Earnings Labs

MicroVision, Inc. (MVIS)

Q3 2020 Earnings Call· Thu, Oct 29, 2020

$0.65

+4.67%

Key Takeaways · AI generated
AI summary not yet generated for this transcript. Generation in progress for older transcripts; check back soon, or browse the full transcript below.

Same-Day

-21.72%

1 Week

-13.57%

1 Month

+10.86%

vs S&P

-0.06%

Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, and welcome to the MicroVision Third Quarter 2020 Financial and Operating Results Call. [Operator Instructions] Please note this event is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to Lindsey Stibbard. Please go ahead.

Lindsey Stibbard

Analyst

Thank you. Good afternoon and welcome everyone to MicroVision's third quarter 2020 financial and operating results conference call. Joining me on today's call are Sumit Sharma, Chief Executive Officer; and Steve Holt, Chief Financial Officer. The information in today's conference call includes forward-looking statements, including statements regarding exploration of strategic alternatives, sale of our product verticals or technology; sale or merger of the Company; potential value of the Company; managing costs; completing a strategic transaction; maximizing shareholder value; expected customer orders; future royalties; progress under and benefits of existing contracts and license agreements and the negotiation of future agreements; product availability and product sales; advantages of our technology; intellectual property; business execution; projections of future operations and financial results; availability of funds; product development applications and benefits; availability and supply of products and key components; commercialization of our technology; market size, market opportunities and future demand; as well as statements containing words like opportunity, potential, possibly, intend, confident, targeting, estimate, believe, goals, objectives, focus, paths, expects, plans, will, could, would, likely, resulting, and other similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from the future results implied or expressed in the forward looking statements. We encourage you to review our various SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2020, Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2020, as well as various other SEC filings made from time to time in which we discuss risk factors associated with investing in MicroVision. These risk factors could cause results to differ from those implied or expressed in our forward looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this call, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update this information. The financial numbers presented on the call today are included in our press release and in the 8-K filed today. Both are available from the Investor Relations section of our website. This conference call will also be available for audio replay in the Investor Relations section of MicroVision's website at www.microvision.com. And now I'd like to turn the call over to Sumit Sharma. Sumit?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

Thank you, Lindsey. Good afternoon everyone. It has certainly been a busy time for us all and I am glad to be here. I hope and wish everyone listening is staying safe through the pandemic and multiple resurgent waves that communities are experiencing. I want to thank all our employees who are working incredibly hard and continuing to deliver to key development milestones for our first generation MEMS scanning long range LiDAR. MicroVision is focused on finding strategic alternatives that provide the right value for our shareholders. Today we have 41 talented people focused and working hard towards accomplishing this goal which could include a sale of the Company in a transaction that would recognizes both the short and the long-term value of our technology. We continue to explore all options while maintaining strict control of our expenses. With the support of our shareholders and continued dedication and health of our employees we are prepared for the work ahead. I would like to start by sincerely thanking all of our shareholders for your support in approving the authorization of 60 million additional shares of common stock at our special shareholder meeting a few weeks ago. Approximately 115 million shares voted in this special election, with greater than 95% of these votes in favor of the Company proposal to increase the number of shares. I believe your strong support removes ambiguity about our capability to explore and complete any strategic alternative including a sale of the Company. I firmly believe the additional share availability will help provide the operational flexibility to continue to pursue a strategic transaction that reflects the impact our verticals would have on these market segments. The COVID-19 Pandemic continues its grip on our lives. Global markets are experiencing macroeconomic pressures which by some estimates could run well…

