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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Reclassifications

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications were immaterial, both individually and in aggregate. These changes did not impact previously reported loss from operations or net loss.

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements and accompanying notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

Segment Information

Segment Information

The Company has viewed its financial information on an aggregate basis for the purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating the Company’s resources. The Company’s principal business consists primarily of research and development activities for its planned powerhouses and nuclear recycling facilities. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it operates in one reportable segment. For more information about the Company’s single operating and reportable segment, see Note 16.

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts and those of its wholly owned subsidiaries Oklo Technologies, Inc. and Oklo Power LLC. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

Preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates, judgments, and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including those related to the valuation of the operating lease liabilities and operating right-of-use assets, useful lives of property and equipment, stock-based compensation expense, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, fair value of simple agreements for future equity and valuations related to the Business Combination. These estimates, judgments, and assumptions are based on current and expected economic conditions, historical data, and experience available at the date of the accompanying consolidated financial statements, and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

Risks And Uncertainties

Risk and Uncertainties

The Company is subject to continuing risks and uncertainties in connection with the current macroeconomic environment, including as a result of inflation, instability in the global banking system, trade policy (including tariffs, export controls, and sanctions), and geopolitical factors, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel. At this point, the extent to which these effects may impact the Company’s future financial condition or results of operations is uncertain, and as of the date of issuance of these financial statements, the Company is not aware of any specific event or circumstance that would require the update of any estimates or judgments or an adjustment of the carrying value of any assets or liabilities. Given the nature of the business, the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel have not had a specific impact on the Company’s financial performance. These estimates may change as new events occur and additional information is obtained and will be recognized in the financial statements as soon as they become known.

Net Loss Per Share

Net Loss Per Share

The Business Combination was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization, as Legacy Oklo was determined to be the accounting acquirer under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the transaction is treated as the equivalent of Legacy Oklo issuing stock for the net assets of AltC, accompanied by a recapitalization; therefore, the basic net loss per share has been determined utilizing the outstanding shares of the Class A common stock as described below.

The Company’s basic net loss per share of Class A common stock is computed based on the average number of outstanding shares of Class A common stock for the period, by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of Class A common stock outstanding for the period, without consideration for potential dilutive securities. Diluted net loss per share of Class A common stock is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted-average number of shares of Class A common stock and common share equivalents of potentially dilutive securities outstanding for the period. Potentially dilutive securities include common stock equivalents. Since the Company was in a loss position for the years presented, basic net loss per share of Class A common stock is the same as diluted net loss per share of Class A common stock since the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive.

The outstanding potentially dilutive common stock equivalents consisting of: (1) options to purchase shares of Class A common stock representing 9,470,382 and 11,426,653 shares as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and (2) unvested restricted common stock units representing 1,252,166 as of December 31, 2024, have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per Class A common share due to their anti-dilutive effect.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments in money market funds with an original contractual maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less.

The Company’s investments in marketable debt securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. The Company classifies its marketable debt securities as either short-term or long-term based on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date. The cost of marketable debt securities is adjusted for accretion of premiums and amortization of discounts to maturity. Such accretion and amortization, as well as interest and dividends, are included in interest and dividend income. The cost of securities sold is determined using the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses on marketable debt securities classified as available-for-sale are recognized in other comprehensive income on the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Marketable debt securities are subject to a periodic impairment review. If the Company does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis, it will determine whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is due to credit-related factors. The credit loss is measured as the amount by which the debt security’s amortized cost basis exceeds the estimate of the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, up to the difference between the amortized cost basis and the fair value. Impairment is assessed at the individual security level. Credit-related impairment is recognized as an allowance in the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding adjustment to investment income, net, in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Any impairment that is not credit-related is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities are classified based on the nature of the securities and their availability for use in current operations. The Company’s marketable equity securities are measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in other income (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations.

Marketable Securities

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

Cash and cash equivalents include cash and highly liquid investments in money market funds with an original contractual maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less.

The Company’s investments in marketable debt securities have been classified and accounted for as available-for-sale. The Company classifies its marketable debt securities as either short-term or long-term based on each instrument’s underlying contractual maturity date. The cost of marketable debt securities is adjusted for accretion of premiums and amortization of discounts to maturity. Such accretion and amortization, as well as interest and dividends, are included in interest and dividend income. The cost of securities sold is determined using the specific identification method. Unrealized gains and losses on marketable debt securities classified as available-for-sale are recognized in other comprehensive income on the consolidated statements of comprehensive loss.

Marketable debt securities are subject to a periodic impairment review. If the Company does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that it will be required to sell the security prior to recovery of its amortized cost basis, it will determine whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is due to credit-related factors. The credit loss is measured as the amount by which the debt security’s amortized cost basis exceeds the estimate of the present value of cash flows expected to be collected, up to the difference between the amortized cost basis and the fair value. Impairment is assessed at the individual security level. Credit-related impairment is recognized as an allowance in the consolidated balance sheets with a corresponding adjustment to investment income, net, in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Any impairment that is not credit-related is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets.

