NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION 

The Company 

Ondas Holdings Inc. (“Ondas Holdings”, “Ondas”, the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) was originally incorporated in Nevada on December 22, 2014, under the name of Zev Ventures Incorporated. On September 28, 2018, we acquired Ondas Networks Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ondas Networks”), and changed our name to Ondas Holdings Inc. On August 5, 2021, we acquired American Robotics, Inc. (“American Robotics” or “AR”), a Delaware corporation. On January 23, 2023, we acquired Airobotics, Ltd. (“Airobotics”), an Israeli-based developer of autonomous drone systems. See Note 16 – Subsequent Events.

As a result of these acquisitions, Ondas Networks, American Robotics and Airobotics became our wholly owned subsidiaries. These three wholly owned subsidiaries are now Ondas’ primary focus. Ondas’ corporate headquarters are located in Waltham, Massachusetts. Ondas Networks has offices and facilities in Sunnyvale, California, American Robotics’ offices and facilities are located in Waltham, Massachusetts and Marlborough, Massachusetts, and Airobotics’ offices and facilities are located in Petah Tikva, Israel.

Ondas has a fourth wholly owned subsidiary, FS Partners (Cayman) Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“FS Partners”), and one majority owned subsidiary, Full Spectrum Holding Limited, a Cayman Islands limited liability company (“FS Holding”). FS Partners and FS Holding were both formed for the purpose of operating in China. As of December 31, 2019, we revised our business strategy, and discontinued all operations in China. Both FS Partners and FS Holding had no operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, and these entities have been dissolved as of January 4, 2023.  

Business Activity

Ondas is a leading provider of private wireless, drone, and automated data solutions through its wholly owned subsidiaries Ondas Networks and American Robotics and Airobotics.

On February 14, 2023, the Company announced the formation of Ondas Autonomous Systems, a new business unit to manage the combined drone operations of wholly owned subsidiaries American Robotics and Airobotics. Ondas Networks and Ondas Autonomous Systems together provide users in rail, energy, mining, agriculture, public safety and critical infrastructure and government markets with improved connectivity, data collection capabilities, and data collection and information processing capabilities. We operate Ondas Networks and Ondas Autonomous Systems as separate business segments.

Ondas Networks

Ondas Networks provides wireless connectivity solutions enabling mission-critical Industrial Internet applications and services. We refer to these applications as the Mission-Critical Internet of Things (“MC-IoT”). Our wireless networking products are applicable to a wide range of MC-IoT applications, which are most often located at the very edge of large industrial networks. These applications require secure, real-time connectivity with the ability to process large amounts of data at the edge of large industrial networks. Such applications are required in all of the major critical infrastructure markets, including rail, electric grids, drones, oil and gas, and public safety, homeland security and government, where secure, reliable and fast operational decisions are required in order to improve efficiency and ensure a high degree of safety and security.

We design, develop, manufacture, sell and support FullMAX, our patented, Software Defined Radio (“SDR”) platform for secure, licensed, private, wide-area broadband networks. Our customers install FullMAX systems in order to upgrade and expand their legacy wide-area network infrastructure. Our MC-IoT intellectual property has been adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (“IEEE”), the leading worldwide standards body in data networking protocols, and forms the core of the IEEE 802.16s standard. Because standards-based communications solutions are preferred by our mission-critical customers and ecosystem partners, we have taken a leadership position in IEEE as it relates to wireless networking for industrial markets. As such, management believes this standards-based approach supports the adoption of our technology across a burgeoning ecosystem of global partners and end markets.

Our software-based FullMAX platform is an important and timely upgrade solution for privately-owned and operated wireless wide-area networks, leveraging Internet Protocol-based communications to provide more reliability and data capacity for our mission-critical infrastructure customers. We believe industrial and critical infrastructure markets throughout the globe have reached an inflection point where legacy serial and analog based protocols and network transport systems no longer meet industry needs. In addition to offering enhanced data throughput, FullMAX is an intelligent networking platform enabling the adoption of sophisticated operating systems and equipment supporting next-generation MC-IoT applications over wide field areas. These new MC-IoT applications and related equipment require more processing power at the edge of large industrial networks and the efficient utilization of network capacity and scarce bandwidth resources which can be supported by the “Fog-computing” capability integrated in our end-to-end network platform. Fog-computing utilizes management software to enable edge compute processing and data and application prioritization in the field enabling our customers more reliable, real-time operating control of these new, intelligent MC-IoT equipment and applications at the edge.