Steve Holt

Analyst

Thank you, Sumit. Good afternoon, everyone. For the third quarter, revenue was $639 thousand, with $539 thousand of royalty revenue and $100 thousand in product revenue. All of the third quarter royalty revenue was attributable to our April 2017 customer. The product revenue is related to projection engines we made for RagenTek back in 2017. In the third quarter, MicroVision and our distributor concluded legal action with RagenTek. As a result of the settlement we were able to recognize an additional $100,000 of revenue. In comparison, in the second quarter we recognized $587 thousand of revenue, with $572 in royalty revenue. Third quarter cost of revenue was zero. The resulting gross profit was $639 thousand. In comparison, second quarter gross profit was $588 thousand, which included a warranty credit of $1,000. The royalties associated with the April 2017 customer that are due to MicroVision will be credited against the prepayment made by the customer. When the prepayment is exhausted, the April 2017 customer will begin making cash payments for royalties due. At the end of Q3, the balance of the prepayment stood at $8.2 million. This $8.2 million is on the balance sheet as a contract liability. ASC 606, the applicable revenue standard, requires that companies estimate and disclose the timing of when those liabilities are expected to be recognized. This information will be found in the revenue recognition footnote in our Form 10-Q which we will be filing shortly. Our current estimate is that approximately $400 thousand of the $8.2 million will be recognized in Q4, for a total of about $1.7 million being recognized in 2020. Operating expenses were $3.5 million in the third quarter, in line with the $3.0 to $3.5 million range we provided on our last call. In comparison, operating expenses were $2.9 million in…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our first question today will come from Glenn Mattson with Ladenburg Thalmann. Please go ahead.

Glenn Mattson

Analyst

So first just Steve around the topic of cash burn and stuff. So just the elevated CapEx and just generally speaking, the elevated use of cash that you expect in Q4. Is that - I understand there is a lot of moving parts with the potential acquisition and things like that. But assuming that you continue to pursue the path you're on currently, is that expected to continue to be elevated in Q1? Can you give any color as to if it's kind of one time in nature, or if it's recurring?

Steve Holt

Analyst

Yes, I think it's not - I expect it to be a bit lower in Q1. But like you said, there is movement from it's a lot of this timing to this stuff is right at year-end. So it's going to be tough to pick which quarters, but I don't expect it to be going up at an increasing rate.

Glenn Mattson

Analyst

And then Sumit, thank you for the color especially on the automotive LiDAR. There is obviously some public companies now in that space. And so we have a little more understanding of like, where the market is valuing some products in that space. So I guess if - you mentioned that as well, I guess I would just be curious as to how you think your product said, once it's available, will match up with the things that are out there already. And then, given the opportunity is so large, given you're so close to fruition of years and years of development? I guess like the question would be like, how do you balance the fact that if you sell the company in the medium term, you're giving up maybe on a lot of the upside potential that could be out there given how these other companies are valued based versus their current revenue streams?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

Yes, I think that's a good point to bring up. There is hopefully LiDAR companies out there, and they give a great benchmark of what may have been possible. So I think if you think about our path as a product, the conversation in verticals not becomes important in the automotive space versus our other verticals. The same body of work allows us to develop a product. And as I described, and I want it to be somewhat more open about it in the call today. It's the size of VHS cassette, compared to the things that you see outside in other companies that are public or non-public, those are easily things that folks can get their data points on. So significantly starting to look like what a sensor that goes into the automotive space looks like and behaves like. And if there was another opportunity for LiDAR to find a home that could be a big growth opportunity. Automotive is a great one, obviously. So what's exciting about that space in general, and then I'll get back to like what about us, you think about the rolling out of a product like that is not like fire. And that's what I wanted to make sure people understand, except the size of the market is so large, 90 million vehicles sold a year. So it kind of boggles your mind, right? Even though it's slowing, you're talking about big numbers. And that requires a different level of scaling. Of course, I think in MicroVision was - had the opportunity to get partnerships together and launch a product and generate revenue. Obviously, our enterprise value will be significantly better obviously. I mean that's goes without saying. But one word focusing on strategic alternatives, and that's why I want to be very clear in our call today. This represents a value for a potential interested party. There is obviously long-term gain of the market that I just described. Also the potential of having a product that could be some short-term revenue generate. So what MicroVision, ourselves have been able to be successful there? Of course, you know, I believe that, I think it'd be silly for me not to believe that. But I think where we are, we have to be realistic about being strategic alternatives, having offered it to the market, everybody's reviewing it a certain way, then you really have to put it on the table and look at what the right value for our shareholders and that's the real emphasis I want to put into today’s call. The theme is, there is value, and there is right value. And it should be clear. We understand what the right value we think, is how the company and we tend to drive towards it. That answer your question Glenn.

