to a gross loss, reflecting a deterioration in core business profitability.Cash used in operating activities significantly increased, demonstrating a worsening cash burn rate.The explicit statement of "substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern" by both management and independent auditors indicates a critical financial position that is worse than a stable outlook.

Summary

  • Vocodia Holdings Corp (VHC) filed an Amendment No. 2 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, to restate its financial statements.
  • The restatement was triggered by the discovery of a misclassified transaction in Q4 2024, where proceeds from a convertible note payable were incorrectly recorded as a reduction in accounts receivable.
  • This error resulted in an understatement of Accounts Receivable, Convertible Notes Payable, Accrued Interest Payable, Interest Expense, and Debt Discount.
  • The net effect of the adjustments was an increase in net loss by $71,992 for the year ended December 31, 2024, bringing the total net loss to $(10,099,083).
  • Stockholders' equity decreased by $71,820 as of December 31, 2024, due to these adjustments.
  • Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2024, significantly decreased by 80% to $50,078, compared to $256,385 in 2023, primarily due to the suspension of DISA product sales for functionality updates.
  • The company shifted from a gross profit of $35,608 in 2023 to a gross loss of $(55,876) in 2024.
  • Operating expenses increased by 1% to $5,844,505, driven by an 80% increase in general and administrative expenses (due to legal, accounting, and investor relations fees), partially offset by a 55% reduction in salaries and wages due to staffing scale-back.
  • Cash used in operating activities increased to $(5,419,561) in 2024 from $(2,696,328) in 2023.
  • The company had an accumulated deficit of $100,607,253 and negative working capital of $2,234,988 as of December 31, 2024, with only $281 in cash.
  • Management and independent auditors have concluded there is substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
  • The company completed an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in February 2024, raising $5.95 million in gross proceeds.
  • Several key management and independent director positions saw resignations, including the Chief Financial Officer and all independent directors, leaving the Board of Directors composed solely of the CEO and CTO.
  • The company disclosed multiple ongoing legal proceedings, including disputes with a former customer, a former employee, a class action lawsuit, and arbitration, as well as lawsuits for unpaid professional fees.

Sentiment

Score: 2

Explanation: The sentiment is overwhelmingly negative due to the financial restatement revealing a larger net loss, a drastic 80% decline in revenue, a shift to gross loss, significant cash burn from operations, and an explicit 'going concern' warning. The extensive management changes and internal control weaknesses further contribute to a very poor outlook, despite recent capital raises which appear to be for survival rather than growth.

Positives

  • The company successfully completed an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in February 2024, raising $5.95 million in gross proceeds, demonstrating some ability to attract capital.
  • Current liabilities decreased significantly by 70% to $2,363,345 as of December 31, 2024, from $7,894,129 in 2023, improving the working capital deficiency.
  • The company's DISA product is undergoing functionality updates to scale to customer needs, with an anticipated re-launch in Q3 2025, indicating ongoing product development efforts.

Negatives

  • The restatement of financial statements for 2024 resulted in an increased net loss of $71,992, bringing the total net loss to $(10,099,083), and a decrease in stockholders' equity by $71,820.
  • Revenue plummeted by 80% to $50,078 in 2024, primarily due to the suspension of DISA product sales, indicating a significant operational setback.
  • The company incurred a gross loss of $(55,876) in 2024, a substantial decline from a gross profit of $35,608 in 2023.
  • Cash used in operating activities increased significantly to $(5,419,561) in 2024, compared to $(2,696,328) in 2023, highlighting worsening operational cash burn.
  • The company reported an accumulated deficit of $100,607,253 and a negative working capital of $2,234,988 as of December 31, 2024, with minimal cash on hand ($281).
  • Both management and independent auditors have expressed substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
  • The company has material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in its internal controls over financial reporting, including insufficient staff for segregation of duties and reliance on a third-party accounting firm for GAAP compliance.
  • Significant changes in corporate governance, including the resignation of all independent directors and the Chief Financial Officer, have left the Board of Directors with only two members (CEO and CTO), and the Audit Committee is no longer constituted.

