Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures
(as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act),
that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized
and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated
to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosures. In designing disclosure controls and procedures, our management necessarily was required to apply its
judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures. The design of any disclosure controls
and procedures also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that
any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions. Any controls and procedures, no matter how
well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we are required to perform an evaluation
of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act, as of December 31, 2024.
Management has completed such evaluation and has
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed
by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and
maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under
the supervision of our principal executive and principal financial officer and effected by our Board of Directors, management and other
personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. Based on our evaluation under the framework in Internal Control -
Integrated Framework, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2024.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal
control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. In addition, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness
to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance
with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
39
We are a “smaller reporting company”
as defined in Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act. For as long as we continue to be a smaller reporting company,
we may take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not smaller
reporting companies. Additionally, this Report does not contain an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding
internal control over financial reporting since the Company, as a smaller reporting company and non-accelerated filer, is not required
to provide such report.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting
We remediated a material weakness (as described in our Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2023) during the year ended December 31, 2024.
Item 9B.
Other Information
During the period ended December 31, 2024, no
director or officer adopted or terminated any Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement or non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement, as each term is
defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
40
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
Executive officers and directors
Set forth below are the names, ages and positions of our executive
officers and directors as of March 5, 2025.
Name
Age
Position(s) held
Served as a Director and/or Officer Since
Executive Officers
Jeffrey Thramann, M.D.
60
Executive Chairman and Director
2012
Michael Lawless
62
Chief Executive Officer, Secretary & Director
2012
John Mahoney
59
Chief Financial Officer
2023
Peter Shoebridge
61
Chief Technology Officer
2013
Non-Employee Directors
Stephen Deitsch
53
Director, Lead Independent Director
2021
Timothy J. Hanlon
59
Director
2021
Thomas Birch
72
Director
2021
Executive officers
Jeffrey Thramann,
Executive Chairman. Dr. Thramann founded the Company in 2012 and oversees strategic initiatives, capitalization and governance
at the Company. This includes day-to-day involvement in working with senior management to establish the strategic vision of the Company,
prioritizing product launches, working with the CEO and CFO on the financial plans of the Company, and assisting the CEO in recruitment
and hiring of senior executives and the pursuit of business development activities. It also includes leading efforts to secure capital
for the Company, building the board of directors and leading board meetings. In 2002, Dr. Thramann was the founder and became the chairman
of Lanx, LLC. Lanx was an innovative medical device company focused on the spinal implant market and created the interspinous process
fusion space with the introduction of its patented Aspen product. Lanx was sold to Biomet, Inc., an international orthopedic conglomerate,
in 2013. Concurrent with Lanx, in 2006 Dr. Thramann was also the founder and chairman of ProNerve, LLC. ProNerve was a healthcare services
company that provided monitoring of nerve function during high risk surgical procedures affecting the brain and spinal cord. ProNerve
was sold to Waud Capital Partners, a private equity firm, in 2012.
Prior to ProNerve and
concurrent with Lanx, Dr. Thramann was the founder and chairman of U.S. Radiosurgery (USR). USR is a healthcare services company that
provides advanced radiosurgical treatments for tumors throughout the body. USR became the largest provider of robotic guided CyberKnife
treatments of such tumors in the U.S. and was sold to Alliance Healthcare Services (Nasdaq; AIQ) in 2011. From 2001 through 2008, Thramann
was the founder and senior partner of Boulder Neurosurgical Associates, a neurosurgical practice serving Boulder County, Colorado. Dr.
Thramann is the named inventor on over 50 U.S. and international issued and pending patents. He completed his neurosurgical residency
and complex spinal reconstruction fellowship at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, AZ, in 2001. He is a graduate of Cornell
University Medical College in New York City and earned a BS in electrical engineering management at the U. S. Military Academy in West
Point, NY. Dr. Thramann currently serves as the Executive Chairman of Aclarion, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACON), a healthcare technology company that
is leveraging MR Spectroscopy, biomarkers, and augmented intelligence algorithms to improve the diagnosis and treatment of chronic low
back pain.
41
Michael Lawless,
Chief Executive Officer and Director: Mr. Lawless is a technology startup veteran having held key leadership positions in research
and development, engineering, product development and operations. Prior to joining the Company in 2012, from 2009 to 2011 he was one of
the founding executives and Chief Operating Officer of Trada, Inc., a company engaged in the business of crowdsourced digital ad campaign
creation and management. In addition to establishing the business operations and processes for Trada, he was responsible for building
and managing the product team and operating their internet advertising marketplace SaaS product. He earned a BS in Human Factors Engineering
from the U.S. Air Force Academy and his master’s degree in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis on Human-Computer Interaction
from The University of Dayton.
John E. Mahoney, Chief Financial Officer:
Mr. Mahoney joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in November 2023. He brings over twenty years of finance and operational experience
in the services industry with both publicly traded and privately held companies. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Chief Financial Officer
at Quality Biomedical, Inc., a private equity backed and leading service provider in the Home Medical Equipment industry. From 2014 to
2019, Mr. Mahoney served as Principal and Chief Financial Officer at CFO Leadership Services, LLC, a fractional CFO service company. From
2005 to 2014, Mr. Mahoney served Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at TASQ Technology, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of First
Data Corporation, who merged with Fiserv. a leading global credit card processing services company. Mr. Mahoney is a certified public
accountant. He earned his BS in Public Accountancy from Long Island University.
Peter Shoebridge, Chief Technology Officer:
Mr. Shoebridge joined the Company in 2013 and has over 35 years of professional experience in the software development industry.
He has been involved with internet related technologies since 1996. From 2008 to 2012, he was the CEO and co-founder of Blue Yonder Gaming,
Corp., a casino gaming systems and gaming company. Prior to Blue Yonder he was Vice President of engineering at Sona Mobile, Inc and led
the team that built the first wireless gaming system to receive federal regulatory approval. He also led the team that built the Sona
Gaming System, a server-based gaming platform. Mr. Shoebridge has worked in many different technology sectors including the real-time
financial industry, casino gaming including bingo systems, accounting and automotive. He was educated in London, England.
Non-employee directors
Stephen M.
