ALMU Aeluma Inc (QB)

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

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Schedule 14A

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Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.    )

Check the appropriate box:

AELUMA, INC.
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

________________________________________________________________

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

AELUMA, INC.

(a Delaware Corporation)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the annual general meeting of shareholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”) of Aeluma, Inc. (the “Company”) will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. PST, California local time, at 27 Castilian Drive, Goleta, California 93117.

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company for use at the 2024 Annual Meeting and at all adjournments and postponements thereof, which is being held to consider and vote upon the proposals noted below.

As of the date of this Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Notice”), we have not received notice of any other matters that may be properly presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed the close of business on November 15, 2024 as the record date (the “Record Date”) for determining the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof. Only holders of Common Stock of the Company on the Record Date are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

In addition to mailing the materials, shareholders may also obtain a copy of the proxy materials, including the Company’s Annual Report and Quarterly Report (as such terms are hereinafter defined), from the Company’s website at www.aeluma.com or by contacting us directly at: info@aeluma.com.

California, United States

December 9, 2024

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE, SIGN AND RETURN
THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

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AELUMA, INC.
2024 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON JANUARY 9, 2025
PROXY STATEMENT

The Board of Directors of Aeluma, Inc. (the “Company”) is soliciting proxies for the annual general meeting of shareholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”) of the Company to be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. PST, California local time, at 27 Castilian Drive, Goleta, California 93117 or any adjournment thereof. Only holders of common stock of the Company at the close of business on November 15, 2024 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to attend and vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting or at any adjournment thereof. The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Any shareholder entitled to attend and vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting shall appoint the Chairman as his/her proxy to attend and vote on behalf of him/her. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. Each holder of the Company’s Common Stock is entitled to one (1) vote in respect of each share of common stock held by him or her on the Record Date. The polls will close at 11:59 pm EST on January 8, 2025.

A proxy statement describing the matters to be voted upon at the 2024 Annual Meeting along with a proxy card enabling the shareholders to indicate their vote will be mailed on or about December 9, 2024, to all shareholders entitled to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Such proxy statement will also be furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, in a Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A and will be available on our website at www.aeluma.com on or about December 9, 2024. If you plan to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting and your shares are not registered in your own name, please ask your broker, bank or other nominee that holds your shares to provide you with evidence of your share ownership. Such proof of share ownership will be required to gain admission to the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Whether or not you plan to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Accordingly, after reading the Notice and accompanying proxy statement, please sign, date, and mail the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided or vote by telephone or over the Internet in accordance with the instructions on your proxy card. The proxy card must be received by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on January 8, 2025, to be validly included in the tally of shares voted at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Detailed proxy voting instructions are provided both in the proxy statement and on the proxy card.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT
THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING, THE PROXY MATERIALS AND VOTING YOUR SHARES

WHY AM I RECEIVING THESE MATERIALS?

Our Board has delivered the Proxy Materials to you in connection with the solicitation of proxies for use at the 2024 Annual Meeting. As a shareholder, you are invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting and are requested to vote on the items of business described in this Proxy Statement.

WHAT IS A PROXY?

Our Board is soliciting your vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting. You may vote by proxy as explained in this Proxy Statement. A proxy is your formal legal designation of another person to vote the shares you own. That other person is called a proxy. If you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document also is called a proxy or a proxy card.

WHAT PROPOSALS WILL BE VOTED ON AT THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING?

There are two proposals that will be voted on at the 2024 Annual Meeting:

1.      To elect the Class III director named in this Proxy Statement to hold office for a 3-year term and until his respective successor is then elected and duly qualified.

2.      To approve, ratify and confirm the re-appointment of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration.

We may also transact such other business as may properly come before the 2024 Annual Meeting.

HOW DOES THE BOARD RECOMMEND I VOTE?

Our Board unanimously recommends that you vote:

•        “FOR” the election of the Class III director named in this Proxy Statement (Proposal No. 1).

•        “FOR” the approval, ratification and confirmation of the re-appointment of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration (Proposal No. 2).

WHAT HAPPENS IF ADDITIONAL MATTERS ARE PRESENTED AT THE 2024 Annual MEETING?

If any other matters are properly presented for consideration at the 2024 Annual Meeting, including, among other things, consideration of a motion to adjourn or postpone the 2024 Annual Meeting to another time or place (including, without limitation, for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies), the persons named as proxy holders will have discretion to vote on those matters in accordance with their best judgment, unless you direct them otherwise in your proxy instructions. We do not currently anticipate that any other matters will be raised at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

WHO CAN VOTE AT THE 2024 Annual MEETING?

Shareholders of record at the close of business on November 15, 2024, the date established by the Board for determining the shareholders entitled to vote at our 2024 Annual Meeting (the “Record Date”), are entitled to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

On the Record Date, 12,240,751 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (representing 12,240,751 votes) were outstanding and entitled to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Holders of Common Stock will vote on all proposals to be voted on at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

Each holder of the Company’s Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote in respect of each share of Common Stock Share held by him on the Record Date. The polls will close at 11:59 p.m. EST on January 8, 2025.

A list of the shareholders of record as of November 15, 2024 will be available for inspection at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

CAN I ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON?

You are invited to attend the Annual Meeting if you are a registered shareholder or a street name shareholder as of the Record Date. In addition, you must also present a form of photo identification acceptable to us, such as a valid driver’s license or passport.

WHAT CONSTITUTES A QUORUM?

The holders of a majority of the voting power of the capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the 2024 Annual Meeting. If such members are not present in person or by timely and properly submitted proxies to constitute a quorum, the 2024 Annual Meeting may be adjourned to such time and place determined by the Directors. Both abstentions and broker non-votes are counted as present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING A “SHAREHOLDER OF RECORD” AND A “BENEFICIAL OWNER” HOLDING SHARES IN STREET NAME?

Shareholder of Record:    You are a “shareholder of record” if your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Vstock Transfer. The Proxy Materials are sent directly to a shareholder of record.

Beneficial Owner:    If your shares are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name” and your bank or other nominee is considered the shareholder of record. Your bank or other nominee forwarded the Proxy Materials to you. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank or other nominee how to vote your shares by completing a voting instruction form. Because a beneficial owner is not the shareholder of record, you are invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting, but you may not vote these shares in person at the 2024 Annual Meeting unless you obtain a “legal proxy” from the bank or other nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

HOW DO I VOTE?

Shareholders of record can vote their shares in person by attending at the 2024 Annual Meeting, by telephone or over the Internet at www.proxyvote.com in accordance with the instructions on your proxy card, or by mail, by completing, signing, and mailing your proxy card. The proxy card must be received by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on January 8, 2025 to be validly included in the tally of shares voted at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner whose Common Stock is held in “street name” (i.e. through a bank, broker, or other nominee), you will receive voting instructions from the institution holding your shares. The methods of voting will depend upon the institution’s voting processes, including voting via the telephone or the Internet. Please contact the institution holding your Common Stock for more information.

You may vote before the annual meeting at www.proxyvote.com. Use your 16-digit control number, located on the Notice, and follow the instructions.

VOTE BY MAIL

Mark, sign, and date your proxy card and return it in the envelope we have provided.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF I RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE PROXY CARD?

It means that your Common Stock are registered differently, or you have multiple accounts. Please vote all of these shares separately to ensure all of the shares you hold are voted.

WHAT IF I DO NOT SPECIFY HOW MY SHARES ARE TO BE VOTED?

If you are a shareholder of record and you properly submit your proxy but do not give voting instructions, the persons named as proxies will vote your shares as follows: “FOR” the election of Aeluma Inc.’s Class III director nominee named in this Proxy Statement (Proposal No. 1) and “FOR” the approval, ratification and confirmation of the re-appointment of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration (Proposal No. 2). If you do not return a proxy, your shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists, and your shares will not be voted at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE OR REVOKE MY PROXY?

If you are a shareholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time prior to the vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting. If you submitted your proxy by mail, you must file with the Corporate Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation or deliver, prior to the vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting, a valid, later-dated proxy. Attendance at the 2024 Annual Meeting will not have the effect of revoking a proxy unless you give written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary before the proxy is exercised or you vote by written ballot at the 2024 Annual Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner whose Common Stock are held through a bank, broker or other nominee, you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your bank, broker or other nominee, or, if you have obtained a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the 2024 Annual Meeting and voting in person.

For purposes of submitting your vote, you may change your vote until 11:59 p.m. EST on January 8, 2024. After this deadline, the last vote submitted will be the vote that is counted, unless you attend the annual meeting in person and submit another proxy there.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DECIDE TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING BUT I HAVE ALREADY VOTED OR SUBMITTED A PROXY COVERING MY SHARES?

You may attend the meeting and vote in person even if you have already voted or submitted a proxy. Please be aware that attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. If a bank, broker, or other nominee holds your shares and you wish to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you must obtain a legal proxy from the record holder of the shares giving you the right to vote the shares.

HOW WILL THE PROXIES BE SOLICITED AND WHO WILL BEAR THE COSTS?

We will pay the cost of soliciting proxies for the 2024 Annual Meeting. Proxies may be solicited by our directors, executive officers, and employees, without additional compensation, in person, or by mail, courier, telephone, email or facsimile. We may also make arrangements with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for the forwarding of solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons. We may reimburse such brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in connection therewith.

WHO WILL COUNT THE VOTES AND HOW CAN I FIND THE VOTING RESULTS OF THE 2024 Annual MEETING?

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. will tabulate and certify the votes. We plan to announce preliminary voting results at the 2024 Annual Meeting, and we will report the final results in a Current Report on Form 8-K, which we will file with the SEC shortly after the 2024 Annual Meeting.

WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE EACH ITEM?

The Class III director nominee shall be elected by a plurality of the voting power of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the 2024 Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. The affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes of the shares entitled to vote on the proposal that were present and voted at the 2024 Annual Meeting is required to approve, ratify and confirm the re-appointment of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration (Proposal No. 2).

WHAT ARE ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES AND HOW WILL THEY BE TREATED?

An “abstention” occurs when a shareholder chooses to abstain or refrain from voting their shares on one or more matters presented for a vote. For the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum, abstentions are counted as present.

Abstentions will have no effect on the outcome of either proposal.

A “broker non-vote” occurs when a bank, broker or other holder of record holding shares for a beneficial owner attends the 2024 Annual Meeting in person or by proxy but does not vote on a particular proposal because that holder does not have discretionary authority to vote on that particular item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.

Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of either proposal.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO ATTEND THE 2024 ANNUAL MEETING?

If you plan to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting in person, you will need to bring proof of your ownership of shares, such as your proxy card or transfer agent statement and present an acceptable form of photo identification such as a passport or driver’s license. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the 2024 Annual Meeting.

If you are a beneficial owner holding shares in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee and you would like to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting, you will need to bring an account statement or other acceptable evidence of ownership of shares as of the close of business EST on November 15, 2024. In order to vote at the 2024 Annual Meeting, you must contact your bank, broker or other nominee in whose name your shares are registered and obtain a legal proxy from your bank, broker or other nominee and bring it to the 2024 Annual Meeting.

WHERE CAN I GET A COPY OF THE PROXY MATERIALS?

Copies of our annual report on Form 10-K for the two years ended June 30, 2024 (the “Annual Report”), the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “Quarterly Report,” together with the Annual Report, the “Periodic Reports”), the proxy card, the Notice and this Proxy Statement are available on our Company’s website at www.aeluma.com. The contents of that website are not a part of this Proxy Statement.

