BEGI BlackStar Enterprise Group Inc (PK)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

Forward-Looking Statements and Associated Risks.

This Form 10-Q contains certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For this purpose, any statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” or “continue” or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, many of which are not within our control. These factors include but are not limited to economic conditions generally and in the industries in which we may participate; competition within our chosen industry, including competition from much larger competitors; technological advances and failure to successfully develop business relationships.

Based on our financial history since inception, our auditor has expressed substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. As reflected in the accompanying financial statements, as of March 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $9,492,171 and a working capital deficiency of $1,057,073. This raises substantial doubts about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Overview

BlackStar Enterprise Group, Inc. (the “Company” or “BlackStar”) intends to act as a merchant bank as of the date of these financial statements. We currently trade on the OTC Pink Sheets under the symbol “BEGI”. The Company is a merchant banking firm seeking to facilitate venture capital to early-stage revenue companies. BlackStar intends to offer consulting and regulatory compliance services to blockchain and DLT companies and blockchain entrepreneurs for securities, tax, and commodity issues. BlackStar is conducting ongoing analysis for opportunities in involvement in electronic fungible share-related ventures though our wholly-owned subsidiary, Blockchain Equity Management Corp. (“BEMC”), formerly known as Crypto Equity Management Corp., formed in September 2017. BEMC is currently non-operational, inactive and has no business or clients at this time. It is intended to offer advisory services as to how to implement use of a custom platform for the client’s equity based off of the BDTP ^TM. BEMC has not established any anticipated time frames or key milestones for BEMC business. BlackStar intends to serve businesses in their early corporate lifecycles and may provide funding in the forms of ventures in which we control the venture until divestiture or spin-off by developing the businesses with capital. We have only engaged in one transaction as a merchant bank form to date.

Our investment strategy focuses primarily on ventures with companies that we believe are poised to grow at above-average rates relative to other sectors of the U.S. economy, which we refer to as "emerging growth companies." Under no circumstances does the Company intend to become an investment company and its activities and its financial statement ratios of assets and cash will be carefully monitored and other activities reviewed by its Board of Directors to prevent being classified or inadvertently becoming an investment company which would be subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

As a merchant bank, BlackStar intends to seek to provide access to capital for companies and is specifically seeking out ventures involved in DLT or blockchain. BlackStar intends to facilitate funding and management of DLT-involved companies through majority controlled joint ventures through its subsidiary BEMC BlackStar, through BEMC, intends to initially control and manage each venture. Potential ventures for both BlackStar and BEMC will be analyzed using the combined business experience of its executives, with BEMC looking to fill those venture criteria with companies in crypto-related businesses such as blockchain or DLT technologies. The Company does not intend to develop Investment Objectives or “criteria” in any manner but will rely on the acumen and experience of its executives. BlackStar is currently building a digital equity trading platform in order to trade registered BlackStar common shares in digital form (DWAC), and intends to use the platform design to provide custom subscription services to other public companies.

BlackStar is currently developing a blockchain-based software platform (“BDTP ^TM”) to trade electronic fungible shares of our common stock equal to the shares held and transferred by DTCC Brokers (DWAC). Once completed, the platform design might enable us to license the technology as a Platform as a Service (“PaaS”) for other publicly traded companies, providing revenue to finance our merchant banking. The completion of our software platform depends on our ability to license it to an existing

Alternative Trading System (“ATS”) or for us to possibly register as an ATS, which we do not intend to do at this time as we would prefer to license our platform to an existing ATS. The platform is not currently operational or in use by anyone. More details regarding the BDTP ^TM can be found in the most recent registration statement on Form S-1, as amended.