Deitsch, Director: Mr. Deitsch has extensive strategic, operational, and financial leadership experience at both
publicly traded and privately held companies. Since September 2020, Mr. Deitsch has served as Chief Financial Officer of Paragon 28,
Inc. (NYSE: FNA), a leading global orthopedics company. From April 2017 to August 2019, Mr. Deitsch served as Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer of BioScrip, Inc. (formerly Nasdaq: BIOS) which is now part of Option Care Health, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPCH).
From August 2015 to April 2017, Mr. Deitsch served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate
Secretary of Coalfire, Inc., a leading cyber-security firm. Mr. Deitsch served as the Chief Financial Officer of Biomet Spine,
Bone Healing, and Microfixation from July 2014 to July 2015 and as Vice President Finance, Corporate Controller of Biomet,
Inc. from February 2014 to July 2014. Mr. Deitsch was the Chief Financial Officer of Lanx, Inc. from September 2009 until it
was acquired by Biomet in October 2013. From 2002 to 2009, Mr. Deitsch served in various senior financial leadership roles at
Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (formerly NYSE: ZMH) and now part of Zimmer Biomet, Inc (NYSE: ZBH). Since 2022, Mr. Deitsch has served as a
director of Aclarion, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACON), a healthcare technology company that is leveraging MR Spectroscopy, biomarkers, and
augmented intelligence algorithms to improve the diagnosis and treatment of chronic low back pain. Mr. Deitsch holds a B.S. in
Accounting from Ball State University and has an inactive CPA license.
Timothy J. Hanlon
Director: Mr. Hanlon is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago-based Vertere Group, LLC – a boutique strategic
consulting and advisory firm focused on helping forward-leaning media companies, brands, entrepreneurs, and investors benefit from rapidly
changing technological advances in marketing, media and consumer communications. Prior to forming Vertere in 2012, Mr. Hanlon created
and led corporate ventures practices at marketing agency holding companies Publicis Groupe and Interpublic Group, overseeing 70+ early-stage
investments and partnerships – including over two dozen successful M&A and IPO exits – with notable firms such as: PlutoTV
(acquired by ViacomCBS); Data+Math (LiveRamp); Clypd (AT&T/Xandr); Sling Media (Echostar/Dish Network); Navic Networks (Microsoft);
Brightcove (IPO); and Visible World (Comcast), among others. Previously, Mr. Hanlon was Senior Vice President/Director, Emerging Contacts
for Publicis’ iconic media agency Starcom MediaVest Group, where he was chiefly responsible for pioneering all US client activity
and agency initiatives in the field of emerging media technologies – including the establishment of the firm’s ground-breaking
“TV 2.0 Practice,” centered around evolutionary television platforms. Mr. Hanlon has over 25 years of extensive executive
experience in traditional, digital and “emerging” media & marketing – and his insights into the future of media,
advertising and marketing are regularly seen in major electronic, print and trade press outlets. Mr. Hanlon holds an MBA from the University
of Chicago, Booth Graduate School of Business, and a BA from Georgetown University.
42
Thomas Birch, Director :
Mr. Birch brings over 50 years of on-air, online, media, media research and media brokerage experience. Since 2005, Mr. Birch has been
the owner and CEO of Lakes Media LLC, a six-station radio group operating in southern Virginia and northern North Carolina. In addition,
since 2018 Mr. Birch has also been a Director of Media Services Group, one of the nation’s largest brokers of radio stations, television
stations, broadcast towers and other broadcast-related entities. Mr. Birch was the founder and CEO of Birch Research Corporation, a syndicated
radio ratings and market research company. In 1987, Birch Research was acquired by Dutch publishing conglomerate VNU (now known as Nielsen).
Following the sale, the company merged with VNU subsidiary Scarborough Research and was renamed Birch/Scarborough Research. Mr. Birch
served as Chairman and CEO of the merged Birch/Scarborough entity until his departure in 1990. At its peak, Birch/Scarborough employed
more than 1,200 people nationwide and maintained sales offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas and through its
Canadian subsidiary Birch Radio/Canada, had offices in Toronto and Montreal. Mr. Birch was a Partner and Chief Financial Officer of Simmons
Market Research Bureau from 2001 to 2003, where he significantly reduced operating expenses, increased operating profits and refinanced
company debt which enabled the company to avoid bankruptcy and be positioned for acquisition in 2004 by Experian. From 1990 through 1999,
Mr. Birch was owner and CEO of Opus Media Group, a radio group owner with stations operating in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Mr. Birch is a member of the National Association of Broadcasters Committee on Local Radio Audience Measurement (COLRAM) and continues
to have a voice in the improvement of audience measurement metrics from Nielsen Audio and other research providers. Mr. Birch is a native
of Binghamton, NY and holds a BS from the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance
Following our IPO, Section 16(a) of the Exchange
Act requires our directors, executive officers, and persons holding more than 10% of our common stock to report their initial ownership
of the common stock and other equity securities and any changes in that ownership in reports that must be filed with the SEC. The SEC
has designated specific deadlines for these reports, and we must identify in our Annual Report on Form 10-K those persons who did not
file these reports when due.
Based solely on a review
of reports furnished to us, or written representations from reporting persons, we believe all directors, executive officers, and 10% owners
timely filed all reports regarding transactions in our securities required to be filed to date in 2024.
Election of Officers
Our executive officers
are appointed by, and serve at the discretion of, our board of directors. There are no family relationships among any of our directors
or executive officers.
Composition of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors
currently consists of five members. Three of our directors are independent within the meaning of the independent director guidelines of
the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Each director’s
term continues until the election and qualification of his successor, or his earlier death, resignation or removal. Our restated certificate
of incorporation and restated bylaws authorize only our board of directors to fill vacancies on our board of directors.
Board Leadership Structure and Role in
Risk Oversight
Our corporate governance
guidelines provide that unless the board chair is an independent director, the board shall appoint a Lead Independent Director. The Lead
Independent Director chairs the executive sessions of the independent directors, coordinates the activities of the other independent directors
and performs such other duties as deemed necessary by the board from time to time. Because our Executive Chairman Dr. Thramann is not
independent, the board has appointed Stephen Deitsch to serve as our Lead Independent Director.
43
Risk is inherent with
every business, and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success. We face a number of risks, including credit
risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, strategic risk and reputation risk. Management is responsible for the day-to-day
management of risks we face, while the board, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management.