Glenn Mattson

Analyst

Yes, no, that's helpful. Just I mean, I guess the scope of coming to market may be bigger than MicroVision is currently capable of is what you're basically trying to say. So that's fair and valid. On the consumer LiDAR products that you guys have kind of shopped around the past at NBC, There has been obviously Apple incorporating some consumer LiDAR scanner into their products. So is that sparked a higher level of interest, generally speaking in that market or anything on that front?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

In general, on the consumer LiDAR, the interest is I would just say neutral as before. One distinction I would like to do make is the product that Apple has talked about, those are flash based LiDAR based on a different technology, different price point. Our consumer LiDAR based on does something different that that flash-based LiDAR may not have been able to do as well. So the different things right, it would not have gone into a handset anyway, but it had a bigger opportunity. You know, IoT products are a pretty big. Maybe perhaps not as big as handsets or tablets, but still a significant market.

Glenn Mattson

Analyst

Okay. And then last, I'll pass the call over to someone else, but just - could you characterize how you feel? You know, in the past, you said, there are multiple - shopped you looked around and talked to 100 different companies, there are multiple interested parties, is it? Could you just characterize over the last 90 days? How the - would you say you're in the same place you were 90 days ago, you're narrowed down the list, you're closer with a few guys, you're further away than you thought you would be, any just general color. I know you can't. You don't like giving specifics about the deal flow, but just get…

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

In general I would say it's the same list. You know, pretty level. As you can imagine our October 8th special proxy vote, there is ebb and flow to things that happen, right. But in general, it's the same list.

Operator

Operator

Our next question will come from Kevin Dede with H.C. Wainwright. Please go ahead.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

I was wondering Sumit, I mean, your shareholders have, I think to your point made it clear that they support your endeavors. Right with that October 8th proxy vote, and affording you an opportunity to issue more stock and continue. And you're making it explicitly clear, there is no doubt about it, you're making it explicitly clear that you're going to continue the strategic direction that you set earlier this year. But I guess what I'm wondering is whether or not that might be something you'd reconsider, given where you see your shareholders hearts.

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

I think that's a great question. Right? I think it's a - is there any other plan or anything you're working on. Our focus on strategic alternatives, we got to see it through. It's the - you know, it's what we established was the next plateau from where somebody would want to have inflection point and the kind of capitalization that would require moving forward. You know, it would be somebody else. Do I believe that MicroVision by itself could actually be one of those standalone LiDAR companies for example, or a leader when AR is very big in headset market? Absolutely, of course, I do. Absolutely. No doubt in my mind. And as far as the talent, we've always had the talent, we continue to attract talent. It's a markets that are finally catching up. And so that's exciting. So yes, but right now, I think it was just generally me, right. And I think what I like to say is like, if you focus on something to be successful to hyper focus, you can't be blind to the other options. But again, that's what brings the concept of valuation into it today without giving any kind of broad answer on that. It has to be the right valuation, if the technology can have that kind of impact in the short and the long-term, it is in our shareholders’ best interest for us to make sure that we establish what impact that would be, and if something is in the future, right, but we have to see through what is in front of us, which is we have put the company up and, people that are looking at the company, they would be - they need to have certainty as well that we are committed towards the process. So we are committed to the process. That's the message, but at the right valuation. So really, I'm hoping that everybody does get the message that it's not just, we do understand what the value of this stuff is, and probably more than a lot of the shareholders probably give us credit for. We do understand it, and we do understand the inflection points how they actually come about and technology. They're not imagination, you know, take time. But we also are committed to the process, as we said, and again, 41 people today monitoring our expenses. I think the great question that was asked before about capital tooling is just what is required to demonstrate in a bigger opportunity for potentially somebody else to take that revenue back. And it's the right valuations there I mean, whatever is in the best interest of shareholders, of course the Board would get to decide on that. It’s a fair, fair answer Kevin?

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Well.

