Veritone (VERI) to host virtual July 7, 2026 Annual Meeting; key votes listed
Veritone, Inc. is soliciting proxies for its 2026 virtual Annual Meeting to be held on July 7, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The record date for voting is May 19, 2026. The meeting is online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/VERI2026.
The Proxy Statement asks shareholders to vote on six proposals, including the election of directors, ratification of the independent auditor, an advisory vote on executive compensation, an amendment to increase authorized common shares, an amendment and restatement of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan, and approval of the CEO Strategic Awards. Key executive compensation disclosures include $665,000 annual base salary for the CEO, a disclosed $40.7 million non-GAAP net loss for 2025 that triggered a $1.1 million minimum bonus pool, and the forfeiture in March 2026 of certain 2025 performance-based RSUs for the CEO and CFO.
Positive
- None.
Negative
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Insights
Virtual-only meeting, staggered board and several governance-focused proposals.
The company will hold a virtual Annual Meeting on July 7, 2026 with a record date of May 19, 2026. The agenda includes director elections, an increase in authorized common shares, and committee-structured governance oversight described in the Proxy Statement.
Board composition is staggered into three classes with six directors; the Proxy discloses independence determinations and committee assignments. Subsequent filings will convey final vote results on Form 8-K within four business days after the meeting.
Compensation disclosures show pay-for-performance structure and forfeited 2025 performance RSUs.
The Compensation Committee ties pay to GAAP revenue, non‑GAAP net loss and strategic objectives; target/maximum bonus parameters were set for 2025 and the company reported $40.7 million non-GAAP net loss, which resulted in a $1.1 million minimum bonus pool and allocated bonuses of $166,250 (CEO) and $64,200 (CFO).
The Proxy discloses 2025 equity grants: the CEO received time-based RSUs of 240,000 shares and performance RSUs of 120,000 (forfeited in March 2026); the CFO received time-based RSUs of 82,500 and performance RSUs of 41,250 (forfeited in March 2026). These details anchor the pay‑for‑performance narrative.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) financial
Relative TSR Metric financial
Broker non-votes regulatory
Non-GAAP net loss financial
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☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material Under §240.14a-12 |
☒ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials |
☐ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
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Very truly yours, | |||
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Ryan Steelberg | |||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||
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1. | To elect two directors named in the accompanying proxy statement to serve as Class III directors to serve until the Company’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal; |
2. | To ratify the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; |
3. | To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; |
4. | To approve an amendment to our fourth amended and restated certificate of incorporation (our “Certificate of Incorporation”) to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 150,000,000 to 225,000,000; |
5. | To approve a second amendment and restatement of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”); |
6. | To approve the CEO Strategic Awards; and |
7. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
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By order of the Board of Directors | |||
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Ryan Steelberg | |||
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | |||
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 1 | ||
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS | 3 | ||
VOTING INFORMATION | 3 | ||
PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 10 | ||
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 10 | ||
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 14 | ||
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY | 21 | ||
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 22 | ||
PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CHANGE IN CONTROL | 25 | ||
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE | 28 | ||
OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT 2025 FISCAL YEAR END | 29 | ||
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE | 30 | ||
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION | 32 | ||
OTHER POLICIES | 34 | ||
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS | 36 | ||
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION AT 2025 FISCAL YEAR END | 38 | ||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 39 | ||
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS | 40 | ||
PROPOSAL TWO RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 41 | ||
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE | 44 | ||
PROPOSAL THREE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS | 45 | ||
PROPOSAL FOUR APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK | 46 | ||
PROPOSAL FIVE APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF THE 2023 PLAN | 48 | ||
PROPOSAL SIX APPROVAL OF CEO STRATEGIC AWARDS | 57 | ||
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS FOR OUR 2027 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS | 61 | ||
OTHER MATTERS | 62 | ||
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES | 62 | ||
APPENDIX A: AMENDED AND RESTATED 2023 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN | A-1 | ||
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• | our ability to continue as a going concern, including our ability to repay our 1.75% convertible senior notes due in November 2026 (the “Convertible Notes”) prior to their scheduled maturity; |
• | our ability to expand our aiWARE SaaS business; |
• | declines or limited growth in the market for AI-based software applications and concerns over the use of AI that may hinder the adoption of AI technologies; |
• | our requirements for additional capital and liquidity to support our operations, our business growth, and repay or refinance our Convertible Notes prior to their scheduled maturity and the availability of such capital on acceptable terms, if at all; |
• | our reliance upon a limited number of key customers for a significant portion of our revenue, and the corresponding risk of declines in key customers’ usage of our products and other offerings; |
• | our identification of existing material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and plans for remediation; |
• | fluctuations in our results over time; |
• | the impact of seasonality on our business; |
• | our ability to manage our growth, including through acquisitions and expansion into international markets; |
• | our ability to enhance our existing products and introduce new products that achieve market acceptance and keep pace with technological developments; |
• | our expectations with respect to the future performance of our products, such as Intelligent Digital Evidence Management System and Veritone Data Refinery, including as drivers of future growth; |
• | actions by our competitors, partners and others that may block us from using third party technologies in our aiWARE platform, offering it for free to the public or making it cost prohibitive to continue to incorporate such technologies into our platform; |
• | interruptions or performance problems with our technology and infrastructure, or that of third parties with whom we work; |
• | the impact of the continuing economic disruption caused by macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, including lingering economic disruption caused by international conflicts, financial instability, inflation and the responses by central banking authorities to control inflation, monetary supply shifts, high interest rates, the imposition of tariffs, trade tensions, and global trade disputes, and the threat of recession in the United States and around the world on our business and our existing and potential customers; and |
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• | any additional factors discussed in more detail in Part I, Item 1, Business, Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors, and Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (the “2025 Annual Report”). |