Risks

  • Substantial doubt about the company's ability to continue as a going concern due to recurring losses, significant accumulated deficit, and negative cash flows from operations.
  • Dependence on raising additional capital through equity or debt financing, with no assurance that such funding will be available.
  • Material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting, which could adversely affect the ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information accurately.
  • Operational risk from the suspension of DISA product sales, leading to a significant revenue decline and reliance on a successful re-launch in Q3 2025.
  • Exposure to multiple ongoing legal proceedings, including disputes with former customers and employees, a class action lawsuit, and claims for unpaid professional fees, which could result in significant damages or legal expenses.
  • High general and administrative expenses, including legal and accounting fees, inherent in operating as a public company, contributing to overall losses.
  • Risk associated with related party transactions, including lending arrangements and services provided by entities owned by former officers, which may present conflicts of interest or less favorable terms than arm's-length transactions.
  • The company's stock does not have sufficient historical trading activity, leading to reliance on comparable companies' volatility for fair value measurements of financial instruments, which may not accurately reflect its own risk profile.

Future Outlook

The company anticipates launching its improved DISA product in the third quarter of 2025. Management plans to continue raising funds and/or refinancing indebtedness to support operations in 2024 and beyond, acknowledging that the company must obtain additional resources to successfully develop its technology and implement its business plans.

Management Comments

  • "Management has concluded that there is a substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern."
  • "If the Company is unable to generate sufficient profits or raise additional debt or equity capital in amounts needed to fund its operations, it could have a negative impact on the Company’s business plans and ability to conduct its operations."
  • "We anticipate launching our improved DISA product in the third quarter of 2025."
  • "Management plans to continue to raise funds and/or refinance our indebtedness to support our operations in 2024 and beyond."
  • "We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms."
  • "Our management has deemed certain conditions to be material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in our internal controls. For example, we failed to employ a sufficient number of staff to maintain optimal segregation of duties and to provide optimal levels of oversight and we rely upon a third-party accounting firm to assist us with generally accepted in the GAAP compliance."

Industry Context

Vocodia Holdings Corp operates in the highly competitive and rapidly evolving conversational AI technology sector. The company's focus on scalable enterprise AI sales and customer service solutions aligns with a broader industry trend towards automation and cost reduction in customer engagement. However, its significant revenue decline due to product suspension and ongoing financial struggles suggest it is currently lagging behind industry leaders who are rapidly expanding their AI offerings and market share. The company's stated goal of making AI sound similar to a human voice over the phone indicates a focus on advanced natural language processing and synthesis, a key area of innovation in the AI industry.

Comparison to Industry Standards

  • The company's revenue of $50,078 in 2024 is extremely low for a publicly traded AI technology provider, especially when compared to established players like Salesforce (which integrates AI extensively) or even smaller, rapidly growing AI startups that often report revenues in the millions or tens of millions.
  • The reported net loss of over $10 million and accumulated deficit of over $100 million indicate a significant burn rate and lack of profitability, which is common for early-stage tech companies but raises concerns given the substantial doubt about going concern.
  • The 80% revenue decline is a severe underperformance compared to the general growth trajectory of the AI software market, which has seen robust expansion in recent years.
  • The company's reliance on debt and equity financing to fund operations, coupled with minimal cash on hand ($281), falls significantly short of the liquidity and financial stability typically seen in more mature or successful AI companies.
  • The identified material weaknesses in internal controls, such as insufficient segregation of duties and reliance on third-party accounting, are below standard for a public company and indicate a lack of robust financial governance compared to industry best practices.

Management Changes

RolePrevious PersonNew PersonEffective DateReason
Chief Financial OfficerScott J. SilvermanBrian Podolak2025-06-18Resignation of previous CFO; CEO assumed dual role.
Independent DirectorLourdes FelixNA2025-06-17Resignation.
Independent DirectorRandall MilesNA2025-06-17Resignation.
Independent DirectorNed L. SiegelNA2025-06-17Resignation.

Corporate Governance

Change TypeDescriptionEffective DateImpact Assessment
Board CompositionThe Board of Directors is now composed solely of Mr. Brian Podolak (Chief Executive Officer) and Mr. James Sposato (Chief Technology Officer), following the resignation of all independent directors.2025-06-17Significantly reduces independent oversight and potentially increases governance risk due to lack of independent voices and expertise on the board.
Audit Committee StatusThe Audit Committee is no longer constituted.2025-06-17Eliminates a critical oversight body for financial reporting and internal controls, increasing financial risk and potentially impacting investor confidence and regulatory compliance.
Internal Control WeaknessesManagement identified material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal controls, including insufficient staff for segregation of duties and reliance on a third-party accounting firm for GAAP compliance.2024-12-31Indicates a high risk of financial misstatement and potential fraud, requiring significant time and resources to remediate, and impacting the reliability of financial reporting.