Ondas Autonomous Systems

Our Ondas Autonomous Systems business unit designs, develops, and markets commercial drone solutions via the Optimus System™ and Scout System™ (the “Autonomous Drone Platforms”).

The Autonomous Drone Platforms are highly automated, AI-powered drone systems capable of continuous, remote operation and are marketed as “drone-in-a-box” turnkey data solution services. They are deployed for critical industrial and government applications where data and information collection and processing are required. These use cases include public safety, security and smart city deployments where routine, high-resolution automated emergency response, mapping, surveying, and inspection services are highly valued, in addition to industrial markets such as oil & gas, rail and ports which emphasize security and inspection solutions. The Autonomous Drone Platforms are typically provided to customers under a Data-as-a-Service (DaaS) business model, while some customers will choose to purchase and own and operate an Optimus Systems™.

American Robotics and Airobotics have industry leading regulatory successes which include having the first drone system approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) for automated operation beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) without a human operator on-site.

In addition to the Autonomous Drone Platforms, Ondas Autonomous Systems offers a counter-drone system called the Raider™. The Raider™ was developed by Iron Drone and is deployed by government and enterprise customers to provide security and protect critical infrastructure, assets and people from the threat of hostile drones. Airobotics acquired the assets of Iron Drone on March 6, 2023.

Autonomous Drone Platforms

We design, develop and manufacture autonomous drone systems, providing high-fidelity, ultra-high-resolution aerial data to enterprise and government customers. We currently prioritize the marketing of our Optimus System™ which provides customers with a turnkey data and information solution and the ability to continuously digitize, analyze, and monitor their assets and field operations in real-time or near real-time. We believe the market opportunity for our Scout System™ remains significant. As we drive market adoption with the Optimus platform, we anticipate re-introducing the Scout platform including newly enhanced versions to help segment the market for different use cases and price points.

The Optimus System™ has been designed from the ground up as an end-to-end product capable of continuous unattended operations in the real world. Powered by innovations in robotics automation, machine vision, edge computing, and AI, the Optimus System™ provides efficiencies as a drone solution for commercial use. Once installed in the field at customer locations, a fleet of connected Optimus Systems™, which are often deployed as networked drone infrastructure, which we refer to as Urban Drone Infrastructure, remains indefinitely in an area of operation, automatically collecting and seamlessly delivering data and information regularly and reliably.

 We market the Optimus System™ under a DaaS business model, whereby our drone platform aggregates customer data and provides the data analytics meeting customer requirements in return for an annual subscription fee. Some customers purchase Optimus Systems™ to own and operate themselves. We also engage distributors to assist in the sales and marketing of our Optimus System™ in geographic markets where its more cost effective to identify and service potential customers by engaging local third parties. These distribution agreements can include joint ventures, where Ondas Autonomous Systems will provide technical expertise to support the joint venture partner in the provision of aerial data services to customers.

The Optimus System™ consists of (i) Optimus™, a highly automated, AI-powered drone with advanced imaging payloads (ii) the Airbase™, a ruggedized weatherproof base station for housing, battery swapping, battery charging, payload swapping, data processing, and cloud transfer, and (iii) Insightful™, a secure web portal and API which enables remote interaction with the system, data, and resulting analytics anywhere in the world. These major subsystems are connected via a host of supporting technologies. Airbase™ has internal robotic systems that enable the automated swapping of batteries and payloads. Automated battery swapping allows for 24/7 operation of the Optimus as the Optimus drone can immediately be redeployed after returning to the dock for a battery swap. Similarly, the ability to autonomously swap sensors and advanced payloads without human intervention allows for the Optimus System™ to provide multiple applications and use cases from a single location.

American Robotics and Airobotics have industry leading regulatory successes which include having the first drone system approved by the FAA for automated operation BVLOS without a human operator or visual observer on-site. American Robotics’ FAA approvals were enabled by integrating a suite of proprietary technologies, including Detect-and-Avoid (“DAA”) and other proprietary intelligent safety systems into its autonomous drone platform, which we plan to integrate into the Optimus System™. Airobotics is in the advanced stages of receiving approval for Type Certification (“TC”) from the FAA for the Optimus UAV. TC approval will enable expanded operation for the Optimus System™ in the United States including flight operations in populated areas.