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1. | To elect two nominees named in the accompanying Proxy Statement to serve as Class III directors to serve until the Company’s 2029 annual meeting of stockholders and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal; |
2. | To ratify the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026; |
3. | To approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers; |
4. | To approve an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 150,000,000 to 225,000,000; |
5. | To approve a second amendment and restatement of the Plan; |
6. | To approve the CEO Strategic Awards; and |
7. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof. |
• | “FOR” each of the two Class III director nominees named in this Proxy Statement; |
• | “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of CBIZ CPAs P.C.; |
• | “FOR” the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers; |
• | “FOR” the approval of the amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock; |
• | “FOR” the approval of a second amendment and restatement of the 2023 Plan; and |
• | “FOR” the approval of the CEO Strategic Awards. |
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• | Submitting a Proxy for Shares Registered Directly in the Name of the Stockholder. If you hold your shares of our Common Stock as a record holder and you are reviewing a printed copy of this Proxy Statement, you may vote by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid envelope, or by submitting a proxy over the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on the proxy card. If you hold your shares of Common Stock as a record holder and you are viewing this Proxy Statement on the Internet, you may vote by submitting a proxy over the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on the Notice of Internet Availability previously mailed to you. If you submit a proxy by Internet or telephone, you need not return a written proxy card by mail. |
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• | Submitting Voting Instructions for Shares Registered in Street Name. If you hold your shares of our Common Stock in street name, which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you will receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares. Your broker, bank or other nominee will allow you to deliver your voting instructions over the Internet and may also permit you to provide your voting instructions by telephone. |
Proposal | Vote Required | ||
Proposal 1: Election of Directors | The nominee receiving a plurality of the votes cast with respect to his or her election will be elected (that is, the two nominees receiving the largest number of “For” votes will be elected). | ||
Proposal 2: Ratification of the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. | ||
Proposal 3: Approval, on an Advisory Basis, of the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers | The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. | ||
Proposal 4: Approval of an Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock | The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. | ||
Proposal 5: Approval of a Second Amendment and Restatement of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan | The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. | ||
Proposal 6: Approval of the CEO Strategic Awards | The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the matter. | ||
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Proposal Number | Proposal Description | Voting Options | Effect of Abstentions | Effect of Broker Non-Votes | ||||||||
1 | Election of Directors | “For All,” “Withhold All,” or “For All Except” with respect to each of the two director nominees | Not applicable | No effect | ||||||||
2 | Ratification of the Appointment of our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | “For,” “Against,” or “Abstain” | No effect | Not applicable | ||||||||
3 | Approval, on an Advisory Basis, of the Compensation of our Named Executive Officers | “For,” “Against,” or “Abstain” | No effect | No effect | ||||||||
4 | Approval of an Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to Increase the Number of Authorized Shares of Common Stock | “For,” “Against,” or “Abstain” | No effect | Not applicable | ||||||||
5 | Approval of a Second Amendment and Restatement of the 2023 Equity Incentive Plan | “For,” “Against,” or “Abstain” | No effect | No effect | ||||||||
6 | Approval of the CEO Strategic Awards | “For,” “Against,” or “Abstain” | No effect | No effect | ||||||||
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• | delivering a later dated proxy card or by submitting another proxy by telephone or the Internet (your latest telephone or Internet voting instructions will be followed); |
• | delivering to the Secretary of Veritone at our principal executive offices a written notice of revocation prior to the voting of the proxy at the Annual Meeting; or |
• | by attending the Annual Meeting and voting online. Virtual attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. |
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• | the Class III directors are Mr. Francisco Morales and Mr. Ryan Steelberg, and their terms will expire at the Annual Meeting. |
• | the Class I directors are Mr. Richard H. Taketa and Mr. Michael Keithley, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2027. |
• | the Class II directors are Mr. Knute P. Kurtz and Mr. Michael Zilis, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2028. |
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Name | Principal Occupation | Age | Director Since | ||||||
Mr. Ryan Steelberg | President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Veritone, Inc. | 52 | 2014 | ||||||
Mr. Francisco Morales | Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, 5.11 Tactical | 52 | 2025 | ||||||
Name | Principal Occupation | Age | Class | Term Expires | Director Since | ||||||||||
Michael Keithley | Former Chief Information Officer, United Talent Agency | 63 | I | 2027 | 2024 | ||||||||||
Richard H. Taketa | President, Taketa Capital Corporation | 54 | I | 2027 | 2019 | ||||||||||
Knute P. Kurtz | Independent Investor | 70 | II | 2028 | 2017 | ||||||||||
Michael Zilis | Chief Financial Officer, Ingram Micro | 56 | II | 2028 | 2023 | ||||||||||
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• | at its regularly scheduled meetings, the Board receives management updates on our business operations, financial results, committee activities, and strategy and discusses risks related to the business; |
• | the Audit Committee assists the Board in its oversight of risk management by discussing with management our policies regarding financial risk management, including major risk exposures, and the steps management has taken to monitor and mitigate such exposures; |
• | the Compensation Committee assists the Board by evaluating potential risks related to our compensation programs; and |
• | through management updates and committee reports, the Board monitors our risk management activities, including the enterprise risk management process and cybersecurity risks, risks relating to our compensation programs, risks related to environmental, social and governance practices, and financial, legal and operational risks. |
• | Overall oversight concerning the assessment and management of risk related to our business |
• | Decision-making for fundamental financial and business strategies and major corporate activities, including material acquisitions and financings |
• | Oversight of management and Board committees |
• | Oversight of information technology and cybersecurity risk policies |
• | Receives regular reports from Board committees on specific risk oversight responsibilities |
• | Receives regular reports from management regarding business operations and strategic planning, financing planning, cybersecurity risks, as well as the processes we have implemented to address them, and budgeting and regulatory matters |
Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee | ||||
• Oversight of accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of financial statements • Oversight of financial risk management policies and controls • Oversight of quality and integrity of the accounting, auditing, internal control and financial reporting practices • Responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of independent registered public accounting firm • Oversight of the internal audit function | • Oversight of compensation plans, policies and programs and overall philosophy including confirming that incentive pay arrangements do not encourage unnecessary risk taking | • Identifies, evaluates and provides recommendations regarding Board and Committee composition • Oversight of evaluation of the Board and Committees • Advises Board on corporate governance matters and Board performance matters • Oversight of our governance frameworks and risk management for the ethical, transparent and responsible use of AI and other emerging technologies • Oversight of our data privacy and cybersecurity governance | ||||