The Company posts its Periodic Reports on the Company’s website. The Annual Report was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 27, 2024; the Quarterly Report was filed on November 8, 2024. You may obtain a copy of our Periodic Reports by visiting the “SEC Filings” heading under the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.aeluma.com. If you want to receive a paper or email copy of the Periodic Reports, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy by contacting our Investor Relations Department at: ir@aeluma.com.

PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL NO. 1
ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors currently consists of four members. Only the terms of the Class III directors expire at this shareholder meeting and therefore only the Class III directors need to be elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting. Class I and Class II directors will remain on the board until their respective term expires.

As per our amended and restated bylaws, our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the class whose terms are then expiring, to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal.

The division of our Board of Directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control.

The Class III director nominee up for election at this meeting is:

Jonathan Klamkin serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and is one of our directors. Mr. Klamkin has been the CEO and Director of Biond Photonics (now Aeluma) since February 28, 2019. He is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (2015-present), where his group conducts pioneering research in integrated photonics and optoelectronics for communications and sensing applications. Mr. Klamkin was with BinOptics Corp. (2001-2002), a laser diode manufacturer that was acquired by Macom in 2015. Jonathan is the recipient of numerous awards including the NASA Young Faculty Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, and the DARPA Director’s Fellowship. He has published more than 200 papers, holds several patents, and has given more than 100 invited presentations to industry, government, and the academic community. Mr. Klamkin holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Ph.D. in Materials from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Our other directors are as follows, and will serve until the expiration of his/her term noted below:

CRAIG ENSLEY

Craig Ensley serves as one of our directors and chairs compensation committee. Craig Ensley has built and led global semiconductor businesses in Analog & DSP, MEMS & Sensors, Communications (RF/Wireless, Optical, and Wired), and Consumer. Most recently he has been the CEO or President of three venture-backed companies which he repositioned to drive growth, create first profitability, and deliver superior shareholder returns. Previously, he served as SVP of a public firm where he helped lead a successful $1 billion turnaround & restructuring. Prior, he was an executive helping build two businesses from pre-revenue to $300-400 million in sales. Mr. Ensley serves as a Board Director of Mentium Technologies, which delivers mission-critical Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to Edge Devices. He also serves on the Governing Council (aka Board of Directors) of the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group, the WW supplier ecosystem. He is an active investor with the Santa Barbara Angel Investor Alliance and an advisor at the Silicon Catalyst incubator. Previously, Mr. Ensley was CEO of Atomica (formerly IMT), where he and the team grew it to become the largest MEMS & Sensor manufacturing foundry in the U.S. Prior to Atomica, he was CEO of DisplayLink, creating an enterprise video networking firm with global leadership. He was President of Peregrine, which built high-volume RF & Wireless devices leading the world’s transitions to 3G & 4G wireless. Peregrine invented high

volume SOI (Silicon on Insulator) process technology and took over markets previously served by GaAs. Mr. Ensley’s earlier roles were leading strategy, development, and marketing. As SVP, he was on the team to restructure Cirrus Logic from massive losses to profitability and growth. He previously helped start Crystal Semiconductor, which became the world’s highest growth analog & mixed signal DSP company. At Rockwell International, Mr. Ensley started and built the communications semiconductor business, which subsequently spun out as 3 public companies: Conexant, Mindspeed, and Jazz. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Consumer Electronics Association Home Networking Division and Audio Division, and the KLRU Austin PBS Television Station. Mr. Ensley holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, both from the University of California at San Diego. We believe Mr. Ensley qualifies as our director because of his entrepreneurial and start-up experience, as well as his engineering knowledge.

STEVEN P. DENBAARS

Steven P. DenBaars serves as one of our directors. Steven has been on Biond Photonics’ (now Aeluma’s) Board of Directors since June 5, 2021. He is a Professor of Materials and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara (1991-pres). Prof. DenBaars has been very active in entrepreneurship, having helped co-found several start-up companies in the field of photonics and electronics. In 1996, he Co-founded Nitres Inc. along with Dr. Umesh Mishra which was acquired by Cree Inc. in May 2000. In 2013, he Co-Founded SLD Laser, and helped build the company to over 150 employees before being acquired by Kyocera Corporation in 2021. In 2014, he assisted Dr. Jeffry Shealy in the founding of Akoustis Technologies Inc. (AKTS) for commercialization of RF Filters, and he is currently on the Board of Directors. He received the IEEE Fellow award in 2005, member of the National Academy of Engineers 2012, and National Academy of Inventors in 2014. He has authored or co-authored over 980 technical publications, 350 conference presentations, and over 185 patents. Mr. DenBaars has a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Material Science and Electrical Engineering, respectively from the University of Southern California. We believe that Mr. DenBaars qualifies as our director because of his entrepreneurial and start-up experience, as well as his engineering knowledge.

JOHN PAGLIA

John Paglia serves as one of our directors. Dr. Paglia is an independent board director and audit committee chair for Simulations Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLP), independent board director and audit committee chair for Cal-X Business Accelerator, Inc. (with 30+ regenerative health technology startups), board director for two not-for-profits (California Amateur Hockey Association and Santa Clarita Flyers Hockey Club), and an advisory board member for both VitaNav, Inc. (a ketone-based beverage company) and The Most Fundable Companies Council. At Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, he is a tenured Professor of Finance where his specialty areas are venture capital, private equity, corporate finance, business valuations, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). In addition, he held a number of leadership positions at Pepperdine University since joining in 2000, most recently as Senior Associate Dean where he had oversight for over 100 full-time business school faculty and key strategic projects, and, prior to that, as executive director of Graziadio Business School’s entrepreneurship institute. Dr. Paglia holds a Ph.D. in Finance, an MBA, a B.S. in Finance, and is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, and is NACD Directorship Certified™. Dr. Paglia is a recipient of several prestigious honors for his work on the financing and capital markets. We believe his knowledge of technical accounting issues and business experience qualify him as an expert in financial matters and as a qualified candidate for the Board.

Executive Officers

The following table sets forth as of the date of this report, the name, age, and position of our sole executive officer.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

To the best of the Company’s knowledge, none of the following events occurred during the past ten years that are material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of any of our executive officers, directors, Director Nominees, or promoters:

(1)    A petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;

(2)    Convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

(3)    Subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities:

(i)     Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity;

(ii)    Engaging in any type of business practice; or

(iii)   Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws;

(4)    Subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described in Section 3(i) above, or to be associated with persons engaged in any such activity;

(5)    Found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;

(6)    Found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any Federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

(7)    Subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of:

(i)     Any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation; or

(ii)    Any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or

(iii)   Any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

(8)    Subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (15 U.S. C 78c(a)(26)), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

Corporate Governance

Director Independence and Board Committees

We are not currently required to maintain any committees of our Board. We are not currently subject to listing requirements of any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system, which has requirements that a majority of the Board of Directors be “independent” or maintain any committees of our Board and, as a result, we are not at this time required to have our Board of Directors comprised of a majority of “independent directors” or have any committees. However, as of the date hereof, we have 2 independent directors.

Our Board of Directors shall determine which directors qualify as “independent” directors in accordance with listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, or NASDAQ. The NASDAQ independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us.

Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Paglia & Mr. Ensley shall be considered an independent director in accordance with the definition of independence applied by the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Although it is not required, we established three standing committees: an audit committee in compliance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, a compensation committee, and a nominating and governance committee. We will add independent directors, as needed to each committee at the necessary time as per the applicable exchange’s rules.

Audit committee.    Under the national exchange listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee. Thus far, Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia were the only directors who met the independent director standard under national exchange listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act; Mr. DenBaars also serves on the Audit committee, although he is not considered “independent”. Mr. Paglia was selected to serve as chairman of our audit committee. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate, and our Board has determined that Mr. Paglia qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

We adopted an audit committee charter, which will detail the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

•        appoint, compensate, and oversee the work of any registered public accounting firm employed by us;

•        resolve any disagreements between management and the auditor regarding financial reporting;

•        pre-approve all auditing and non-audit services;

•        retain independent counsel, accountants, or others to advise the audit committee or assist in the conduct of an investigation;

•        seek any information it requires from employees-all of whom are directed to cooperate with the audit committee’s requests-or external parties;

•        meet with our officers, external auditors, or outside counsel, as necessary; and

•        oversee that management has established and maintained processes to assure our compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and corporate policy.

Compensation Committee.    The compensation committee consists of Mr. Ensley (Chair), Mr. Paglia and Mr. DenBaars. Under the national exchange listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions.

We adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:

•        discharge the responsibilities of the Board relating to compensation of our directors, executive officers and key employees;

•        assist the Board in establishing appropriate incentive compensation and equity-based plans and to administer such plans;

•        oversee the annual process of evaluation of the performance of our management; and

•        perform such other duties and responsibilities as enumerated in and consistent with compensation committee’s charter.

The charter permits the committee to retain or receive advice from a compensation consultant and outlines certain requirements to ensure the consultants independence or certain circumstances under which the consultant need not be independent. However, as of the date hereof, the Company has not retained such a consultant.

Nominating and Governance Committee.    The nominating and governance committee consists of Mr. DenBaars (Chair), Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia. We adopted a nominating and governance committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and governance committee, including:

•        assist the Board by identifying qualified candidates for director nominees, and to recommend to the Board of Directors the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders;

•        lead the Board in its annual review of its performance;

•        recommend to the board director nominees for each committee of the Board; and

•        develop and recommend to the Board corporate governance guidelines applicable to us.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

During the year ended June 30, 2024, Board meetings were held on September 20, 2023, November 7, 2023, February 9, 2024, and May 9, 2024. The Board also transacted business by unanimous written consent throughout the year.

Family Relationships

None of the directors or executive officers has a family relationship as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.

Terms of Directors and Executive Officers

Each of our directors holds office until a successor has been duly elected and qualified unless the director was appointed by the Board of Directors, in which case such director holds office until the next following annual meeting of shareholders at which time such director is eligible for re-election. All of our executive officers are appointed by and serve at the discretion of our Board of Directors.

As per our amended and restated bylaws, our Board of Directors is divided into three classes of directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the class whose terms are then expiring, to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election or until their earlier death, resignation, or removal.

Qualification

There are no membership qualifications for directors. Further, there are no share ownership qualifications for directors unless so fixed by us in a general meeting. There are no other arrangements or understandings pursuant to which our directors are selected or nominated.

Interested Transactions

Pursuant to our Certificate of Incorporation, no contract or other transaction between the Company and one or more or its directors or officers, or between the Company and any Company, firm or association in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers or are financially interested, is void or voidable solely for this reason or solely because any such director or officer is present at the meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof which authorizes or approves the contract or transaction, or because the vote or votes of common or interested directors are counted for that purpose, if the circumstances specified in any of the following paragraphs exist:

(a)     The fact of the common directorship, office or financial interest is disclosed or known to the Board of Directors or committee and noted in the minutes, and the board or committee authorizes, approves or ratifies the contract or transaction in good faith by a vote sufficient for the purpose without counting the vote or votes of the common or interested director or directors;

(b)    The fact of the common directorship, office or financial interest is disclosed or known to the stockholders, and they approve or ratify the contract or transaction in good faith by a majority vote of stockholders holding a majority of the voting power. The votes of the common or interested directors or officers must be counted in any such vote of stockholders; or

(c)     The contract or transaction is fair as to the Company at the time it is authorized or approved.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC. Such directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based on our review of forms we received, or written representations from reporting persons stating that they were not required to file these forms, we believe that, during the reporting period covered by this Report, all Section 16(a) filing requirements were satisfied on a timely basis.