In its risk oversight role, the board has the responsibility to satisfy itself that the risk management processes designed and implemented
by management are adequate and functioning as designed. To do this, the board meets regularly with management to discuss strategy and
the risks we face. In addition, the Audit Committee regularly monitors our enterprise risk, including financial risks, through reports
from management. Senior management attends the board meetings and is available to address any questions or concerns raised by the board
on risk management and any other matters. The Lead Independent Director and the independent board members work together to provide strong,
independent oversight of our management and affairs through the board’s standing committees and, when necessary, executive sessions
of the independent directors.
Director Independence
Under the rules of Nasdaq,
independent directors must comprise a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within a specified period following the
completion of its IPO. In addition, the rules of Nasdaq require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s
audit, compensation and nominating and governance committees be independent. Under the rules of Nasdaq, a director will only qualify as
an “independent director” if, in the opinion of that company’s board of directors, that person does not have a relationship
that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director.
Audit committee members
must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. In order to be considered independent for
purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in his capacity as a member of the audit
committee, the board of directors or any other board committee: (i) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other
compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its
subsidiaries. We currently satisfy the audit committee independence requirements of Rule 10A-3. Additionally, compensation committee members
must not have a relationship with us that is material to the director’s ability to be independent from management in connection
with the duties of a compensation committee member.
Our board of directors
has undertaken a review of the independence of each director and considered whether each director has a material relationship with us
that could compromise his ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his responsibilities. As a result of this review, our
board of directors determined that all of our directors, except for Jeffrey Thramann and Michael Lawless, are “independent directors”
as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and the listing requirements
and rules of Nasdaq. In making these determinations, our board of directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors
and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors
has an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee, each of which have the composition and responsibilities
described below. Each of the below committees has a written charter approved by our board of directors. Copies of each charter are posted
on the investor relations section of our website. Members will serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined
by our board of directors.
44
Audit Committee
Our audit committee is
comprised of Stephen Deitsch, Thomas Birch, and Timothy J. Hanlon, with Stephen Deitsch as the chairman of our audit committee. The composition
of our audit committee meets the requirements for independence under the current Nasdaq and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of
our audit committee is financially literate. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Stephen Deitsch is an “audit
committee financial expert” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act. This designation
does not impose on Mr. Deitsch any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than are generally imposed on members of our audit
committee and our board of directors. Our audit committee is directly responsible for, among other things:
·
selecting and hiring our independent registered public accounting firm;
·
the qualifications, independence and performance of our registered public accounting firm;
·
the preparation of the audit committee report to be included in our annual proxy statement;
·
our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements;
·
our accounting and financial reporting processes, including our financial statement audits and the integrity of our financial statements; and
·
reviewing and approving related-person transactions.
Compensation Committee
Our compensation committee
is comprised of Timothy J. Hanlon, Thomas Birch, and Stephen Deitsch, with Timothy J. Hanlon as the chairman of our compensation committee.
Each member of our compensation committee is a non-employee director, as defined by Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and
meets the requirements for independence under the current Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Our compensation committee
is responsible for, among other things:
·
evaluating, recommending, approving and reviewing executive officer compensation arrangements, plans, policies and programs;
·
evaluating and recommending non-employee director compensation arrangements for determination by our board of directors;
·
administering our cash-based and equity-based compensation plans; and
·
overseeing our compliance with regulatory requirements associated with the compensation of directors, officers and employees.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Our nominating and governance
committee is comprised of Thomas Birch, Stephen Deitsch, and Timothy J. Hanlon, with Thomas Birch as the chairman of our nominating and
governance committee. Each member of our nominating and governance committee meets the requirements for independence under the current
Nasdaq listing standards. Our nominating and governance committee is responsible for, among other things:
·
identifying, considering and recommending candidates for membership on our board of directors;
·
overseeing the process of evaluating the performance of our board of directors; and
·
advising our board of directors on other corporate governance matters.
45
Consideration of Director Nominees
Director Qualifications
There are no specific
minimum qualifications that the Board requires to be met by a director nominee recommended for a position on our board, nor are there
any specific qualities or skills that are necessary for one or more members of our board to possess, other than as are necessary to meet
the requirements of the rules and regulations applicable to us. The Nominating and Governance Committee considers a potential director
candidate’s experience, areas of expertise and other factors relative to the overall composition of our board and its committees,
including the following characteristics: experience, judgment, commitment (including having sufficient time to devote to the Company),
skills, diversity and expertise appropriate for the Company. In assessing potential directors, the Nominating and Governance Committee
may consider the current needs of the board and the Company to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience and capability in various areas.
Stockholder Nominations
In accordance with our
bylaws, a stockholder wishing to nominate a director for election at an annual meeting of stockholders must timely submit a written proposal
of nomination to us at our executive offices. To be timely, a written proposal of nomination for an annual meeting of stockholders must
be received at least 90 calendar days but no more than 120 calendar days before the first anniversary of the date on which we held our
annual meeting of stockholders in the immediately preceding year; provided , however , that in the event that the
date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed more than 30 calendar days from the anniversary of the annual meeting of stockholders
in the immediately preceding year, the written proposal must be received: (i) at least 90 calendar days but no more than 120 calendar
days prior to the date of the annual meeting; or (ii) no more than 10 days after the date we first publicly announce the date of the annual
meeting.
Each written proposal
for a nominee must contain: (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of such nominee, (2) the principal occupation or
employment of such nominee, (3) the class and number of shares of each class of capital stock of the Company which are owned of record
and beneficially by such nominee, (4) the date or dates on which such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition,
(5) a statement whether such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person’s failure to receive the required
vote for election or reelection at the next meeting at which such person would face election or re-election, an irrevocable resignation
effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the board, and (6) such other information concerning such nominee as would be required
to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if
an election contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 14 of the 1934 Act and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a
director if elected).
A stockholder interested
in submitting a nominee for election to the board should refer to our bylaws for additional requirements. Upon receipt of a written proposal
of nomination meeting these requirements, the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board will evaluate the nominee in accordance
with its charter and the characteristics listed above.