The Raider™

The Raider™ is a counter-drone system, which was designed and developed by Iron Drone, that we are marketing to government and enterprise customers who can utilize the system for security and the protection of critical infrastructure, assets and people from the threat of hostile drones. A typical Raider™ deployment location would include sensitive locations such as borders, stadiums or schools, or near critical assets such as power plants and military bases, and for high profile locations such as amusement parks or where public events are held.

The Raider™ is designed to detect, track and intercept unauthorized, or hostile unmanned aircraft and is most often sold with three small UAVs that are housed in a docking station. The Raider UAV has live video capability and a payload containing a net that can be deployed to intercept a hostile drone. Upon detection of an unauthorized drone, one or more Raider™ UAVs can be autonomously deployed at high speeds to track the unauthorized aircraft. If the unauthorized aircraft is deemed hostile, the Raider™ UAV can deploy the netting to physically intercept the aircraft. A parachute integrated with the netting allows the intercepted drone to safely fall to the ground for collection by our customer.

Liquidity

We have incurred losses since inception and have funded our operations primarily through debt and the sale of capital stock. On December 31, 2022, we had stockholders’ equity of approximately $58,223,000. On December 31, 2022, we had net long-term borrowings outstanding of approximately $15,147,000 and short-term borrowings outstanding of approximately $14,901,000, net of debt discount and issuance costs of approximately $3,252,000. On December 31, 2022, we had cash of approximately $29,775,000 and working capital of approximately $14,200,000.

In June 2021, the Company completed a registered public offering of its common stock, generating net proceeds of approximately $47,524,000. In October 2022, the Company entered into a convertible debt agreement, which provided cash proceeds of approximately $27,660,000. Also in 2022, the Company raised approximately $6,090,000 through the ATM Offering. We believe the funds raised in 2021 and 2022, the remaining fund availability under the ATM Offering and 2022 Convertible Promissory Notes, in addition to growth in revenue expected as the Company executes its business plan, will fund its operations for at least the next twelve months from the issuance date of the accompanying financial statements.

Our future capital requirements will depend upon many factors, including progress with developing, manufacturing and marketing our technologies, the time and costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining and enforcing patent claims and other proprietary rights, our ability to establish collaborative arrangements, marketing activities and competing technological and market developments, including regulatory changes and overall economic conditions in our target markets. Our ability to generate revenue and achieve profitability requires us to successfully market and secure purchase orders for our products and services from customers currently identified in our sales pipeline as well as new customers. We also will be required to efficiently manufacture and deliver equipment on those purchase orders. These activities, including our planned research and development efforts, will require significant uses of working capital. There can be no assurance that we will generate revenue and cash as expected in our current business plan. We may seek additional funds through equity or debt offerings and/or borrowings under additional notes payable, lines of credit or other sources. We do not know whether additional financing will be available on commercially acceptable terms or at all, when needed. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on commercially acceptable terms, our ability to fund our operations, support the growth of our business or otherwise respond to competitive pressures could be significantly delayed or limited, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial conditions, or results of operations.

COVID-19

In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) was identified and has resulted in increased travel restrictions, business disruptions and emergency quarantine measures across the world including the United States.

The Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations were impacted from the COVID-19 pandemic for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 as follows:

The Company expects its business, financial condition and results of operations will be impacted from the COVID-19 pandemic during 2023, primarily due to supply chain disruptions due to pandemic-related plant and port shutdowns, transportation delays, government actions and other factors, which may be beyond our control. The global shortage of certain components such as semiconductor chips, strains on production or extraction of raw materials, cost inflation, and labor and equipment shortages, could escalate in future quarters. Labor shortages have led and may continue to lead to difficult conditions for hiring and retention of employees, and increased labor costs. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and remains an unknown risk for the foreseeable future. The extent to which the coronavirus may impact our business will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of the coronavirus. As a result, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the full extent of the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic on its future business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, if the Company were to experience any new impact to its operations or incur additional unanticipated costs and expenses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, such operational delays and unanticipated costs and expenses there could be a further adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations during the year ended December 31, 2023.

Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) was signed into law. The IRA includes a 15% Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (“Corporate AMT”) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2022. We do not expect the Corporate AMT to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the IRA imposes a 1% excise tax on net repurchases of stock by certain publicly traded corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the value of the net stock repurchased or treated as repurchased. The new law will apply to stock repurchases occurring after December 31, 2022. 

Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, we are required to capitalize R&D expenses for tax purposes and amortize over five years for domestic based expenses and fifteen years for foreign expenses. Given our tax net operating loss carryforward position we do not expect this change to have a material impact on our financial statements.