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• | Identify material risks faced by the Company |
• | Implement appropriate risk management strategies |
• | Integrate risk management into our decision-making process |
• | Ensure that information with respect to material risks is transmitted to the Board or the appropriate Board committee |
• | Strategic | • | Financial reporting and internal control | |||||||||
• | Reputational | • | Information systems, data privacy and cybersecurity | |||||||||
• | Financial | • | Human capital management | |||||||||
• | Operational | • | ESG/sustainability | |||||||||
• | Legal, regulatory and compliance | |||||||||||
• | Maintaining a “remote first” organization, reducing our carbon footprint by limiting employee commuting. |
• | For office locations we maintain in Irvine, CA; London, England; Paris, France; Sydney, Australia; Uttar Pradesh, India; and Herzliya, Israel, selecting sites with high energy efficiency ratings where possible. |
• | Hosting our production environments at AWS (Amazon), Azure (Microsoft) and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (Oracle), which provide environmental protections at scale. |
• | Implementing policies to reduce non-essential employee travel. |
• | Promoting responsible recycling of e-waste and paper. |
• | We provide a comprehensive benefits package for our employees, including medical benefits and wellness programs. |
• | We offer competitive compensation for our employees around the world, and eligible U.S. and non-U.S. employees may participate in our long-term stock-based incentive plan. |
• | We maintain a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which outlines business and ethical expectations for our employees. |
• | We support and fund training and education programs for employees, including required training on anti-harassment, cybersecurity and workplace safety. |
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• | All of our directors are independent, except Ryan Steelberg, our President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our Board. |
• | All of our standing Board committees are comprised entirely of independent directors. |
• | We conduct annual Board and committee evaluations. |
• | All of our Audit Committee members are financial experts. |
• | Our Board and committees remain focused on their critical risk oversight role, in particular, by monitoring threats and taking preventative actions to ensure business continuity, protection of intellectual property and the safeguarding of business and customer data. |
• | Our Board actively oversees the Company’s governance practices. |
• | We maintain stock ownership guidelines for our directors and executive officers. |
• | We prohibit short sales and transactions in derivatives of our stock and prohibit hedging of our stock by our directors, executive officers and other employees without pre-clearance. |
• | We prohibit the pledging of Company stock by directors, executive officers and other employees, unless the person wishes to pledge our securities as collateral for a loan (not including margin debt) and can clearly demonstrate the financial capacity to repay the loan without resort to the pledged securities. |
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Name | Audit Committee | Compensation Committee | Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee | ||||||
Knute P. Kurtz | Chairperson | X | |||||||
Michael Keithley | X | Chairperson | |||||||
Francisco Morales | X | ||||||||
Richard H. Taketa | X | Chairperson | |||||||
Michael Zilis | X | X | |||||||
• | review and evaluate our annual and quarterly financial statements and reports, and discuss these statements and reports with our independent registered public accounting firm and management; |
• | assess the independence and qualifications of, appoint and, where appropriate, replace our independent registered public accounting firm; |
• | evaluate the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm; |
• | review the proposed scope and results of the audit, and serve as the primary point of contact with our independent registered public accounting firm through the audit process with respect to key audit matters; |
• | review and pre-approve audit and non-audit fees and services; |
• | review accounting and financial controls with our independent registered public accounting firm and our financial and accounting staff, and oversee the process of addressing any issues that arise with respect to the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of these controls; |
• | review and approve transactions between us and our directors, officers and affiliates; |
• | recognize and prevent prohibited non-audit services; |
• | establish procedures for complaints received by us regarding accounting matters; |
• | oversee internal audit functions; and |
• | review and evaluate our primary risk exposures. |
• | review and determine the compensation arrangements for our executive officers; |
• | establish and review general compensation policies with the objective to attract and retain superior talent, to reward individual performance and to achieve our financial goals; |
• | administer our equity incentive plans and other incentive compensation plans; |
• | evaluate the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and participate in the evaluation of other executive management; |
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• | evaluate and make recommendations to our Board regarding the compensation of our Board and its committees; |
• | evaluate whether the Company’s compensation plans, programs or practices would encourage unnecessary or excessive risk-taking; and |
• | review the independence of any compensation advisers engaged by our Compensation Committee. |
• | identify, evaluate and make recommendations to our Board regarding prospective director nominees; |
• | oversee the evaluation of our Board and its committees; |
• | review developments in corporate governance practices; |
• | evaluate the adequacy of our corporate governance practices and reporting; |
• | develop, periodically review and make recommendations to our Board regarding corporate governance guidelines and matters; |
• | oversee our governance frameworks and risk management for the ethical, transparent and responsible use of AI and other emerging technologies; and |
• | oversee our data privacy and cybersecurity governance. |
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Name | Age | Title | ||||
Ryan Steelberg(1) | 52 | President and Chief Executive Officer; Chairman of the Board | ||||
Michael L. Zemetra | 55 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||
(1) | The biography of Ryan Steelberg is presented under the heading “Board of Directors—Director Nominees.” Mr. Zemetra’s biography is set forth below. |
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Name and Principal Position | Year | Salary ($) | Bonus ($) | Stock Awards(1) ($) | Non-equity Incentive Plan Compen- sation ($) | All Other Compen- sation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||||||
Ryan Steelberg President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | 2025 | 665,000 | 166,250(2) | 1,675,200 | — | — | 2,506,450 | ||||||||||||||
2024 | 525,000(3) | 79,500 (4) | 3,116,122 | — | 84,043(5) | 3,804,665 | |||||||||||||||
Michael L. Zemetra Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 2025 | 428,000 | 64,200(2) | 575,850 | — | 35,587(6) | 1,103,837 | ||||||||||||||
2024 | 400,000 | 79,500(4) | 912,300 | — | 31,578(6) | 1,423,378 | |||||||||||||||
(1) | Reflects the grant date fair values of RSUs awarded to the named executive officers, which were computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. See additional information regarding the RSUs awarded to our named executive officers in 2025 under the heading “2025 Equity Awards” above. |
(2) | Reflects discretionary bonuses allocated to Mr. Steelberg and Mr. Zemetra under the 2025 Bonus Program, as described in more detail above under the heading “Cash Incentives—2025 Annual Bonus.” These bonuses were paid on April 15, 2026. |
