Energous (WATT) puts larger 2024 equity incentive plan to shareholder vote
Energous Corporation is asking stockholders to vote at its virtual 2026 Annual Meeting on June 11, 2026. Stockholders will elect four directors, ratify BPM LLP as independent auditor for 2026, and decide whether to approve an Amended and Restated 2024 Equity Incentive Plan.
The equity plan proposal would raise the share reserve from 81,866 to 381,866 shares and remove per‑person annual grant limits, while keeping an overall non‑employee director value cap. As of April 16, 2026, 5,501,099 common shares were outstanding and 17,919 shares remained available under the existing plan.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- None.
Insights
Energous seeks a sizable equity plan increase and more grant flexibility.
Energous is requesting stockholder approval to expand its 2024 Equity Incentive Plan by 300,000 shares, bringing the total reserve to 381,866 shares, plus limited roll-in shares from prior plans. This represents roughly 5% of the 5,501,099 shares outstanding as of April 16, 2026.
The amendment also removes per‑person annual share caps, while retaining a separate annual value limit for non‑employee directors ($500,000 for the Chair and $300,000 for others). Certain 28,750 RSUs granted in January 2026 will be automatically cancelled if the plan is not approved, which may affect retention incentives for executives, directors and other employees.
The board frames this as necessary to stay competitive for talent in a small, tech‑focused company that broadly uses RSUs instead of options. Actual dilution will depend on future grant levels set by the Compensation Committee and board, and stockholder voting outcomes at the June 11, 2026 meeting.
Key Figures
Key Terms
record date financial
broker non-vote financial
reverse stock split financial
incentive stock options financial
performance share units financial
change in control financial
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )
San Jose, California 95134
Chairman of the Board
San Jose, California 95134
To Be Held on June 11, 2026
Chairman of the Board
April 29, 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | | |
Page
|
| |||
|
INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING
|
| | | | 1 | | |
|
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING
|
| | | | 1 | | |
|
PROPOSAL 1 – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
|
| | | | 6 | | |
|
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES AND BOARD MATTERS
|
| | | | 8 | | |
|
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
|
| | | | 13 | | |
|
PROPOSAL 2 – RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
|
| | | | 15 | | |
|
PROPOSAL 3 – APPROVAL OF THE ENERGOUS CORPORATION AMENDED AND RESTATED 2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
|
| | | | 16 | | |
|
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION
|
| | | | 26 | | |
|
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT |
| | | | 27 | | |
|
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
|
| | | | 28 | | |
|
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
|
| | | | 29 | | |
|
PAY VERSUS PERFORMANCE
|
| | | | 32 | | |
|
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
|
| | | | 35 | | |
|
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
|
| | | | 36 | | |
|
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
|
| | | | 37 | | |
|
OTHER BUSINESS
|
| | | | 38 | | |
|
APPENDIX A – AMENDED AND RESTATED 2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
|
| | | | A-1 | | |
San Jose, California 95134
2026 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
|
PROPOSAL
|
| |
VOTE
REQUIRED |
| |
EFFECT OF
ABSTENTIONS |
| |
BROKER
DISCRETIONARY VOTE ALLOWED |
| |
EFFECT OF
BROKER NON-VOTES |
|
|
Proposal 1 — Election of Directors
|
| |
Plurality (The four nominees receiving the highest number of “FOR” votes cast will be elected.)
|
| |
No effect
|
| |
No
|
| |
No effect
|
|
| Proposal 2 — Ratification of independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2026 | | |
Majority of the votes cast
|
| |
No effect
|
| |
Yes
|
| |
Not applicable
|
|
|
Proposal 3 — Equity Plan Proposal
|
| |
Majority of the votes cast
|
| |
No effect
|
| |
No
|
| |
No effect
|
|
|
Name
|
| |
Director Since
|
| |
Position with Energous
|
|
| David Roberson | | |
August 2022
|
| | Chairman of the Board | |
| Mallorie Burak | | |
October 2024
|
| | Director, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer | |
| J. Michael Dodson | | |
August 2022
|
| | Director | |
| Rahul Patel | | |
August 2019
|
| | Director | |
| | |
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF EACH OF
THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES |
| |
|
Name
|
| |
Audit
Committee |
| |
Compensation
Committee |
| |
Corporate
Governance and Nominating Committee |
|
|
Rahul Patel
|
| |
X
|
| |
Chair
|
| |
X
|
|
|
J. Michael Dodson
|
| |
Chair
|
| |
X
|
| |
X
|
|
|
David Roberson
|
| |
X
|
| |
X
|
| |
Chair
|
|
| |
Chair of the Board
|
| | | $ | 25,000 | | |
| |
Lead Independent Director (if applicable)
|
| | | $ | 25,000 | | |
| |
Audit Committee Chair
|
| | | $ | 20,000 | | |
| |
Audit Committee Member
|
| | | $ | 10,000 | | |
| |
Compensation Committee Chair
|
| | | $ | 15,000 | | |
| |
Compensation Committee Member
|
| | | $ | 5,000 | | |
| |
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chair
|
| | | $ | 10,000 | | |
| |
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Member
|
| | | $ | 5,000 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Fees
Earned or Paid in Cash |
| |
Stock
Awards(1)(2) |
| |
Total
|
| |||||||||
|
Rahul Patel
|
| | | $ | 55,000 | | | | | $ | 1,225 | | | | | $ | 56,225 | | |
|
J. Michael Dodson
|
| | | $ | 55,000 | | | | | $ | 1,225 | | | | | $ | 56,225 | | |
|
David Roberson(2)
|
| | | $ | 75,000 | | | | | $ | 2,187 | | | | | $ | 77,187 | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Shares Subject to
Outstanding Stock Awards |
| |||
|
Rahul Patel
|
| | | | 42 | | |
|
J. Michael Dodson
|
| | | | 42 | | |