46
Evaluating Nominees for Director
Our Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee considers director candidates that are suggested by members of the committee, other members of our Board, members
of management, advisors and our stockholders who submit recommendations in accordance with the requirements set forth in our Bylaws, as
described above. Our Board has in the past engaged a third-party search firm to identify potential candidates for consideration by the
Nominating and Governance Committee and election to our Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may, in the future, retain
third-party search firms to identify Board candidates on terms and conditions acceptable to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
to assist in the process of identifying or evaluating director candidates. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee evaluates
all nominees for director using the same approach whether they are recommended by stockholders or other sources. The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee reviews candidates for director nominees in the context of the current composition of our Board and committees, the
operating requirements of the Company and the long-term interests of our stockholders. In conducting this assessment, the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee considers the director nominee’s qualifications, diversity, skills and such other factors as it deems
appropriate given the current needs of the Board, the committees and the Company, to maintain a balance of knowledge, experience, diversity
and capability. In the case of incumbent directors whose terms of office are set to expire, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
reviews such directors’ overall service to the Board, the committees and the Company during their term, including the number of
meetings attended, level of participation, quality of performance and any other relationships and transactions that might impair such
directors’ independence. In the case of new director candidates, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will also determine
whether the nominee must be independent for Nasdaq purposes, which determination will be based upon applicable Nasdaq listing standards
and applicable SEC rules and regulations. Although we do not have a formal diversity policy, when considering diversity in evaluating
director nominees, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee focuses on whether the nominees can contribute varied perspectives,
skills, experiences and expertise to the Board.
The Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will evaluate the proposed director’s candidacy, including proposed candidates recommended by stockholders,
and recommend whether the Board should nominate the proposed director candidate for election by our stockholders.
Stockholder Communications with the Board
Any stockholder or interested
party who desires to contact our board, or specific members of our board, may do so electronically by sending an email to our CFO at the
following address: jmahoney@auddia.com. Alternatively, a stockholder may contact our board, or specific members of our board, by writing
to: Auddia Inc., 1680 38 th Steet, Suite 130, Boulder, Colorado 80301, Attn: CFO. All such communications will be initially
received and processed by the office of our CFO. Communications concerning accounting, audit, internal accounting controls and other financial
matters will be referred to the Chair of the Audit Committee. Other matters will be referred to the board, the non-employee directors
or individual directors, as appropriate.
The board has instructed
the CFO to review all communications so received and to exercise his discretion not to forward to the board correspondence that is inappropriate
such as business solicitations, frivolous communications and advertising, routine business matters and personal grievances. However, any
director may at any time request the CFO to forward any and all communications received by the CFO but not forwarded to the directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider
Participation
None of the current members
of our compensation committee has at any time been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers has served as a member
of the board of directors, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers
who served on our board of directors or compensation committee during the year ended December 31, 2024.
47
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our board of directors
has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers and directors, including our Chief Executive
Officer and other executive and senior officers. The full text of our code of business conduct and ethics is posted on the investor relations
section of our website. The reference to our website address in this Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include or incorporate by reference
the information on our website into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We intend to disclose future amendments to certain provisions of
our code of business conduct and ethics, or waivers of these provisions, on our website or in public filings to the extent required by
the applicable rules.
Policy on Trading, Pledging and Hedging of
Company Stock
Certain transactions in our securities (such as
purchases and sales of publicly traded put and call options, and short sales) create a heightened compliance risk or could create the
appearance of misalignment between management and stockholders. In addition, securities held in a margin account or pledged as collateral
may be sold without consent if the owner fails to meet a margin call or defaults on the loan, thus creating the risk that a sale may occur
at a time when an officer or director is aware of material, non-public information or otherwise is not permitted to trade in Company securities.
Our insider trading policy expressly prohibits derivative transactions of our stock by our executive officers and directors.
Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plans
Our policy governing transactions in our securities
by directors, officers, and employees permits our officers, directors, and certain other persons to enter into trading plans complying
with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. Generally, under these trading plans, the individual relinquishes control over the transactions
once the trading plan is put into place and can only put such plans into place while the individual is not in possession of material non-public
information. Accordingly, sales under these plans may occur at any time, including possibly before, simultaneously with, or immediately
after significant events involving our company. During 2024, none of our directors or executive officers had a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan
in effect.
Compensation Clawback
Policy
The Company established
a policy regarding the recoupment of certain performance-based compensation payments (“Clawback Policy”), which became effective
as of December 1, 2023. This policy is included as Exhibit 97 to this Annual Report.
The Audit Committee of
the Company determined that no performance-based compensation (or the vesting of such compensation) within the prior three years was based
upon the achievement of financial results, as reported in a Form 10-Q, Form 10-K or other report filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), and therefore had no obligation, pursuant to the Company’s Clawback Policy, to recover erroneously
paid or awarded compensation.
Number of Meetings
The board held a total
of six meetings in 2024. In 2024, our Audit Committee held five meetings, our Compensation Committee held five meetings, and our Nominating
and Governance Committee held three meetings. Each director attended at least 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of
the board and the board committees on which he served.
48
Board Member Attendance at Annual Stockholder Meetings
Although we do not have
a formal policy regarding director attendance at annual stockholder meetings, directors are encouraged to attend these annual meetings
absent extenuating circumstances.
Non-Employee Director Compensation
Our non-employee directors
began serving on our board following our February 2021 IPO. Our Executive Chairman, Dr. Thramann, and our President and Chief Executive
Officer, Mr. Lawless, do not receive compensation for their services as a director.
Our board of directors
approved the following compensation for our non-employee directors in 2024. Our non-employee directors will receive annual cash compensation
of (i) $25,000 for service on the board (ii) $20,000 for service as the Audit Committee chair, (iii) $10,000 for Compensation Committee
chair, and (iv) $10,000 for Nominating and Governance Committee chair. All cash payments will be made quarterly in arrears, and pro-rated
for any partial quarters of service.
The following Director
Compensation Table summarizes the compensation of each of our non-employee directors for services rendered to us during the year ended
December 31, 2024:
Name
Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)
Stock Awards ($)(1)
Option Awards ($)
All Other Compensation ($)(1)
Total ($)
Stephen Deitsch
45,000
–
–
1,544
46,544
Timothy J. Hanlon
35,000
–
–
1,544
36,544
Thomas Birch
35,000
–
–
1,544
36,544
(1)
Relates to cash payment made to directors for tax liability on RSUs.
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
Executive Compensation Overview
As an “emerging
growth company,” we have opted to comply with the executive compensation disclosure rules applicable to “smaller reporting
companies,” as such term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act.