(3) | In 2024, Mr. Steelberg was entitled to receive a base salary of $525,000 under his employment agreement with us. Mr. Steelberg voluntarily reduced his annual base salary from $525,000 to $1 in May 2023, which remained in effect through December 31, 2024. On April 8, 2024, the Compensation Committee granted to Mr. Steelberg under the 2023 Plan an award of RSUs representing the right to receive 122,399 shares of our common stock upon vesting. This award was intended as a replacement for 2024 salary foregone by Mr. Steelberg due to the fact that Mr. Steelberg continued to receive a reduced annual base salary of $1 during 2024. The 2024 salary replacement award had a grant date fair value of $853,121 as computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. In granting the 2024 salary replacement award, our Compensation Committee used a 90-day VWAP of our stock price to determine the number of RSUs to replace Mr. Steelberg’s foregone 2024 salary. The value of the 2024 salary replacement award reflected in this table is computed in accordance with FASB Topic ASC 718, which resulted in a higher value of the replacement award than the 90-day VWAP of our stock price used by our Compensation Committee. In accordance with SEC disclosure rules, the portion of the grant date fair value of the 2024 salary replacement award that replaced Mr. Steelberg’s foregone 2024 annual base salary of $524,999 is reflected in the “Salary” column for 2024 in the Summary Compensation Table. The portion of the grant date fair value of the 2024 salary replacement award that exceeded the amount of Mr. Steelberg’s foregone base salary for 2024 was $328,122 and is reported in the “Stock Awards” column of the Summary Compensation Table. For a discussion of Mr. Steelberg’s base salary in effect as of January 1, 2025, please refer to the sections above titled, “2023 Employment Agreements—Ryan Steelberg” and “Compensation Components—Base Salaries.” |
(4) | Reflects a one-time deal bonus for the successful completion of the Veritone One divestiture in 2024. |
(5) | Consists of reimbursement of costs of Mr. Steelberg’s separate healthcare plan totaling $14,043 and payment for the use of Mr. Steelberg’s personal rental property for Company purposes totaling $70,000. |
(6) | Consists of Company contributions made to Mr. Zemetra’s 401(k) account totaling $3,000 and $3,000 and contributions made towards Mr. Zemetra’s health insurance premiums totaling $32,587 and $28,578 during 2025 and 2024, respectively. |
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Option Award | Stock Award | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options (#) | Option Exercise Price ($) | Option Expiration Date | Number of Shares Or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#) | Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(1) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested (#) | Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Name | Grant Date | Exercisable | Unexercisable | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ryan Steelberg | 2/10/25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 120,000(2) | 558,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/10/25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 120,000(3) | 558,000 | |||||||||||||||||||
2/10/25 | — | — | — | — | 240,000(4) | 1,116,000 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
4/8/24 | — | — | — | — | 133,333(5) | 619,998 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
1/19/23 | — | — | — | — | 52,675(6) | 244,939 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
5/11/17 | 522,409 | — | 15.00 | 05/11/27 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
5/11/17 | 1,044,819 | — | 15.00 | 05/11/27 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
3/15/18 | 68,015 | — | 15.14 | 03/15/28 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
8/27/20 | 1,357,425(7) | — | 11.97 | 08/27/30 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
Michael L. Zemetra | 2/10/25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41,250(2) | 191,813 | ||||||||||||||||||
2/10/25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41,250(3) | 191,813 | |||||||||||||||||||
2/10/25 | — | — | — | — | 82,500(4) | 383,625 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
6/6/24 | — | — | — | — | 20,000(5) | 93,000 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
4/8/24 | — | — | — | — | 48,000(5) | 223,200 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
1/19/23 | — | — | — | — | 23,703(6) | 110,219 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
6/21/23 | — | — | — | — | 9,465(6) | 44,012 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
10/8/20 | 60,000 | — | 11.10 | 10/08/30 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
10/8/20 | 120,000(7) | — | 11.10 | 10/08/30 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) | The market values of all RSUs reflected in the table above have been calculated based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2025 as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market, which was $4.65 per share. |
(2) | Represents performance-based RSU awards (“Financial PSUs”) granted on February 10, 2025, under the 2023 Plan. These Financial PSUs became eligible to vest upon the achievement of 2025 revenue and non-GAAP net income (loss) metrics. In March 2026, the Compensation Committee determined that such 2025 financial performance metrics had not been achieved; as a result, these Financial PSUs were not eligible to vest and were forfeited. If any of the Financial PSUs had become eligible to vest, they would have vested as follows: one-third (1/3) of such Financial PSUs would have vested upon certification of achievement and two-thirds (2/3) of such Financial PSUs would have vested quarterly thereafter. |
(3) | Represents performance-based RSU awards (“TSR PSUs”) granted on February 10, 2025, under the 2023 Plan. These TSR PSUs vest based on Veritone’s relative total shareholder return against the S&P Software Services Index for the three-year performance period from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2027, as certified by the Compensation Committee in the first quarter of 2028. Payout ranges from 50% of target at the 25th percentile to 200% of target at the 75th percentile, with 0% below the 25th percentile. The number of units reported reflects the target level of performance (100%). At maximum achievement (200%), the TSR PSUs would represent 240,000 and 82,500 units for Mr. Steelberg and Mr. Zemetra, respectively. Any vesting of the TSR PSUs will occur immediately upon certification. |
(4) | Represents time-based RSU awards that vest in three equal installments on each of January 1, 2026, January 1, 2027 and January 1, 2028. |
(5) | Represents time-based RSU awards that vest in three equal installments on each of January 1, 2025, January 1, 2026 and January 1, 2027. The number of units reflects the unvested balance as of December 31, 2025, after giving effect to the vesting of one installment on January 1, 2025. |
(6) | Represents time-based RSU awards that vest in three equal installments on each of January 1, 2024, January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026. The number of units reflects the unvested balance as of December 31, 2025, after giving effect to the vesting of two installments on January 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025. |
(7) | Consists of performance-based stock options awarded to Ryan Steelberg on August 27, 2020, and a performance-based stock option awarded to Mr. Zemetra under our Inducement Grant Plan on October 8, 2020. The vesting of one-third (1/3rd) of such performance-based stock options was conditioned upon the achievement of stock price milestones for our common stock of $17.50, $22.50 and $27.50 per share, respectively. The first and second stock price milestones were achieved in January 2021, and the third stock price milestone was achieved in February 2021. Accordingly, all such performance-based stock options have vested in full. |
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Year(1) | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO(2) | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(3) | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs(2) | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs(4) | Total Shareholder Return: Value of Initial $100 Investment(5) | Net Income/(Loss)(6) | ||||||||||||
2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ||||||||||||
2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ||||||||||||
2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ($ | ||||||||||||
(1) |
• | 2025: Michael Zemetra |
• | 2024: Michael Zemetra |
• | 2023: Michael Zemetra |