The Company’s investments in marketable equity securities are classified based on the nature of the securities and their availability for use in current operations. The Company’s marketable equity securities are measured at fair value with gains and losses recognized in other income (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company’s policy is to invest cash in institutional money market funds and marketable securities of the U.S. government to limit the amount of credit exposure. The Company currently maintains a portfolio of cash equivalents and marketable securities in money market funds and U.S. treasury securities. A portion of the Company’s operating cash is held in accounts in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limits; however, the Company has established guidelines regarding diversification of its investments and their maturities, which are designed to maintain principal and maximize liquidity. The Company has not experienced any losses on cash equivalents and marketable debt securities.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance that do not improve or extend the life of the assets are expensed as incurred. When property and equipment are sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the respective accounts, and any resulting gains or losses are included on the consolidated statements of operations.

Depreciation expense is computed using the straight-line method generally based on the following estimated useful lives of the related assets:

Furniture and fixtures

    

7 years

 

Computers

3 to 7 years

Software

3 years

Leasehold improvements

Shorter of lease term or estimated useful life of the asset

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When such events or changes in circumstances occur, the Company assesses the recoverability of long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets will be recovered through their undiscounted expected future cash flow. If the future undiscounted cash flow is less than the carrying amount of these assets, the Company recognizes an impairment loss based on the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets. No impairment losses were recognized on any long-lived assets during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Leases

Leases

The Company has lease arrangements for its offices. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception by evaluating whether the arrangement conveys the right-of-use (“ROU”) to an identified asset and whether the Company obtains substantially all of the economic benefits from and has the ability to direct the use of the asset. Leases are recorded as an operating lease right-of-use assets and operating lease liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the consolidated balance sheets.

Lease ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the expected lease term, including options to extend the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. The Company uses the discount rate implicit in the lease unless that rate cannot be readily determined. In that case, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate of interest that the Company would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis an amount equal to the lease payments over the expected lease term. Lease ROU assets consist of the initial measurement of lease liabilities, any lease payments made to lessor on or before the lease commencement date, adjusted for any lease incentives received, and any initial direct costs incurred by the Company.

Operating lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the expected lease term. There were no finance leases as of December 31, 2024 and 2023.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair Value Measurements

The authoritative guidance with respect to fair value established a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels and requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of three categories, as presented below. There are no transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2, and activity in Level 3 fair value measurements.

Financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis were based upon a three-tier hierarchy as follows:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and investments in U.S. treasury securities and money market funds.

Level 2: Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, as corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore developed using management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.

The Company determines the level in the fair value hierarchy within which each fair value measurement falls in its entirety, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. In determining the appropriate levels, the Company performs an analysis of the assets and liabilities at each reporting period end.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses and other approximate their fair value due to the short-term nature of these assets and liabilities. The Company’s marketable debt securities are classified as Level 1 or Level 2 assets (as further described in Note 6). The Earnout Shares, exclusive of Earnout Shares attributable to the Legacy Oklo vested options at Closing, and the Founder Shares were recorded at fair value at Closing of the Business Combination and were equity classified as Level 3 liabilities (as further described in Note 3). The Company’s SAFEs were carried at fair value and classified as Level 3 liabilities (as further described in Note 7).

Preferred Stock

The Company had issued redeemable convertible preferred stock (the “Legacy Oklo Preferred Stock”) that converted into the Company’s Class A common stock on a one-to-one basis based on the Exchange Ratio (as described below) upon consummation of the Business Combination (further details are provided in Note 10). Given the Business Combination was treated as a reverse recapitalization, the Legacy Oklo Preferred Stock as of January 1, 2023 has been recast as Class A common stock on the consolidated statements of stockholders’ equity (deficit) in accordance with the accounting for the reverse recapitalization (as further described in Note 3).

Research and Development

Research and Development

Research and development represent costs incurred to develop the Company’s technology. These costs consist of personnel costs, including salaries, employee benefit costs, bonuses and stock-based compensation expenses, software costs, computing costs, hardware and experimental supplies, and expenses for outside engineering contractors for analytical work and consulting costs, as well as depreciation and amortization expense for capitalized assets associated with these functions. The Company expenses all research and development costs in the periods in which they are incurred.