This section provides
an overview of the compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to each individual who served as our principal executive officer during
our fiscal year 2024, and our next two most highly compensated executive officers in respect of their service to our company for fiscal
year 2024. Our named executive officers, or the Named Executive Officers, for the year ended December 31, 2024, are:
·
Jeffrey Thramann, our Executive Chairman;
·
Michael Lawless, our Chief Executive Officer; and
·
John Mahoney, our Chief Financial Officer
49
Summary Compensation
Table Year Ended December 31, 2024
The following table contains
information about the compensation paid to or earned by each of our Named Executive Officers during the two most recently completed fiscal
years.
Name and
Principal Position
Year
Salary
($)(1)
Bonus
($)(2)
Stock
Awards
($)(3)
Option
Awards
($)(3)
All Other
Compensation
($)
Total
($)
Jeffrey Thramann
2024
317,100
-0-
-0-
211,000-
-0-
528,100
Executive Chairman
2023
300,000
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
300,000
Michael Lawless
2024
274,833
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
274,833
Chief Executive Officer
2023
260,000
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
260,000
John Mahoney
2024
275,000
-0-
-0-
-0-
-0-
275,000
Chief Financial Officer
2023
(4)
26,952
-0-
-0-
106,123
-0-
133,075
(1)
In 2024, the compensations committee approved salary increase for Dr. Thramann from $300,000 to $351,300 and Mr. Lawless from $260,000 to $304,500.
(2)
The “Bonus” column represents discretionary bonuses earned pursuant to our annual incentive bonus program. Each of Dr. Thramann, Mr. Lawless and Mr. Mahoney is each eligible to receive a bonus based on the achievement of certain business goals set by our Board on an annual basis. The maximum bonus opportunity for each of Messrs. Thramann, Lawless and Mahoney, expressed as a percentage of their base salary, is 50%. As of the filing date of this Form 10-K, the Company has not approved or paid any annual cash bonuses for the 2024 year.
(3)
Represents the grant date fair value of RSU and stock option awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of estimated forfeitures. For information regarding assumptions underlying the valuation of equity awards, see Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K.
(4)
Mr. Mahoney joined the Company in November 2023.
50
Outstanding Equity
Awards at December 31, 2024
The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity
awards held by our Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2024.
Option Awards (1)
Stock Awards (1)(2)
Name
Grant
Date
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Exercisable
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#)
Unexercisable
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
Option
Expiration
Date
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units That
Have Not
Vested
($)(4)(3)
Dr. Jeffrey Thramann
8/11/2021 (4)
–
–
–
–
–
–
2/16/2022 (5)
–
–
–
–
–
–
12/9/2022 (6)
–
–
–
–
–
–
12/31/2024 (7)
500,000
–
$0.51
12/31/2034
–
Michael Lawless
8/15/2019 (8)
3,221
–
106.50
8/15/2029
–
–
8/11/2021 (9)
6,000
–
69.75
8/11/2031
–
–
9/8/2022 (10)
11,320
–
30.25
9/8/2032
–
–
John Mahoney
12/12/2023 (11)
18,700
–
6.25
12/12/2033
–
–
_______________________
(1)
Each equity award is subject to the terms of our 2021 or 2013 Equity Incentive Plan.
(2)
All RSUs are settled, and shares delivered on the vesting date. Accordingly, there are no vested RSUs that remain outstanding.
(3)
Based on the closing price of a share of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market of $0.5099 on December 31, 2024.
(4)
Represents RSU awards that vest 50% on February 16, 2022, 25% on February 16, 2023, and 25% on February 16, 2024.
(5)
Represents RSU awards that vest 33% on February 16, 2023, 33% on February 16, 2024, and 34% on February 16, 2025.
(6)
Represents RSU awards that vest 100% on February 16, 2023.
(7)
2024 grant represents option awards that are fully vested upon grant.
(8)
2019 grant represents option awards that vest 50% on August 15, 2019, grant date. The remaining portion of the option vests equally over 48 months.
(9)
2021 grant represents option awards that vest 50% on August 12, 2022, 25% on February 16, 2023, and 25% on February 16, 2024.
(10)
2022 grant represents option awards that vest 50% on the September 8, 2022, grant date. The remaining portion of the option vests in two equal installments on February 16, 2023, and February 16, 2024.
(11)
2023 option awards represent two grants: The first grant of 11,000 options vest in four equal installments, 25% on November 27, 2024, 25% on November 27, 2025, 25% on November 2026 and 25% on November 27, 2027. The second grant of 7,700 options vest 50% on November 27 2025, 25% on November 27, 2026 and 25% on November 27, 2027
Employment Arrangement with Dr. Thramann
Commencing after our February 2021 IPO, Dr. Thramann
earns an annual salary of $300,000 for his service as our Executive Chairman. The compensation committee approved a salary increase for
Dr Thramann from $300,000 to $351,300, with an effective date of July 1, 2024.
51
Employment Agreement with Mr. Lawless
On October 13, 2021, we entered into an employment
agreement with Mr. Lawless, which supersedes and replaces a prior employment agreement dated February 6, 2012. The employment agreement
provides for an initial annual base salary of $260,000 as well as an entitlement to an annual incentive bonus, upon certain conditions,
in an amount determined by our board of directors. The target annual bonus for Mr. Lawless, expressed as a percentage of base salary,
is 50%.
The compensation committee approved a salary increase
for Mr. Lawless from $260,000 to $304,500, with an effective date of July 1, 2024.
If the Company terminates Mr. Lawless’s
employment without cause or Mr. Lawless terminates for good reason, he is entitled to receive nine months of base salary, (ii) up to nine
months of paid health insurance under COBRA, and (iii) any earned but unpaid bonus for a prior completed fiscal year. In addition, in
the event of a change of control and a subsequent termination of Mr. Lawless’ employment without cause, the Company will accelerate
the vesting of all of unvested stock options as of the later of the effective date of the change in control and the last day of service.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Mahoney
On December 18, 2023, we entered into an employment
agreement with Mr. Mahoney, effective November 27, 2023. The employment agreement provides for an initial annual base salary of $275,000
as well as an entitlement to an annual incentive bonus, upon certain conditions, in an amount determined by our board of directors. The
target annual bonus for Mr. Mahoney, expressed as a percentage of base salary, is 50%.
