Technology
Bandwidth Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results
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5 hours agoon
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Exceeded revenue and profitability guidance ranges
Raising full year 2024 guidance for revenue and profitability
RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Bandwidth Inc. (NASDAQ: BAND), a leading global enterprise cloud communications company, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.
“We’re pleased to report solid momentum carrying us into the end of the year, with record revenue and profitability performance, strong conversion to free cash flow and continued operating discipline,” said David Morken, CEO of Bandwidth. “These results are driven by the trust our customers place in us to deliver their business-critical services. We are excited by our new, next-generation Universal Platform as the foundation of our strong innovation roadmap, demonstrating a clear focus on the needs of the world’s largest enterprises.”
Third Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights
The following table summarizes the condensed consolidated financial highlights for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 ($ in millions).
Three months ended
September 30,
Nine months ended
September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenue
$ 194
$ 152
$ 539
$ 436
Gross Margin
38 %
39 %
38 %
40 %
Non-GAAP Gross Margin (1)
58 %
55 %
57 %
54 %
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$ 24
$ 14
$ 59
$ 29
Free Cash Flow (1)
$ 14
$ 18
$ 28
$ 6
(1) Additional information regarding the Non-GAAP financial measures discussed in this release, including an explanation of these measures and how each is calculated, is included below under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.” A reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures has also been provided in the financial tables included below.
“Bandwidth delivered a record third quarter, with growth across all our products and customer categories. Total revenue reached $194 million, marking a 28 percent increase, and Adjusted EBITDA grew to $24 million, representing a 74 percent increase year-over-year. Both metrics surpassed the upper range of our guidance, leading us to raise our full-year outlook on both the top and bottom lines” said Daryl Raiford, Bandwidth’s Chief Financial Officer. “Our priorities remain consistent: to serve and delight our customers, execute with precision and stay committed to long-term, profitable growth.”
Third Quarter Customer and Operational Highlights
Introduced the next-generation Universal Platform bringing the power of Bandwidth in one consistent global experience for all real-time communications needs, with new features, upgraded capabilities, and a modernized global network underpinning the platform to make it easier to consolidate and expand into new markets around the world.Bandwidth announced it now offers the largest ecosystem of bring-your-own-carrier (BYOC) integrations of any provider in the world within the Maestro communications platform – giving enterprises more ways to solve complex communications challenges.Bandwidth has registered as an RBM (RCS Business Messaging) partner with Google, setting itself up to enable RCS (Rich Communication Services) across all key markets.Bandwidth announced Number Reputation Management is coming soon as a solution to correct false “spam” labels and make sure enterprise’s urgent and important calls are displayed correctly so they can be answered.A high-volume patient engagement platform switched to Bandwidth for text messaging. They needed message deliverability assurance and message performance insights to ensure timely patient communications.A large, diversified credit union chose Bandwidth to provide voice services for its new, modernized on-premise contact center. Bandwidth’s all-IP network and Maestro platform made it easy for the customer to integrate with a modern tech stack and enables them to add new services in the future.
Financial Outlook
Bandwidth’s outlook is based on current indications for its business, which are subject to change. Bandwidth is providing guidance for its fourth quarter and full year 2024 as follows (in millions):
4Q 2024
Guidance
Full Year 2024
Guidance
Revenue
$198 – $208
$737 – $747
Adjusted EBITDA
$19 – $21
$78 – $80
Bandwidth has not reconciled its fourth quarter and full year 2024 guidance related to Adjusted EBITDA to GAAP net income or loss, because stock-based compensation cannot be reasonably calculated or predicted at this time. Accordingly, a reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort.
Upcoming Investor Conference Schedule
Barclays Global Technology Conference in San Francisco, CA. Meetings with John Bell, Chief Product Officer and Shiv Hira, EVP Finance on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024.
About Bandwidth Inc.
Bandwidth (NASDAQ: BAND) is a global cloud communications software company that helps enterprises deliver exceptional experiences through voice calling, text messaging and emergency services. Our solutions and our Communications Cloud, covering 65+ countries and over 90 percent of global GDP, are trusted by all the leaders in unified communications and cloud contact centers–including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Google, Microsoft, RingCentral, Zoom, Genesys and Five9–as well as Global 2000 enterprises and SaaS builders like Docusign, Uber and Yosi Health. As a founder of the cloud communications revolution, we are the first and only global Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) to offer a unique combination of composable APIs, AI capabilities, owner-operated network and broad regulatory experience. Our award-winning support teams help businesses around the world solve complex communications challenges to reach anyone, anywhere. For more information, visit www.bandwidth.com.
