Braze (BRZE) 10-Q2024 Q3 Quarterly report

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including statements regarding our future results of operations or financial condition, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will” or “would” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the following:

You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and operating results. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this report. The results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and are inherently uncertain. While we believe that information provides a reasonable basis for these statements, that information may be limited or incomplete. Our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all relevant information.

The forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures or investments.

Unless the context otherwise indicates, references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to the terms “Braze,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Braze, Inc. and its subsidiaries.

“Braze,” “Braze Currents” and other trade names and trademarks of ours appearing in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are our property. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains trade names and trademarks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of us by such companies, or any relationship with any of these companies.

We may announce material business and financial information to our investors using our investor relations website (www.investors.braze.com). We therefore encourage investors and others interested in Braze to review the information that we make available on our website, in addition to following our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, webcasts, press releases and conference calls. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Braze, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, “our” or “Braze”), is a cloud-based customer engagement platform that delivers customer-centric experiences across push notifications, email, in-product messaging, SMS and MMS messages, and more. Customers use the Braze platform to facilitate real-time experiences between brands and customers in a more authentic and human way.

We began operations in 2011 and are incorporated in the state of Delaware. Our headquarters are located in New York City. As of October 31, 2023, we also lease additional office space in Austin, Berlin, Chicago, Jakarta, London, Paris, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and variable interest entities (“VIE”) for which we are the primary beneficiary. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain reclassifications and immaterial changes have been made to prior-period financial statements to conform to the current-period presentation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the reported period. We evaluate estimates based on historical and anticipated results, trends, and various other assumptions. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the standalone selling price for separate performance obligations in our revenue arrangements, expected period of benefit for deferred contract costs, the valuation of common stock and stock-based compensation, the allocation of overhead costs between cost of revenue and operating expenses, the estimated useful lives of intangible and depreciable assets, the fair value of acquired assets and assumed liabilities from business combinations, valuation of long-lived assets and their recoverability, including goodwill, the incremental borrowing rate, the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and other tax estimates including our ability to utilize net operating losses.

Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, and makes adjustments as facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects, including the uncertainty surrounding rapidly changing market and economic conditions from global or domestic macroeconomic and socioeconomic events such as, among others, instability in the banking and financial services sector, international and domestic supply chain risks, inflationary pressure, interest rate increases, declines in consumer confidence, international conflicts and domestic and foreign political unrest, that impact us and our customers, cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ from those estimates and many of our estimates and assumptions have required increased judgement and carry a higher degree of variability and volatility.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, marketable securities, and accounts receivable. Restricted cash consists of letters of credit related to our leased properties. For cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities, we are exposed to credit risk in the event of default by the financial institutions to the extent of the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheets in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) limits. Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities balances are maintained at financial institutions that management believes are of high-credit, quality financial institutions, where deposits, at times, exceed the FDIC limits.

Significant customers are those which represent 10% or more of our total revenue for the period, or accounts receivable at the balance sheets dates. For the three and nine months ended October 31, 2023 and October 31, 2022, no customer accounted for 10% or more of our total revenue.

For accounts receivable, we are exposed to credit risk in the event of nonpayment by customers to the extent of the amounts recorded on the consolidated balance sheets. As of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, no customers accounted for 10% or more of our total accounts receivable balance.

The Company recognizes identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their acquisition date fair values. The excess of the consideration transferred over the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the acquisition date is recorded as goodwill. Such valuations require the Company to make significant estimates and assumptions. The Company uses its best estimates and assumptions as part of the purchase price allocation process to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed, but these estimates are inherently uncertain and subject to refinement. During the measurement period, the Company may record adjustments to the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded in the consolidated statements of operations.

Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized and are tested for impairment at least annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level.

The Company has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible assets are less than its carrying amount. The Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to the quantitative impairment tests. The quantitative impairment test for goodwill involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. A goodwill impairment will be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value. The impairment is limited to the carrying amount of goodwill.

The quantitative impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The estimates of fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets are determined using a discounted cash flow valuation analysis that employs different valuation methodology in estimating the fair value of the asset. Significant judgments are inherent in the discounted cash flow analysis.