Legal Proceedings

  • A former customer dispute from February 2023 alleging unprocessed leads and seeking a refund of $15,950, which the company denies liability for.
  • A former employee dispute from August 2023 alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination, which the company denies liability for; the EEOC dismissed the case in December 2024.
  • A putative class action lawsuit filed in December 2023 alleging Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) violations for prerecorded calls on behalf of a customer, with mediation scheduled for October 15, 2024.
  • An arbitration commenced by ProofPositive LLC on May 31, 2024, asserting claims under the Arizona Securities Act for alleged failure to pay sums due under a loan agreement and promissory note.
  • A lawsuit filed by Carstens, Allen & Gourley, LLP on August 12, 2024, for breach of contract due to unpaid attorneys' fees, which was settled in April 2025 for $160,000.
  • A verified complaint filed by MAI Voice GCO, LLC on December 16, 2024, alleging breach of contract and seeking $32,090.

Related Party Transactions

  • Incurred approximately $40,000 in investor marketing and relations services from a company owned by the former chief strategy officer during 2024.
  • A lending arrangement with the prior owner of Click Fish Media, with a remaining note payable balance of $77,251 as of December 31, 2024.
  • Thornhill Advisory Group, Inc., an entity majority-owned by the former CFO, billed the Company $297,457 for financial consulting and outsourced CFO services in 2024.
  • In January 2024, common stock valued at $76,807 (38,404 shares) was issued to the CEO for settlement of accounts payable.
  • In January 2024, common stock valued at $95,165 (47,584 shares) was issued to the Chief Product Officer for settlement of accounts payable.
  • In January 2024, common stock valued at $21,250 (10,625 shares) was issued to a company owned by the CFO for settlement of accounts payable.

Stakeholder Impact

  • **Shareholders**: Face significant dilution risk from ongoing capital raises (e.g., warrants for 611 million shares), increased net losses, substantial doubt about the company's going concern, and a lack of independent board oversight, all of which could negatively impact share price and investment value.
  • **Employees**: Experienced a 55% reduction in salaries and wages due to staffing scale-back, indicating job insecurity and potential for further reductions given the company's financial struggles and lack of positive cash flow from operations.
  • **Customers**: May experience disruptions or delays in service due to the suspension of the DISA product and the company's financial instability, potentially leading to reduced customer satisfaction and retention.
  • **Creditors**: Face increased risk due to the company's recurring losses, accumulated deficit, and reliance on debt financing, which raises concerns about the company's ability to repay its obligations.
  • **Suppliers**: May face delays or non-payment for services rendered, as evidenced by legal proceedings for unpaid professional fees, increasing their business risk when dealing with the company.

Next Steps

  • Launch of the improved DISA product anticipated in the third quarter of 2025.
  • Management plans to continue efforts to raise additional capital and/or refinance indebtedness to fund operations.
  • The company will continue to develop and refine its disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting to address identified material weaknesses.
  • The company will continue to vigorously defend against ongoing legal proceedings and engage in settlement negotiations where appropriate.