Executive Compensation

As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act and a smaller reporting company we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies.

Summary Compensation Table

The following summary compensation table sets forth all compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the named executive officer during the years ended June 30, 2024, and 2023 in all capacities for the accounts of our executive, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO):

____________

(1)      The Board of Directors approved an annual base compensation of $230,000 for Mr. Klamkin effective July 1, 2021. On October 14, 2022, the Board of Directors approved the adjustment of Mr. Klamkin’s compensation to $10,000.00 per month for the period from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, and then back to $19,166.67 per month ($230,000 per year) as of January 1, 2023. On November 30, 2022, the Board of Directors approved an increase in Mr. Klamkin’s annual salary to $255,000 and also approved issuing him 100,000 options with a 4-year vesting schedule, with an exercise price of $2.10 per share, subject to continued service as of each such vesting date.

(2)      The dollar amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value of stock option awards granted during the year ended June 30, 2023. These amounts have been calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.

(3)      Mr. McCarthy served as interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer from the Merger until November 2022; he also served as a director from the Merger until November 2021. However, he received five (5) months of his annual salary in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.

Employment and Change in Control Agreements

We do not have an employment agreement with any of our officers. However, pursuant to our advisor agreement with Mr. DenBaars, if there is a change of control, other than the Merger, while he is still retained by the Company as an advisor, all of his unvested shares, per his amended advisor agreement, will vest at the closing of such change in control transaction. Additionally, as per the restricted stock purchase agreements we maintain with Mr. Klamkin and

Mr. McCarthy, if either of their respective employment with the Company is terminated by the Company, other than for cause, or is terminated by the individual for Good Reason (as defined in the related agreement), within a year after the Merger, then, effective as of such termination, 100% of such terminated person’s unvested shares will vest.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

The following table presents information regarding certain outstanding shares held by each of our named executive officers as of June 30, 2024. These shares were converted into shares of our common stock in connection with the Merger, and the table below reflects all outstanding shares as of June 30, 2024 as if they had been granted by us.

Outstanding Equity Awards at June 30, 2024

____________

(1)      On November 30, 2022, we granted to Mr. Klamkin a stock option to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock. The shares will vest in equal quarterly installments over the following four years, subject to continued service as of each such vesting date

(2)      These shares were purchased pursuant to Founder’s Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between Mr. Klamkin and the Company on October 27, 2020. Mr. Klamkin purchased a total of 1,623,920 shares (represented 1,250,000 shares of Biond prior to the Merger) pursuant to the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, 20% of the shares vested on the date the agreement was signed and starting on November 30, 2020, and for every month thereafter until employment termination, 1/48th of the remaining shares shall vest on the last day of each succeeding calendar month. The agreement also provides that if there is a change of control, like the Merger, and if Mr. Klamkin is terminated, other than for cause, during the period starting 90 days before the Merger and for a year thereafter, all unvested shares shall vest at the date of termination. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2024, 1,515,659 shares have vested. The market value of the unvested shares was based on $3.59 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on June 30, 2024.

Our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and upon the closing of the Merger, we adopted our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which provides for the issuance of incentive awards of stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, cash awards, and stock bonus awards. We initially reserved 980,000 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under our 2021 Plan. The number of shares reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan will increase automatically on January 1 of each of 2022 through 2031 by the number of shares equal to the lesser of 5% of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31, or a number as may be determined by our Board of Directors. On January 1, 2022, and 2023, the number of shares reserved for issuance was increased by 532,500 shares and 565,850 shares, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, the number of shares available for future issuance under our 2021 Plan was 1,723,598. As of the Record Date, the number of shares available for future issuance under our 2021 Plan was 1,723,598.

Compensation Paid to Directors

The following table provides a summary of compensation issued to directors, who are not also executive officers, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The only director who is also an executive director is Mr. Klamkin, whose compensation is included in the Summary Compensation table above.

____________

(1)      The dollar amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value of stock option awards granted during the year ended June 30, 2024. These amounts have been calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.

(2)      On March 1, 2024, we granted Mr. DenBaars, Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia stock options to purchase 43,279 shares, 44,004 shares and 13,538 shares, respectively, of our common stock at a price of $2.99. One quarter of the shares vested immediately and the remaining shares vest quarterly over nine months, subject to continued service as of each such vesting date.

(3)      We entered into an independent director agreement with Mr. Ensley, pursuant to which we issued him 29,014 stock options at a price of $2.99 per share and provided him with standard indemnification. The terms of the option grants are as follows: 6,514 of the stock options shall vest on February 29, 2024, 7,500 stock options vested on May 31, 2024, 7,500 vested on August 31, 2024 and 7,500 shall vest on November 30, 2024; if Mr. Ensley resigns or is otherwise terminated, any unvested options will be immediately cancelled and he will have 90 days to exercise any earned, vested options. For each year of committee service, Mr. Ensley will receive an additional 15,500 options with vesting in equal quarterly increments. The agreement became effective as of December 14, 2023, and committee service commenced on February 10, 2022. As of June 30, 2024, 20,902 options have vested for Mr. Ensley pursuant to his independent director agreement.

(4)      We entered into an independent director agreement with Mr. Paglia, pursuant to which we issued him 125,000 stock options at a price of $2.00 per share and provided him with standard indemnification. The terms of the option grants are as follows: 50,000 of the stock options shall vest in equal quarterly increments during the first year of directorship; an additional 37,500 shall vest in equal quarterly increments over the second and third year of the directorship, if re-elected; if the director is not re-elected, any unvested options are cancelled. For each year of committee service, Mr. Paglia will receive an additional 16,750 options with vesting in equal quarterly increments. The agreement became effective as of December 1, 2021, and committee service commenced on February 10, 2022. As of June 30, 2024, 154,912 options have vested for Mr. Paglia pursuant to his independent director agreement.

Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans

With the exception of the executive officers that are eligible for participation in the company 401(k) plan, there are currently no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers. Cash or non-cash compensation may be paid to our executive officers, including stock options, at the discretion of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the Record Date, by:

•        each of our named executive officers;

•        each of our directors;

•        all of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and

•        each person, or group of affiliated persons, who beneficially owned more than 5% of our common stock.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that they beneficially owned, subject to applicable community property laws.

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of November 15, 2024, shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date. Shares of common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days of the Record Date are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such rights but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person, except with respect to the percentage ownership of all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner in the table below is c/o Aeluma, 27 Castilian Drive, Goleta, California 93117.

____________

*        Less than 1%.

(1)      Represents 1,626,995 shares held by Mr. Klamkin, 43,750 shares that vested pursuant to his stock options agreement through the date hereof and 6,250 shares that shall vest within the next 60 days pursuant to the terms of his stock options agreement.

(2)      Represents 410,088 shares held by Mr. DenBaars, 32,090 shares that vested pursuant to Mr. DenBaars’ stock options and director agreement as of Record Date and 11,189 shares that shall vest within the next 60 days pursuant to the terms of his stock options agreement.

(3)      Represents 16,667 shares held by Mr. Ensley, 32,629 that vested pursuant to Mr. Ensley’s stock options and director agreement as of the Record Date and 11,375 shares that shall vest within the next 60 days pursuant to the terms of his stock options agreement.

(4)      Represents 12,500 shares held by Mr. Paglia, 168,475 shares that vested pursuant to his stock options and director agreement through the Record Date, and 13,563 shares that shall vest within the next 60 days pursuant to the terms of his stock options per his director agreement.

(5)      Includes 2,275,000 shares Mr. Tompkins retains from his ownership before the Merger and 357,500 shares he purchased in the Offering for $715,000. Mr. Tompkins served as our director since inception; he resigned on the effective date of the Merger.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table discloses information as of the end of the period ending June 30, 2024, with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance, aggregated as follows:

Equity Compensation Plan Information

____________

(1)      The number of shares reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan (as defined below) was initially 980,000; such amount will increase automatically on January 1 of each of 2022 through 2031 by the number of shares equal to the lesser of 5% of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31, or a number as may be determined by our board of directors. On January 1, 2023 and 2024, the number of shares reserved for issuance was increased by 565,850 shares and 608,396 shares, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, the number of shares available for future issuance under our 2021 Plan was 1,732,925.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Except as disclosed herein, no director, executive officer, shareholder holding at least 5% of shares of our common stock, or any family member thereof, had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction, or proposed transaction since July 1, 2022, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at the year-end for the last two completed fiscal years.

The Company is party to that certain Advisory Agreement with Mr. DenBaars, one of our directors, dated as of December 31, 2020, pursuant to which Mr. DenBaars shall serve as an advisor to the Company. Under the agreement, as partial compensation for his advisory services, the Company granted Mr. DenBaars the right to purchase 32,805 shares of common stock (represents 25,252 shares of Biond common stock prior to the Merger) at a price $0.008 per share; the shares have a four-year vesting schedule and Mr. DenBaars purchased such shares on February 4, 2021, prior to being appointed as one of our directors. The Advisory Agreement with Mr. DenBaars was amended on June 10, 2021 to reflect additional advisory services. Under this agreement, as partial compensation for his advisory service, the Company granted Mr. DenBaars the right to purchase an additional 213,198 shares of the Company’s common stock (represents 164,108 shares of Biond common stock prior to the Merger) at a price of $0.015 per share; the shares have a two-year vesting schedule. Pursuant to the terms of his advisory agreements, 241,903 of the shares have vested as of the date of this Report.

Participation in the Offering

Our director Steven DenBaars purchased 33,333 shares of our common stock in the private financing that occurred between December 2022 and May 2023, at the purchase price of $3 per share. Such purchases were made on the same terms as the shares that were sold to other investors in the Offering and not pursuant to any pre-existing contractual rights or obligations.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR
THE ELECTION OF THE CLASS III DIRECTOR NOMINEE

PROPOSAL NO. 2
APPROVAL, RATIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF
RE-APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS AND
AUTHORIZATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO FIX THEIR REMUNERATION

The Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), which is composed entirely of independent directors, has selected Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, to audit our financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. Ratification of the selection of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP by shareholders is not required by law. However, as a matter of good corporate practice, such selection is being submitted to the shareholders for ratification at the 2024 Annual Meeting. If the shareholders do not ratify the selection, the Board and the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP, but may, in their discretion, retain Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

A Representative from Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP will be in attendance at the 2024 Annual Meeting via teleconference to respond to any appropriate questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if they so desire.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Other Matters

The following table shows the fees that were billed for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Audit Fees — This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with engagements for those fiscal years. This category also includes advice on audit and accounting matters that arose during, or as a result of, the audit or the review of interim financial statements.

This category consists of assurance and related services by the independent registered public accounting firm that is reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and is not reported above under “Audit Fees.” The services for the fees disclosed under this category include consultation regarding our correspondence with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other accounting consulting.

Tax Fees — This category consists of professional services rendered by our independent registered public accounting firm for tax compliance and tax advice. The services for the fees disclosed under this category include tax return preparation and technical tax advice.

All Other Fees — This category consists of fees for other miscellaneous items.