The Company has determined that it operates as one reporting unit and has selected November 1 as the date to perform its annual impairment test. No goodwill impairment charges have been recorded for any period presented.

In October 2021, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2021-08 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, (“ASU 2021-08”), which requires that an acquirer recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The Company adopted ASU 2021-08 prospectively during the second quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024, and determined that ASU 2021-08 does not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements nor its related disclosures.

The Company has implemented all applicable accounting pronouncements that are in effect and there are no new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that would have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

The following disaggregation depicts the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows related to the primary types of revenue from contracts with customers.

Unbilled accounts receivable included in trade accounts receivable, net, which generally arise from our contractual right to bill our customers in advance of services on the contract effective date, were $2.1 million and $1.0 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively.

Contract assets as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023 were $0.3 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The change in contract assets for all periods presented primarily reflects revenue recognized in excess of billings partially offset by contract assets earned during the period.

The transaction price allocated to remaining performance obligations represents amounts under non-cancelable contracts expected to be recognized as revenue in future periods, and may be influenced by several factors, including seasonality, the timing of renewals, the timing of service delivery and contract terms. Unbilled portions of the remaining performance obligations are subject to future economic risks including bankruptcies, regulatory changes and other market factors.

In March 2022, we consented to the periodic issuance of stock options to purchase Braze KK Shares by certain employees of Braze KK. These options cannot be exercised by the holders thereof prior to the exercise of the call or put options described in more detail below. The Company considers the stock options to be a substantive class of equity, classified as a liability within other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of October 31, 2023, the liability balance was $0.3 million. The issuance of stock options does not impact our majority stake in Braze KK, as none of the vesting criteria of the options were met as of the balance sheet date. The issuance of stock options did not result in a reconsideration event and therefore Braze KK still met the criteria of a Variable Interest Entity as Braze KK did not have sufficient equity at risk to finance their activities. As a result, we continue to operate Braze KK as a subsidiary, exposing us to business and foreign exchange risk. We consolidate Braze KK and present the results within our consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, and consolidated statements of cash flows.

Our money market funds are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy, because they are valued using quoted prices in active markets as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023. Financial instruments classified as Level 2 within our fair value hierarchy are valued on the basis of prices from an orderly transaction between market participants provided by reputable dealers or pricing services. Prices of these securities are obtained through independent, third-party pricing services and include market quotations that may include both observable and unobservable inputs. In determining the value of a particular

The fair value of our contingent consideration is estimated using Level 3 unobservable inputs. The estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable but which are uncertain, and involve significant judgments by management. We will reassess the fair value of the contingent consideration quarterly until the contingency is resolved. The short-term portion of the contingent consideration is recorded within accrued expenses and other current liabilities and the long-term portion is recorded within other-long term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the fair value are recorded in operating income in the consolidated statements of operations.

There were no transfers of financial instruments among Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 during the periods presented.

The following table summarizes the fair value changes in the contingent consideration liability in connection with the acquisition of North Star Y, Pty Ltd (in thousands):

Accrued interest receivables related to our available-for-sale securities of $3.1 million as of October 31, 2023 and $2.0 million as of January 31, 2023, were included within prepaid expenses and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s short-term investments consist of available-for-sale debt securities and term deposits. The term deposits are at cost, which approximates fair value. The weighted-average remaining maturity of the Company’s investment portfolio was less than one year as of the periods presented.

The following table summarizes the fair value and gross unrealized losses aggregated by category of individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for greater than 12 months (in thousands):

No individual security incurred continuous unrealized losses for greater than 12 months as of January 31, 2023.

The Company purchases investment grade marketable debt securities which are rated by nationally recognized statistical credit rating organizations in accordance with its investment policy. This policy is designed to minimize the Company's exposure to credit losses. As of October 31, 2023, the credit-quality of the Company’s marketable available-for-sale debt securities had remained stable. The unrealized losses recognized on marketable available-for-sale debt securities as of October 31, 2023 was primarily related to the continued market volatility associated with market expectations of an aggressive pace of interest rate increases by the Federal Reserve. The contractual terms of these investments do not permit the issuer to settle the securities at a price less than the amortized cost basis of the investments and it is not expected that the investments would be settled at a price less than their amortized cost basis. The Company does not intend to sell the investments and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the investments before recovery of their amortized cost basis. The Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require the Company to change its assessment of credit losses for any marketable available-for-sale debt security as of October 31, 2023. These estimates may change, as new events occur and additional information is obtained, and will be recognized on the consolidated financial statements as soon as they become known. No credit losses were recognized as of October 31, 2023 for the Company’s marketable debt securities.