Earnings webcast
Bandwidth will host a webcast to discuss financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 on October 31, 2024. Details can be found below and on the investor section of its website at https://investors.bandwidth.com where a replay will also be available shortly following the event.
Webcast Details
October 31, 2024
8:00 am ET
To view live event and replay investors and analysts can register at investors.bandwidth.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical facts, including, without limitation, future financial and business performance for the quarter and year ending December 31, 2024, the success of our product offerings and our platform, and the value proposition of our products, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “guide,” “may,” “will” and similar expressions and their negatives are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks related to our rapid growth and ability to sustain our revenue growth rate, competition in the markets in which we operate, market growth, our ability to innovate and manage our growth, our ability to expand effectively into new markets, macroeconomic conditions both in the U.S. and globally, legal, reputational and financial risks which may result from ever-evolving cybersecurity threats, our ability to operate in compliance with applicable laws, as well as other risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our latest Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and any subsequent reports that we file with the SEC. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, achievements or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur. We are under no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP, we provide investors with certain Non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics, which we believe are helpful to our investors. We use these Non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics for financial and operational decision-making purposes and as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons. We believe that these Non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.
The presentation of Non-GAAP financial information and other business metrics is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. While our Non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics are an important tool for financial and operational decision-making and for evaluating our own operating results over different periods of time, we urge investors to review the reconciliation of these financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included below, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.
We define Non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit after adding back depreciation, amortization of acquired intangible assets related to acquisitions and stock-based compensation. We add back depreciation, amortization of acquired intangible assets related to acquisitions and stock-based compensation because they are non-cash items. We eliminate the impact of these non-cash items, because we do not consider them indicative of our core operating performance. Their exclusion facilitates comparisons of our operating performance on a period-to-period basis. Therefore, we believe that showing gross margin, as adjusted to remove the impact of these non-cash expenses, is helpful to investors in assessing our gross profit and gross margin performance in a way that is similar to how management assesses our performance. We calculate Non-GAAP gross margin by dividing Non-GAAP gross profit by cloud communications revenue, which is revenue less pass-through messaging surcharges.
We define Non-GAAP net income (loss) as net income or loss adjusted for certain items affecting period to period comparability. Non-GAAP net income (loss) excludes stock-based compensation, amortization of acquired intangible assets related to acquisitions, amortization of debt discount and issuance costs for convertible debt, acquisition related expenses, impairment charges of intangibles assets, net cost associated with early lease terminations and leases without economic benefit, (gain) loss on sale of business, net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, gain on business interruption insurance recoveries, non-recurring items not indicative of ongoing operations and other, and estimated tax impact of above adjustments, net of valuation allowances.
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or losses from continuing operations, adjusted to reflect the addition or elimination of certain statement of operations items including, but not limited to: income tax (benefit) provision, interest (income) expense, net, depreciation and amortization expense, acquisition related expenses, stock-based compensation expense, impairment of intangible assets, (gain) loss on sale of business, net cost associated with early lease terminations and leases without economic benefit, net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt, gain on business interruption insurance recoveries, and non-recurring items not indicative of ongoing operations and other. We have presented Adjusted EBITDA because it is a key measure used by our management and board of directors to understand and evaluate our core operating performance and trends, generate future operating plans, and make strategic decisions regarding the allocation of capital. In particular, we believe that the exclusion of certain items in calculating Adjusted EBITDA can produce a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our business.
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by or used in operating activities less net cash used in the acquisition of property, plant and equipment and capitalized development costs for software for internal use. We believe free cash flow is a useful indicator of liquidity and provides information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated from our core operations that can be used for investing in our business. Free cash flow has certain limitations in that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the cash balance for the period, it does not take into consideration investment in long-term securities, nor does it represent the residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures. Therefore, it is important to evaluate free cash flow along with our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.
We believe that these Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our operating results, enhance the overall understanding of past financial performance and future prospects and allow for greater transparency with respect to metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making. While a reconciliation of Non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis as a result of the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, many of these costs and expenses that we may incur in the future, we have provided a reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures and other business metrics to the nearest comparable GAAP measures in the accompanying financial statement tables included in this press release.