Our Board of Directors has adopted a procedure for pre-approval of all fees charged by our independent registered public accounting firm. Under the procedure, the board approves the engagement letter with respect to audit and review services. Other fees are subject to pre-approval by the board, or, in the period between meetings, by a designated member of the board. Any such approval by the designated member is disclosed to the entire board at the next meeting.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE AUDIT COMMITTEE RECOMMEND
A VOTE FOR APPROVAL, RATIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION OF THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF
ROSE, SNYDER & JACOBS LLP
AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025 AND
AUTHORIZATION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO FIX THEIR REMUNERATION

OTHER MATTERS

Our Board knows of no other matter to be presented at the Meeting. If any additional matter should properly come before the Meeting, it is the intention of the persons named in the enclosed proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with their judgment on any such matters.

Annex A

Form of Proxy Card

AELUMA, INC.

January 9, 2025

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held at 9:00 a.m. PST on January 9, 2025
(Record Date — November 15, 2024)

THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The undersigned hereby appoints Jonathan Klamkin, as proxy of the undersigned, with full power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes him to represent and to vote all the shares of stock of Aeluma, Inc. which the undersigned is entitled to vote, as specified below on this card, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Aeluma, Inc. to be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. PST at 27 Castilian Drive, Goleta, California 93117, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED SHAREHOLDER.    IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSALS. This proxy authorizes the above designated proxy to vote in his discretion on such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof to the extent authorized by Rule 14a-4(c) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR ALL”
OF PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 2 SET FORTH BELOW.

PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY, BEFORE 11:59 P.M. EST ON January 8, 2024.
PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK

PROPOSAL 1:  To re-elect the Class III director named in this Proxy Statement to hold office for a 3-year term and until his respective successor is elected and duly qualified.

NOMINEES:

PROPOSAL 2:  To approve, ratify and confirm the re-appointment of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the year ending June 30, 2025, and to authorize the Board of Directors to fix their remuneration.

Please indicate if you intend to attend this meeting              ☐ YES              ☐ NO

Note:   Please sign exactly as your name or names appear in the Company’s stock transfer books. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.

If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such.

If the signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person.

Please provide any change of address information in the spaces below in order that we may update our records:

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

____________________

FORM 10-K

____________________

(Mark One)

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

or

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number: 000-56218

____________________

AELUMA, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

____________________

(805) 351-2707
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, $0.0001 par value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of December 31, 2023, as computed by reference to $2.90, the price at which the common stock was last sold, was approximately $29,294,872.

As of September 25, 2024, there were 12,178,424 shares of the issuer’s common stock outstanding and no share of preferred stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, references to “Aeluma,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or similar terms refer to Aeluma, Inc. and Subsidiary.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to us. Such statements should not be unduly relied upon. Forward-looking statements include statements about our expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, intentions, assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts or that are not present facts or conditions. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology or words, such as “anticipate,” “approximately,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “pending,” “perceive,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seeks,” “should,” “views” or similar words or phrases or variations thereon, or the negatives of those words or phrases, or statements that events, conditions or results “can,” “will,” “may,” “must,” “would,” “could” or “should” occur or be achieved and similar expressions in connection with any discussion, expectation or projection of future operating or financial performance, costs, regulations, events or trends. The absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

Forward-looking statements and information are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. These statements reflect our current view concerning future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. There are important factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from those described in this report as anticipated, estimated or expected, as well as general conditions in the economy, capital markets, Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) regulations which affect trading in the securities of “penny stocks,” and other risks and uncertainties. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Depending on the market for our stock and other conditional tests, a specific safe harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 may be available. Notwithstanding the above, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), expressly state that the safe harbor for forward-looking statements does not apply to companies that issue penny stock. Because we may from time to time be considered to be an issuer of penny stock, the safe harbor for forward-looking statements may not apply to us at certain times.

PART I

Item 1.       Business.

Overview

We develop novel optoelectronic devices for sensing and communications applications. Aeluma has pioneered a technique to manufacture devices using high performance compound semiconductor materials on large-diameter substrates that are commonly used to manufacture mass market microelectronics. This enables cost-effective manufacturing of high-performance photodetectors and photodetector array circuits for imaging applications in mobile devices, as well as other technologies. This technology has the potential to enhance the performance and capability of camera image sensors, light detection and ranging (LiDAR), augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), facial recognition, and other applications.

Because we will leverage compound semiconductor materials, our devices may operate at longer wavelengths than traditional silicon-based image sensors, up to at least 1600 nm, which is advantageous for a number of reasons including eye safety. Beyond 1400 nm is considered eye safe at significantly higher optical power levels relative to that at shorter wavelengths. Therefore, for LiDAR sensing systems, the range (the detectable object distance) can be increased significantly. Operating at specific longer wavelengths (for example, near 1550 nm) also enables imaging both in low light (dark) conditions, as well as in direct sunlight. Therefore, images could be captured outdoors and in various conditions.

Additionally, Aeluma’s technology may be used to manufacture other electronic and optoelectronic devices in the future including lasers, transistors, and solar cells.

Aeluma has acquired key manufacturing equipment, and has headquarters in Goleta, California with a manufacturing cleanroom to house this equipment.

Recent Events

For the year ended June 30, 2024, we were awarded several contracts, totaling $1,323,237, some of which is from the U.S. Navy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Department of Energy, for providing services and for delivering materials. The awards are firm fixed price contracts that shall be paid upon completion of certain milestones, and may include deliveries of samples or materials.

Our Strategy

We will continue to develop our technology that includes novel materials and devices based on our core intellectual property. Our primary focus is to manufacture high-performance photodetector array circuits for image sensors and other optoelectronic devices. Initial efforts aim to penetrate the 3D imaging and sensing (mobile and consumer, defense and aerospace, industrial, medical, auto), LiDAR (robotic vehicles, autonomous driving (AD), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), topography, wind, industrial), and communications (telecommunications, data center communication, artificial intelligence (AI) communications, and quantum processing and communications) markets.

Our Technology

Our technology is based on heterogeneous integration of compound semiconductor materials on large-diameter substrates such as silicon. This heterogeneous integration enables the subsequent device fabrication and manufacturing in large-scale manufacturing environments that are suited to mass markets.

Competition

There are two primary classes of image sensors for the near infrared and shortwave infrared currently on the market: low-cost silicon-based sensors and high-performance compound semiconductor (ex. indium gallium arsenide or InGaAs) sensors. The major suppliers of silicon CMOS image sensors include Sony, Samsung, Omnivision, Onsemi, ST Microelectronics, Panasonic, Canon, SK Hynix, and others (Source: Yole Development, www.yole.fr). Alternative technologies that can be manufactured on silicon include germanium and colloidal quantum dots. The major suppliers of InGaAs sensors include Hamamatsu, Sumitomo, Teledyne/FLIR, Excelitas, and others (Source: Markets and Markets, www.marketsandmarkets.com).

We believe that our technology will be able to compete effectively because we are uniquely positioned to outperform silicon CMOS image sensors, germanium, and colloidal quantum dots while achieving a cost of manufacturing that is lower than that for traditional InGaAs sensors. Compared to silicon, InGaAs demonstrates higher detection sensitivity and a broader wavelength absorption spectrum. Silicon absorbs or detects light in the visible spectral region (400-750 nm) and partially in the near infrared (NIR) spectral region (greater than 750 nm), cutting off near 940 nm. InGaAs not only demonstrates higher absorption in the NIR, but also extends well into the shortwave infrared spectrum (900-1700 nm), cutting off near 1700 nm, with the ability to extend to near 2500 nm.

We believe that we are also positioned to win on price in competing with current InGaAs sensors while having the ability to realize much larger area photodetector arrays because of our ability to manufacture on up to 12-inch silicon substrates, whereas competing InGaAs photodetectors are manufactured on indium phosphide (InP) substrates that are typically between 2 to 4 inches in diameter. Therefore, in addition to realizing many more sensor chips per wafer, we have the ability to realize array sizes that are larger than what is possible with traditional InGaAs manufacturing on InP wafers, and to leverage silicon-based wafer-scale techniques for backend processing, integration, and packaging.

Existing and potential competitors have or could have advantages such as greater name recognition, longer operating histories, broader and deeper product portfolios, larger customer bases, substantially greater financial and other resources, and larger scale manufacturing operations. However, we believe that our products will have the potential to compete because of our unique ability to manufacture high performance devices at scale and at low cost.

Customers

Aeluma has customer engagements that involve development of wafers, delivery of engineering samples for evaluation, and delivery of small volumes of chips. Aeluma also performs on government-funded R&D projects. Aeluma’s technology is broadly applicable. Potential markets include automotive LiDAR, industrial LiDAR, robotics, mobile, AR/VR, AI, communications, and defense and aerospace. Our current strategy is to pursue partnerships with system integrators, including mobile and consumer electronics manufacturers, LiDAR companies and Tier 1 automotive suppliers, module manufacturers, component suppliers, or semiconductor manufacturing companies. Aeluma is pursuing direct sales relationships and strategic partnerships.

Potential customers include those in the mobile market (both mobile phone manufacturers and companies that sell integrated solutions to them), LiDAR for cars and other vehicles, robotics, AR/VR, AI, and defense and aerospace.

Markets

The CMOS image sensors market is projected to be $30B in 2026 (Source: Yole Development). Manufacturers of mobile phones, tablets, and LiDAR for automotive vehicles may be prospective customers for Aeluma. In the mobile market, Apple arguably leads in terms of deploying advanced capabilities such as LiDAR sensing in their devices; Apple does not currently use our technology in any of their products. Apple leverages vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL) emitters in conjunction with single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors for a LiDAR scanner in smartphones and tablets and such technology “helps to deliver faster, more realistic augmented reality experiences and improves autofocus in low-light scenes in photos and videos” (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/05/apple-awards-an-additional-410-million-from-its-advanced-manufacturing-fund-to-ii-vi/). Other major smartphone suppliers include Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Huawei, and realme (Source: www.counterpointresearch.com). The automotive LiDAR market is projected to be between $5-80B in 2030 (https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2022-05-31/lidar-market-size-to-be-worth-4-71-billion-by-2030-grand-view-research-inc; AEye Presentation, LD Micro Invitational 2022; Estimate by Velodyne).

Intellectual Property

Aeluma has filed several patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and several patents have been issued. We have filed trademarks for the name “Aeluma” and the slogan “Sensing Reimagined” with the USPTO. We maintain protection of trade secrets that include “know-how” and process recipes.

Our Intellectual Property Approach

Our strategy for the protection of our proprietary technology is to seek worldwide patent protection with a focus on jurisdictions that represent significant global semiconductor markets. However, we will assess on a case-by-case basis whether it is strategically more favorable to maintain trade secret protection for our inventions and “know-how” rather than pursue patent protection. Generally, patents have a term of twenty years from the earliest priority date, assuming that all maintenance fees are paid, no portion of the patent has been terminally disclaimed, and the patent has not been invalidated. In certain jurisdictions, and in certain circumstances, patent terms can be extended or shortened.