|
David Roberson
|
| | | | 75 | | |
|
Fee Category
|
| |
2025
|
| |
2024
|
| ||||||
|
Audit Fees(1)
|
| | | $ | 420,619 | | | | | $ | 338,966 | | |
|
Audit-Related Fees
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Tax Fees
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
All Other Fees
|
| | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Total
|
| | | $ | 420,619 | | | | | $ | 338,966 | | |
| | | OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF BPM LLP AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2026 | | |
| |
Total number of shares subject to outstanding RSUs (the only award type outstanding under our equity plans, of which 23,750 RSUs are subject to stockholder approval of the 2024 Plan):
|
| | | | 69,275 | | |
| |
Total number of shares remaining available for new grants under the 2024 Plan (the only plan under which equity awards may currently be granted):
|
| | | | 17,919 | | |
| |
Proposed share increase:
|
| | | | 300,000 | | |
| |
Total number of shares of common stock outstanding:
|
| | | | 5,501,099 | | |
|
Name and Position/Group
|
| |
Number of Shares
Underlying RSUs in Cash |
| |||
|
Mallorie Burak
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | 17,000 | | |
|
All current executive officers as a group
|
| | | | 21,833 | | |
|
All current non-employee directors as a group
|
| | | | 7,698 | | |
|
All employees, including all current officers who are not executive officers, as a group
|
| | | | 88,298 | | |
| | |
OUR BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE ENERGOUS CORPORATION AMENDED AND RESTATED 2024 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
|
| |
|
Plan Category
|
| |
Number of securities to be
issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
Weighted average
exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights |
| |
Number of securities
remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plan (excluding securities outstanding) |
| |||||||||
|
Equity compensation plans approved by
security holders |
| | | | 9,726(1) | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 78,176(2) | | |
|
Equity compensation plans approved by
security holders |
| | | | 1,265(3) | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | — | | |
|
Total
|
| | | | 10,991 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | | 78,176 | | |
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
| |
Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned |
| |
Percentage of
Class(1) |
| ||||||
| Current Directors and Executive Officers | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Rahul Patel
|
| | | | 164 | | | | | | * | | |
|
J. Michael Dodson
|
| | | | 182 | | | | | | * | | |
|
David Roberson
|
| | | | 215 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Mallorie Burak
|
| | | | 7,767 | | | | | | * | | |
|
Peter Weinberg
|
| | | | 209 | | | | | | * | | |
|
All directors and current executive officers as a group (five (5) persons)
|
| | | | 8,537 | | | | | | * | | |
| Five Percent Stockholders | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| None. | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Name
|
| |
Age
|
| |
Position
|
|
| Mallorie Burak | | |
55
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director
|
|
| Peter Weinberg | | |
65
|
| | Chief of Staff and General Counsel | |
|
Name and Principal Position
|
| |
Year
|
| |
Salary
|
| |
Bonus
|
| |
Stock Awards(1)
|
| |
All Other
Compensation |
| |
TOTAL
|
| ||||||||||||||||||
|
Mallorie Burak(2)
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
| | | | 2025 | | | | | $ | 395,000 | | | | | $ | 395,000(3) | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | 790,000 | | |
| | | | 2024 | | | | | $ | 379,849 | | | | | $ | 334,250 | | | | | $ | 135,452 | | | | | $ | — | | | | | $ | 849,551 | | | ||
| | | | | | | | | |
Stock Awards
|
| |||||||||
|
Name
|
| |
Grant 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) |
| |||||||||
|
Mallorie Burak
|
| | | | 1/15/2024 | | | | | | 1,299(2) | | | | | $ | 5,183 | | |
| | | | | | 6/27/2024 | | | | | | 625(3) | | | | | $ | 2,494 | | |
| | | | | | 10/16/2024 | | | | | | 875(4) | | | | | $ | 3,491 | | |
| Year(1) | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO Mallorie Burak ($) | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for Prior PEO ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to PEO Mallorie Burak ($)(2) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to Prior PEO ($)(2) | | | Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs ($) | | | Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs ($)(2) | | | Value of Initial Fixed $100 Investment Based on Total Shareholder Return ($) | | | Net Income (Loss) ($) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | ( | | | |||
| 2024 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | ( | | | |||||||
| 2023 | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | | — | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | ( | | | |||||
| Year | | | PEOs | | | Non-PEO NEOs | |
| 2025 | | | | | | None | |
| 2024 | | | Mallorie Burak, Cesar Johnston | | | Susan Kim-van Dongen | |
| 2023 | | | Cesar Johnston | | | William Mannina, Susan Kim-van Dongen | |
| Year | | | Summary Compensation Table Total for Mallorie Burak ($) | | | Reported Value of Equity Awards for Mallorie Burak ($)(1) | | | Fair Value as of Year-End for Awards Granted During the Year ($) | | | Fair Value Year-over-Year Increase or Decrease in Unvested Awards Granted in Prior Years ($) | | | Fair Value of Awards Granted and Vested During the Year ($) | | | Fair Value Increase or Decrease from Prior Year End for Awards that Vested During the Year ($) | | | Fair Value of Awards Granted in Prior Years that are Determined to Fail to Meet the Applicable Vesting Conditions (Forfeited Awards) ($) | | | Compensation Actually Paid to Mallorie Burak ($) | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | ( | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | ( | | | | | $ | | | | | $ | | | ||||||
David Roberson
Rahul Patel