If the Company terminates Mr. Mahoney’s
employment without cause or Mr. Mahoney terminates for good reason, he is entitled to receive nine months of base salary, (ii) up to nine
months of paid health insurance under COBRA, and (iii) any earned but unpaid bonus for a prior completed fiscal year. In addition, in
the event of a change of control and a subsequent termination of Mr. Mahoney’s employment without cause, the Company will accelerate
the vesting of all of unvested stock options as of the later of the effective date of the change in control and the last day of service.
Employment Agreement with Mr. Shoebridge
On October 13, 2021, we entered into an employment
agreement with Mr. Shoebridge, which supersedes and replaces a prior employment agreement dated April 1, 2014. The employment agreement
provides for an initial annual base salary of $225,000 as well as an entitlement to an annual incentive bonus, upon certain conditions,
in an amount determined by our board of directors. The target annual bonus for Mr. Shoebridge, expressed as a percentage of base salary,
is 50%.
The compensation committee approved a salary increase
for Mr. Shoebridge from $225,000 to $263,500, with an effective date of July 1, 2024.
If the Company terminates Mr. Shoebridge’s
employment without cause or Mr. Shoebridge terminates for good reason, he is entitled to receive nine months of base salary, (ii) up to
nine months of paid health insurance under COBRA, and (iii) any earned but unpaid bonus for a prior completed fiscal year. In addition,
in the event of a change of control and a subsequent termination of Mr. Shoebridge’s employment without cause, the Company will
accelerate the vesting of all of unvested stock options as of the later of the effective date of the change in control and the last day
of service.
52
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The following table sets forth information regarding
the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of March 4, 2025, by (i) each person who beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding
shares of common stock, (ii) each director, (iii) each Named Executive Officer and (iv) all of our directors and executive officers as
a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each executive officer and director is c/o Auddia, 1680 38 th Street, Suite
130, Boulder, CO 80301.
The number of shares of common stock “beneficially
owned” by each stockholder is determined under rules issued by the SEC regarding the beneficial ownership of securities. This information
is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, beneficial ownership of shares of our
common stock includes (1) any shares as to which the person or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power, and (2) any
shares as to which the person or entity has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days after March 4, 2025.
The calculations set
forth below are based upon 8,594,308 shares of common stock outstanding at March 4, 2025.
Unless otherwise indicated
below, and subject to community property laws where applicable, to our knowledge, all persons named in the table have sole voting and
investment power with respect to their shares of common stock.
Name of Beneficial Owner
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned
Percentage of Shares Beneficially Owned
5% Stockholders:
Jeffrey Thramann (1)
617,908
7.2%
Executive Officers and Directors:
Michael Lawless (2)
21,282
0.2%
John E. Mahoney (3)
2,750
*
Peter Shoebridge (4)
11,458
1.0%
Stephen Deitsch (5)
2,563
*
Thomas Birch (5)
2,563
*
Timothy J. Hanlon (6)
1,282
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (7 persons)
659,806
7.7%
________________
*
(1)
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.
Dr. Thramann is also the director of the Company.
Includes (i) 79,148 shares of common stock, (ii) 38,760 shares of common stock underlying Series A warrants and (iii) 500,000 shares of
common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 4, 2025.
(2)
Includes (i) 741 shares of common stock, and (ii) 20,541 shares of common stock underlying stock options exercisable within 60 days of March 4, 2025.
(3)
Does not include 15,950 of unvested option granted under Mr. Mahoney’s employment agreement.
(4)
Includes vested options granted under our equity incentive plans.
(5)
Includes 2,563 shares of common stock.
(6)
Includes 1,282 shares of common stock.
53
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides certain information
as of December 31, 2024, with respect to all of our equity compensation plans in effect on that date:
Plan Category
Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights (a)
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights
Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a))
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Stockholders (1)
551,741
$
6.06
611,119
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Stockholders (2)
24,250
$
15.06
–
Total
575,991
$
6.44
611,119
_______________
(1)
Consists of stock options granted under the Clip Interactive, LLC 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and the Auddia Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended. We ceased granting awards under the 2013 Plan upon the implementation of the 2020 Plan described below.
(2)
Consists of stock options granted under Inducement stock option plans.
The Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
became effective upon the completion of the IPO in February 2021 and serves as the successor equity incentive plan to the 2013 Plan.
The Company’s 2020 Equity Incentive Plan,
which became effective upon the completion of the IPO in February 2021, serves as the successor equity incentive plan to the 2013 Plan.
The 2020 Plan currently has an aggregate of 1,488,107 shares of common stock authorized for issuance, after giving effect to the “evergreen”
increase of 338,071 shares as of January 1, 2025. There are an additional 3,851 shares that expired under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
that have been added as reserve shares, “Returning Shares” under the 2020 Equity Incentive Plan.
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions and Director Independence
The following is a description of transactions
or series of transactions since January 1, 2023 to which we were or will be a party, in which:
·
the amount involved in the transaction exceeds, or will exceed, $120,000; and
·
in which any of our executive officers, directors or holder of five percent or more of any class of our capital stock, including their immediate family members or affiliated entities, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.
Compensation arrangements
for our named executive officers, executive officers and our directors are described elsewhere in this Annual Report under “Director
Compensation” and “Executive Compensation.”
54
On April 17, 2023, we entered into an additional
Secured Bridge Note (“New Note”) financing with Mr. Minicozzi. We received $750,000 of gross proceeds from the New Note financing.
The New Note was issued with a principal amount of $825,000, 10% interest rate and a maturity date on July 31, 2023. The New Note is secured
by a lien on substantially all of our assets. At maturity of the New Note, Mr. Minicozzi, has the option to convert any original issue
discount and accrued but unpaid interest into shares of our common stock at a fixed conversion price of $52.50 per share.
In connection with the New Note financing, we
issued 26,000 common stock warrants to Mr. Minicozzi with a five-year term and a fixed $52.50 per share exercise price, from which 13,000
of these common stock warrants are exercisable immediately. The remaining 13,000 common stock warrants would only become exercisable if
the maturity date of the New Note is extended in accordance with the terms of the New Note. As of July 31, 2023, we extended the maturity
date of the New Note to November 30, 2023. Upon the July 31, 2023 extension, the interest rate on the New Note increased to 20% from 10%,
and the remaining portion of the 13,000 common stock warrants became exercisable.
