party agreements for financial and strategic advisory services and $600,000 related to shares of common stock issued to an employee for services rendered.
The increase in research and development costs reflects the Company’s ramped up efforts in the development of the POD. The increase in payroll related costs consists primarily of additional employee headcount and a bonus paid to the Company’s CEO totaling $61,930The increase in consulting and professional fees relates primarily to costs associated with operating as a public company.
Other expense increased by $4,214,090 primarily due to an increase in interest expense of $2,855,683 and an increase in the value of derivative liabilities of $1,414,341, partially offset by $50,082 of forgiven debt. The increase in interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, includes $2,751,188 related to the amortization of debt discount and $98,588 accrued on the convertible promissory notes entered into beginning in June 2020.
As a result of the foregoing, we recorded a net loss of $6,634,722 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a net loss of $3,461,479 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in net loss is primarily attributed to the increase in interest expense and the increase in value of derivative liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses.
COVID-19 may impact our business.
On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” and on March 11, 2020, declared it to be a pandemic. Actions taken around the world to help mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 include restrictions on travel, and quarantines in certain areas, and forced closures for certain types of public places and businesses. COVID-19, and actions taken to mitigate it, have had and are expected to continue to have an adverse impact on the economies and financial markets of many countries, including the geographical areas in which we operate. While it is unknown how long these conditions will last and what the complete financial effect will be to the Company, COVID-19 may have an adverse effect on our business. While we are taking diligent steps to mitigate any possible disruptions to our business, we are unable to predict the extent or nature of these impacts, at this time, to our future financial condition and results of operations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our cash and cash equivalents decreased by $100,103 reflecting cash used in operations of $906,073, partially offset by net proceeds from financing activities of $805,970. At September 30, 2021 the Company had a working capital deficit of $1,885,946 and cash on hand of $164,810. Working capital deficit totaled $1,082,727 excluding derivative liabilities – convertible notes-payable of $803,219. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our cash and cash equivalents increased by $85,477, reflecting cash provided by financing activities of $881,121, partially offset by cash used in operations of $795,644.
Operating Activities
Cash flows used in operating activities totaled $906,073 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to cash flows used of $795,644for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. The increase in cash flows used in operating activities is primarily the result of an increase in inventory purchases, a reduction in accounts payable and an increase in the loss from operations, excluding stock-based compensation expense impacted by increased costs related to public Company operations, increased marketing efforts and ramp of research and development costs on the POD.
Financing Activities
Cash flows provided by financing activities totaled $805,970 for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 as compared to $881,921 for the nine months ended September 30,2020. The cash flows provided in the 2021 period are primarily the result of $937,500 in net proceeds from convertible promissory notes partially offset by debt repayments totaling $131,530.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, lenders converted principal totaling $1,549,800 plus accrued interest into 43,316,791 shares of common stock. The remaining principal outstanding of $972,353 includes $772,353 for which a forbearance agreement was entered into on September 3, 2021 and $150,000, which was converted into shares of common stock in October 2021.