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

I know you’re looking forward but I just to…

Kevin Dede

Analyst

No I appreciate, I've always appreciated not just you certainly, Steve and even your predecessors, being open minded to the opportunities, given how unique your technology is, and the opportunities that can afford your partners. And I know your shareholders see that too. Clearly, there is passionate. It's just a, there's no right answer right, you will have to, you know, you'll have to I guess, make the best decisions that you see, come before you? It just seems to me, and this sort of leads into my next question for you Sumit. I'm curious to know, if you've developed maybe a new engine for that close to I projection in - what you consider the AR. Because you - I think you dedicated much of your prepared remarks to that. And I can't recall that you've done that in the previous couple of quarters? So I'm wondering if obviously you spoke to this a little bit, right R&D expenses, increase over 20% sequentially? You're making some investments in auto LiDAR, I'm just wondering if those investments are paralleled in your AR development?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

In AR development, believe it or not we were ahead. So in the AR to make that piece a hardware, of course takes a significant amount of investment like anything R&D company has to do. But what I try to highlight in the prepared remarks it takes another partner that owns the waveguide. So Kevin, let's say you had a company that is a waveguide? How do I know to partner with you, unless I know somebody else would be adopting new technology. And that would have to be still an OEM. So since these two things are separated, right, MicroVision was I know slight disadvantage of like, you can invest in all the different technologies that are out there to put them together. But the micro display part of it, certainly we have already innovated. So as I describe, I am very proud of what our team did, and what we presented, that was quite a surprise to folks that, things that we could do for them were beyond the fields of view and beyond the image quality that they actually originally anticipated. In our discussion, so I think our confidence in AR delivering on AR of course, is high because we have such a long history with it and pretty high confidence that we can, have that completed. Automotive LiDAR on the other hand, it's a different thing, different - the version of our technology I'll say the best way to describe it. Things that you do in consumer in automotive are slightly different. It's actually showcasing another dimension to what LBS would beam the same core stuff you can actually enable another larger market. And it does not look and feel like exactly a consumer and just slap on some duct tape and bubblegum and send it off. It is something, something unique, and actually showcases some of the things that we certainly could do also in the AR. Those four things that we're developing in automotive LiDAR but unless we have, a partner here it's hard to participate in that, not knowing what the waveguide would be and how you would fall in. So I think I am not, I'm pretty confident that our position in AR is ahead of what people in the market even anticipate anything there that people will talk about. But it's again, for an acquiring company, this was the best thing because they have multi generational path now. So our investment - the investments, we're making in automotive LiDAR is because that's the one place you know again market is ripe for consolidation as I said earlier on. There's interest there, they're standalone companies, there's references, therefore it makes sense to have that one vertical, also show and show something in piece of hardware that allows people to evaluate, different dimensions of our company or different verticals, of course.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Right. So - I guess the takeaway is and please help me if I'm wrong on this Sumit, the takeaway is that it's - there is a little less operating room in AR just because you'd have to forge partnerships across multiple bridges, right? One, to secure the proper waveguide technology and that I guess that refers to the OEM decoupling that you spoke to versus?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

Right, I thought - go ahead, go ahead.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Yes, so versus auto where I mean, maybe it's a little easier to right you could work directly with, a Tier 1 OEM auto supplier.

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

That's correct. So, automotive operates a little differently. I think we have already mentioned this early on in 2019, we had contact directly with top tier OEM. So in this case, they're more active because the Tier ones will come in, but the technology is not coming from Tier ones. They're either doing partnerships or they're making investments, they’re acquiring, but effectively, a lot of the path that we're on right now, it's not just imagine. It is specifically, some OEM input directionally of what the market needs. And these are, as I said top tier OEMs. So I think it does not - the risks that you think about in this case, we own everything to deliver a piece of hardware. There is nothing we coupled to our data stream goes into computing platform. Those things that, they know our specification, they know what target specification that we want. We're on a good path there. In the case of AR yes that decoupling, as I said it's all in the slight disadvantage. We can certainly go off and work with a waveguide partner, what's the probability that that waveguide partner does or does not get picked by any specific OEM out in the world? Right and so these kind of things will actually, create inefficiencies if you start developing technologies to demonstrate, but yet you cannot show a path to partnerships.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Or commercialization?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