(2) | Amounts reported in these columns represent (i) the total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable years for our PEO and (ii) the average of the total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the applicable years for our Non-PEO NEOs. |
(3) | Amounts reported in this column represent CAP to our PEO, based on his total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the indicated fiscal years and certain adjustments required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The following adjustments were made to the reported total compensation of the PEO for 2025 to determine CAP for 2025: |
PEO | 2025 | |||||
Summary Compensation Table - Total Compensation | $ | |||||
- | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
+ | Fair Value at Fiscal Year End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
+ | Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | $- | ||||
+ | Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year That Vested During Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
+ | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years For Which Applicable Vesting Conditions Were Satisfied During Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
- | Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year End of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years That Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
= | Compensation Actually Paid | $ | ||||
(4) | Amounts reported in this column represent average CAP to our Non-PEO NEOs, based on their average total compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table for the indicated fiscal years and certain adjustments required by Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The following adjustments were made to the reported total compensation of the Non-PEO NEOs for 2025 to determine CAP for 2025: |
Non-PEO NEO Average | 2025 | |||||
Summary Compensation Table - Total Compensation | $ | |||||
- | Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
+ | Fair Value at Fiscal Year End of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
+ | Change in Fair Value of Outstanding and Unvested Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years | $- | ||||
+ | Fair Value at Vesting of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Fiscal Year That Vested During Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
+ | Change in Fair Value as of Vesting Date of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years For Which Applicable Vesting Conditions Were Satisfied During Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
- | Fair Value as of Prior Fiscal Year End of Stock Awards and Option Awards Granted in Prior Fiscal Years That Failed to Meet Applicable Vesting Conditions During Fiscal Year | $ | ||||
= | Compensation Actually Paid | $ | ||||
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(5) | Pursuant to Item 402(v), the comparison assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2022 in our common stock. Historic stock price performance is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance. |
(6) | The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net income/(loss) reflected in our audited financial statements for the applicable year. |


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• | Equity Awards: each non-employee director receives awards of RSUs under the automatic grant program for non-employee directors approved by our Compensation Committee and issued under our 2023 Plan, including: |
• | Annual RSU Award: on the date of each annual meeting of our stockholders, each non-employee director will be granted a number of RSUs having a grant date value equal to $150,000, which RSUs will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date (or the day immediately preceding the date of the next regular annual meeting following the grant date, if earlier), subject to the non-employee director’s continued service to us through the vesting date; and |
• | Initial Time-Based RSU Award for New Directors: for each new non-employee director appointed or elected to the Board other than on the date of an annual meeting of our stockholders, on the date of initial appointment or election to our Board, each such new non-employee director will be granted a number of RSUs having a grant date value equal to a prorated portion of the $150,000 annual RSU award (such proration based on the number of whole months that have elapsed from the date of our last annual meeting of stockholders to the date of such initial appointment or election but not more than 12 months), which RSUs will vest on the first anniversary of the grant date (or the day immediately preceding the date of the next regular annual meeting following the grant date, if earlier), subject to the non-employee director’s continued service to us through the vesting date. |
• | Board Fees: on an annual basis, each non-employee director receives an annual cash retainer for serving as a member of our Board in the amount of $30,000; |
• | Lead Independent Director Fee: in addition to the annual cash retainer set forth above, the lead independent director of our Board, if any, receives an additional annual retainer in the amount of $15,000; and |
• | Committee Fees: on an annual basis, each non-employee director serving as a member of our Audit Committee, our Compensation Committee, or our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee receives an annual cash retainer in the amount of $7,500, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively. In addition, each non-employee director serving as Chair of our Audit Committee, Chair of our Compensation Committee, and Chair of our Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee receives an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000, $15,000, and $7,500, respectively. |
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Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash(3) ($) | RSU Awards(4)(5) ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||
Michael Keithley | 45,000 | 42,000(6) | — | 87,000 | ||||||||
Knute P. Kurtz | 60,000 | 42,000(6) | — | 102,000 | ||||||||
Francisco Morales(1) | 33,996 | 62,325(7) | — | 96,321 | ||||||||
Chad Steelberg(2) | 5,968 | — | 550,000(8) | 555,968 | ||||||||
Richard H. Taketa | 57,500 | 42,000(6) | — | 99,500 | ||||||||
Michael Zilis | 42,500 | 42,000(6) | — | 84,500 | ||||||||
(1) | Mr. Morales was appointed to the Board in March 2025. |
(2) | Mr. Chad Steelberg resigned from the Board in March 2025. |
(3) | Reflects cash retainer fees earned in 2025 by each non-employee director for service on our Board and committees of our Board, as applicable |
(4) | Reflects the grant date fair values of RSU awards granted to each non-employee director in 2025, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. |
(5) | The number of stock awards, consisting of RSUs and non-qualified stock options, held as of December 31, 2025 by each non-employee director serving on the Board on such date is set forth in the table below. |
Name | Aggregate Number of Shares Underlying Outstanding RSUs | Aggregate Number of Shares Underlying Outstanding Options | ||||
Michael Keithley | 30,000 | — | ||||
Knute P. Kurtz | 30,000 | 8,688 | ||||
Francisco Morales | 30,000 | — | ||||
Richard H. Taketa | 30,000 | 8,688 | ||||
Michael Zilis | 30,000 | — | ||||
(6) | RSUs representing a right to receive 30,000 shares of our common stock were awarded to each of our then-serving non-employee directors on June 13, 2025, and the grant date fair value of such awards was determined as computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718. Such RSUs will vest in full on June 13, 2026. |
(7) | RSUs representing a right to receive 7,500 shares of our common stock were awarded to Mr. Morales on March 20, 2025 in connection with his appointment to the Board, with a grant date fair value of $20,325 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 based on the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant of $2.71 per share. This initial RSU award vested on June 12, 2025 (the day immediately preceding the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders). In addition, RSUs representing a right to receive 30,000 shares of our common stock were awarded to Mr. Morales on June 13, 2025, with a grant date fair value of $42,000 as described in footnote (6) above. |