Further, in connection with the New Note financing,
we agreed with Mr. Minicozzi to make certain amendments to the Prior Note financing. Specifically, we agreed with Mr. Minicozzi to cancel
the 12,000 common stock warrants issued as part of the prior financing and, in lieu of the cancelled warrants, we issued to Mr. Minicozzi
common stock warrants for 24,000 common shares with an exercise price of $52.50 per common share and a five-year term. From the newly
issued 24,000 common stock warrants, 12,000 common stock warrants were exercisable immediately, while the other 12,000 common stock warrants
became exercisable at the time of extension of the maturity date of the Prior Note during May of 2023.
On April 9, 2024, the Company and Mr. Minicozzi
entered into an Amendment and Waiver Agreement relating to the Bridge Notes.
The Company agreed to
pay $2.75 million in cash to Mr. Minicozzi in repayment of the principal of the Bridge Notes (exclusive of the $275,000 of original
issue discount on the Bridge Notes) shortly after the closing by the Company of one or more equity financings with total gross proceeds
to the Company of not less than $6,000,000.
On April 26, 2024, the
Company repaid $2.75 million of principal on its Secured Bridge Notes.
Effective April 9, 2024,
the Investor converted $911,384 (the “Rollover Amount”) which is equal to the (i) unpaid accrued interest on the Bridge
Notes plus (ii) the original issue discount (“OID”) on the Bridge Notes, into equity securities of the Company (the “Rollover
Securities”).
The Rollover Securities
consist of (i) 463,337 prefunded common stock warrants with a per share exercise price of $0.001 per share (the “Prefunded
Warrants”) and (ii) 463,337 non-prefunded warrants (the “Non-Prefunded Warrants”) with an initial per share exercise
price equal to $1.967. The per share price has been adjusted to $0.4930.
The number of Prefunded
Warrants was determined by dividing the Rollover Amount by $1.967. The number of Non-Prefunded Warrants is equal to the number of Prefunded
Warrants (i.e. 100% warrant coverage). The Non-Prefunded Warrants have a price adjustment provision which will adjust the exercise price
downward in the event that the Company issues equity securities in the future at an effective per share price below the then current exercise
price. In order to assure compliance with applicable Nasdaq rules, the Non-Prefunded Warrants shall not be exercisable for six months
following the date of issue.
The Company issued to
Mr. Minicozzi 50,000 new common stock warrants with a five-year term as a loan extension fee (“Fee Warrants”). The
exercise price of these additional Fee Warrants was initially $1.967. The Fee Warrants have a price adjustment provision which will adjust
the exercise price downward in the event that the Company issues equity securities in the future at an effective per share price below
the then current exercise price. The per share price has been adjusted to $0.4930. In order to assure compliance with applicable Nasdaq
rules, the Fee Warrants shall not be exercisable for six months following the date of issue.
55
The Non-Prefunded Warrants
and Fee Warrants had a total valuation of $811,402 and the Prefunded Warrants had a valuation of $732,370. As a result, the Company
recorded $911,384 as a non-cash charge in connection with the issuance of warrants related to the Secured Bridge Notes and a change
in the fair value of warrants of $632,388, which is included in other expense in the accompanying statements of operations. All Warrants
were classified as equity as they were indexed to the Company’s shares in accordance with ASC 815-40.
The Company agreed to
adjust the exercise price of Mr. Minicozzi’s Existing Warrants from $15.25 (after adjustment for the recent reverse stock)
to $1.967 per share, and further to $0.4930.
Mr. Minicozzi will not
be able to receive shares upon exercise of any of the foregoing securities, unless prior stockholder approval is obtained, if (i) the
number of shares to be issued would exceed 20% of the Company’s outstanding number of shares at a discount to the applicable Nasdaq
Minimum Price or (ii) the number of shares to be issued would result in in a Change of Control within the meaning of Nasdaq Rule 5635(b).
Item 14.
Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The firm of Haynie & Company, independent
registered public accounting firm, has been selected by the audit committee as auditors for Auddia Inc. (“Auddia”) for the
fiscal years ending December 31, 2024 and 2023.
The audit committee is solely responsible for
selecting Auddia’s independent registered public accounting firm and has appointed Haynie & Company as auditors for Auddia for
the fiscal years ending December 31, 2024 and 2023. Stockholder approval is not required to appoint Haynie & Company as Auddia’s
independent registered public accounting firm.
Independent Registered Public Accounting
Firm Fees
The following is a summary
and description of fees incurred by Haynie & Company for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
2024
2023
Audit fees (1)
$ 91,000
$ 72,000
Tax fees
–
–
All other fees (2)
139,793
83,000
Total fees
$ 230,793
$ 155,000
(1)
Audit fees consist of fees for the audits of our 2024 and 2023 annual financial statements and the review of our 2024 and 2023 interim financial statements.
(2)
All other fees are comprised of expenses related to work performed on potential
acquisition targets and equity-related financing filings.
Prior to the selection of Haynie as the Company’s
independent auditor in 2023, Dazkal Bolton LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, served as the Company’s independent
auditor. Audit fees, which consisted of the Q1 and Q2 2023 review of our interim financial statements, totaled $58,000.
Audit Committee Pre-approval Policy and
Procedures
Our audit committee has
adopted policies and procedures relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our independent
registered public accounting firm. This policy provides that we will not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render
audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by our audit committee or the engagement is entered
into pursuant to the pre-approval procedure described below.
From time to time, our
audit committee may pre-approve specified types of services that are expected to be provided to us by our independent registered public
accounting firm during the next 12 months. Any such pre-approval details the particular service or type of services to be provided and
is also generally subject to a maximum dollar amount.
56
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) 1. Financial Statements
For a list of the financial
statements included herein, see Index to the Financial Statements on page 38 of this Annual Report, incorporated into this Item by reference.
2. Financial
Statement Schedules
Financial statement schedules
have been omitted because they are either not required or not applicable or the information is included in the financial statements or
the notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
The exhibits required
by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and Item 15(b) of this Annual Report are listed in the Exhibit Index below. The exhibits listed
in the Exhibit Index are incorporated by reference herein.
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
Incorporated by reference from
Form
Filing
Date
Exhibit
Number
Filed
Herewith
1.1
At-The-Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated September 13, 2024, by and between Auddia Inc. and Ascendiant Capital Markets, LLC.