But I think if the partnership was there, I think we have, we feel pretty confident that our path to demonstrating the technology is not years out, it would be - it would be relatively quick.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Well, if I'm not wrong on this, you've developed products or at least been a key component in products that have recently prototype. And that would suggest that you've worked with, intermediate or partner suppliers in developing, the full solution. So, if you were to take a step back and look at the I guess, the cross section of opportunities, how many say waveguide companies do you think could help you get to, a full-fledged commercial ready AR product? And how - I mean honestly, how difficult would it be to explore those options?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

It's actually not difficult at all - I'm not saying this, just to be - to mute that, honestly, we have our Board member that's very experienced in that, right. And I've known him for a long time, I think, we know lots of people in the industry. We know what waveguide are - the ones that you want to go with that would give the experience that people are looking for. Certainly, some top tier OEMs I think previously, not this year, but I think it was last year or the year before. Made some acquisitions of waveguide, specifically technology wise right, so, I think like. I think we have a pretty good idea of which ones you would want to go after, and you would have a high probability. But making an investment like that, especially in AR which is still think about the volumes, there's the volume, but there's not the volume, do you think about consumer, as other consumer devices have yet. Till that comes in, it's kind of difficult to make the kind of investment because you may not see that returns in a meaningful timeframe. Again, for a tech company with our revenue where it is, you know one would argue hey that would be better than where you are, yes. But the investment to get to that point and the risk associated with an OEM not adopting that, waveguide technologies is challenging. But the amount of companies in the world is not 100. I would say there's like 10 companies that can do it. And they're at different levels of scale themselves also. So to pick a partner that not only has technology, but they can also scale the technology that you expect the OEM to adopt, because we will get the microdisplay done. That's the thing right we're so far ahead and I’ll talk about the LiDAR lines a little bit. But we can get that display done, but if that waveguide doesn't get adopted then we're still. We have to have some level of confidence that OEM is entertaining that and of course we can develop or augment our module for any waveguide technology.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Okay, yes thanks Sumit for the color. I appreciate it. Can we switch gears a little bit and go back to the auto side? Steve mentioned that you've got 25 engineers, 10 in general and admin. I'm wondering if you think that the headcount you need to get through to I guess, closer to commercialization that you suggest, could be the second half of next year?

Steve Holt

Analyst

The headcount that I gave was as of September 30. Sumit mentioned in his remarks that I think we're at 41 today. And all those increases are in the engineering ranks. So, we still have a little bit of hiring to do. We don't have a specific number of target right now to give you a bit. We're at 41 today.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Okay, all right.

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

But obviously, the next step - and Kevin is not commercialization. The next step is having a product ready, because there have been opportunity for somebody else in our current strategy 2020 strategy that we're working on.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Right, so did I misunderstand your earlier comments then, apologies that I had thought that you felt that the second half next year was a reasonable target for someone to potentially take that product commercial?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

No I think what I'm saying is, I guess we'll have reliability. We'll have things that are required for that market to address its ready. So that's the opportunity for someone who see the product in April timeframe, and March/April timeframe, but let's just say in April with the supply chains, where they are right now. And effectively, the commercialization the ramp part of it, it’s easier to validate than the technology by itself. So once technology is validated, having a clarity that does not take years after that to commercialize for any interested party - we expect that that has value.

Kevin Dede

Analyst

Okay. Thank you, gentlemen for entertaining my questions. I really appreciate the opportunity to discuss them with you.

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

Thank you so much, good talking to you again.

Operator

Operator

At this time, I would like to turn the conference back over to Steve Holt.