Recent Updates – Blackstar’s progress in 2022 was focused on pursuing the registration of shares underlying convertible notes, which entailed thoroughly describing many aspects of our new proposed line of business of trading common shares on a blockchain through the broker-dealer ecosystem. The Company is finalizing the marketing plan to promote and roll out the three features of its blockchain platform. The Company plans to offer its Private Funding and Corporate Governance Blockchain to individual private companies in 2023. The Companies next major step in its main feature, Blackstar’s Digital Trading Platform (“BDTP ^TM”), which will need to be paired with an operating partner (a broker-dealer, clearing firm, and/or registered Alternative Trading System (“ATS”)) to quote the shares prior to implementation. To that end, the Company is exploring partnerships with broker-dealers and existing ATS’s and other strategies to go live with BDTP ^TM in accordance with existing laws and regulations. As of the date of this filing, the core platform of BDTP ^TM is complete and will remain in the testing phase until we obtain an operating partner. BlackStar intends to continue to seek further input from various regulatory agencies and others on the functionality of the BDTP ^TM over the next 6 to 9 months. The BDTP ^TM has been completely designed in terms of the following components: data model, reports, web-based user interface, blockchain interface, transaction logic, cloud interface, and functional demonstration app. The software is complete in demonstrating a proof-of-concept trading ability, while recording activity using an immutable blockchain ledger. Currently, the working model platform is hosted on Amazon’s Quantum Ledger Database. BlackStar and its outside software developer, Artuova, previously successfully completed a production ready and feature-complete user interface for the digital platform which is now in the final stages of quality assurance. BlackStar is actively pursuing relationships with various broker-dealers, clearing firms, and ATS’s to complete the final stages of this multi-year engineering effort. Blackstar has filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) for patent protection of its proprietary software and, during 2022, also filed with U.S. and foreign trademark offices for protection.

The Company’s success will be dependent upon its ability to analyze and manage the opportunities presented and is contingent upon successfully raising funds and ultimately SEC approval of our digital trading platform.

Currently in the testing phase, we estimate $100,000 to finalize the integration of the digital platform into the broker-dealer eco system once the SEC and FINRA clear BlackStar to promote broker dealers and or exchanges. The ability to obtain a licensee may be dependent on our ability to confirm that FINRA and the SEC will allow trading on our platform as described. If this is the case, the Company may alternatively seek to acquire an existing broker-dealer in order to become a FINRA-registered broker-dealer. Once we have secured a licensee broker-dealer, clearing firm, or ATS for the operations of the BDTP ^TM and begun operating the BDTP ^TM, we will seek subscriber companies desiring customized platforms. At that point, we will have the ability to showcase BDTP ^TM’s live operations. The technical platform operations and updates will be managed by Artuova, through our oversight and direction. The software building of additional platforms for subscriber companies may take as little as 48 hours. We have not yet developed our marketing campaign to seek out these customers, but plan to do so after securing our operating licensee, likely within the next six months. We anticipate our overall expansion of services into the blockchain industry within the next twelve months.

At March 31, 2023 we have cash reserves of approximately $36,603, which enables us to sustain only limited operations. We intend to offer a private placement of preferred shares to investors in order to achieve at least $5,000,000 in funding in the next year to scale our business plan. We intend to commence this offering in spring of 2023. If we are unable to generate enough revenue to cover our operational costs, we will need to seek additional sources of funds. Currently, we have no committed source for any funds as of date hereof. No representation is made that any funds will be available when needed. In the event funds cannot be raised if and when needed, we may not be able to carry out our business plan and could fail in business as a result of these uncertainties. We have estimated we will require approximately $100,000 quarterly for operational costs which includes legal, accounting, travel, general and administrative, audit, rent, telephones and miscellaneous. In the year ended December 31, 2022, we received funding through convertible promissory notes totaling $194,750 being received in net cash proceeds. In 2023, we received loans of an aggregate $50,000 from two investors, due nine months from receipt with interest at 11% per annum.

The independent registered public accounting firm’s report on our financial statements as of December 31, 2022, includes a “going concern” explanatory paragraph that describes substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Results of Operations

Net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was $117,204 as compared to $516,902 for the three months ended March 31, 2022, a decrease of $399,698. As explained below, the decrease is predominately attributable to non-cash transactions from the issuance of convertible debt and other financings.

For the three months ended March 31, 2022, we had significantly higher non-operating (other) expenses, substantially all of which are non-cash, predominately due to amortization of discounts on debt issuance and conversion features of the convertible promissory notes that we have used to finance our continued operations. This resulted in total other expenses of $380,622 for the three months ended March 31, 2022 as compared to $28,800 for the three months ended March 31,2023. For the three months ended March 31, 2022, the Company recognized $334,251 for amortization of discount on convertible notes, as compared to $3,390 for the three months ended March 31, 2023. The decrease in 2023 is attributable to the maturity of loans outstanding loans and convertible debt conversions in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. Interest expense decreased to $25,410 in 2023 as compared to $46,371 in the 2022 period, as loans were converted from debt to equity.

