ugro-20231231

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K


			x			ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023
						or
			o			TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 001-39933

URBAN-GRO, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware						46-5158469
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)						(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1751 Panorama Point, Unit G, Lafayette, CO

80026

(720) 390-3880

(Address of principal executive office)

(Zip Code)

(Registrant’s telephone number, Including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

UGRO

NASDAQ Capital Market

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. o Yes x No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). x Yes o No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer	o	Accelerated filer	o
Non-accelerated filer	x	Smaller Reporting Company	x
		Emerging growth company	o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. o

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive oﬃcers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). o Yes x No

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter on June 30, 2023 was $10,984,218.

As of March 16, 2024, the registrant had 12,271,393 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The information required by Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K is incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this Annual Report on Form 10-K relates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Item No.		Page No.
	Cautionary Information about Forward-Looking Statements	3
PART I		3
Item 1.	Business	3
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	15
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	26
Item 1C.	Cybersecurity	26
Item 2	Properties	27
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	27
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	28

PART II		29
Item 5.	Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	29
Item 6.	[Reserved]	30
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	30
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	35
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	35
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	36
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	36
Item 9B.	Other Information	37
Item 9C.	Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections	37

PART III		38
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	38
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	38
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	38
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence	38
Item 14.	Principal Accounting Fees and Services	38

PART IV		39
Item 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	39
Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary	40

	Signatures	41
	Index to Financial Statements	F-1

Cautionary Information about Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K ("Form 10-K" or this "Report") contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements related to: future events; challenges we may face; growth strategy; expansion and future operations; the ability to recognize backlog as revenue; financial position; estimated or projected revenues, losses, costs, gross profit, earnings or other financial items; business strategy, prospects, plans and objectives of management; anticipated or pending investigations, legal claims, proceedings or litigation that may involve or affect us; implementation of ESG initiatives; industry-specific trends, events or regulations and the impact of those trends, events and regulations on us or our financial performance; and updates to regulations and the impact of those regulations on us. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek," "anticipate," "plan," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "may," "will," "project," "predict," "potential," "target," "intend," "could," "might," "should," "believe" and variations of such words or their negative and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and may not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s belief, based on currently available information, as to the outcome and timing of future events

Important factors known to us that could cause such material differences are identified in this Report, including the factors described in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," and other cautionary statements described in this Report on Form 10-K. These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. urban-gro, Inc. is under no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any future disclosures we make on related subjects in future reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Background

urban-gro, Inc. (together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, collectively "urban-gro," "we," "us," or "the Company") was originally formed on March 20, 2014, as a Colorado limited liability company. On March 10, 2017, we converted to a Colorado corporation and exchanged shares of our common stock for every member's interest issued and outstanding on the date of conversion. On October 29, 2020, we reincorporated as a Delaware corporation. On December 31, 2020, we effected a 1-for-6 reverse stock split with respect to our common stock. All information in this Report gives effect to this reverse stock split, including restating prior period reported amounts. On February 12, 2021, we completed an uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market ("Nasdaq") under the ticker symbol "UGRO".

Overview

urban-gro is an integrated professional services and construction design-build firm. Our business focuses primarily on providing fee-based knowledge-based services as well as the value-added reselling of equipment. We derive income from our ability to generate revenue from our clients through the billing of our employees’ time spent on client projects. We offer value-added architectural, engineering, systems procurement and integration, and construction design-build solutions to customers operating in the controlled environment agriculture ("CEA") and industrial and other commercial ("Commercial") sectors. Our evolution, both organically and through the acquisition of engineering, architecture, and construction management firms has enabled us to successfully diversify into the commercial sectors of the clients we serve, as well as the capabilities we offer, which we believe has helped insulate our business from any one sector. Even with this successful diversification, our main focus and value-add has always been and remains in providing solutions to our CEA clients, where we have experience and expertise in designing, engineering, building, and integrating complex environmental equipment systems into indoor CEA cultivation and retail facilities, and then providing ongoing maintenance, training, and support services to those same facilities.

We aim to work with our clients from inception of their project in a way that provides value throughout the life of their facility. Clients, regardless of sector they are in, engage us to deliver their vision because of our experience and expertise, and because our integrated, design-build solutions offer a value-add approach to design, engineering, procurement, construction-management, construction, and equipment integration, providing a single point of accountability across all aspects of a project.