Governmental & Environmental Regulations

Our primary products are anticipated to be compound semiconductor optoelectronic devices manufactured on silicon substrates, including InGaAs photodetectors and photodetector arrays. To the extent that our products are or become subject to U.S. export controls and regulations, these regulations may limit the export of our products and technology, and provision of our services outside of the United States, or may require export authorizations, including by license, a license exception, or other appropriate government authorizations and conditions, including annual or semi-annual reporting. Export control and economic sanctions laws may also include prohibitions on the sale or supply of certain of our products to embargoed or sanctioned countries, regions, governments, persons, and entities. In addition, various countries regulate the importation of certain products, through import permitting and licensing requirements, and have enacted laws that could limit our ability to distribute our products. The exportation, re-exportation, and importation of our products and technology and the provision of services, including by our partners, must comply with these laws or else we may be adversely affected, through reputational harm, government investigations, penalties, and a denial or curtailment of our ability to export our products and technology. Complying with export control and sanctions laws may be time-consuming and may result in the delay or loss of sales opportunities. Although we take precautions to prevent our products and technology from being provided in violation of such laws, our products and technology may have previously been, and could in the future be, provided inadvertently in violation of such laws, despite the precautions we take. If we are found to be in violation of U.S. sanctions or export control laws, it could result in substantial fines and penalties for us and for the individuals working for us. Export or import laws or sanctions policies are subject to rapid change and have been the subject of recent U.S. and non-U.S. government actions. Changes in export or import laws or sanctions policies, may adversely impact our operations, delay the introduction and sale of our products in international markets, or, in some cases, prevent the export or import of our products and technology to certain countries, regions, governments, persons, or entities altogether, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We seek to comply with all applicable statutory and administrative requirements concerning environmental quality. Expenditures for compliance with federal state and local environmental laws have not had, and are not expected to have, a material effect on our capital expenditures, results of operations or competitive position.

In addition, to the extent that our facilities and operations are or become subject to the plant and laboratory safety requirements of various environmental and occupational safety and health laws in the U.S., we believe we are in compliance with all such laws and regulations, and to date, those regulations have not materially restricted or impeded operations. Further, we believe our processes to be highly efficient, generating very low levels of waste and emissions. For this reason, we do not view issues surrounding climate change and any currently foreseeable related regulations as materially impacting our business and financial statements, beyond any inestimable impact on the macro-economic environment.

We are also generally subject to other industry and environmental regulations for electronic and semiconductor products such as the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC.

Manufacturing

We have established a manufacturing and R&D facility at our headquarters in Goleta, California. We have installed key equipment and we plan to control our core materials manufacturing and development. In addition to our facility, we work with a variety of vendors and are establishing relationships with industrial foundries to build out our manufacturing supply chain.

Sales

We are now delivering wafers and chips to some customers, primarily for R&D and sampling purposes.

Marketing

Marketing activities include direct relationships with potential customers and partners. We are under nondisclosure agreement (NDA) with a number of current and potential customers and partners, several of which have either visited Aeluma or hosted a visit by Aeluma representatives at their sites.

Employees & Human Resources

At June 30, 2024, Aeluma had 11 full-time employees, 2 part-time employees, and consultants. The majority of employees work in engineering. None of our employees are represented by a labor union. We have not experienced any work stoppages, and we consider our relations with our employees to be very good. We plan to hire additional persons on an as-needed basis. On a case-by-case basis, Aeluma may offer stock options to employees for attraction and retention.

Sustainability

We are committed to leveraging our technology for sustainable operations. Recognizing the profound impact of climate change on the global economy, our company, and our stakeholders, we embrace our responsibility to safeguard the planet. Our journey toward sustainability is ongoing, driven by a commitment to understand our environmental footprint and enhance our positive impact.

Litigation

There is no material litigation, arbitration, governmental proceeding or any other legal proceeding currently pending or known to be contemplated against us or any members of our management team in their capacity as such, and we and the members of our management team have not been subject to any such proceeding in the 10 years preceding the date of this Report. We may however be involved, from time to time, in claims and lawsuits incidental to the conduct of our business in the ordinary course. We carry insurance coverage in such amounts as we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances and that may or may not cover any or all of our liabilities in respect of these matters. We do not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial position, cash flows or results of operations, but cannot guarantee the same.

Corporate Information

Aeluma was incorporated in Delaware on August 21, 2020, under the name Parc Investments, Inc.; the name was changed to Aeluma, Inc. in June 2021. Our principal executive offices are located at 27 Castilian Drive, Goleta, California 93117. Our website is located at Aeluma, Inc. (ALMU) and we make available, free of charge, on or through our website all of our periodic reports, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such reports with the SEC. Our website and the information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this Annual Report.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors.

As a smaller reporting company, we are not required to provide the information called for by this Item. However, we encourage you to review the risk factors included in our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-273149) that was filed with the SEC on July 6, 2023.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 1C.    Cybersecurity.

Risk Management and Strategy

We periodically assess risks from cybersecurity threats, and monitor our information systems for potential vulnerabilities. However, to date, given the small size of our company and the nature of our operations, our reliance on information systems has been limited to the use of standard off-the-shelf software (such as Google, QuickBooks and Microsoft Office) and the use by our employees of standard personal computers. Accordingly, management has not implemented any formal process for assessing, identifying, and managing risks from cybersecurity threats.

We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with which we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As a company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We may not have sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss. However, risks from cybersecurity threats have, to date, not materially affected us, our business strategy, results of operations or financial condition.

Governance

As discussed above, given the nature of our current operations and our experience to date, we do not currently perceive cybersecurity as a particularly significant risk to our business. Accordingly, we have not tasked our Board of Directors with any additional cybersecurity oversight duties, or designated any committee of the Board of Directors to specifically oversee cybersecurity risks to our business.

Item 2.       Properties.

Our principal executive office is located at 27 Castilian Dr., Goleta, California. Effective February 22, 2021, we entered into a triple-net lease agreement with SBR Associates LP for the commercial building at 27 Castilian Dr. Goleta, California for a term of five years, which began on April 1, 2021. The current rent for this property is $14,014 per month, with a CPI escalation over the initial base rent over the term of the lease. The lease expires on March 31, 2026, with the option to renew the lease with reasonable notice for two 60 months periods.

Item 3.       Legal Proceedings.

We are not currently involved in any material legal proceedings. From time-to-time we are, and we anticipate that we will be, involved in legal proceedings, claims, and litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business and otherwise. The ultimate costs to resolve any such matters could have a material adverse effect on our financial statements. We could be forced to incur material expenses with respect to these legal proceedings, and in the event that there is an outcome in any that is adverse to us, our financial position and prospects could be harmed.

Item 4.       Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.       Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the OTCQB system under the symbol “ALMU.” Our CUSIP number is 00776X. There is currently limited trading volume for our Common Stock.

Holders of Record

As of September 25, 2024, we had 12,178,424 shares of our common stock outstanding held by approximately 99 stockholders of record.

Dividend Policy

We have never paid any cash dividends on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain future earnings to fund ongoing operations and future capital requirements. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent upon financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and such other factors as the board of directors deems relevant.

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

During the periods covered by this Report, we have not issued unregistered securities to any person, except as described below. None of these transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, except as specified below, or any public offering, and, unless otherwise indicated below, the Registrant believes that each transaction was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated thereunder, and/or Regulation S promulgated thereunder regarding offshore offers and sales. All recipients had adequate access, though their relationships with the Registrant, to information about the Registrant.

On November 7, 2022, we issued 150,000 shares of common stock to a consultant for providing consulting services to us.

On December 22, 2022, we issued an aggregate of 517,000 shares of our common stock to 21 accredited investors, for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,551,000 (the “Offering”).

On January 10, 2023, we held a second close of the Offering, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 214,667 shares of our common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $644,000.

On March 31, 2023, we held the third closing of the Offering, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 715,665 shares of our common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $2,147,000.

On May 10, 2023, we held the final closing of the Offering, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 570,166 shares of our common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,710,500.

Item 6.       Reserved.

Item 7.       Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this filing.

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and other financial information included in this report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors” in other filings we make

with the SEC for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as predictive of future results.

Overview

We develop novel optoelectronic devices for sensing and communications applications. Aeluma has pioneered a technique to manufacture devices using high performance compound semiconductor materials on large-diameter substrates that are commonly used to manufacture mass market microelectronics. This enables cost-effective manufacturing of high-performance photodetectors and photodetector array circuits for imaging applications in mobile devices, as well as other technologies. This technology has the potential to enhance the performance and capability of camera image sensors, LiDAR, AR/VR, facial recognition, and other applications. Additionally, Aeluma’s technology may be used to manufacture other electronic and optoelectronic devices in the future including lasers, transistors, and solar cells.

Private Placements

Between December 2022 and May 2023, we entered into subscription agreements (the “Subscription Agreement”) with certain accredited investors, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 2,017,498 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a per share purchase price of $3.00, for aggregate gross proceeds of $6,052,500 (the “Offering”).

Pursuant to the Offering, we paid a cash placement agent fee of $411,015 and issued placement agent warrants to purchase up to 85,653 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share. We also agreed to pay certain expenses of the placement agent in connection with the Offering.

In connection with the Subscription Agreement, we also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with the Investors, pursuant to which we agreed to register all of the shares of common stock issued in the Offering, including the shares of common stock underlying the warrant issued to the placement agent in this registration statement.

The closings of the Offering were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated by the SEC thereunder. The common stock in the Offering was sold to “accredited investors,” as defined in Regulation D, and was conducted on a “reasonable best efforts” basis.

Between August 5, 2024 and August 27, 2024, we issued convertible promissory notes in the aggregate principal amount of $3,145,000 to 10 accredited investors, pursuant to a private note financing. The Notes mature in June 2026 and do not carry any interest. The Notes are convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) upon the occurrence of certain events, (i.e., qualified financing resulting in at least $5,000,000 to the Company, if the Common Stock is uplisted to a national securities exchange or if neither of those such events occur prior to the maturity date, (together with Sale of the Company (as hereinafter defined), a “Conversion Event”)). The Note also provides that if there is a Sale of the Company, as defined in the Note, the Holder may elect to receive a cash payment equal to the aggregate amount of principal then outstanding under such Holder’s Note or convert the Note into shares of Common Stock equal to 85% of the VWAP of the Common Stock on the OTC Markets for the five trading days immediately prior to the Sale of the Company. Although the conversion price is dependent upon the type of Conversion Event that occurs, the Note does carry a ceiling and floor price: the applicable conversion price will not be lower than 85% of the 5-day VWAP on the applicable Closing Date (the “Floor Price”) nor will the applicable conversion price be higher than $3.50 per share (the “Ceiling Price”); the Floor Price and Ceiling Price shall automatically adjust in the event of a stock split or consolidation by the Company. The Floor Price for the investors who participated in this initial closing is equal to $2.68 per share. Since the Floor Price is tied to the Closing Date, the Floor Price may be different for investors that are part of a different closing, should the Company hold additional closings. The Investors were granted piggyback registration rights for the shares of Common Stock underlying the Note.

The NPA also contains customary representation and warranties of the Company and the Investors, indemnification obligations of the Company, termination provisions, and other obligations and rights of the parties.

The foregoing description of the NPA and the Note is qualified by reference to the full text of the forms of NPA and Note, which are filed as Exhibits hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Departure and Appointment of Directors and Officers

Mrs. Mehta decided not run for re-election in 2023; such decision was not the result of any disagreements with us on any matter related to the operations, policies, or practices of us. The Board nominated Mr. Craig Ensley to fill the vacancy on the Board; on December 14, 2023, the shareholders voted to elect Mr. Ensley to the board.

Plan of Operations

We have been developing our materials and characterization capabilities at our headquarters in Goleta, California, in connection with the further development of our business and the implementation of our plan of operations. We have installed key manufacturing equipment at our headquarters and will continue to develop relationships with manufacturing partners to carry out certain steps of our manufacturing processes externally. We have gained access to a rapid prototyping facility and are leveraging this access to fabricate early-stage prototypes. In the future, we intend to implement appropriate quality and manufacturing controls. Some equipment was procured previously, and other equipment is being procured through purchase orders with equipment vendors.

