Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total revenue for Q1 fiscal 2026 was $12.3 million, up from $12 million in Q1 fiscal 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 2.5% [4] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) increased by 21% year-over-year to $21.3 million, with B2B ARR at approximately $14.8 million and B2C ARR at about $6.5 million [4][5] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $1.5 million, a 16% increase from $1.3 million in the prior year quarter, marking the second-best adjusted EBITDA performance in company history [9] - Net income for the quarter was $749,002 per diluted share, compared to $669,002 per diluted share in the prior year quarter [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Platform subscription revenue increased by 18% to $5.1 million, driven by a net increase in platform deployments and upsells [4] - Transaction revenue for the quarter was $7.2 million, down from $7.7 million in the prior year quarter, aligning with expectations of continued challenges in transaction growth [5][6] - The platform business recorded a gross margin of 88.1%, a 70 basis point increase compared to the prior year quarter, while transaction business gross margin decreased to 23.8% from 25.7% [8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total active customer count decreased to 1,326 from 1,390 in the same period a year ago [6] - B2B growth was particularly strong, with an increase of $561,000 for the quarter, up from $128,000 last year [5] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on becoming a comprehensive SaaS and AI solution for scientific research, with significant investments in B2B sales resources [3][12] - The introduction of AI rights offerings and partnerships with publishers is expected to enhance revenue opportunities and improve customer engagement [15][16] - The company aims to improve Site B2C net ARR growth and overall ARR growth through better sales execution and product improvements [19] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the decline in transaction revenue was primarily driven by three customers, with expectations of stabilization in the second half of the fiscal year [12][51] - The company anticipates a less pronounced dip in adjusted EBITDA between Q1 and Q2 compared to the previous year, with a goal of outperformance in each remaining quarter of fiscal 2026 [11][19] Other Important Information - Cash flow from operations was $1.1 million, a 31% increase from $843,000 in Q1 fiscal 2025, indicating healthy operational cash flow [10] - The company is actively pursuing acquisitions, with a strong pipeline and ongoing discussions, although no immediate closures are expected by year-end [58] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the attach rate on the AI rights add-on product? - Management indicated that the product is new, and they are currently gathering data on attach rates, with industry studies suggesting a potential uplift of about 50% in ARR from AI integrations [22][23][25] Question: What are the plans to increase the attach rate and reduce churn in B2C? - Management acknowledged the need for rigorous testing and optimization of the product to improve conversion rates and reduce churn, noting that churn has been improving overall [31][32] Question: Can you elaborate on the non-seasonal strengths in ARR for Q1? - Management attributed the strong ARR growth to upgraded sales teams and a disciplined sales process, with no pull-forwards affecting the results [40][41] Question: What is the outlook for the transaction segment in the second half? - Management expressed cautious optimism for stabilization in the transaction segment, with some growth in the academic business and new platform customers [51] Question: Any updates on the headless strategy? - Management confirmed ongoing product changes to support large customers with headless strategies, indicating a material part of the pipeline is focused on this area [56] Question: How is AI impacting internal operations? - Management noted that AI tools are significantly speeding up development processes and improving productivity, with plans to implement AI in support functions as well [44][48]