Alpha Teknova insider grant: 393,663 options awarded to CEO

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Alpha Teknova, Inc. (TKNO) filed a Form 4 on 06/25/2025 reporting an equity award to its President & CEO and Director, Stephen Gunstream.

• On 02/14/2025 Gunstream received a non-qualified stock option covering 393,663 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $8.28 per share. The award was coded “A,” indicating an acquisition by grant, and carries an exercise period that expires on 02/14/2035.

• The option vests in 48 equal monthly instalments beginning on the grant date, providing full vesting after four years. No price was paid for the option itself (reported as $0.00), consistent with standard incentive-based grants.

• After the transaction Gunstream directly holds 393,663 derivative securities and reported no indirect holdings. The filing shows no acquisition or disposition of non-derivative (actual share) securities.

This routine incentive grant strengthens management–shareholder alignment through performance-linked compensation, while also adding a potential share overhang equivalent to the optioned amount once exercised.

Positive

• Long-term alignment: 48-month vesting incentivises CEO to focus on sustained value creation.
• No insider selling: Filing shows only an option grant, avoiding negative sentiment often linked to sales.

Negative

• Potential dilution: 393,663 new options could expand share count upon exercise.
• Lack of performance conditions: Grant is time-based; no performance hurdles are disclosed in the filing.

Insights

Corporate Governance Expert

TL;DR: Routine CEO option grant; aligns incentives, limited standalone market impact.

The Form 4 discloses a standard long-term incentive award: 393,663 options at $8.28, vesting monthly over four years. Such structures are common for retaining executives and linking pay to stock performance. With no immediate share sale and a four-year vesting schedule, the filing signals continuity in leadership. The grant does, however, introduce prospective dilution if exercised, but the form lacks data on total shares outstanding, making proportional analysis impossible. Overall, the disclosure is governance-neutral and does not indicate operational or financial shifts.

Portfolio Manager

TL;DR: Neutral event; incentive grant unlikely to move TKNO valuation short-term.

From a portfolio perspective, insider option grants—as opposed to purchases or sales—rarely drive price action. The 393,663-share award vests gradually, delaying any actual share issuance and cash inflow to the company until exercise. The $8.28 strike sets a performance hurdle that must be met for value creation. Because no share disposals occurred, the filing neither signals insider pessimism nor alters near-term supply-demand dynamics. Absent additional context on total shares outstanding or contemporaneous corporate events, I view the impact as neutral.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Gunstream Stephen

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O ALPHA TEKNOVA, INC.

2451 BERT DRIVE

(Street)

HOLLISTER CA 95023

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Alpha Teknova, Inc. [ TKNO ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

X	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	President and CEO

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
02/14/2025

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)	$8.28	02/14/2025		A		393,663		(1)	02/14/2035	Common Stock	393,663	$0.0	393,663	D

Explanation of Responses:

1. The number of shares subject to the option shall vest in 48 equal monthly installments on the same day of each month after February 14, 2025, the date of grant.

	By: Damon A. Terrill For: Stephen Gunstream	06/25/2025
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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FAQ

How many stock options were granted to TKNO CEO Stephen Gunstream?

The Form 4 reports a grant of 393,663 non-qualified stock options.

What is the exercise price of the new Alpha Teknova options?

Each option carries an exercise price of $8.28 per share.

When do the newly granted TKNO options vest?

They vest in 48 equal monthly instalments starting on 02/14/2025.

Did Stephen Gunstream sell or buy Alpha Teknova shares in this filing?

No shares were sold or purchased; the filing only records an option grant coded as acquisition (A).

What is the expiration date of the granted options?

The options expire on 02/14/2035.