BANDWIDTH INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenue
$ 193,883
$ 152,013
$ 538,518
$ 435,731
Cost of revenue
120,749
92,514
335,071
261,624
Gross profit
73,134
59,499
203,447
174,107
Operating expenses
Research and development
30,171
24,792
87,215
75,305
Sales and marketing
26,285
25,011
81,490
75,794
General and administrative
17,576
15,843
52,130
48,430
Total operating expenses
74,032
65,646
220,835
199,529
Operating loss
(898)
(6,147)
(17,388)
(25,422)
Other income, net
577
798
11,358
16,819
Loss before income taxes
(321)
(5,349)
(6,030)
(8,603)
Income tax benefit
734
219
1,265
3,194
Net income (loss)
$ 413
$ (5,130)
$ (4,765)
$ (5,409)
Net income (loss) per share:
Basic
$ 0.02
$ (0.20)
$ (0.18)
$ (0.21)
Diluted
$ 0.01
$ (0.20)
$ (0.18)
$ (0.21)
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic
27,374,367
25,613,441
26,983,931
25,539,642
Diluted
28,615,520
25,613,441
26,983,931
25,539,642
The Company recognized total stock-based compensation expense as follows:
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Cost of revenue
$ 352
$ 182
$ 1,123
$ 578
Research and development
4,606
2,822
14,606
9,278
Sales and marketing
1,744
1,160
6,014
3,825
General and administrative
4,747
2,778
13,405
8,644
Total
$ 11,449
$ 6,942
$ 35,148
$ 22,325
BANDWIDTH INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
As of September 30,
As of December 31,
2024
2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 74,940
$ 131,987
Marketable securities
4,967
21,488
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts
99,616
78,155
Deferred costs
3,806
4,155
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
15,333
16,990
Total current assets
198,662
252,775
Property, plant and equipment, net
170,131
177,864
Operating right-of-use asset, net
152,559
157,507
Intangible assets, net
159,254
166,914
Deferred costs, non-current
4,511
4,586
Other long-term assets
4,244
5,530
Goodwill
340,387
335,872
Total assets
$ 1,029,748
$ 1,101,048
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 20,557
$ 34,208
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
94,414
69,014
Current portion of deferred revenue
7,020
8,059
Advanced billings
3,304
6,027
Operating lease liability, current
3,360
5,463
Line of credit, current portion
25,000
—
Total current liabilities
153,655
122,771
Other liabilities
360
386
Operating lease liability, net of current portion
219,705
220,548
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
8,133
8,406
Deferred tax liability
30,348
33,021
Convertible senior notes
280,972
418,526
Total liabilities
693,173
803,658
Stockholders’ equity:
Class A and Class B common stock
28
26
Additional paid-in capital
426,757
391,048
Accumulated deficit
(69,655)
(64,890)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(20,555)
(28,794)
Total stockholders’ equity
336,575
297,390
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$ 1,029,748
$ 1,101,048
BANDWIDTH INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss
$ (4,765)
$ (5,409)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization
37,138
29,687
Non-cash reduction to the right-of-use asset
2,759
5,227
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs
1,332
1,995
Stock-based compensation
35,148
22,325
Deferred taxes and other
(4,249)
(5,902)
Gain on sale of intangible asset
(1,000)
—
Net gain on extinguishment of debt
(10,267)
(12,767)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net of allowances
(21,318)
(654)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
2,482
2,102
Accounts payable
(11,940)
4,164
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
24,991
(13,031)
Operating right-of-use liability
(2,946)
(8,004)
Net cash provided by operating activities
47,365
19,733
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(10,636)
(5,287)
Refund of deposits for construction in progress
2,707
—
Capitalized software development costs
(8,571)
(8,384)
Purchase of marketable securities
(32,081)
(60,625)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities
48,649
100,109
Proceeds from sale of business
624
1,070
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets
1,000
—
Net cash provided by investing activities
1,692
26,883
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings on line of credit
165,500
—
Repayments on line of credit
(140,500)
—
Payments on finance leases
(68)
(124)
Net cash paid for debt extinguishment
(128,534)
(51,259)
Payment of debt issuance costs
(379)
(696)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options
128
413
Value of equity awards withheld for tax liabilities
(2,291)
(1,056)
Net cash used in financing activities
(106,144)
(52,722)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
41
(887)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
(57,046)
(6,993)
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period
132,307
114,622
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period
$ 75,261
$ 107,629
BANDWIDTH INC.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Non-GAAP Gross Profit and Non-GAAP Gross Margin
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Gross Profit
$ 73,134
$ 59,499
$ 203,447
$ 174,107
Gross Profit Margin %
38 %
39 %
38 %
40 %
Depreciation
4,679
4,056
14,135
11,790
Amortization of acquired intangible assets
1,977
1,959
5,877
5,863
Stock-based compensation
352
182
1,123
578
Non-GAAP Gross Profit
$ 80,142
$ 65,696
$ 224,582
$ 192,338
Non-GAAP Gross Margin % (1)
58 %
55 %
57 %
54 %
________________________
(1) Calculated by dividing Non-GAAP gross profit by cloud communications revenue of $139 million and $396 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024, respectively, and $120 million and $353 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively.