For our CEA clients in particular, we create high-performance indoor cultivation facilities to grow specialty crops, including cannabis as well as produce such as leafy greens, vegetables, herbs and berries. We also provide design-build solutions for our CEA clients' retail facilities. We help our clients achieve operational efficiency and economic advantages through a full spectrum of professional services and programs focused on facility optimization and environmental health which establish facilities that allow clients to manage, operate and perform at the highest level throughout their entire cultivation lifecycle once they are up and running. For these CEA clients, our team provides services to meet the most stringent regulatory environments, whether they are energy efficiency goals, Good Agricultural and Collection Practices ("GACP"), or Good Manufacturing Practice ("GMP") and/or European Medicine Agency EU GMP ("EU/GMP") certification.

While we have successfully diversified our target markets across several commercial sectors, the majority of our clients are commercial CEA cultivators. We believe a key differentiation point that clients value is the depth of our employees’ and Company’s experience. As of December 31, 2023, we employed 130 full time employees, approximately two-thirds of which are considered experts in their areas of focus. Our team includes Designers (Architects, Interior Designers, Cultivation Space Planners), Engineers (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Controls, and Fire Protection), Construction Managers (Project Managers and Supervisors), and horticulturists. As a company, we have worked on over 1000 CEA projects, and believe that the experience of our team and Company provides clients with the confidence that will proactively keep them from making common costly mistakes during the design and build process that would impact operational stages. Our expertise translates into clients saving time, money, and resources through expertise that they can leverage without having to add headcount to their own operations. We provide this experience in addition to offering a platform of the highest quality equipment systems that can be integrated holistically into our clients’ facilities.

Since January 1, 2023, we have announced the following contracts:

•September 26, 2023 - Awarded contract for more than $11.0 million of design-build services with an existing client in the Hospitality & Recreation sector to be recognized over the next six quarters. While this contract has been started as of December 31, 2023, the Company now expects that the contract will take two quarters longer than expected to complete, therefore extending into 2025.

•October 2, 2023 - Secured contracts of nearly $8.0 million across four clients in the CEA sector to be recognized over the next four quarters. While the largest of these contracts, valued at approximately $7 million dollars, did start in the first quarter of 2024, the Company now it will be completed by the first quarter of 2025, one additional quarter more than had been forecast. The Company expects that the other three contracts will be completed in the previously announced timeframe.

•October 4, 2023 - Signed multiple contracts valued at more than $4.5 million to be recognized over the next two quarters. The Company expects that these contracts will be completed in the previously announced timeframe.

•November 30, 2023 - Awarded $9.6 million industrial design-build contract with an existing CPG client to be recognized over the next three quarters. While this contract did not start as anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2023, the value was increased to $11 million dollars with the addition of supplying mechanical equipment systems to the scope, it did kick off in the first quarter of 2024. The Company now expects that the contract will take one additional quarter over the previously announced timeframe to be completed.

•January 2, 2024 - Secures design-build contract valued at approximately $20.0 million of design-build services with an existing vertically integrated United States based multi-state cannabis cultivation and retail dispensary operator to be recognized over the next six quarters. This contract was not started as of December 31, 2023, but kicked off in the first quarter of 2024, and the Company still expects that the contract will be completed in the previously announced timeframe.

Our Solutions

Since commencing business in March 2014, we have expanded our ongoing operations across North America and Europe while diversifying our services offerings organically and through acquisitions into full design-build solutions by adding design, engineering, construction, and construction-management services, introducing new equipment solutions, products and services, and successfully diversifying into several additional commercial sectors beyond cannabis-focused CEA, including produce-focused CEA; or vertical farming, healthcare, industrial, commercial packaged goods ("CPG"), and retail. We are a trusted partner and adviser to our clients and provide value to our clients regardless of the sector in which they sit or solution for which they are utilizing us.

As is detailed in the Project Delivery Comparison chart below, in the CEA sector, the advantages of the urban-gro design-build model vs the traditional owner-contracted model are clear. There is a single responsible party for our clients' needs from conception through operational start. This results in greater efficiencies throughout the design-build process and a faster speed to launch. Additionally, our experience and expertise within our sectors help to prevent costly mistakes for our clients.

PrototypeSlide-ServiceComparison-CombinedV2.0.jpg

Outlined below is an example of a complete end-to-end design-build project that demonstrates how we provide value to our clients over time.

