v3.26.1
Stock-Based Compensation
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]  
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

11. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

Stock Incentive Plans

 

2021 Plan

 

In March 2021, the Company adopted the iSpecimen Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan, which was subsequently amended in June 2021 and then on May 25, 2022 (the “2021 Plan”). The 2021 Plan was adopted to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate employees, officers, directors, consultants, and advisors by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives. The 2021 Plan authorizes options, restricted stock, RSUs and other stock-based awards. The Company’s board of directors, or any committee to which the board of directors delegates such authority, has the sole discretion in administering, interpreting, amending, or accelerating the 2021 Plan. Awards may be made under the 2021 Plan for up to 30,400 shares of the Company’s common stock, and the 2021 Plan was made effective with the completion of the IPO.

 

On May 24, 2023, at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders approved an amendment to the 2021 Plan to increase the number of shares under the 2021 Plan from 30,400 shares of common stock to 93,475 shares of common stock.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, Nil and 5,521 equity awards were granted under the 2021 Plan, respectively. As of December 31, 2025, there were 73,180 shares of common stock available for future grants under the 2021 Plan.

 

2013 Plan

 

The iSpecimen Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) was adopted on April 12, 2013 and subsequently amended on July 29, 2015. The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the 2013 Plan was 85,679.

 

No equity awards were granted under the 2013 Plan during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024. According to the 2013 Plan, which was adopted by the Company’s board of directors on April 12, 2013, no awards shall be granted under the 2013 Plan after the completion of ten years from the date on which the 2013 Plan was adopted by the Company’s board of directors. Therefore, as of April 13, 2023, no further shares had been granted under the 2013 Plan.

Stock Options

 

The following assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model during the years ended December 31:

 

    2025   2024  
Assumptions:          
Risk-free interest rate     3.49% – 4.56%  
Expected term (in years)     0.27 – 4.00  
Expected volatility     57.28% – 58.71%  
Expected dividend yield      

 

A summary of stock option activity under the 2021 Plan and 2013 Plan is as follows:

 

           Weighted     
           Average     
   Options
Outstanding
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
 Price
   Remaining
Contractual
 Term
in Years
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
 
Balance at December 31, 2024   8,460    33.20    5.20     
Granted                
Exercised                
Cancelled/forfeited   (5,559)   24.27         
Balance at December 31, 2025   2,901   $50.31    6.93   $ 
                     
Options exercisable at December 31, 2025   2,777   $51.96    6.87   $ 

 

The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the difference between the Company’s stock price as of the balance sheet date and the exercise price of each in-the-money option on the last day of the period. No stock options were exercised during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.

 

No stock options granted during the year ended December 31, 2025. The weighted average grant date fair value of stock options issued in the year ended December 31, 2024 was $7.30. The following table sets forth the recorded stock options compensation expense of the Company during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
Operating expenses:  2025   2024 
Technology  $   $2,639 
Sales and marketing (recovery)   (39)   1,168 
Supply development   84    1,904 
Fulfillment   1,158    1,976 
General and administrative       41,807 
Total stock options expense  $1,203   $49,494 

 

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, a total of $696 and $10,094 unamortized compensation expense is being recognized over the remaining requisite service period of 2.50 and 2.72 years, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units

 

A summary of RSUs activity under the 2021 Plan and 2013 Plan is as follows:

 

       Weighted 
   RSUs
Outstanding
   Average Grant
Date Fair Value
 
Unvested Balance at December 31, 2024   822   $132.34 
Granted        
Vested   (400)   112.99 
Forfeited   (397)   108.87 
Unvested Balance at December 31, 2025   25   $97.20 

 

The Company recorded RSUs compensation expense during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024 as follows:

 

   Years Ended December 31, 
Operating expenses:  2025   2024 
Technology  $2,691   $57,073 
Sales and marketing   9,126    46,744 
Supply development       399 
Fulfillment   11,866    38,666 
General and administrative (recovery)   (3,620)   57,299 
Total RSU expense  $20,063   $200,181 

 

As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSUs was $875 and $83,804, and it is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over a weighted average period of approximately 0.25 and 0.96 year, respectively.