Braze Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2023 Results

First quarter revenue grew 61.9% year-over-year to $77.5 million

Achieved dollar-based net retention of 127% for the trailing 12 months

Generated $15.7 million of Free Cash Flow in the first quarter

Braze (Nasdaq: BRZE) a leading comprehensive customer engagement platform that powers interactions between consumers and brands they love, today announced results for its fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2022.

“We are off to a great start to fiscal 2023 with the first quarter demonstrating robust demand for the Braze Customer Engagement Platform,” said Bill Magnuson, cofounder and CEO of Braze. “Given our strong momentum, we are raising our 2023 outlook and remain committed to delivering best-in-class customer engagement at scale, while running our business with discipline and efficiency.”

Fiscal First Quarter 2023 Financial Highlights

• Revenue was $77.5 million compared to $47.9 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022, up 61.9% year-over year, driven primarily by new customers, upsells and renewals.
• Subscription revenue in the quarter was $72.8 million compared to $44.7 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022, and professional services and other revenue was $4.7 million compared to $3.2 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Remaining performance obligations as of April 30, 2022 was $390.9 million, of which $255.1 million is current, which we define as less than one year.
• GAAP Gross Margin was 66.6% compared to 67.0% in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Non-GAAP Gross Margin was 67.8% compared to 67.4% in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Dollar-based net retention for all customers for the trailing 12 months ended April 30, 2022 and April 30, 2021 was 127% and 124%, respectively; dollar-based net retention for customers with annual recurring revenue (ARR) of $500,000 or more was 133% compared to 134% in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Total customers increased to 1,503 as of April 30, 2022 from 1,002 as of April 30, 2021; 129 of our customers had ARR of $500,000 or more as of April 30, 2022, compared to 78 customers as of April 30, 2021.
• GAAP operating loss was $39.6 million compared to an operating loss of $13.0 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022. Contributors to the operating loss in the quarter included $17.0 million on stock compensation expense and a $4.3 million contribution related to our 1% Pledge.
• Non-GAAP operating loss was $18.0 million compared to a loss of $6.1 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• GAAP net loss per basic and diluted share attributable to Braze common stockholders was $(0.42) compared to $(0.65) in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Non-GAAP net loss per basic and diluted share attributable to Braze common stockholders was $(0.19) compared to $(0.30) in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $17.9 million compared to net cash used in operating activities of $3.8 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022.
• Free cash flow was $15.7 million compared to $(4.6) million in the first quarter of the fiscal year end January 31, 2022.
• Total cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, and marketable securities was $534.1 million as of April 30, 2022 compared to $518.1 million as of January 31, 2022.

Recent Business Highlights

• Notable new business wins and upsells in the quarter included Little Spoon, Mercari, PaulCamper (Germany), and Pizza Hut (Australia).
• Launched Braze for Success, a series of new offerings and enhancements to provide customers with end-to-end support, more flexible onboarding, robust creative services, enhanced customer education, and new channels for customer support.
• Continued to add talent to the team, hiring 120 employees in Q1, bringing the total Braze team to over 1,280.

Financial Outlook

Braze is initiating guidance for the fiscal second quarter ending July 31, 2022 and updating guidance for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2023.

Braze has not reconciled its guidance as to non-GAAP operating loss, non-GAAP net loss or non-GAAP net loss per share to their most directly comparable GAAP measure as a result of uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, reconciling items such as stock-based compensation expense specific to equity compensation awards that are directly impacted by unpredictable fluctuations in Braze’s stock price. Accordingly, reconciliation is not available without unreasonable effort, although it is important to note that these factors could be material to Braze’s results calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Conference Call Information:

What: Braze First Quarter Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Results Conference Call
When: Monday, June 13th at 5:00 pm EDT / 2:00 pm PDT
Webcast & Supplemental Data: investors.braze.com
Replay: A webcast replay will be available on Braze’s investor site at investors.braze.com.

Supplemental and Other Financial Information

Supplemental information, including an accompanying financial presentation and other information can be accessed through Braze’s investor website at investors.braze.com