BANDWIDTH INC.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Non-GAAP Net Income
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net income (loss)
$ 413
$ (5,130)
$ (4,765)
$ (5,409)
Stock-based compensation
11,449
6,942
35,148
22,325
Amortization of acquired intangibles
4,436
4,348
13,133
12,960
Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs for convertible debt
311
484
1,180
1,520
Net cost associated with early lease terminations and leases without economic benefit
350
1,175
2,383
1,175
Net gain on extinguishment of debt
—
—
(10,267)
(12,767)
Gain on business interruption insurance recoveries
—
—
—
(4,000)
Non-recurring items not indicative of ongoing operations and other (1)
(957)
54
(828)
793
Estimated tax effects of adjustments (2)
(3,211)
(1,526)
(6,654)
(4,661)
Non-GAAP net income
$ 12,791
$ 6,347
$ 29,330
$ 11,936
Interest expense on Convertible Notes (3)
251
317
868
971
Numerator used to compute Non-GAAP diluted net income per share
$ 13,042
$ 6,664
$ 30,198
$ 12,907
Net income (loss) per share
Basic
$ 0.02
$ (0.20)
$ (0.18)
$ (0.21)
Diluted
$ 0.01
$ (0.20)
$ (0.18)
$ (0.21)
Non-GAAP net income per Non-GAAP share
Basic
$ 0.47
$ 0.25
$ 1.09
$ 0.47
Diluted
$ 0.43
$ 0.23
$ 0.98
$ 0.44
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
Basic
27,374,367
25,613,441
26,983,931
25,539,642
Diluted
28,615,520
25,613,441
26,983,931
25,539,642
Non-GAAP basic shares
27,374,367
25,613,441
26,983,931
25,539,642
Convertible debt conversion
1,779,025
3,317,023
2,503,118
3,484,424
Stock options issued and outstanding
25,021
20,360
28,785
47,345
Nonvested RSUs outstanding
1,216,132
—
1,430,317
—
Non-GAAP diluted shares
30,394,545
28,950,824
30,946,151
29,071,411
________________________
(1) Non-recurring items not indicative of ongoing operations and other include (i) $1.0 million gain on the sale of an intangible asset and less than $0.1 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the three months ended September 30, 2024, (ii) $0.1 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the three months ended September 30, 2023, (iii) $1.0 million gain on the sale of an intangible asset and $0.2 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and (iv) $0.4 million of expense resulting from the early termination of our undrawn SVB credit facility and $0.4 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
(2) The estimated tax-effect of adjustments is determined by recalculating the tax provision on a Non-GAAP basis. The Non-GAAP effective income tax rate was 15.5% and 11.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Non-GAAP effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate of 21% in the U.S. primarily due to the research and development tax credits generated in 2024. We analyze the Non-GAAP valuation allowance position on a quarterly basis. In the fourth quarter of 2022, we removed the valuation allowance against all U.S. deferred tax assets for Non-GAAP purposes as a result of cumulative Non-GAAP U.S. income over the past three years and a significant depletion of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards on a Non-GAAP basis. As of September 30, 2024, we have no valuation allowance against our remaining deferred tax assets for Non-GAAP purposes.