Steve Holt

Analyst

Thank you. We received over 60 questions from investors. Many of the questions are variations on the same topic. And most of the questions were addressed in our prepared remarks. We try to consolidate the questions on the same topic to address the basic issue. We won't be able to answer every question submitted today. But we will go through them here. First one is there are several questions regarding headcount and recent job postings. And why are you adding resources? I'll take the answer to that one it's really very simple. We're hiring to support the goal of completing the LiDAR development in that April timeframe that Sumit mentioned. We want to complete that development as soon as possible and have that hardware, available for evaluation. We have a very talented team at MicroVision. And we've been fortunate we've had low turnover, and we do appreciate the dedication and the hard work of all of our employees. The next question is comment on other companies laser beam scanning products and how those products relate to MicroVision intellectual property? I'll take that one again. We don't comment on specific IP questions or issues. Nor do we comment on other company's products or technology development. Generally, we believe we have broad and early filed patents related to laser beam scanning. And we would take appropriate action as needed to defend our IP. As we have stated our IP does go beyond patents. We have know-how and methods that we believe give our products a performance advantage and a competitive advantage. It might make sense here to reiterate what I said earlier there are three IP related licenses that we've granted. The first is to our April 2017 customer. The second is for display only it does not include augmented reality or near-eye applications. And the third is a Taiwanese ODM, which expires in 2022. Sometimes we get questions about the STMicro comarketing agreement. That agreement is about promoting each other's products and that does not include a technology license. Going to the next question, there are several questions about STMicro and LaSAR, the LaSAR Alliance. First, how is MicroVision’s relationship with ST. And second, can you comment on MicroVision’s participation in MSR, Sumit maybe you could take this one?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

Good question. In general, I would say ST and MicroVision are we continue to have a very close relationship. That's without a doubt, as was evident in the public comments that were made during - one of the recent presentations. They've been our MEMS our wafer partner for several generations of our products. And in the past, we had our analog ASIC with them, which is now obsolete. We work with them collaboratively, but as a fab partner, and both parties are very good in maintaining boundaries on our IP. Additionally, we sell components - we sell components to our customers. ST is not able to sell our components. The MEMS and ASIC that we designed to the market directly that's, actually very important point to remember. And as you know, from their public presentations, I think this was recent it was brought to my attention. We enjoy a very close partnership with them. They understand the value that MicroVision has created and they've been great supporters. The LaSAR Alliance appears to be - to me at least one of the group of us that looked at it. A group of companies dedicated to advancing AR development. Companies have their areas of expertise like lasers and MEMS and waveguides and algorithm, ASIC, et cetera. But they're individual companies part of the alliance that could be a one stop shop for anybody to do development. MicroVision has these fundamental pieces integrated into our LBS technology already at a very mature level. So we develop everything required in-house. This has allowed us to be one stop shop in the LBS microdisplay engine for a long time. And I think another way to just really keep in mind is like this does not really make sense for us to be part of alliance. As we have the pieces and we already have solutions ready for OEMs. And secondly, we're focused on strategic alternatives not on business development. So, it didn't really make sense for us to be part of that.

Steve Holt

Analyst

Next question is, can you please comment on the number of newly authorized shares you have used so far? And can you talk about burn rate and cash status and the use of Lincoln Park? Okay, so on October 8th, 60 million shares were authorized. So far we have issued about 2.5 million in raising funds through the Lincoln Park facility. Some of you may have seen an S-8 filed on October 9th and let me explain that. In May, the shareholders approved that 5 million shares could be added to the employee stock incentive plan. However, because the increase in authorized shares did not pass until October 8th, we did not have the shares to actually put in the plan. And the 5 million shares filed on the S-8 on October 9th, just increase the pool that could be granted to employees. Those shares have not been granted to anyone. They are intended to be granted to new hires and as long-term incentives to existing employees, over future periods in the form of stock options or RSUs or PRSUs performance RSUs. I'll mention again, while we're on the subject of stock. I did mention in my prepared remarks that in Q2, we sought to incentivize employees to stay as we explored strategic options. And we granted employees restricted stock units. That vest at the earlier of the closing of a strategic transaction or one year. Section 16 Officers of the company were not included in that incentive it’s for employees only. And I guess I should add that the share is used for that incentive, which was about 1.2 million were not part of the 60 million shares that were authorised in October. As part of that question about cash in Lincoln Park I said earlier, that $5 million at the end of the third quarter is what we had on hand and we raised another $5.8 million on Lincoln Park in Q4. And we believe that that gets a sufficient cash to get through Q1 of next year. And there's about $200,000 remaining on the Lincoln Park facility. Anything on that question? I think so. Okay, next question. We've had a few questions regarding state of augmented and mixed reality markets and why you think MicroVision's technology is relevant. Could you provide any additional color to your prepared remarks?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