(8) | Reflects amounts paid in cash pursuant to a Consulting Agreement, dated January 4, 2023, between the Company and Steel Holdings, LLC, an entity affiliated with Mr. Chad Steelberg, as amended (the “Amended Consulting Agreement”). Under the Amended Consulting Agreement, the Company paid Steel Holdings, LLC $550,000 for the period from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025. The Amended Consulting Agreement expired by its terms on December 31, 2025. On January 1, 2026, the Company entered into an Independent Contractor Services Agreement with Steel Holdings, LLC (the “2026 Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company will pay Steel Holdings, LLC $12,500 per month in cash for business development services related to our software and services for the period from January 2026 through December 2026. |
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• | any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; |
• | acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
• | unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or |
• | any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
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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 (b)(3) | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c) | ||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders(1) | 9,762,684 | $13.07 | 5,173,270 | ||||||
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders(2) | 511,500 | $13.23 | 447,178 | ||||||
Total | 10,274,184 | 5,620,448 | |||||||
(1) | The number of shares reflected in column (a) of the table above for equity compensation plans approved by security holders consists of: (i) outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 7,621,043 shares of our common stock, which were granted under our 2014 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the “2014 Plan”), 2017 Plan, 2018 Plan and 2023 Plan; and (ii) outstanding RSUs representing the right to receive upon vesting an aggregate of 2,141,641 shares of our common stock, which were awarded under our 2017 Plan and 2023 Plan. The number of shares reflected in column (c) of the table above for equity compensation plans approved by security holders consists of (i) an aggregate of 3,758,603 shares available for issuance under our 2023 Plan as of December 31, 2025 and (ii) 1,414,667 shares available for future issuance under our ESPP as of December 31, 2025, of which 87,783 shares were subsequently issued on January 31, 2026, for the purchase interval that had been open as of December 31, 2025. Our ESPP provides that the number of shares reserved for issuance thereunder will increase automatically on the first trading day of January each calendar year by an amount equal to 1% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding on the last trading day in December of the immediately preceding calendar year, up to an annual maximum of 250,000 shares, or a lesser number of shares determined by the Board in its discretion. The Board made the decision not to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our ESPP as of January 1, 2026. |
(2) | The number of shares reflected in column (a) of the table above for equity compensation plans not approved by security holders consists of: (i) outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 337,000 shares of our common stock, which were granted under our Inducement Grant Plan; and (ii) outstanding RSUs representing the right to receive upon vesting an aggregate of 174,500 shares of our common stock, which were awarded under our Inducement Grant Plan. The number of shares reflected in column (c) of the table above for equity compensation plans not approved by security holders consists of 447,178 shares available for issuance under our Inducement Grant Plan, as amended (the “Inducement Grant Plan”). The only persons eligible to receive grants of awards under the Inducement Grant Plan are individuals who satisfy the standards for grants under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4) or 5635(c)(3), if applicable, and the related guidance under Nasdaq IM 5635-1. A person who previously served as an employee or director will not be eligible to receive awards under the Inducement Grant Plan, other than following a bona fide period of non-employment. The Inducement Grant Plan provides for the grant of the following awards: (i) nonstatutory stock options, (ii) stock appreciation rights, (iii) stock awards, (iv) restricted stock unit awards, and (v) dividend equivalent rights. |
(3) | For equity compensation plans approved by security holders, the weighted-average exercise price reflected in column (b) represents the weighted-average exercise prices of outstanding options. All outstanding RSUs were awarded without payment of any purchase price. For equity compensation plans not approved by security holders, the weighted-average exercise price in column (b) represents a weighted-average exercise price of $13.23 with respect to options to purchase an aggregate of 337,000 shares of our common stock. |
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Amount and Nature of Shares Beneficially Owned(2) | ||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners(1) | Number | Percentage | ||||
Named Executive Officers, Directors and Nominees | ||||||
Ryan Steelberg(3) | 6,204,910 | 6.47% | ||||
Michael L. Zemetra(4) | 354,481 | * | ||||
Michael Keithley(5) | 60,000 | * | ||||
Knute P. Kurtz(6) | 148,121 | * | ||||
Francisco Morales(7) | 37,500 | * | ||||
Richard H. Taketa(8) | 188,952 | * | ||||
Michael Zilis(9) | 102,475 | * | ||||
All executive officers, directors and nominees as a group (7 persons)(10) | 7,096,439 | 7.37% | ||||
5% Stockholders | ||||||
Esousa Group Holdings LLC and affiliate(11) 211 East 43rd Street, Suite 402 New York, NY 10017 | 9,928,303 | 9.99% | ||||
* | Less than 1% |
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each holder is c/o Veritone, Inc., 5291 California Avenue, Suite 350, Irvine, CA 92617. |
(2) | The beneficial ownership is calculated based on 92,953,666 shares of our common stock outstanding as of April 21, 2026. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock subject to options, warrants, RSUs and/or other rights held by that person that are exercisable and/or will be settled within 60 days after April 21, 2026 are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage of each other person. To our knowledge, except pursuant to applicable community property laws or as otherwise indicated herein, each person named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth opposite such person’s name, and none of such persons has pledged such shares as security for any obligation. |
(3) | Includes (i) 605,869 shares of common stock held by Ryan Steelberg; (ii) 2,003,349 shares of common stock held by RVH, LLC; (iii) 215,174 shares of common stock held by The RSS Living Trust; (iv) 366,300 shares of restricted common stock held by The RSS Living Trust; (v) warrants to purchase 21,550 shares of common stock held by The RSS Living Trust; and (vi) 2,992,668 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 21, 2026. Ryan Steelberg is the sole member and manager of RVH, LLC and, as such, has sole voting and dispositive power over all shares held by RVH, LLC. Ryan Steelberg is the trustee of The RSS Living Trust and, as such, is deemed to have shared voting and dispositive power over all of the shares and options held by The RSS Living Trust. |
(4) | Includes (i) 174,481 shares of common stock held by Mr. Zemetra and (ii) 180,000 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(5) | Includes (i) 30,000 shares of common stock held by Mr. Keithley and (ii) 30,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired upon the vesting of RSUs within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(6) | Includes (i) 109,433 shares of common stock held by Mr. Kurtz; (ii) 30,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired by Mr. Kurtz upon the vesting of RSUs within 60 days after April 21, 2026; and (iii) 8,688 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(7) | Includes (i) 7,500 shares of common stock held by Mr. Morales and (ii) 30,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired by Mr. Morales upon the vesting of RSUs within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(8) | Includes (i) 79,416 shares of common stock held by Mr. Taketa; (ii) 30,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired by Mr. Taketa upon the vesting of RSUs within 60 days after April 21, 2026; (iii) 70,848 shares of common stock held by Mr. Taketa and his spouse as trustees of a family trust; and (iv) 8,688 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(9) | Includes (i) 72,475 shares of common stock held by Mr. Zilis and (ii) 30,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired by Mr. Zilis upon the vesting of RSUs within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(10) | Includes (i) an aggregate of 3,734,845 shares of common stock held directly or indirectly by our executive officers, directors and nominees, as described in footnotes (1) through (9) above, (ii) 150,000 shares of common stock that may be acquired by our executive officers, directors and nominees upon the vesting of RSUs within 60 days after April 21, 2026; (iii) warrants to purchase 21,550 shares of common stock and (iii) 3,190,044 shares of common stock subject to outstanding options that are exercisable within 60 days after April 21, 2026. |