Cost-Share Projects

The Company has certain cost-share reimbursable projects for several research and development (“R&D”) projects related to nuclear recycling technologies awarded by the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (“ARPA-E”) (the “cost-share projects”) where the Company elected to record the reimbursements on a net presentation basis in the consolidated financial statements. The Company offset certain R&D expenses related to the cost-share projects totaling $727 and $233 for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, based on the period in which the expense was incurred and reimbursable under the guidelines of the cost-share projects on the consolidated statements of operations. The reimbursable R&D expenses include $36 and $65 of property and equipment purchased under the guidelines of the cost-share projects during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and reflected $36 and $65 of the cost-share reimbursement as an offset to the cost basis of the property and equipment, resulting in no carrying value for the property and equipment on the consolidated balance sheets and no reported cash flows. In the event the property and equipment is sold upon completion of the cost-share projects, the Company may be obligated to reimburse the DOE in the event the proceeds are in excess of $5 per asset, which at such time, if applicable, will be reported on a net presentation basis with no gain recognized and no cash flows.

General and Administrative

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of payroll and other personnel-related costs, including stock-based compensation expense, for the Company’s employees involved in general corporate functions including finance and human resources, rent and other occupancy expenses, professional fees for legal and accounting, travel costs, promotional expenses, as well as depreciation and amortization expense for capitalized assets associated with these functions.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation by measuring and recognizing expense for all stock-based awards made to employees and non-employees based on the estimated grant-date fair values for all stock-based compensation arrangements. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation over each recipient’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. The Company has elected to recognize actual forfeitures by reducing the stock-based compensation in the same period as the forfeitures occur. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options granted to employees and non-employees using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Black-Scholes option pricing model requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the Legacy Oklo’s common stock fair value and the Company’s Class A common stock fair value (as further described below), expected volatility, expected dividend yield, risk-free rate of return, and the expected term. The Company classifies stock-based compensation expense in the same manner in which the award recipient’s cash compensation cost is classified on the consolidated statements of operations.

Common Stock Fair Value – Prior to the Closing of the Business Combination, there was no public market for Legacy Oklo’s common stock. Therefore, Legacy Oklo’s board of directors (the “Legacy Oklo Board”) determined the fair value of Legacy Oklo’s common stock at the time of each grant of stock options by considering a number of objective and subjective factors in accordance with applicable elements of the practice aid issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants titled, “Valuation of Privately Held Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.” Stock options granted by the Legacy Oklo Board have exercise prices equal to the fair value of Legacy Oklo’s common stock, as determined by the Legacy Oklo Board on the date of grant. After the Closing of the Business Combination, the closing price of the Class A common stock on the NYSE is used as the fair value of the Company’s Class A common stock.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Because the Company has not generated revenue and is anticipated to remain as such for the next several years, income taxes have been minimal to date. The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes under ASC 740, Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statements carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that included the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals, or material deviation from its position.

Recently Adopted, and Recently Issued and Not Adopted Accounting Standards

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In November 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, a new standard to improve reportable segment disclosures. The guidance expands the disclosures required for reportable segments in annual and interim financial statements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. ASU 2023-07 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. ASU 2023-07 was adopted in the consolidated financial statements, which includes the additional disclosures required for the Company’s single operating and reportable segment, for the year ended December 31, 2024, and retrospectively for the years ended December 31, 2023.

Recently Issued and Not Adopted Accounting Standards

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which will require the Company to disclose specified additional information in its income tax rate reconciliation and provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. ASU 2023-09 will also require the Company to disaggregate its income taxes paid disclosure by federal, state and foreign taxes, with further disaggregation required for significant individual jurisdictions. The provisions of ASU 2023-09 are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025. Early adoption is permitted using either a prospective or retrospective transition method. The Company expects ASU 2023-09 to require additional disclosures in the notes to its financial statements.

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which will require disaggregated disclosures in the notes to the financial statements of certain categories of expenses, including purchases of inventory, employee compensation, and depreciation and amortization, that are included in expense line items within the statement of operations. ASU 2024-03 will be applied prospectively; however, retrospective application is permitted. ASU 2024-03, as clarified in ASU 2025-01, Clarifying the Effective Date, requires public business entities to adopt the guidance in annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of ASU 2024-03 on its disclosures in the notes to its financial statements.

Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, authoritative guidance, if currently adopted, would have a material impact on the Company’s financial statement presentation or disclosures.

Fair Value Measurement Fair Value Measurements

The Company’s SAFEs were recorded at fair value on the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the Company’s SAFEs were based on significant inputs not observable in the market, which cause the instrument to be classified as a Level 3 measurement with the fair value hierarchy. The valuation used probabilities considering pay-offs under various scenarios as described above. As such, the Company determined the fair value of the SAFEs under the Monte Carlo simulation method which was used to estimate the future market value of invested capital (“MVIC”) of the Company at a liquidity event and the expected payment to the Legacy Oklo SAFE holders at each simulated MVIC value. The Company believed these assumptions would be made by a market participant in estimating the valuation of the SAFEs. The Company assesses these assumptions and estimates on an on-going basis as additional data impacting the assumptions and estimates are obtained. Changes in the fair value of the SAFEs were recognized on the consolidated statements of operations.