Investment income consists of interest income and accretion income/amortization expense on our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities. Investment income is included within other income, net on the consolidated statements of operations. The components of investment income were as follows (in thousands):

The total depreciation expense and amortization expense for property and equipment was $1.1 million and $1.0 million during the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively and $3.8 million and $2.9 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During the three and nine months ended October 31, 2023, the Company removed $0.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of fixed assets consisting of computer equipment, office equipment, and software, that was largely depreciated from property and equipment, gross and accumulated depreciation, which had minimal net impact on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

We capitalized internal-use software of $1.5 million and $0.3 million during the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $4.0 million and $1.5 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Amortization for capitalized internal-use software costs recognized within cost of revenue on the consolidated statements of operations was $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $1.6 million and $1.3 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

We sponsor a 401(k) defined contribution plan covering all eligible U.S. employees. Contributions to the 401(k) plan are discretionary. Matching contributions under the plan were $0.7 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $4.3 million and $3.9 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

We have two classes of common stock, Class A and Class B. The rights of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical, except with respect to voting, conversion and transfer rights. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote. Each share of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes and may be converted at the option of the holder into one share of Class A common stock. In addition, all shares of Class B common stock will automatically convert into shares of Class A common stock in certain circumstances, including on the earlier of (i) the last trading day of the fiscal quarter during which the number of shares of Class B common stock then outstanding represents less than 10% of the aggregate number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock then outstanding, or (ii) the last trading day of the fiscal quarter immediately following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering. All shares of the Company’s capital stock outstanding immediately prior to our initial public offering, including all shares held by our executive officers, directors and their respective affiliates, and all shares issuable upon the conversion of our then outstanding convertible preferred stock, were reclassified into shares of Class B common stock immediately prior to the completion of the initial public offering.

In connection with our Pledge 1% commitment, we donated 32,155 shares of our Class A common stock to a charitable donor-advised fund that resulted in the recognition of $1.4 million of expense within general and administrative in our consolidated statements of operations during the three months ended October 31, 2023. There were no donations in the three months ended October 31, 2022.

We donated 64,310 and 96,465 shares of our Class A common stock that resulted in the recognition of $2.4 million and $4.3 million of expense within general and administrative in our consolidated statements of operations during the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

In November 2021, our board of directors and our stockholders approved the 2021 Plan, which became effective on November 16, 2021. No grants were made under the 2021 Plan prior to its effectiveness. No further grants will be made under the 2011 Plan. At effectiveness, we reserved 25,660,249 shares of our Class A common stock to be issued under the 2021 Plan. In addition, the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan will automatically increase on February 1 of each year for a period of ten years, beginning on February 1, 2022 and continuing through February 1, 2031, in an amount equal to (1) 5% of the total number of shares of our common stock (both Class A and Class B) outstanding on the preceding January 31, or (2) a lesser number of shares determined by our board of directors no later than the February 1 increase. On February 1, 2023, the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan increased by an additional 4,798,771 shares.

As of October 31, 2023, total compensation cost not yet recognized related to unvested equity awards and the weighted-average remaining period over which these costs are expected to be realized were as follows:

In November 2021, our board of directors and our stockholders approved the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”), which became effective on November 16, 2021. Following completion of our initial public offering, the ESPP authorized the issuance of 1,825,000 shares of our Class A common stock under purchase rights granted to our employees or to employees of any of our designated affiliates. The number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance will automatically increase on February 1 of each year for a period of ten years, beginning on February 1, 2022 and continuing through February 1, 2031, by the lesser of (i) 1% of the total number of shares of our common stock (both Class A and Class B) outstanding on the preceding January 31; and (ii) 2,737,000 shares, except before the date of any such increase, our board of directors may determine that such increase will be less than the amount set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above. On February 1, 2023, the number of shares of our Class A common stock reserved for issuance under our ESPP increased by an additional 959,754 shares.