The primary sources of funding for equipment procurement and installation are the seed funding raised prior to becoming a public company and the funding raised from our financings. We have also leveraged funds to continue strengthening our intellectual property including patent applications, trademarks, and development of trade secrets and manufacturing process recipes. We will continue to develop our manufacturing and product development strategy by further engaging customers and strategic partners.

Limited Operating History

We cannot guarantee that the proceeds from the Offering will be sufficient to carry out all of our business plans. Our business is subject to risks inherent in growing an enterprise, including limited capital resources, risks inherent in the research and development process and possible rejection of our products in development.

If financing is not available on satisfactory terms, we may be unable to carry out all of our operations. Equity financing will result in dilution to existing stockholders.

Components of Results of Operations

Revenue

Our revenue currently consists of commercial product sales and government contracts.

Operating Expenses

The cost of revenue consists of costs of materials, as well as direct compensation and expenses incurred to provide deliverables that resulted in payment of our success fee and wafers delivered. We anticipate that our cost of revenue will vary substantially depending on the nature of products and/or services delivered in each customer engagement. Research and development expenses consist primarily of compensation and related costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation and employee benefits, costs associated with design, fabrication, packaging and testing of our devices, and facility lease and utility expenses. We expense research and development expenses as incurred.

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and related costs for personnel, including stock-based compensation and employee benefits. In addition, general and administrative expenses include third-party consulting, legal, insurance, audit and accounting services.

Other Income

Other income, net of other expenses, consists primarily of interest income and income generated from subleasing a portion of our research and development facility. The sub-lease ended in March 2023

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense consists primarily of income taxes in certain state jurisdictions in which we conduct business.

Results of Operations

Year ended June 30, 2024 compared to the year ended June 30, 2023

Our results of operations for the year ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the year ended June 30, 2023, were as follows:

Revenue:    Revenue increased $725,215, or 375.1%, to $918,554, of which $64,756 was from commercial product and service contracts and $853,798 was from government contracts, for the year ended June 30, 2024 from $193,339, of which $15,000 was from commercial product and service contracts and $178,339 was from government contracts, for the same period in 2023.

Operating expenses:    Operating expense decreased $221,162, or 3.9%, to $5,481,862 for the year ended June 30, 2024 from $5,703,024 for the same period in 2023, due primarily to a reduction in consulting expenses, offset partially by increased salaries and stock-based compensation expenses.

Other income:    Other income decreased $129,090, 99.2%, to $1,013 for the year ended June 30, 2024 from $130,103 for the same period in 2023. The decrease was due primarily to a $128,921 decrease in sub-lease income as the sublease ended in March 2023.

Income tax expense:    We did not record income tax expense for either of the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Capital Resources and Liquidity

Our financial statements have been presented on the basis that are a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and satisfaction of liabilities in the normal course of business. As presented in the financial statements, we incurred a net loss of $4,562,295 and $5,379,582 for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and losses are expected to continue in the near term. The accumulated deficit was $13,624,361 at June 30, 2024. We have been funding our operations through the sale of common stock in private placement transactions.

Management anticipates that significant additional expenditures will be necessary to develop and expand our business before significant positive operating cash flows can be achieved. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon our ability to raise additional capital and to ultimately achieve sustainable revenues and profitable operations. At June 30, 2024, we had $1,291,072 of cash and cash equivalents. These funds are insufficient to complete our business plan and as a consequence, we will need to seek additional funds, primarily through the issuance of debt or equity securities for cash to operate our business. No assurance can be given that any future financing will be available or, if available, that it will be on terms that are satisfactory to us. Even if we are able to obtain additional financing, it may contain undue restrictions on our operations, in the case of debt financing or cause substantial dilution for our stockholders, in the case of equity financing.

Management has undertaken steps as part of a plan to improve operations with the goal of sustaining our operations for the next twelve months and beyond. These steps include (a) raising additional capital and/or obtaining financing; (b) controlling overhead and expenses; (c) executing material sales or research contracts; and (d) pursuing additional sales and contracts. There can be no assurance that we can successfully accomplish these steps and it is uncertain that we will achieve a profitable level of operations and obtain additional financing. There can be no assurance that any additional financing will be available to us on satisfactory terms and conditions, if at all. As of the date of this Report, we have not entered into any formal agreements regarding the above.

In the event we are unable to continue as a going concern, the Company may elect or be required to seek protection from its creditors by filing a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or may be subject to an involuntary petition in bankruptcy. To date, management has not considered this alternative, nor does management view it as a likely occurrence.

We had working capital of $766,160 and $4,576,807 at June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Current assets decreased $3,941,060 to $1,392,846 at June 30, 2024 from $5,333,906 at June 30, 2023, primarily due to a $3,780,618 decrease in cash. Current liabilities decreased $130,413 to $626,686 at June 30, 2024 from $757,099 at June 30, 2023, due primarily to decreases in accounts payable.

The following table shows a summary of our cash flows for the periods presented:

Net cash used in our operating activities were $3,454,779 and $3,637,972 for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, due primarily to net losses of $4,562,295 and $5,379,582 for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Net cash used in our investing activities was $321,838 and $672,545 for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Investing activities include purchase of equipment and payment for leasehold improvements.

Net cash used in our financing activities was $4,001 for the year ended June 30, 2024 and net cash provided by our financing activities was $5,641,485 for the year ended June 30, 2023. We paid $4,001 to purchase Lee McCarthy’s unvested restricted shares for the year ended June 30, 2024 and received $5,641,284 from Private Placements, net of $411,015 offering cost.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

The Company has evaluated all issued but not yet effective accounting pronouncements and determined that they are either immaterial or not relevant to the Company.

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Not applicable.

Item 8.       Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Aeluma, Inc.

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aeluma, Inc. and Subsidiary (the Company) as of June 30, 2024 and 2023, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of June 30, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended June 30, 2024, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Explanatory Paragraph — Going Concern

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has incurred significant operating losses and negative cash flows from operations, and has generated limited revenue. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) “PCAOB” and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters are matters arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. We determined that there are no critical audit matters.

/s/ Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP
Rose, Snyder & Jacobs LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2021

Encino, California
September 27, 2024

Aeluma, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

Aeluma, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Operations

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

Aeluma, Inc. and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements

Aeluma, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 — The Company

Aeluma, Inc., headquartered in Goleta, California, is engaged in the research and development of infrared (IR) optical sensors to disrupt the market for IR sensors, and using its proprietary technology aims to produce a much higher performance alternative to today’s low-cost sensors at much lower prices than would otherwise be possible. The focus of Aeluma, Inc. (“the Company”) will be the image sensor market. Initial efforts hope to penetrate the 3D imaging and sensing (mobile and consumer, defense and aerospace, industrial, medical, auto) and LiDAR (robotic vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems vehicles (ADAS), topography, wind, industrial) markets.

Going Concern

The Company incurred a net loss of $4,562,295 and $5,379,582 for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and has accumulated deficit of $13,624,361 at June 30, 2024. In addition, the Company is in the research and development stage and has generated limited revenue to date. In order to support its operations, the Company will require additional infusions of cash from the sale of equity instruments or the issuance of debt instruments, or the commencement of profitable revenue generating activities. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, the Company’s ability to fund its operations, develop or enhance its sensors in the future or respond to competitive pressures would be significantly limited. Such limitations could require the Company to curtail, suspend or discontinue parts of its business plan.

These conditions raise doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), which contemplate continuation of the Company as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts and classification of liabilities that could result from the outcome of this uncertainty. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been presented in accordance with GAAP. The summary of significant accounting policies presented below is designed to assist in understanding the Company’s financial statements. Such financial statements and accompanying notes are the representations of the Company’s management, who is responsible for the Company’s integrity and objectivity.

Use of Estimates and Assumptions

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities. The actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially and adversely from the Company’s estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and the actual results, future results of operations will be affected.

Reclassification of Prior Year Presentation

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified for consistency with the current year presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the reported consolidated financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers cash in banks, deposits in transit, and highly liquid debt instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

Item 9.       Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None.

Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 15d-15(e)) are designed with the objective of ensuring that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed under the Exchange Act, such as this report, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Principal Financial Officer (principal financial officer), based on their evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2024, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were ineffective as of that date.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management’s annual report on internal control over financial reporting.    Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting, as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 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.

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Principal Financial Officer (principal financial officer), has assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2024. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth in the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013).

Based on the assessment using those criteria, management concluded that, as of June 30, 2024, our internal control over financial reporting was ineffective due to an insufficient number of personnel with appropriate technical accounting and SEC reporting expertise to adhere to certain control disciplines and to evaluate and properly record certain non-routine and complex transactions.

A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm.    This report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Our management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to the rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only the management’s report in this report.

Changes in internal control over financial reporting.    There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as the term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the year ended June 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B.    Other Information.

None.

Item 9C.    Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.

Not Applicable.

PART III

Item 10.     Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Executive Officers and Directors

The Board of Directors currently consists of four members. As per our amended and restated bylaws, our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, a class of directors will be elected for a three-year term to succeed the class whose terms are then expiring, to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following their election or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

The division of our Board of Directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control. See Exhibit 4.3 – “Description of Securities-Anti-Takeover Provisions” for a discussion of these and other anti-takeover provisions found in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately the closing of the Merger.

A majority of the authorized number of directors constitutes a quorum of the Board of Directors for the transaction of business. The directors must be present at the meeting to constitute a quorum. However, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors individually or collectively consent in writing to the action.

Our prior Class II director, Ms. Mehta did not stand for re-election at our 2023 Annual Shareholder Meeting; our Board nominated and our shareholders elected Mr. Craig Ensley to be the Class II director, to serve until the 2026 annual meeting or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.

The following table provides information regarding our executive officers and directors as of the date hereof:

Background of Officers and Directors

Jonathan Klamkin serves as President and Chief Executive Officer and is one of our directors. Mr. Klamkin has been the CEO and Director of Biond Photonics (now Aeluma) since February 28, 2019. He is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara (2015-present), where his group conducts pioneering research in integrated photonics and optoelectronics for communications and sensing applications. Mr. Klamkin was with BinOptics Corp. (2001-2002), a laser diode manufacturer that was acquired by Macom in 2015. Jonathan is the recipient of numerous awards including the NASA Young Faculty Award, the DARPA Young Faculty Award, and the DARPA Director’s Fellowship. He has published more than 200 papers, holds several patents, and has given more than 100 invited presentations to industry, government and the academic community. Mr. Klamkin holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a Ph.D. in Materials from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Steven P. DenBaars serves as one of our directors. Steven has been on Biond Photonics’ (now Aeluma’s) Board of Directors since June 5, 2021. He is a Professor of Materials and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California Santa Barbara (1991-pres). Prof. DenBaars has been very active in entrepreneurship, having helped co-found several start-up companies in the field of photonics and electronics. In 1996, he Co-founded Nitres Inc., which was acquired by Cree Inc. in May 2000. In 2013, he Co-Founded SLD Laser, and helped build the company to over 150 employees before being acquired by Kyocera Corporation in 2021. In 2014, he assisted Dr. Jeffry Shealy in the founding of Akoustis Technologies Inc. (AKTS) for commercialization of RF Filters, and he is currently on the Board of Directors. In 2022 he joined the Board of Directors of SmartKem Ltd., a high-performance organic semiconductor

company. He received the IEEE Fellow award in 2005, member of the National Academy of Engineers in 2012, and National Academy of Inventors in 2014. He has authored or co-authored over 980 technical publications, 360 conference presentations, and over 185 patents. Mr. DenBaars has a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Material Science and Electrical Engineering, respectively from the University of Southern California. We believe Mr. DenBaars qualifies as our director because of his entrepreneurial and start-up experience, as well as his engineering knowledge.