(3) Non-GAAP net income is increased for interest expense as part of the calculation for diluted Non-GAAP earnings per share.
Adjusted EBITDA
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net income (loss)
$ 413
$ (5,130)
$ (4,765)
$ (5,409)
Income tax benefit
(734)
(219)
(1,265)
(3,194)
Interest expense (income), net
1,025
(59)
1,090
1,177
Depreciation
7,989
6,647
24,005
16,727
Amortization
4,436
4,348
13,133
12,960
Stock-based compensation
11,449
6,942
35,148
22,325
Net cost associated with early lease terminations and leases without economic benefit
350
1,175
2,383
1,175
Net gain on extinguishment of debt
—
—
(10,267)
(12,767)
Gain on business interruption insurance recoveries
—
—
—
(4,000)
Non-recurring items not indicative of ongoing operations and other (1)
(957)
54
(828)
391
Adjusted EBITDA
$ 23,971
$ 13,758
$ 58,634
$ 29,385
________________________
(1) Non-recurring items not indicative of ongoing operations and other include (i) $1.0 million gain on the sale of an intangible asset and less than $0.1 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the three months ended September 30, 2024, (ii) $0.1 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the three months ended September 30, 2023, (iii) $1.0 million gain on the sale of an intangible asset and $0.2 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2024, and (iv) $0.4 million of losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment during the nine months ended September 30, 2023.
Free Cash Flow
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Net cash provided by operating activities
$ 20,464
$ 23,001
$ 47,365
$ 19,733
Net cash used in investing in capital assets (1)
(6,219)
(4,811)
(19,207)
(13,671)
Free cash flow
$ 14,245
$ 18,190
$ 28,158
$ 6,062
________________________
(1) Represents the acquisition cost of property, plant and equipment and capitalized development costs for software for internal use.
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SOURCE Bandwidth Inc.
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“PHAs have long been recognized as a promising alternative to petroleum-based plastics,” noted Neri Oxman, CEO and Founder of OXMAN. “We have successfully elevated the potential of PHA through the development of O°, a new technology for the design and fabrication of products that seeks to minimize harm in its conception and nourish the environment in its afterlife. We are thrilled to unveil our first product using this new technology: the O° shoe, which is made using 100% PHA, is 100% biodegradable, and has no petrochemicals or microplastics.”
0% petrochemicals, 0% forever chemicals, 0% microplastics, and 100% biodegradable
PHAs can be produced by bacteria which consume atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane, and/or food waste, reducing carbon in the environment as they grow. They are biologically recyclable, and 100% biodegradable in ambient conditions. As a result, O° textiles and shoes do not leave behind microplastics when they decompose. O° textiles and shoes are made entirely of PHAs, so when they decompose they become one with the environment, returning to the bacteria from which they originated. However, just like traditional biodegradable materials used for apparel such as cotton, wool, and silk, PHA will not biodegrade while being worn, washed, or stored.
A high-efficiency design process
O° shoes embody the versatility of PHAs by incorporating precise designs informed by the kinetics of human motion. Whether they take final form as a walking or running shoe, or ballet slipper, each shoe has a base layer of a knitted upper and outer layers that are printed on the textile to provide specific functionality including reinforcement, cushioning, strength, and pliability. The versatility and automation built into the O° platform enable rapid iterations and an accelerated development process from design to production.
A near zero-waste production process
A compact robotic system is central to the O° platform: the O° robotic system 3D prints custom PHA blends onto a textile that is 3D knitted on an industrial flatbed machine from a 100% PHA yarn produced through a process of extrusion and melt spinning. By using this knitting and printing technology to create shape and movement, OXMAN has eliminated the cut-and-sew and adhesion processes associated with traditional shoe assembly. The O° technology offers a near zero-waste production process and requires minimal human involvement and intervention, enabling local, low-cost production, minimizing the transport cost and environmental impact of the distant supply chains typical of the shoe industry.
Bio-engineered colorways, free of petrochemicals
Many industrial pigments and dyes are sourced from raw materials derived from petro-chemicals which release environmentally damaging chemicals during their production and usage. These dyes and pigments are dependent on a resource-intensive and complex global supply chain for synthesis, processing, and transport. In contrast, bacteria can produce pigments from simple and abundant natural resources. O° uses bacteria not just as a source of material, but also to encode other functional properties such as pigment production to simplify and centralize the manufacturing process.