I'll take that. So first, let me give some context. I think I started this last time and I want to elaborate a little more. Let's distinguish between augmented reality and mixed reality for a second. Augmented reality products or AR products, try to superimpose information in user head mounted hardware. Google alert is a example of AR, among other products. Application - look at what information user needs, position of their pupil, et cetera, and determines how best to present information. The micro display engine and sensors to this headset are usually used to enhance user experience and delivery of information. Focus more on the user directly. The product needs to be light in weight, low power, provide a wide field of view, rich color, able to adjust brightness based on indoor and outdoor conditions. Mixed reality is other hand, those products take everything I listed for AR and add additional outward looking sensors, lots of computing and software and can basically overlay other things on top of reality that you see to them. You know, modified adapted images, video of these obviously, you can see how lands magically been other showcase experience they create or they want to create. I would also like to note that recently, the game brought it up OEMs like Apple are starting to show MR applications running on phones and tablets. And this is kind of a very interesting way to think about what this opportunity is. This is a form of mixed reality as well. And mixed reality can be created with VR headsets as well. There are so many ways to provide an experience and it just depends on what problem for the user needs to be solved. For example, if you want to help a jet engine technician repair an…

Steve Holt

Analyst

That concludes the question-and-answers for today. I will now turn - there is one more question sorry. There's a question about the state of the development of MicroVision, automotive LiDAR samples, and how the availability of samples could be part of a strategic transaction?

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

So earlier I mentioned the key features in our LiDAR and sustainable strategic advantage they have. We will be able to very quickly advance the conversation from mechanical scanners to solid state sensors. Not in R&D but vary for product level. And that's not an easy thing to say for anybody, you know, most people that are looking at technology right now to them, that's a long tail. We had such a long history with LBS and all the key parts of it, I can say with quite a high confidence that we will be able to completely change the conversations. That's actually one of the key things to remember for contests. To show how disruptive our LiDAR technology would be, we need to demonstrate it in a piece of hardware and not just theory. And that, I can just tell you from personal experience, cannot actually -- even though you completely trust the team you're talking about, you really have to see the hardware to really understand all the complexity of the problems that have been solved, not just the theoretical version of it. After all, the value of a business is its capability to scale products and generate revenue for potential interested parties. So that -- showing that piece of hardware is actually very important. By completing the hardware demonstrator, we would show to the market and interested parties how it will be a technology based LiDAR meets the goals of the market, which is projected for huge growth. After all, the value of businesses is capable to hit scale products and generate revenue for potential extra parties. So that's showing the piece of hardware is actually very important. By completing the hardware demonstrator, we would show to the market and interested parties. How it will be a technology based LiDAR meets the goals of the market, which is projected for huge growth. Additionally, having the design demonstrate the capability in terms of economics and reliability with the past of being able to generate revenue for an interested parties further reduces the risk, a transaction would be easier if acquirer can see the ability to generate revenue quickly. I think one more point, I think - the respect we have for augmented reality, interactive display and consumer LiDAR is because we have hardware that demonstrates the capability of the technology. Automotive LiDAR is an important market that is quickly developing. Our hardware demonstrator for 2021 showcases the value of the company and how this vertical leverages our core common ID. So that's why it's actually important to have a piece of hardware that demonstrates the - all the features that are required for automotive LiDAR partners to see that a transition from mechanical to MEMS scanning, our first generation MEMS scanning is - round possibility and that represents to our shareholders.

Operator

Operator

That was last question, and that does conclude the question-and-answer for today. I'll turn the call over to Sumit for some closing remarks.

Sumit Sharma

Analyst

I want to thank all our employees of course that are working extremely hard for the objectives that are in front of us. And also, I want to thank all our shareholders for their continued support. Thank you very much.

Operator

Operator

The conference has now concluded. Thank you for attending today's presentation. You may now disconnect.