Our design-build solution, when focused on indoor CEA, offers an integrated suite of in-house services and equipment systems that generally fall within the following categories:

•Service Solutions:

•Architectural Design, Engineering, and Construction Services – A comprehensive collection of services including:

i.Pre-Construction Services

ii.Cultivation Space Programming ("CSP")

iii.Architectural Design and Interior Design

iv.Engineering

v.Integrated Cultivation Design ("ICD")

vi.Owner's Representative Services / Construction Management ("CM")

vii.General Contracting ("GC")

•Additional Service Offerings including:

i.Facility and Equipment Commissioning Services

ii.gro-care® Crop and Asset Protection Services including Training Services, Equipment Maintenance Services, Asset Protection Program, and an Interactive Online Operating Support System ("OSS") for gro-care® and client document delivery and project management

iii.Property Condition Assessment ("PCA")

•Integrated Equipment Systems Solutions:

•Design, Source, and Integration of Complex Environmental Equipment Systems including Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning ("HVAC") solutions, Environmental Controls, Fertigation, and Irrigation Distribution

•Value-Added Reselling ("VAR") of Cultivation Equipment Systems

•Strategic Vendor Relationships with Premier Manufacturers

Service Solutions

Architectural Design, Engineering, and Construction Services

We generate revenue by providing our clients with design-build service offerings that include architectural, interior, and engineering design, construction and construction management, as well as services for the operational stages of the facility. Our in-house architectural, interior design, engineering, construction and cultivation design services integrate design with pre-construction services and thereby reduce project schedule and capital investments.

Pre-Construction Services include providing a forecast summary of what it will take to get a high-performance facility built, giving initial indication and detailed analysis of budget, timeline/schedule, and potential large decision impacts including value analysis and value engineering options. The integration of Pre-Construction Services can expedite project completion, lower initial project costs, and help reduce costly change orders.

CSP is an early-stage engagement with stakeholders that provides an optimized basis of design including the interaction of people, plants, and processes. The output of CSP provides an optimized analysis of spatial needs based on stipulated criteria and can accelerate construction and regulatory approval paths, save stakeholders money and time, and enable a process-driven decision-making approach.

Architectural Design is the implementation of a defined process from development of vision to built environment. Architecture includes the integration and coordination of all project required disciplines such as civil, landscape, structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical engineering, fire protection, security, interior design, and other specialty disciplines. Our services are built around an integrated design process focused on the collaborative development of client-driven solutions. Specific to the CEA industry, our team’s understanding of the relationship between people, plants, and process helps clients maximize profits and efficiencies while minimizing capital investments, and operational and maintenance costs.

Interior Design involves branding and development of the interior aesthetic vision. Our collaborative and integrated approach from our award-winning team begins with inspiration boards focused on understanding the client’s aesthetic desires. Interior design is holistic and thereby includes all aspects of the building interiors from full branding to the selection and design of all finishes and interior systems. Common discussions beyond aesthetics include the cost, durability, and maintainability of systems presented.

Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing ("MEP") engineering design focuses on the entire building, not just the cultivation space, which in turn eliminates the "gap" between cultivation systems and the building systems. We provide engineered construction contract documents for mechanical, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems required for the building permits necessary to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy. Our team evaluates client capabilities, needs, desires, and budget in development of recommended systems through a client-focused collaborative process culminating in the delivery of high-performance and low-maintenance systems.

ICD creates cultivation space-focused design layouts that integrate climate control, fertigation, benching, air flow, and lighting. Our ICD team’s deep understanding of cultivation systems provides the foundation for ensuring optimal space utilization as they utilize an integrated and collaborative design process focused on understanding, vetting, and implementing the client’s vision. Products utilized in the ICD’s basis-of-design ensures the integration of high-quality systems and product performance. These detailed ICD plans are taken through the construction document stage and are leveraged by our clients to efficiently solicit contractor bids.

Construction and Construction Management provides all the additional necessary parts to deliver our clients' projects, from the initial estimate and bid process, to subcontractor selection, and management of all construction details. Our skilled project managers, specialized within our clients' sectors, maintain knowledgeable open lines of communication with both clients, onsite superintendents, and internal and external construction partners to manage expectations, costs and schedules.

Our Additional Service Offerings

Our Facility and Equipment Commissioning Services provide a cultivation-level view of the complex system made up by each piece of equipment and ensures systems are running properly. Many of the current service options available to CEA cultivation clients are isolated to vendors providing post-sale service for a single piece of equipment. Our team confirms contractors and specialty trades are installing systems to the design intent allowing for rapid installation, continuous process improvement, and increased revenue for our clients.

gro-care® is a highly differentiated service offering that provides a combination of CEA cultivation facility commissioning and an asset protection program through training, equipment maintenance, on-demand support, standard operating procedures ("SOP"), and a client-specific OSS that acts as an online hub for clients

SEC Form 10-K filed by urban-gro Inc.