OXMAN’s O° platform builds on the promise of PHAs by tuning the fabrication process and offering an alternative design and production process that holistically considers a product’s entire lifecycle, from conception to decomposition.
OXMAN is now initiating discussions with potential partners, investors, and brand collaborators to bring the production of O° shoes and textiles to scale and to market. We look forward to hearing from you. You can reach us here.
About OXMAN
OXMAN is a design lab whose mission is to create and deliver nature-centric products and environments to its clients and the natural world. Bringing together computational design, robotics, materials science, green chemistry, biology, and eco-system engineering, OXMAN’s work reinvents the industrial systems that dictate how we design and produce everyday things—from the foods we eat and the clothes we wear to the buildings we inhabit. https://oxman.com
O° CONTACT
https://oxman.com/contact
MEDIA CONTACT
Alex Klimoski
oxman@resnicow.com
+1 (212) 671-5184
BACKGROUND
The Problem: Endless Assemblies, Forever Chemicals
The footwear design and manufacturing industry faces significant environmental challenges that include hazardous chemical formulations polluting our air, water and soil, greenhouse gas emissions, human exploitation, lack of supply chain traceability, as well as lack of sustainable end-of-life scenarios for materials that cannot be recycled or biodegraded.
Facts & Figures:
24+ billion shoes are manufactured worldwide each year1,2,3300+ million pairs of shoes are discarded annually, 95% of which wind up in landfill2,3Shoes do not break down easily or quickly: shock-absorbent soles can remain in a landfill for 1,000 years4On average, 40 distinct materials are used to create a traditional shoe (e.g., foams, fabrics, rubbers, coatings, adhesives)5″Forever chemicals” are found in almost all mass-produced shoes today (33-4200 parts per billion can be found in a traditional shoe)6Shoes made from petroleum-derived plastics account for 1.4% of global greenhouse emissions7,8
The Solution: One Material, One System
O° is a design platform that starts and ends with biology. It embodies an automated, vertically integrated, bio-digital fabrication system for lifecycle design of multi-functional mono-material products.
Made entirely of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a bacterially-produced thermo-plastic polymer, the mono-material O° enables the design and digital fabrication of apparel items, such as shoes and textiles, that exhibit a range of physical properties, functions, and end-of-life trajectories. By cultivating our materials from bacteria—as opposed to extracting them from resources like oil or sourcing them from farmed materials such as wool and cellulose—we unlock the potential for a radically new production paradigm—one that bears more resemblance to growing than to the conventional manufacturing processes. This approach envisions centralizing all components of production into a single material, a single site, and a single process. O° aims to remove the complexity involved in the fabrication of objects by staying within one material class for all technical requirements. Streamlining manufacturing allows us to remove externalities that would incur environmental damage; if we only need one material to make a shoe, we have no need to import specialized components from around the globe. Reducing microplastics, reducing atmospheric greenhouse gasses, and promoting biological growth through targeted biodegra-dation follow as further vectors of possible positive environmental impact.
Unmatched Versatility: Efficiency in Design, in Tune with Nature
The versatility and automation built into the O° platform enable rapid iterations and an accelerated development process from design to production, enabling a wide array of mechanical, thermal, chemical, and manufacturing properties that meet a broad range of processing needs and applications. Such high levels of versatility, achieved through design tunability across design stages and media—production, processability, and programmable decomposition— are at the core of O°’s designs and platform technology.
Key Features:
Origins: PHAs are derived from naturally-occurring “feedstocks” which include carbon dioxide, methane, sugars, and waste streams. There is a broadening scientific consensus that PHAs can be produced in bulk from atmospheric carbon and other sources that provide it with a very small or even negative carbon footprint.Processability: Considered the most versatile bacterially-derived thermo-polymer class, PHAs are easily integrated into most industrial manufacturing processes, including melt extrusion, injection molding, melt blowing, fiber spinning, and casting.Functionality: With over 13 formulations designed to provide a range of mechan-ical properties for specific uses, our PHA yarn is 6x as flexible as polyester and as soft as lyocell. In place of assembling independently produced parts, each with its homogeneous material properties, we harvest biological mono-materials with highly tunable properties to create gradients of functionality.Product features (pigmentation, scents, branding): The bacterial production of PHAs enable genetically and chemically-encoded pigmentation, scents, and labeling. The genetic label of O° is synthesized in DNA. Once embedded, this label can be used to detect and read the genetic code following polymer biodegradation. This can enable a future where precise identification of disposal and biodegradation products is an everyday reality.