(11) | The holder has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to 9,928,303 shares of common stock and has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 0 shares of common stock. This amount consists of 9,928,303 shares of common stock. Michael Wachs is the managing member of the holder. The beneficial ownership information reflected in the table is included in the Schedule 13G filed by the holder with the SEC on July 15, 2025. |
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Fee Category | Year Ended December 31, 2025 | Year Ended December 31, 2024 | ||||
Audit Fees | $3,155,350 | $2,769,980 | ||||
Audit-Related Fees | — | — | ||||
Tax Fees | — | — | ||||
All Other Fees | — | — | ||||
Total Fees | $3,155,350 | $2,769,980 | ||||
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• | 1,240,086 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of our Convertible Notes, based on $45,580,000 principal amount outstanding of the Convertible Notes and the initial conversion rate of 27.2068 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes; |
• | 2,508,683 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding with an exercise price of $2.576 per share; |
• | 145,945 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding, with an exercise price of $13.61 per share; |
• | 3,160,552 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding awards granted under our 2014 Plan; |
• | 1,066,291 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding awards granted under our 2017 Plan; |
• | 3,353,325 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding awards granted under our 2018 Plan; |
• | 415,333 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding awards granted under the Inducement Grant Plan; |
• | 507,220 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the Inducement Grant Plan; |
• | 2,927,365 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to outstanding awards granted under our 2023 Plan; |
• | 3,111,523 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2023 Plan; and |
• | 1,326,884 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP. |
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• | No evergreen. The Second Amended 2023 Plan does not contain an evergreen feature to automatically increase the size of the share pool available for issuance under the Second Amended 2023 Plan. Stockholder approval is required to increase the shares available under the Second Amended 2023 Plan. |
• | No “liberal” change in control definition. The Transaction definition in the Second Amended 2023 Plan is not a “liberal” definition. A change in control transaction must actually be consummated for the change in control provisions in the Second Amended 2023 Plan to be triggered. |
• | No repricing without stockholder approval. The Second Amended 2023 Plan does not permit the “repricing” of stock options and SARs without stockholder approval. This includes a prohibition on cash buyouts of underwater options or SARs and “reloads” in connection with the exercise of options or SARs. |
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• | Limit on non-employee director compensation. The aggregate value of all cash and equity-based compensation paid or granted by us to any individual for service as a non-employee director of our Board with respect to any fiscal year of the Company will not exceed (i) $750,000 in total value or (ii) in the event such non-employee director is first appointed or elected to the Board during such fiscal year, $1,000,000 in total value, in each case calculating the value of any equity awards based on the grant date fair value of such equity awards for financial reporting purposes. |
• | Awards subject to forfeiture/clawback. Awards granted under the Second Amended 2023 Plan are subject to recoupment in accordance with the clawback policy adopted by the Company pursuant to Nasdaq listing standards and as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. |
• | Stock Ownership and Holding Guidelines. Shares issued pursuant to the Second Amended 2023 Plan are subject to the Company’s stock ownership guidelines. Our CEO is required to hold equity equal to three times base salary and our other named executive officers are required to hold equity equal to one-time base salary. Once the initial five-year compliance period has ended, executives are required to retain at least 50% of vested equity until individual stock ownership guidelines are achieved. |
• | Plan Flexibility. We may continue to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, direct stock issuances, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards, as well as awards that are subject to performance vesting conditions, such as performance-based restricted stock units. |
• | Administration by independent committee. The Second Amended 2023 Plan will be administered by the members of our Compensation Committee, all of whom are “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and “independent” within the meaning of the Nasdaq listing standards. |
As of March 31, 2026 | |||
Total number of shares subject to outstanding stock options(1) | 7,912,514 | ||
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding stock options | $13.12 | ||
Weighted-average remaining term of outstanding stock options | 2.74 | ||
Total number of shares subject to outstanding full value awards(2) | 3,010,352 | ||
Total number of shares available for grant under the 2014 and 2017 Plans | — | ||
Total number of shares outstanding | 92,921,324 | ||
Per-share closing price of common stock as reported on Nasdaq Global Market | $1.97 | ||
(1) | Includes: (i) 3,160,552 stock option awards held by current and certain former employees granted under the 2014 Plan, including 3,134,456 awards held by Chad Steelberg and Ryan Steelberg; (ii) 1,062,416 stock option awards held by current and certain former employees granted under the 2017 Plan, including 204,044 stock option awards held by Chad Steelberg and Ryan Steelberg; (iii) 3,353,325 stock option awards |
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(2) | Includes: (i) 3,875 shares subject to outstanding full value awards held by current and certain former employees granted under the 2017 Plan, including no awards held by Chad Steelberg and Ryan Steelberg; (ii) 108,375 shares subject to outstanding full value awards held by current and certain former employees granted under the Inducement Grant Plan, including no awards held by Chad Steelberg and Ryan Steelberg; and (iii) 2,898,102 shares subject to outstanding full value awards held by current and certain former employees granted under the 2023 Plan, including 1,233,328 awards held by Ryan Steelberg and Chad Steelberg. For performance-based awards, the amount shown reflects the target number of shares issuable pursuant to such awards. |
Fiscal Year | |||||||||
2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
Total number of shares subject to stock options granted | — | — | 288,893 | ||||||
Total number of shares subject to full value awards granted(1) | 1,758,190 | 1,304,835 | 2,111,936 | ||||||
Less: Forfeitures | (971,290) | (836,235) | (533,509) | ||||||
Total number of shares subject to stock options and shares subject to full value awards granted | 786,900 | 468,600 | 1,867,320 | ||||||
Weighted-average number of shares outstanding | 63,315,653 | 38,034,546 | 36,909,919 | ||||||
Net Burn Rate(2) | 1.2% | 1.2% | 5.1% | ||||||
Three Year Average of Net Burn Rate(2) | 2.5% | ||||||||
(1) | For performance-based awards, amount reflects target number of shares issuable pursuant to such awards. |
(2) | “Net Burn Rate” is defined as the number of equity awards granted in the year, less the number of equity awards forfeited in the year, divided by weighted average number of shares outstanding. |
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Name of Individual or Group and Position | Dollar Value | Number of Units | ||||
Ryan Steelberg, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | $4,125,500(1) | 1,850,000(2) | ||||
Michael L. Zemetra Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | — | — | ||||
All current executive officers, as a group | $4,125,500 | 1,850,000 | ||||
All current directors who are not executive officers, as a group | — | — | ||||