General and administrative expenses in 2023 were $12,252 a decrease of $1,216 from general and administrative expenses of $13,468 in 2022. General and administrative costs, which were comparable for the 2023 to 2022 quarters, were for investor relations, filing fees, transfer agent fees and overhead operational costs.

In 2023, the Company paid management consulting fees to IHG of $31,500 as compared to $86,613 paid in 2022.

Legal and professional fees of $44,652 for the three months ended March 31, 2023 increased by $8,453 from $36,199 for the comparable period ended March 31, 2022. Fees for the 2023 and 2022 periods were predominately for SEC regulatory and statutory filings, registration statement filings and amendments thereto and auditor related fees for annual audits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At March 31, 2023, we had a working capital deficit of $1,057,073 and cash of $36,603 as compared to a working capital deficit of $971,295 and cash of $62,085, at December 31, 2022. The decrease in cash and increase in working capital deficit was due primarily to the utilization of available cash for operations and an increase in debt funding from $50,000 of loans received in the period ended March 31, 2023. The Company used new and existing fundings to maintain operating activities and filings of amendments to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 during the quarter. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we used $68,481 of cash for operating activities and paid $7,001 in investing activities for software development. In the comparable 2022 period, operating activities utilized cash of $142,778 and investing activities for software development and patent costs utilized cash of $845.

Substantially all of our funding in 2023 and 2022 has been from notes and convertible debt financings from non-related investment firms and individuals. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we borrowed $50,000 from two individuals. During the three months ended March 31,2022, we issued convertible debt with a face value of $55,750, receiving cash proceeds, net of financing costs, of $52,000. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, note holders were issued 104,643,949 shares of common stock for conversion of $33,927 face value of debt and related accrued interest and fees. In the comparable 2022 period, convertible note holders were issued 63,311,934 shares of common stock for conversion of $296,321 face value of debt and related accrued interest and fees in 2022.

While management of the Company believes that the Company will be successful in its current and planned activities, there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient revenues from our planned operations and raise sufficient equity, debt capital or strategic relationships to sustain the operations and future business of the Company.

Our ability to create sufficient working capital to sustain us over the next twelve-month period, and beyond, is dependent on our raising additional equity or debt capital, and ultimately to commence revenues form or digital trading platform.

There can be no assurance that sufficient capital will be available to us. We currently have no agreements, arrangements or understandings with any person to obtain funds through bank loans, lines of credit or any other sources.

Availability of Additional Capital

Notwithstanding our previous success in fund raising from notes and convertible debt financings there can be no assurance that we will continue to be successful in raising capital and have adequate capital resources to fund our operations or that any additional funds will be available to us on favorable terms or in amounts required by us. We estimate that we will need to raise $5,000,000 over the next twelve months to scale up our current plan. The Company received $50,000 in debt financing during the three months ended March 31, 2023 which enabled us to sustain operations in the first quarter of 2023.

Any additional financings may be dilutive to our stockholders, new equity securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing holders of our shares of common stock. Debt or equity financing may subject us to restrictive covenants and significant interest costs.

Going Concern

We have only a very limited amount of cash and have incurred operating losses and limited cash flows from operations since inception. As of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, we had accumulated deficit of $9,492,171 and $9,374,967, respectively, and we will require additional working capital to fund operations through 2023 and beyond. These factors, among others, raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our financial statements included in this Form 10-Q do not include any adjustments related to recoverability and classification of asset carrying amounts or the amount and classification of liabilities that might result should we be unable to continue as a going concern. The audited financial statements included in the Company’s recent annual report on Form 10-K have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern and do not include any adjustments that might result if we cease to continue as a going concern.

Our registered independent auditors have issued an opinion on our financial statements as of December 31, 2022 which includes a statement describing our going concern status. This means that there is substantial doubt that we can continue as an on-going business for the next twelve months unless we obtain additional capital to pay our bills and meet our other financial obligations. This is because we have not generated any revenues and no revenues are anticipated until we obtain final SEC approval for our digital trading platform. There is no assurance that any revenue will be realized in the future. Accordingly, we must raise capital from sources other than the actual revenue from issuance of memberships in our digital trading platform.

There can be no assurance that we will have adequate capital resources to fund planned operations or that any additional funds will be available to us when needed or at all, or, if available, will be available on favorable terms or in amounts required by us. If we are unable to obtain adequate capital resources to fund operations, we may be required to delay, scale back or eliminate some or all of our operations, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and ability to operate as a going concern.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

None.