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables contain the following non-GAAP financial measures: non-GAAP gross profit and margin, non-GAAP sales and marketing expense, non-GAAP research and development expense, non-GAAP general and administrative expense, non-GAAP operating loss, non-GAAP net loss, non-GAAP net loss per share, basic and diluted, and non-GAAP free cash flow. Braze defines non-GAAP gross profit and margin, non-GAAP sales and marketing expense, non-GAAP research and development expense, non-GAAP general and administrative expense, non-GAAP operating loss and non-GAAP net loss as the respective GAAP balances, adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, employer taxes related to stock-based compensation and charitable contribution expense. Prior to the first quarter of the fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, Braze did not adjust non-GAAP gross profit and margin, non-GAAP sales and marketing expense, non-GAAP research and development expense, non-GAAP general and administrative expense, non-GAAP operating loss or non-GAAP net loss for employer taxes related to stock-based compensation or charitable contribution expense, because these amounts were immaterial in prior periods. Braze defines non-GAAP free cash flow as net cash used in operating activities, minus purchases of property and equipment and minus capitalized internal-use software costs. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these historical non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Braze uses this non-GAAP financial information internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that this non-GAAP financial information, when taken collectively with GAAP financial measures, may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance and assists in comparisons with other companies, some of which use similar non-GAAP financial information to supplement their GAAP results. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), and may be different from similarly-titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

The principal limitation of these non-GAAP financial measures is that they exclude significant expenses that are required by GAAP to be recorded in Braze’s financial statements. In addition, they are subject to inherent limitations as they reflect the exercise of judgment by Braze’s management about which expenses are excluded or included in determining these non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation is provided below in the financial statement tables included below in this press release for each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with GAAP.

Braze encourages investors to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, which it includes in press releases announcing quarterly and fiscal year financial results, including this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate Braze’s business.

Definition of Other Business Metrics

Customer: Braze defines a customer, as of period end, as the separate and distinct, ultimate parent-level entity that has an active subscription with Braze to use its products. A single organization could have multiple distinct contracting divisions or subsidiaries, all of which together would be considered a single customer.

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): Braze defines ARR as the annualized value of customer subscription contracts, including certain premium professional services that are subject to contractual subscription terms, as of the measurement date, assuming any contract that expires during the next 12 months is renewed on its existing terms (including contracts for which Braze is negotiating a renewal). Braze’s calculation of ARR is not adjusted for the impact of any known or projected future events (such as customer cancellations, expansion or contraction of existing customers relationships or price increases or decreases) that may cause any such contract not to be renewed on its existing terms. ARR may decline or fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, including customers’ satisfaction or dissatisfaction with Braze’s products and professional services, pricing, competitive offerings, economic conditions or overall changes in Braze’s customers’ spending levels. ARR should be viewed independently of revenue and does not represent Braze’s GAAP revenue on an annualized basis or a forecast of revenue, as it is an operating metric that can be impacted by contract start and end dates and renewal rates.

Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate: Braze calculates dollar-based net retention rate as of a period end by starting with the ARR from a cohort of customers as of the as of 12 months prior to such period-end (the Prior Period ARR). Braze then calculates the ARR from the same cohort of customers as of the end of the current period (the Current Period ARR). Current Period ARR includes any expansion and is net of contraction or attrition over the last 12 months, but excludes ARR from new customers in the current period. Braze then divides the total Current Period ARR by the total Prior Period ARR to arrive at the point-in-time dollar-based net retention rate. Braze then calculates the weighted average point-in-time dollar-based net retention rates as of the last day of each month in the current trailing 12-month period to arrive at the dollar-based net retention rate.

Remaining Performance Obligations: 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 obligation are subject to future economic risks including bankruptcies, regulatory changes and other market factors.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding Braze’s financial outlook for the second quarter of and full fiscal year ended January 31, 2023. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” might,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “shall,” “should,” “target,” “will” “and variations of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words.

Forward-looking statements are based on Braze’s current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause Braze’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: (1) unstable market and economic conditions may have serious adverse consequences on Braze’s business, financial condition and share price; (2) Braze’s recent rapid revenue growth may not be indicative of its future revenue growth; (3) Braze’s history of operating losses; (4) Braze’s limited operating history at its current scale; (5) Braze’s ability to successfully manage its growth; (6) the accuracy of estimates of market opportunity and forecasts of market growth and the impact that global macroeconomic uncertainty, including from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and general market, political, economic and business conditions could have on Braze’s or its customers’ businesses, financial condition and results of operations; (7) Braze’s ability and the ability of its platform to adapt and respond to changing customer or consumer needs, requirements or preferences; (8) Braze’s ability to attract new customers and renew existing customers; (9) the competitive markets in which Braze participates and the intense competition that it faces; (10) Braze’s ability to adapt and respond effectively to rapidly changing technology, evolving cybersecurity and data privacy risks, evolving industry standards or changing regulations; and (11) Braze’s reliance on third-party providers of cloud-based infrastructure; as well as other risks and uncertainties discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Braze’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 31, 2022 and other subsequent filings Braze makes with the SEC from time to time, including Braze’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 30, 2022 that will be filed with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent Braze’s views only as of the date of this press release and Braze assumes no obligation, and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

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