1 https://www.worldfootwear.com/news/10-countries-were-responsible-for-88-of-total-footwear-production-/9148.html
2 https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/04/01/plant-based-sole-sneaker/
3 Bodoga, A., Nistorac, A., Loghin, M.C. and Isopescu, D.N., 2024. Environmental Impact of Footwear Using Life Cycle Assessment—Case Study of Professional Footwear. Sustainability, 16(14), p.6094.
4 Lippa, N.M., Krzeminski, D.E., Piland, S.G., Rawlins, J.W. and Gould, T.E., 2017. Biofidelic mechanical ageing of ethylene vinyl acetate running footwear midsole foam. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 231(4), pp.287-297.
5 Cheah, L., Ciceri, N.D., Olivetti, E., Matsumura, S., Forterre, D., Roth, R. and Kirchain, R., 2013. Manufacturing-focused emissions reductions in footwear production. Journal of cleaner production, 44, pp.18-29.
6 https://www.ecocenter.org/our-work/healthy-stuff-lab/reports/wolverine-worldwide-shoes-pfas-results/toxic-pfas-chemicals
7 https://ourworldindata.org/ghg-emissions-by-sector
8 Bodoga, A., Nistorac, A., Loghin, M.C. and Isopescu, D.N., 2024. Environmental Impact of Footwear Using Life Cycle Assessment—Case Study of Professional Footwear. Sustainability, 16(14), p.6094.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oxman-unveils-the-o-shoe–a-100-biodegradable-shoe-made-without-petrochemicals-producing-zero-microplastics-302293106.html
SOURCE OXMAN
Technology
ChangeUp Survey Reveals What Shoppers Demand of the Grocery Store Experience
Published
4 mins agoon
October 31, 2024By
Report finds almost 70% of grocery shoppers feel the in-store experience has stagnated or worsened over the past two years.
DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, experience agency ChangeUp published results from a nationwide survey that highlights how grocery stores can better meet and exceed customer expectations.
ChangeUp’s team of retail experts and strategists surveyed 800 grocery shoppers to explore the growing disconnect between today’s sophisticated shoppers and grocery stores.
The report, How Shoppers are Outpacing Store Evolution, was conducted to provide retailers with critical insight into how to approach store design and the customer experience.
“While grocery stores have traditionally aimed to serve everyone, this broad approach is no longer sufficient in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape,” says Bill Chidley, Executive Director of Strategy at ChangeUp. “Consumers who seamlessly switch between online and in-store shopping, demand dynamic, value-adding experiences that complement their digital habits and provide compelling reasons to visit physical locations. The possibilities for the grocery industry, and all sectors for that matter, are limitless when it comes to transforming and innovating the in-store experience.”
Key findings from the report highlight that physical stores still hold distinct benefits, with 66% of shoppers feeling more in control of their purchases in-store and 51% believing they get better quality items. In addition, 43% report finding in-store shopping enjoyable, highlighting the irreplaceable tactile and visual aspects of the experience.
The survey also explores the evolution of omnichannel shoppers to what ChangeUp has defined as ‘Power Users’ – modern grocery shoppers who have mastered both online and in-store environments. The report reveals that 47% of grocery shoppers now fall under this Power User category.
Key findings about Power Users include:
77% of Power Users are in the physical store weekly.The grocers that are winning among Power Users are HEB (82%), Trader Joe’s (80%), and Albertsons (80%), as they were rated significantly higher for their in-store experience compared to other top grocery brands.61% of younger shoppers (aged 25-44) are Power Users, relying on the blend of in-store and digital channels.
How Shoppers are Outpacing Store Evolution highlights how grocery stores can better connect with this dominant shopper type and evolve beyond mere functional spaces.
For the full report, visit: changeupinc.com/the-rise-of-the-power-user
Methodology:
ChangeUp conducted the survey of 800 people across the United States. All respondents were primary grocery decision-makers who had shopped at a physical grocery store within the past month. The study was designed to represent a diverse cross-section of shoppers, balanced by age, gender, region, and income.