8-K
09-13-2024
1.1
2.2
Form of Plan of Conversion
8-K
02-22-2021
2.1
3.1
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
8-K
02-22-2021
3.1
3.2
Certificate of Designation of Series A Preferred Stock filed November 13, 2023
8-K
11-16-2023
3.1
3.3
Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated February 23, 2024
8-K
02-27-2024
3.1
3.4
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Certificate of Designations dated April 23, 2024
8-K
04-29-2024
3.1
3.5
Bylaws of the Company
8-K
02-22-2021
3.2
3.6
Amendment to Bylaws dated September 6, 2024
8-K
9-12-2024
3.1
3.7
Form of Warrant after Conversion from an LLC to a Corporation
S-1/A
01-28-2020
3.5
3.8
Form of IPO Series A Warrant
S-1/A
02-05-2021
3.6
4.1
Form of Common Stock Certificate
S-1/A
10-08-2020
4.1
4.2
Form of IPO Representative’s Common Stock Purchase Warrant
8-K
02-22-2021
4.1
4.3
Description of Securities
10-K
03-31-2021
4.3
10.1
#
Form of Auddia Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
S-1/A
10-22-2020
10.3
10.2
**
Agreement with Major United States Broadcast Company
S-1/A
01-28-2020
10.8
10.3
Form of IPO Series A Warrant Agent Agreement
S-1/A
02-05-2021
10.10
10.4
#
First Amendment to 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
S-8
08-10-2021
99.2
10.5
#
Second Amendment to 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
X
10.6
#
Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
S-8
08-10-2021
99.3
10.7
#
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
S-8
08-10-2021
99.4
10.8
#
Form of Inducement Stock Option Grant Notice and Inducement Stock Option Agreement
S-8
08-10-2021
99.5
10.9
#
Clip Interactive, LLC 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
S-8
08-10-2021
99.6
10.10
#
Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
S-8
08-10-2021
99.7
10.11
#
Executive Officer Employment Agreement for Michael Lawless dated October 13, 2021
8-K
10-15-2021
10.1
10.12
#
Executive Officer Employment Agreement for Peter Shoebridge dated October 13, 2021
8-K
10-15-2021
10.2
57
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
Incorporated by reference from
Form
Filing
Date
Exhibit
Number
Filed
Herewith
10.13
Secured Promissory Bridge Note dated November 14, 2022
8-K
11-14-2022
10.1
10.14
Common Stock Warrant dated November 14, 2022
8-K
11-14-2022
10.2
10.15
Security Agreement dated November 14, 2022
8-K
11-14-2022
10.3
10.16
Secured Promissory Bridge Note dated November 14, 2022
8-K
11-14-2022
10.1
10.17
Common Stock Warrant dated November 14, 2022
8-K
11-14-2022
10.2
10.18
Security Agreement dated November 14, 2022
8-K
11-14-2022
10.3
10.19
Secured Promissory Bridge Note dated April 17, 2023
8-K
04-21-2023
10.1
10.20
Common Stock Warrant for 600,000 shares dated April 17, 2023
8-K
04-21-2023
10.2
10.21
Common Stock Warrant for 650,000 shares dated April 17, 2023
8-K
04-21-2023
10.3
10.22
Form of 2023 Placement Agency Agreement
8-K
06-14-23
1.1
10.22
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated June 13, 2023 between Auddia Inc. and the Investors named therein
8-K
06-14-23
10.1
10.23
#
Employment Agreement, effective as of November 27, 2023, between Auddia Inc. and John E. Mahoney
8-K
12-18-2023
10.1
10.24
Series A Preferred Securities Purchase Agreement dated November 11, 2023 between Auddia Inc. and Jeffrey Thramann
8-K
11-16-2023
10.1
10.25
Amendment and Waiver dated April 9, 2024 Relating to Senior Secured Bridge Notes
8-K
04-15-2024
10.1
10.26
Form of Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 23, 2024
10-Q
05-14-2024
10.41
10.27
Form of Common Stock Warrant dated April 23, 2024
8-K
04-29-2024
10.2
10.28
Form of Registration Rights Agreement dated April 23, 2024
8-K
04-29-2024
10.3
10.29
Common Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 25, 2024, by and between White Lion Capital, LLC and Auddia Inc.
8-K
11-25-24
10.1
10.30
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of November 25, 2024, by and between White Lion Capital, LLC and Auddia Inc.
8-K
11-25-24
10.2
58
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
Incorporated by reference from
Form
Filing
Date
Exhibit
Number
Filed
Herewith
19.1
Insider Trading Policy
X
23.1
Consent of Haynie and Company, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
X
24.1
Power of Attorney (Included on Signature Page)
31.1
Section 302 Certification by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer
X
31.2
Section 302 Certification by the Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer
X
32.1
Section 906 Certification by the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer
X
32.2
Section 906 Certification by the Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer
X
97.1
Auddia Clawback Policy
10-K
04-01-2024
97.1
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in IXBRL, and included in exhibit 101).
___________________________
#
Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.
**
Certain information contained in this Exhibit has been redacted and appears as “XXXXX” as the disclosure of same would be a disadvantage to the Registrant in the marketplace
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
The Company has elected not to include summary information.
59
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements
of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
AUDDIA INC.
By:
/s/ Michael Lawless
Michael Lawless
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
By:
/s/ John Mahoney
John Mahoney
Chief Financial Officer
Date: March 5, 2025
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE
PRESENTS, that each person whose individual signature appears below hereby authorizes and appoints each of Michael Lawless and John Mahoney,
with full power of substitution and re-substitution and full power to act without the other, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent to act in his or her name, place and stead and to execute in the name and on behalf of each person, individually and in each
capacity stated below, and to file any and all amendments to this annual report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents,
and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant
and in the capacities indicated on the 5th day of March 2025.
/s/ Jeffery Thamann, M.D.
Executive Chairman and Director
Jeffrey Thramann, M.D.
/s/ Michael Lawless
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Michael Lawless
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ John Mahoney
Chief Financial Officer
John Mahoney
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Stephen Deitsch
Director
Stephen Deitsch
/s/ Timothy Hanlon
Director
Timothy Hanlon
/s/ Thomas Birch
Director
Thomas Birch
60