All employees who are not executive officers, as a group | — | — | ||||
(1) | Represents the maximum aggregate number of shares subject to the CEO Strategic Awards of 1,850,000 shares multiplied by our closing stock price on May 11, 2026 of $2.23. |
(2) | Represents the aggregate number of shares of our common stock subject to the CEO Strategic Awards, which consist of a time-based RSU award subject to 925,000 shares of our common stock and a performance-based RSU award subject to 925,000 shares of our common stock. |
Name and Position | Number of Shares | ||
Ryan Steelberg President and Chief Executive Officer; Chairman of the Board of Directors | 1,936,137 | ||
Michael L. Zemetra Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | 618,396 | ||
All current executive officers as a group | 2,554,533 | ||
All current directors who are not executive officers as a group | 319,975 | ||
Each nominee for election as a director: | |||
Ryan Steelberg | 1,936,137 | ||
Francisco Morales | 37,500 | ||
Each associate of any executive officers, current directors or director nominees | — | ||
Each other person who received or is to receive 5% of awards | — | ||
All employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers, as a group | 2,583,380 | ||
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• | The CEO Strategic Awards significantly strengthen Mr. Steelberg’s incentives and further align his interests with those of the Company’s other stockholders; |
• | The CEO Strategic Awards help ensure Mr. Steelberg’s continued leadership of the Company over the long term and provide him with significant challenges necessary to engage him for the long term; and |
• | The CEO Strategic Awards contain challenging and rigorous performance hurdles (as described below) and require the creation of significant stockholder value to be earned. |
Award Terms | Details | |||||||||||
Effective Grant Date | July 7, 2026 (which is the date of the Annual Meeting) | |||||||||||
Award Type | Performance-based RSU award | |||||||||||
Number of Shares Subject to Award | 925,000 shares of our common stock, representing approximately 1% of the total outstanding shares of our common stock as of March 31, 2026. | |||||||||||
Performance Years: | “Performance Year 1”: July 7, 2026 through July 7, 2027 “Performance Year 2”: July 7, 2027 through July 7, 2028 “Performance Year 3”: July 7, 2028 through July 7, 2029 Performance Year 1, Performance Year 2 and Performance Year 3 are each sometimes referred to as a “Performance Year” and collectively referred to as the “Performance Years”. | |||||||||||
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Award Terms | Details | |||||||||||
Award Vesting / Milestones | Subject to the “catch up” vesting feature described below, each tranche of approximately one-third of the CEO Performance Award will vest upon certification by the Compensation Committee that the applicable Milestone Price for the corresponding Performance Year has been achieved, as set forth in the table below. | |||||||||||
Performance Year | Tranche Number | Milestone Price | Number of Shares that Vest Upon Achievement of Applicable Milestone Price | |||||||||
Performance Year 1 | 1 | 150% over Base Price | 308,333 shares | |||||||||
Performance Year 2 | 2 | 300% over Base Price | 308,333 shares | |||||||||
Performance Year 3 | 3 | 450% over Base Price | 308,334 shares | |||||||||
The “Base Price” used to calculate the Milestone Price for each Performance Year is equal to the closing price for a share of our common stock on the Effective Grant Date. | ||||||||||||
In order for any Milestone Price to be considered achieved, the volume-weighted average closing price of our common stock over the 90-calendar day period ending on the last day of the applicable Performance Year (the “90-day VWAP”) must equal or exceed the Milestone Price. The Compensation Committee will certify achievement of the Milestone Price for the corresponding Performance Year within 30 days following the end of such Performance Year. | ||||||||||||
Subject to the catch-up vesting feature described below, vesting of each tranche will be determined solely based on performance for the Performance Year that it corresponds such that achievement in excess of a Milestone Price for a Performance Year will not accelerate vesting or otherwise result in the vesting of any tranche of the CEO Performance Award that corresponds to a subsequent Performance Year. | ||||||||||||
Catch-Up Vesting | If the Milestone Price for a given Performance Year is not achieved and the corresponding tranche of the CEO Performance RSU does not vest, such tranche will remain outstanding and eligible for “catch-up” vesting in a subsequent Performance Year. If, at the conclusion of any subsequent Performance Year, the 90-Day VWAP for such Performance Year equals or exceeds the Milestone for such subsequent Performance Year, any previously unvested tranches of the CEO Performance Award from prior Performance Years will also vest, upon certification by the Compensation Committee. Catch-up vesting shall only occur in connection with a Performance Year in which the then-applicable Milestone Price is achieved; accordingly, achievement of a prior Performance Year’s lower threshold alone in a subsequent Performance Year will not trigger vesting of the tranche that corresponds to the prior Performance Year. | |||||||||||
Forfeiture | Following the completion of Performance Year 3 and the determination by the Compensation Committee as to the vesting of Tranche 3 of the CEO Performance Award (and any applicable catch-up vesting), any tranche of the CEO Performance Award that has not vested will be automatically forfeited and returned to the Second Amended 2023 Plan share reserve for future issuance. | |||||||||||
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Award Terms | Details | |||||||||||
Change in Control Treatment/Vesting Acceleration | If a change in control (as defined in the Second Amended 2023 Plan) occurs prior to the last day of Performance Year 3, and Mr. Steelberg remains in continuous service to the Company through immediately prior to the change in control, the then-outstanding and unvested tranches of the CEO Performance Award will no longer vest based on achievement of the applicable Milestone Prices and will instead vest in successive, equal installments on the last day of each Performance Year ending during the period commencing on the date of the closing of the change in control and ending on the last day of Performance Year 3, subject to Mr. Steelberg remaining in continuous service to the Company through each applicable vesting date. If a change in control occurs on or after the last day of Performance Year 3, the Compensation Committee will certify achievement of the Milestone Price that corresponds to Performance Year 3 prior to the closing of the change in control. The CEO Performance Award is subject to vesting acceleration in the event of a change in control or “corporate transaction” (as defined in the Second Amended 2023 Plan) in which the CEO Performance Award is not assumed or substituted by the acquiring or succeeding entity. For more information about this vesting acceleration, see the section titled “Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control—Equity Plans—2023 Plan”. In addition, in the event the CEO Performance Award converts to a time-based equity award as described in the paragraph above and is assumed or substituted in a change in control or corporate transaction, it would be subject to vesting acceleration upon certain qualifying terminations of Mr. Steelberg’s employment. For more information about this vesting acceleration, see the section titled “Payments Upon Termination of Employment or Change in Control—2023 Employment Agreements—Ryan Steelberg”. | |||||||||||
Continued Service Requirement for Vesting | Vesting of each tranche of the CEO Performance Award is subject to Mr. Steelberg’s continued service through the applicable vesting date. | |||||||||||
Award Terms | Details | ||
Effective Grant Date | July 7, 2026 (which is the date of the Annual Meeting) | ||
Award Type | Time-based RSU award | ||
Number of Shares Subject to Award | 925,000 shares of our common stock, representing approximately 1% of the total outstanding shares of our common stock as of March 31, 2026. | ||
Vesting | The Time-Based CEO Award will vest over three years, with 1/3 of the Time-Based CEO Award vesting on each of the first, second and third anniversary of the Effective Grant Date, subject in each case to Mr. Steelberg’s continued service through the vesting date. | ||
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