About ChangeUp:
ChangeUp is an award-winning experience agency designing for the moments where brands and customers meet. We develop brand-led experiences that create change for businesses through customer insights and strategy, design, and architecture. We’ve partnered with clients including Stop & Shop, The Vitamin Shoppe, Best Buy, Bath & Body Works, Panda Express, BP, and KIA. Learn more at www.changeupinc.com.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/changeup-survey-reveals-what-shoppers-demand-of-the-grocery-store-experience-302293110.html
SOURCE ChangeUp
Technology
Octane Closes $200 Million Whole Loan Sale with AB CarVal
Published
4 mins agoon
October 31, 2024By
New Transaction Fuels Octane’s Continued Momentum and Growth
NEW YORK, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Octane® (Octane Lending, Inc.®), the fintech revolutionizing the buying experience for major recreational purchases, announced today that it has sold a portfolio of $200 million of fixed-rate installment powersports loans to funds managed by AB CarVal, an established global alternative investment manager. The portfolio of whole loans was newly originated by Octane’s in-house lender, Roadrunner Financial®, Inc., and will be serviced by Octane’s in-house loan servicer, Roadrunner Account Services, LLC.
This is the second transaction between Octane and AB CarVal. Last month, the companies announced the close of a $500 million forward-flow deal.
Octane will leverage the proceeds from this sale to capitalize on the significant momentum it has been seeing in its business. In September, the company surpassed $5 billion in aggregate originations, and it announced its entrance into the marine market in October.
“We’re excited to strengthen our relationship with AB CarVal, one of the world’s preeminent global asset managers, through this second transaction,” said Steve Fernald, President and CFO of Octane. “By continuing to successfully execute on our capital markets strategy, we are better able to support our customers as well as our OEM and dealer partners through our fast, user-friendly, full-spectrum financing experience.”
“We continue to be excited about Octane’s differentiated underwriting capabilities and believe that specialized consumer whole loan portfolios offer compelling opportunities for those with deep expertise and experience in asset-based finance,” said P.J. Collins, director with AB CarVal.
About Octane:
Octane® is revolutionizing recreational purchases by delivering a seamless, end-to-end digital buying experience. We connect people with their passions by combining cutting-edge technology and innovative risk strategies to make lifestyle purchases–like powersports vehicles, RVs, boats and personal watercraft, and outdoor power equipment–fast, easy, and accessible.
Octane adds value throughout the customer journey: inspiring enthusiasts with the Octane Media™ editorial brands, including Cycle World® and UTV Driver®, instantly prequalifying consumers for financing online, routing customers to dealerships for an easy closing, and supporting customers throughout their loan with superior loan servicing.
Founded in 2014, we have more than 30 OEM and 4,000 dealer partners, and a team of over 500 in remote and hybrid roles. Visit www.octane.co.
Octane® and Roadrunner Financial® are registered service marks of Octane Lending, Inc.
About AB CarVal
AB CarVal is an established global alternative investment manager and part of AllianceBernstein’s Private Alternatives business. Since 1987, AB CarVal’s team has navigated through ever-changing credit market cycles, opportunistically investing $151 billion in 5,800 transactions across 82 countries. Today, AB CarVal has approximately $19 billion* in assets under management in corporate securities, loan portfolios, structured credit and hard assets. Additional information about AB CarVal may be found at www.abcarval.com.
*AUM is comprised of fee-earning AUM and fee-eligible AUM. Fee-earning AUM includes those assets currently qualified to generate management fees. Fee-eligible AUM includes capital that is committed to an AB CarVal Fund but is currently uncalled or recallable. The number represented here excludes assets under AB CarVal’s management that are not generating management fees due to the maturity of the Fund but includes amounts that do not generate management fees solely due to AB CarVal’s decision not to charge management fees.
Media Relations: Shannon O’Hara
Press@octane.co
Investor Relations:
IR@octane.co
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/octane-closes-200-million-whole-loan-sale-with-ab-carval-302293101.html
SOURCE Octane
OXMAN Unveils the O° Shoe – a 100% Biodegradable Shoe made without Petrochemicals, producing Zero Microplastics
ChangeUp Survey Reveals What Shoppers Demand of the Grocery Store Experience
Octane Closes $200 Million Whole Loan Sale with AB CarVal
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