The ESPP is implemented through a series of offerings under which eligible employees are granted purchase rights to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock on specified dates during such offerings. Under the ESPP, our board of directors will be permitted to specify offerings with durations of not more than 27 months, and may specify shorter purchase periods within each offering. Each offering will have one or more purchase dates on which shares of our Class A common stock will be purchased for employees participating in the offering. On each purchase date, eligible employees will purchase the shares at a price per share equal to 85% of the lesser of (1) the fair market value of the Company’s Class A common stock on the first trading day of the offering period or (2) the fair market value of the Company’s Class A common stock on the last day of the offering period, as defined by the ESPP.

The Company recognized $0.5 million and $0.8 million of stock-based compensation expense related to the ESPP in the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and $1.9 million and $1.1 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

As of October 31, 2023, $2.8 million has been withheld on behalf of our employees for a future purchase and is classified as accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

There were no issuances of Class A common stock under the ESPP in the three months ended October 31, 2023. As of October 31, 2023, 3,461,054 shares of Class A common stock remain available for issuance under the ESPP.

We are subject to indirect taxation in some, but not all, of the various U.S. states and foreign jurisdictions in which we conduct business. Therefore, we have an obligation to charge, collect and remit Value Added Tax (“VAT”) or Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) in connection with certain of our foreign sales transactions and sales and use tax in connection with eligible sales to subscribers in certain U.S. states. On June 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion in South Dakota v. Wayfair. The State of South Dakota alleged that U.S. constitutional law should be revised to permit South Dakota to require remote sellers to collect and remit sales tax in South Dakota in accordance with South Dakota’s sales tax statute. Under the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling, the longstanding Quill Corp v. North Dakota sales tax case was overruled, and states may now require remote sellers to collect sales tax under certain circumstances. We began collecting sales tax in relevant jurisdictions for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2019. As a result of this ruling and given the scope of our operations, taxing authorities continue to provide regulations that increase the complexity and risks to comply with such laws and could result in substantial liabilities, prospectively as well as retrospectively. Based on the information available, we continue to evaluate and assess the jurisdictions in which indirect tax nexus exists and believe that the indirect tax liabilities are adequate and reasonable. Due to the complexity and uncertainty around the application of these rules by taxing authorities, results may vary materially from expectations, and we have recognized liabilities for contingencies related to state sales and use tax, VAT, and GST deemed probable and estimable totaling $0.8 million and $0.5 million as of October 31, 2023 and January 31, 2023, respectively, which is included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. As of January 31, 2023, we have filed prior period returns in several jurisdictions in order to remediate this potential exposure, and the Company continues to evaluate the potential exposure on an ongoing basis.

From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, we are or may be involved in various legal or regulatory proceedings, claims or purported class actions related to, among other things, alleged infringement of third-party patents and other intellectual property rights, commercial, labor and employment, wage and hour and other claims. We have been, and may in the future be, put on notice or sued by third parties for alleged infringement of their proprietary rights, including patent infringement. We accrue a liability when we believe that it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. We believe we have recorded adequate provisions for any such matters and, as of October 31, 2023, we believe that no material loss will be incurred in excess of the amounts recognized in our financial statements.

The Company computes its provision for interim periods by applying an estimated annual effective tax rate to anticipated annual pretax income or loss as directed by ASC 740. The estimated annual effective tax rate is applied to the Company’s year to date income or loss, and is adjusted for discrete items recorded in the period. The Company recorded an income tax expense (benefit) of $0.4 million and $(0.4) million for the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective tax rate for the three months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022 was (1.3)% and 1.1%, respectively. The Company recorded an income tax expense (benefit) of $1.3 million and $(0.3) million for the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended October 31, 2023 and 2022 was (1.3)% and 0.3%, respectively.

The provision for income taxes recorded for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2023 consists of income taxes in state jurisdictions and foreign jurisdictions in which the Company conducts business. The primary difference between the effective tax rate and the statutory rate is the change in the valuation allowance recorded. The Company continues to maintain a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets as we have concluded that it is not more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized. When the Company determines that it will be able to realize some portion or all of its deferred tax assets, an adjustment to its valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets would have the effect of increasing net income in the period such determination is made.