Craig Ensley serves as one of our directors and chairs compensation committee. Craig Ensley has built and led global semiconductor businesses in Analog & DSP, MEMS & Sensors, Communications (RF/Wireless, Optical, and Wired), and Consumer. Most recently he has been the CEO or President of three venture-backed companies which he repositioned to drive growth, create first profitability, and deliver superior shareholder returns. Previously, he served as SVP of a public firm where he helped lead a successful $1 billion turnaround & restructuring. Prior, he was an executive helping build two businesses from pre-revenue to $300-400 million in sales. Mr. Ensley serves as a Board Director of Mentium Technologies, which delivers mission-critical Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities to Edge Devices. He also serves on the Governing Council (aka Board of Directors) of the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group, the WW supplier ecosystem. He is an active investor with the Santa Barbara Angel Investor Alliance and an advisor at the Silicon Catalyst incubator. Previously, Mr. Ensley was CEO of Atomica (formerly IMT), where he and the team grew it to become the largest MEMS & Sensor manufacturing foundry in the U.S. Prior to Atomica, he was CEO of DisplayLink, creating an enterprise video networking firm with global leadership. He was President of Peregrine, which built high-volume RF & Wireless devices leading the world’s transitions to 3G & 4G wireless. Peregrine invented high volume SOI (Silicon on Insulator) process technology, and took over markets previously served by GaAs. Mr. Ensley’s earlier roles were leading strategy, development, and marketing. As SVP, he was on the team to restructure Cirrus Logic from massive losses to profitability and growth. He previously helped start Crystal Semiconductor, which became the world’s highest growth analog & mixed signal DSP company. At Rockwell International, Mr. Ensley started and built the communications semiconductor business, which subsequently spun out as 3 public companies: Conexant, Mindspeed, and Jazz. He served on the Boards of Directors of the Consumer Electronics Association Home Networking Division and Audio Division, and the KLRU Austin PBS Television Station. Mr. Ensley holds a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, both from the University of California at San Diego. We believe Mr. Ensley qualifies as our director because of his entrepreneurial and start-up experience, as well as his engineering knowledge.

John Paglia serves as one of our directors. Dr. Paglia is an independent board director and audit committee chair for Simulations Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLP), independent board director and audit committee chair for Cal-X Business Accelerator, Inc. (with 30+ regenerative health technology startups), board director for two not-for-profits (California Amateur Hockey Association and Santa Clarita Flyers Hockey Club), and an advisory board member for both VitaNav, Inc. (a ketone-based beverage company) and The Most Fundable Companies Council. At Pepperdine University’s Graziadio Business School, he is a tenured Professor of Finance where his specialty areas are venture capital, private equity, corporate finance, business valuations, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). In addition, he held a number of leadership positions at Pepperdine University since joining in 2000, most recently as Senior Associate Dean where he had oversight for over 100 full-time business school faculty and key strategic projects, and, prior to that, as executive director of Graziadio Business School’s entrepreneurship institute. Dr. Paglia holds a Ph.D. in Finance, an MBA, a B.S. in Finance, and is a Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Financial Analyst, and is NACD Directorship Certified™. Dr. Paglia is a recipient of several prestigious honors for his work on the financing and capital markets. We believe his knowledge of technical accounting issues and business experience qualify him as an expert in financial matters and as a qualified candidate for the Board.

Corporate Social Responsibility

We believe that social responsibility is essential for a healthy and equitable corporate culture; one that balances the interests of its various worldwide stakeholders, including employees, shareholders, and our potential partners and customers. We are committed to sound corporate citizenship in the way we manage our people, our business and our impact on society and the environment. Furthermore, we acknowledge our responsibility to ensure our products will be designed, developed, and supplied in an environmentally safe and sound manner. We believe that we obey and comply with all laws and regulations that apply to us in the communities where we do business. Last but not least, we value our shareholders’ governance view and seek to solicit feedback from our shareholders on a regular basis relating to matters that are important to them, including the compensation of our executive officers and directors and environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) topics.

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

To the best of the Company’s knowledge, none of the following events occurred during the past ten years that are material to an evaluation of the ability or integrity of any of our executive officers, directors, Director Nominees or promoters:

(1)    A petition under the Federal bankruptcy laws or any state insolvency law was filed by or against, or a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer was appointed by a court for the business or property of such person, or any partnership in which he was a general partner at or within two years before the time of such filing, or any corporation or business association of which he was an executive officer at or within two years before the time of such filing;

(2)    Convicted in a criminal proceeding or is a named subject of a pending criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and other minor offenses);

(3)    Subject of any order, judgment, or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any court of competent jurisdiction, permanently or temporarily enjoining him from, or otherwise limiting, the following activities:

(i)     Acting as a futures commission merchant, introducing broker, commodity trading advisor, commodity pool operator, floor broker, leverage transaction merchant, any other person regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or an associated person of any of the foregoing, or as an investment adviser, underwriter, broker or dealer in securities, or as an affiliated person, director or employee of any investment company, bank, savings and loan association or insurance company, or engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with such activity;

(ii)    Engaging in any type of business practice; or

(iii)   Engaging in any activity in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or commodity or in connection with any violation of Federal or State securities laws or Federal commodities laws;

(4)    Subject of any order, judgment or decree, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any Federal or State authority barring, suspending or otherwise limiting for more than 60 days the right of such person to engage in any activity described by such activity;

(5)    Found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commission to have violated any Federal or State securities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended, or vacated;

(6)    Found by a court of competent jurisdiction in a civil action or by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to have violated any Federal commodities law, and the judgment in such civil action or finding by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has not been subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated;

(7)    Subject of, or a party to, any Federal or State judicial or administrative order, judgment, decree, or finding, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, relating to an alleged violation of:

(i)     Any Federal or State securities or commodities law or regulation; or

(ii)    Any law or regulation respecting financial institutions or insurance companies including, but not limited to, a temporary or permanent injunction, order of disgorgement or restitution, civil money penalty or temporary or permanent cease-and-desist order, or removal or prohibition order; or

(iii)   Any law or regulation prohibiting mail or wire fraud or fraud in connection with any business entity; or

(8)    Subject of, or a party to, any sanction or order, not subsequently reversed, suspended or vacated, of any self-regulatory organization (as defined in Section 3(a)(26) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S. C 78c(a)(26)), any registered entity (as defined in Section 1(a)(29) of the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1(a)(29))), or any equivalent exchange, association, entity or organization that has disciplinary authority over its members or persons associated with a member.

Director Independence and Board Committees

We are not currently required under the Securities and Exchange Act to maintain any committees of our Board. We are not currently subject to listing requirements of any national securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system which has requirements that a majority of the board of directors be “independent” or maintain any committees of our Board and, as a result, we are not at this time required to have our Board of Directors comprised of a majority of “independent directors” or have any committees. However, as of the date hereof, we currently have two independent directors on our board and are operating with three board committees.

Our board of directors shall determine which directors qualify as “independent” directors in accordance with listing requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market, or NASDAQ. The NASDAQ independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us.

Our Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Paglia shall be considered independent directors in accordance with the definition of independence applied by the NASDAQ Stock Market.

Although it is not required, we established three standing committees: an audit committee in compliance with Section 3(a)(58)(A) of the Exchange Act, a compensation committee and a nominating and governance committee. We will add independent directors, as needed, to each committee at the necessary time as per the applicable exchange’s rules.

Audit committee.    Under the national exchange listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least three members of the audit committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. At this time, Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia are the only directors who meet the independent director standard under national exchange listing standards and under Rule 10-A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act; Mr. DenBaars also serves on the Audit committee, although he is not considered “independent”. Mr. Paglia was selected to serve as chairman of our audit committee. Each member of the audit committee is financially literate and our Board has determined that Mr. Paglia qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules.

We adopted an audit committee charter, which will detail the purpose and principal functions of the audit committee, including:

•        appoint, compensate, and oversee the work of any registered public accounting firm employed by us;

•        resolve any disagreements between management and the auditor regarding financial reporting;

•        pre-approve all auditing and non-audit services;

•        retain independent counsel, accountants, or others to advise the audit committee or assist in the conduct of an investigation;

•        seek any information it requires from employees-all of whom are directed to cooperate with the audit committee’s requests-or external parties;

•        meet with our officers, external auditors, or outside counsel, as necessary; and

•        oversee that management has established and maintained processes to assure our compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and corporate policy.

Compensation Committee.    The compensation committee consists of Mr. Ensley (Chair), Mr. Paglia and Mr. DenBaars. Under the national exchange listing standards and applicable SEC rules, we are required to have at least two members of the compensation committee, all of whom must be independent, subject to certain phase-in provisions. Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia meet the independent director standard under national exchange listing standards applicable to members of the compensation committee.

We adopted a compensation committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibility of the compensation committee, including:

•        discharge the responsibilities of the Board relating to compensation of our directors, executive officers and key employees;

•        assist the Board in establishing appropriate incentive compensation and equity-based plans and to administer such plans;

•        oversee the annual process of evaluation of the performance of our management; and

•        perform such other duties and responsibilities as enumerated in and consistent with compensation committee’s charter.

The charter will permit the committee to retain or receive advice from a compensation consultant and will outline certain requirements to ensure the consultants, independence or certain circumstances under which the consultant need not be independent. However, as of the date hereof, the Company has not retained such a consultant.

Nominating and Governance Committee.    The nominating and governance committee consists of Mr. DenBaars (Chair), Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia. We adopted a nominating and governance committee charter, which details the purpose and responsibilities of the nominating and governance committee, including:

•        assist the Board by identifying qualified candidates for director nominees, and to recommend to the board of directors the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders;

•        lead the Board in its annual review of its performance;

•        recommend to the board director nominees for each committee of the Board; and

•        develop and recommend to the Board corporate governance guidelines applicable to us.

Meetings of the Board of Directors

During the year ended June 30, 2024, Board meetings were held on September 20, 2023, November 3. 2023, February 9, 2024 and May 9, 2024.The Board also transacted business by unanimous written consent throughout the year.

Family Relationships

There are no family relationships by between or among the members of the Board or other executive officers of the Company.

Indemnification

Our articles of incorporation and bylaws include provisions limiting the liability of directors and officers and indemnifying them under certain circumstances. See “Indemnification Agreements” for further information. We intend to secure directors’ and officers’ liability insurance following the completion of the Offering.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to Delaware law, we are informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

Mr. Klamkin serves as our Chief Executive Officer and our Chairman. Although the roles of our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of our board of directors are currently performed by the same person, we do not have a policy regarding the separation of these roles, as our board of directors believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders to make that determination from time to time based upon the position and direction of the Company and the membership of our board of directors.

