7.   FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The following tables provide a summary of the assets and liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and where they are classified within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2024 and 2023:

 

   

December 31, 2024

 
   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Assets:

                               

Money market funds (cash equivalents)

  $ 12,203,627     $     $     $ 12,203,627  

Total assets measured and recorded at fair value

  $ 12,203,627     $     $     $ 12,203,627  

Liabilities:

                               

Warrant liabilities

  $     $     $ 89,010     $ 89,010  

Total liabilities measured and recorded at fair value

  $     $     $ 89,010     $ 89,010  

 

   

December 31, 2023

 
   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

 

Assets:

                               

Money market funds (cash equivalents)

  $ 22,211,820     $     $     $ 22,211,820  

Total assets measured and recorded at fair value

  $ 22,211,820     $     $     $ 22,211,820  

Liabilities:

                               

Warrant liabilities

  $     $     $ 806,655     $ 806,655  

Total liabilities measured and recorded at fair value

  $     $     $ 806,655     $ 806,655  

 

The following table summarizes the changes in the fair value of the warrant liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):

 

   

Year Ended December 31,

 
   

2024

   

2023

 

Balance, beginning of period

  $ 806,655     $ 567,439  

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

    (717,645 )     239,216  

Balance, end of period

  $ 89,010     $ 806,655  

 

In prior years, the Company issued warrants to purchase 556,313 shares of common stock in a private-placement (the "Private Warrants") and classified the warrants as derivative liabilities, pursuant to ASC 815, as the Private Warrants have an exercise price that is subject to potential adjustment, with subsequent changes in their fair values to be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations at each reporting date. The Company calculated the fair value of the Private Warrants as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 as $89,010 and $806,655, respectively, using a Lattice model. The assumptions and key inputs used in the Lattice calculation were the following:

 

   

December 31,

2024

   

December 31,

2023

 

Risk-free interest rate

    4.17 %     4.25 %

Remaining expected term of warrants

    0.95       1.96  

Expected volatility(1)

    128.70 %     89.00 %

Stock price on valuation date

  $ 1.81     $ 5.15  

Exercise price

  $ 11.50     $ 11.50  

Expected dividend

    %     %

 

(1) Based on volatility implied by the Company's publicly traded warrant market price.

About Fair Value Disclosures

Fair value disclosures classify all assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy: Level 1 (quoted market prices), Level 2 (observable inputs like yield curves), and Level 3 (unobservable inputs requiring management estimates). The proportion of Level 3 assets directly reflects how much of the balance sheet depends on internal models rather than market evidence.

Key signals: a growing Level 3 balance relative to total fair-value assets increases valuation uncertainty and earnings volatility risk. Watch for transfers between levels — assets moving from Level 2 to Level 3 often signal deteriorating market liquidity. Unrealized gains and losses on Level 3 positions flow through earnings or other comprehensive income, so large swings deserve scrutiny. For financial institutions, examine the sensitivity disclosures that show how Level 3 valuations change under alternative assumptions. Compare the fair value of debt against its carrying amount to gauge hidden leverage.