Key Dates

DateDescription
2019-11-26Click Fish Media, Inc. (CFM) was incorporated in the State of Florida.
2021-04-27Vocodia Holdings Corp (VHC) was incorporated in the State of Wyoming.
2022-08-01Contribution Agreement dated for the acquisition of CFM by Vocodia from James Sposato.
2022-08-02Vocodia acquired 100% ownership in CFM; Certificate of Designation of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock issued; Certificate of Designation of Series D Preferred Stock issued; Securities Purchase Agreement (SPA) entered into with certain accredited investors.
2023-01-01Adoption date for ASU 2016-13 (CECL methodology) and ASU 2023-07 (Segment Reporting).
2023-02-01Effective date for ASU 2023-09 (Income Taxes) for fiscal years beginning after this date.
2023-02-12Maturity date for a $25,000 note payable if not paid before December 31, 2023.
2023-04-17Board resolution passed to amend Series A Preferred Stock voting rights upon SEC registration statement effectiveness.
2023-05-01Thornhill Advisory Group, Inc. began providing financial consulting services (through October 2023).
2023-07-12Former employee's resignation was accepted.
2023-08-28Letter received from attorney representing a former employee regarding sexual harassment and wrongful termination allegations.
2023-09-27Company amended the certificate of designation to authorize Series B Preferred Stock.
2023-10-10Alleged date of a prerecorded call from the Company on behalf of its customer, cited in a class action lawsuit.
2023-11-02Company issued 120,000 restricted stock awards (RSAs) to Thornhill Advisory Group, Inc.
2023-11-09Company's stockholders approved the 2022 Equity Compensation Plan.
2023-11-28Alleged date of a second prerecorded call from the Company on behalf of its customer, cited in a class action lawsuit.
2023-12-20Individual filed a putative class action lawsuit against a customer, later adding the Company as a party.
2023-12-31End of fiscal year 2023.
2024-01-01Company suspended sales of its DISA product to update functionality.
2024-01-31Common stock issued for settlement of accounts payable to CEO, Chief Product Officer, and a company owned by CFO.
2024-02-14SEC declared the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 effective, making the removal of Series A voting rights effective.
2024-02-23Company's IPO became effective, leading to full recognition of RSA costs.
2024-02-28Extended maturity dates for outstanding 2022 and 2023 Original Issue Discount Convertible Notes.
2024-02-29Completion of IPO, settlement of all outstanding 2023 and 2022 Original Issue Discount Convertible Notes.
2024-05-31ProofPositive LLC commenced an arbitration against the Company.
2024-06-28Closing sale price of Common Stock was $0.071, used for market value calculation.
2024-08-12Carstens, Allen & Gourley, LLP commenced a lawsuit against the Company.
2024-09-17Purchasers and Company terminated the Securities Purchase Agreement (SPA).
2024-09-18Company entered into a Convertible Note with a principal amount of $105,300.
2024-10-15Mediation date agreed upon for the TCPA class action lawsuit.
2024-11-13Company entered into a Convertible Note with a principal amount of $57,500.
2024-11-12Date of $50,000 deposit received from a convertible note, which was misclassified.
2024-12-15Company moved out from its corporate office premises.
2024-12-16MAI Voice GCO, LLC filed a verified complaint against the Company; Company issued a note payable of $40,000.
2024-12-20Company entered into a Convertible Note with a principal amount of $60,000.
2024-12-31End of fiscal year 2024.
2025-01-01Company obtained additional amended principal of $30,000 from a convertible note.
2025-01-16Company amended the convertible note agreement dated December 20, 2024, increasing principal to $96,000.
2025-03-01Company issued 23,000,000 shares of common stock for partial settlement penalty of $210,375.
2025-03-06Company entered into a settlement liquidate damages penalty of $500,000 to be paid in common stock.
2025-03-20Company entered into a settlement liquidate damages penalty of $210,375 to be paid by issuance of 140,000,000 shares of common stock.
2025-03-31Berkowitz Pollack & Brant Advisors filed a lawsuit against the Company for unpaid professional fees.
2025-04-01Company settled a lawsuit previously filed by Carstens Allen and Gourley for $160,000.
2025-05-01Company issued 204,555,000 shares of common stock for partial settlement penalty of $500,000.
2025-05-13Company entered into a Senior Secured Convertible Note with a principal amount of $3,333,333.
2025-06-16Number of shares outstanding of common stock was 1,187,114,474.
2025-06-17Date of Pipara & Co LLP's audit report.
2025-06-18Date of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and certifications by CEO and CFO.
2025-09-30Anticipated launch of improved DISA product (Q3 2025).

Recommendation

strong sell

Keywords

SEC Filing, 10-K/A, Financial Restatement, Going Concern, AI Technology, Conversational AI, Financial Performance, Net Loss, Revenue Decline, Liquidity, Capital Raise, Corporate Governance, Internal Controls, Legal Proceedings, Convertible Notes, Warrants, Public Company, Vocodia Holdings Corp

Disclaimer:The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, recommendation, or endorsement of any kind. It may contain errors or omissions. You should not rely on this information to make financial decisions. Always seek the advice of a qualified financial professional before making any investment or financial decisions. Use of this information is at your own risk.