Our board of directors has determined that our leadership structure is appropriate for the Company and our shareholders as it helps to ensure that the board of directors and management act with a common purpose and provides a single, clear chain of command to execute our strategic initiatives and business plans. In addition, our board of directors believes that a combined role of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman is better positioned to act as a bridge between management and our board of directors, facilitating the regular flow of information. Our board of directors also believes that it is advantageous to have a Chairman with an extensive knowledge of our industry.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires that our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock, file reports of ownership and changes of ownership with the SEC. Such directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based on our review of forms we received, or written representations from reporting persons stating that they were not required to file these forms, we believe that, during the reporting period covered by this Report, all Section 16(a) filing requirements were satisfied on a timely basis.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Our Board of Directors adopted a Code of Ethics, a copay of which is attached herein as Exhibit 14.1, that applies to all of directors and employees, pursuant to rules described in Regulation S-K. The code provides fundamental ethical principles to which these individuals are expected to adhere to and will operate as a tool to help our directors, officers and employees understand the high ethical standards required for employment by, or association with, our Company. This Code constitutes a “code of ethics” as defined by the rules of the SEC. You can review the Code of Ethics by accessing our public filings at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. Copies of the code can be also obtained from our website, www.aeluma.com. Any amendments to, or waivers from, a provision of our code of ethics that applies to any of our executive officers will be posted on our website in accordance with the rules of the SEC.

Shareholder Board Nominations

Pursuant to our amended and restated bylaws adopted on June 22, 2021, nominations of persons for election to the board of directors of the Company shall be made at an annual meeting of shareholders only (A) by or at the direction of the board of directors or (B) by a shareholder of the Company who (1) was a shareholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice required by the bylaws, on the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of the annual meeting and on the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (2) has complied with the notice procedures set forth in the bylaws. In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the secretary of the Company. Such notice must include the information required by Section 2.4(ii) of the amended and restated bylaws and, a nomination to be made by a stockholder must be received by the secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the 45th day nor earlier than the 75th day before the one-year anniversary of the date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials or a notice of availability of proxy materials (whichever is earlier) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the date of the previous year’s annual meeting, then, for notice by the shareholder to be timely, it must be so received by the secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting, or (ii) the tenth day following the day on which Public Announcement (as defined in the bylaws) of the date of such annual meeting is first made. The amended and restated bylaws also set forth procedures for which shareholders can nominate directors at a special shareholder meeting. In addition to the foregoing provisions, a shareholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the

Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth, including, with respect to business such shareholder intends to bring before the annual meeting that involves a proposal that such shareholder requests to be included in the Company’s proxy statement, the requirements of Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in the bylaws shall be deemed to affect any right of the Company to omit a proposal from the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

Item 11.     Executive Compensation.

Executive Compensation

As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act and a smaller reporting company we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies.

Summary Compensation Table

The following summary compensation table sets forth all compensation awarded to, earned by, or paid to the named executive officer during the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 in all capacities for the accounts of our executive, including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Operations Officer (COO):

____________

(1)      The Board of Directors approved an annual base compensation of $230,000 for Mr. Klamkin effective July 1, 2021. On October 14, 2022, the Board of Directors approved the adjustment of Mr. Klamkin’s compensation to $10,000.00 per month for the period from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, and then back to $19,166.67 per month ($230,000 per year) as of January 1, 2023. On November 30, 2022, the Board of Directors approved an increase in Mr. Klamkin’s annual salary to $255,000 and also approved issuing him 100,000 options with a 4-year vesting schedule, with an exercise price of $2.10 per share, subject to continued service as of each such vesting date.

(2)      The dollar amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value of stock option awards granted during the year ended June 30, 2023. These amounts have been calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.

(3)      Mr. McCarthy served as interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer from the Merger until November 2022; he also served as a director from the Merger until November 2021. However, he received five (5) months of his annual salary in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.

Employment and Change in Control Agreements

We do not have an employment agreement with any of our officers. However, pursuant to our advisor agreement with Mr. Denbaars, if there is a change of control, other than the Merger, while he is still retained by the Company as an advisor, all of his unvested shares, per his amended advisor agreement, will vest at the closing of such change in control transaction. Additionally, as per the restricted stock purchase agreements we maintain with Mr. Klamkin and Mr. McCarthy, if either of their respective employment with the Company is terminated by the Company, other than for cause, or is terminated by the individual for Good Reason (as defined in the related agreement), within a year after the Merger, then, effective as of such termination, 100% of such terminated person’s unvested shares will vest.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

The following table presents information regarding certain outstanding shares held by each of our named executive officer as of June 30, 2024. These shares were converted into shares of our common stock in connection with the Merger, and the table below reflects all outstanding shares as of June 30, 2024 as if they had been granted by us.

Outstanding Equity Awards at June 30, 2024

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(1)      On November 30, 2022, we granted to Mr. Klamkin a stock option to purchase 100,000 shares of our common stock. The shares will vest in equal quarterly installments over the following four years, subject to continued service as of each such vesting date

(2)      These shares were purchased pursuant to Founder’s Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement between Mr. Klamkin and the Company on October 27, 2020. Mr. Klamkin purchased a total of 1,623,920 shares (represented 1,250,000 shares of Biond prior to the Merger) pursuant to the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, 20% of the shares vested on the date the agreement was signed and starting on November 30, 2020 and for every month thereafter until employment termination, 1/48th of the remaining shares shall vest on the last day of each succeeding calendar month. The agreement also provides that if there is a change of control, like the Merger, and if Mr. Klamkin is terminated, other than for cause, during the period starting 90 days before the Merger and for a year thereafter, all unvested shares shall vest at the date of termination. Accordingly, as of June 30, 2024, 1,515,659 shares have vested. The market value of the unvested shares was based on $3.59 per share, which was the closing price of our common stock on June 30, 2024.

Compensation Paid to Directors

The following table provides a summary of compensation paid to directors, who are not also executive officers, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The only director who is also an executive director is Mr. Klamkin, whose compensation is included in the Summary Compensation table above.

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(1)      The dollar amounts in this column reflect the grant date fair value of stock option awards granted during the year ended June 30, 2024. These amounts have been calculated in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.

(2)      On March 1, 2024, we granted Mr. DenBaars, Mr. Ensley and Mr. Paglia stock options to purchase 43,279 shares, 44,004 shares and 13,538 shares, respectively, of our common stock at a price of $2.99. One quarter of the shares vested immediately and the remaining shares vest quarterly over nine months, subject to continued service as of each such vesting date.

(3)      We entered into an independent director agreement with Mr. Ensley, pursuant to which we issued him 29,014 stock options at a price of $2.99 per share and provided him with standard indemnification. The terms of the option grants are as follows: 6,514 of the stock options shall vest on February 29, 2024, 7,500 stock options vested on May 31, 2024, 7,500 vested on August 31, 2024 and 7,500 shall vest on November 30, 2024; if Mr. Ensley resigns or is otherwise terminated, any unvested options will be immediately cancelled and he will have 90 days to exercise any earned, vested options. For each year of committee service, Mr. Ensley will receive an additional 15,500 options with vesting in equal quarterly increments. The agreement became effective as of December 14, 2023, and committee service commenced on February 10, 2022. As of June 30, 2024, 20,902 options have vested for Mr. Ensley pursuant to his independent director agreement.

(4)      We entered into an independent director agreement with Mr. Paglia, pursuant to which we issued him 125,000 stock options at a price of $2.00 per share and provided him with standard indemnification. The terms of the option grants are as follows: 50,000 of the stock options shall vest in equal quarterly increments during the first year of directorship; an additional 37,500 shall vest in equal quarterly increments over the second and third year of the directorship, if re-elected; if the director is not re-elected, any unvested options are cancelled. For each year of committee service, Mr. Paglia will receive an additional 16,750 options with vesting in equal quarterly increments. The agreement became effective as of December 1, 2021, and committee service commenced on February 10, 2022. As of June 30, 2024, 154,912 options have vested for Mr. Paglia pursuant to his independent director agreement.

Pension, Retirement or Similar Benefit Plans

With the exception of the executive officers that are eligible for participation in the company 401(k) plan, there are currently no arrangements or plans in which we provide pension, retirement or similar benefits for directors or executive officers. Cash or non-cash compensation may be paid to our executive officers, including stock options, at the discretion of the board of directors or a committee thereof.

Item 12.     Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of the date hereof, by:

•        each of our named executive officers;

•        each of our directors;

•        all of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and

•        each person, or group of affiliated persons, who beneficially owned more than 5% of our common stock.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares of common stock that they beneficially owned, subject to applicable community property laws.

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 12,178,424 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 25, 2024. Shares of common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days of September 25, 2024 are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such rights, but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person, except with respect to the percentage ownership of all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner in the table below is c/o Aeluma, 27 Castilian Drive, Goleta, California 93117.

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*        Less than 1%.

(1)      Represents 1,626,995 shares held by Mr. Klamkin and 43,750 shares that vested pursuant to his stock options agreement through the date hereof.

(2)      Represents 410,088 shares held by Mr. DenBaars and 32,090 that vested pursuant to Mr DenBaars’s stock options and director agreement through the date hereof.

(3)      Represents 16,667 shares held by Mr. Ensley and 32,629 that vested pursuant to Mr Ensley’s stock options and director agreement through the date hereof.

(4)      Represents 12,500 shares held by Mr. Paglia, 168,475 shares that vested pursuant to his stock options and director agreement through the date hereof.

Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table discloses information as of the end of the period ending June 30, 2024, with respect to compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance, aggregated as follows:

Equity Compensation Plan Information

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(1)      The number of shares reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan (as defined below) was initially 980,000; such amount will increase automatically on January 1 of each of 2022 through 2031 by the number of shares equal to the lesser of 5% of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31, or a number as may be determined by our board of directors. On January 1, 2023 and 2024, the number of shares reserved for issuance was increased by 565,850 shares and 608,396 shares, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, the number of shares available for future issuance under our 2021 Plan was 1,732,925.

Our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and upon the closing of the Merger, we adopted our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which provides for the issuance of incentive awards of stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, cash awards, and stock bonus awards. We initially reserved 980,000 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under our 2021 Plan. The number of shares reserved for issuance under our 2021 Plan will increase automatically on January 1 of each of 2022 through 2031 by the number of shares equal to the lesser of 5% of the total number of outstanding shares of our common stock as of the immediately preceding December 31, or a number as may be determined by our board of directors. On January 1, 2023 and 2024, the number of shares reserved for issuance was increased by 565,850 shares and 608,396 shares, respectively. As of June 30, 2024, the number of shares available for future issuance under our 2021 Plan was 1,732,925.

Item 13.     Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Except as disclosed herein, no director, executive officer, shareholder holding at least 5% of shares of our common stock, or any family member thereof, had any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction, or proposed transaction since July 1, 2021, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at the year-end for the last two completed fiscal years.

The Company is party to that certain Advisory Agreement with Mr. DenBaars, one of our directors, dated as of December 31, 2020, pursuant to which Mr. DenBaars shall serve as an advisor to the Company. Under the agreement, as partial compensation for his advisory services, the Company granted Mr. DenBaars the right to purchase 32,805 shares of common stock (represents 25,252 shares of Biond common stock prior to the Merger) at a price $0.008 per share; the shares have a four-year vesting schedule and Mr. DenBaars purchased such shares on February 4, 2021, prior to being appointed as one of our directors. The Advisory Agreement with Mr. DenBaars was amended on June 10, 2021 to reflect additional advisory services. Under this agreement, as partial compensation for his advisory service, the Company granted Mr. DenBaars the right to purchase an additional 213,198 shares of the Company’s common stock (represents 164,108 shares of Biond common stock prior to the Merger) at a price of $0.015 per share; the shares have a two-year vesting schedule. Pursuant to the terms of his advisory agreements, 241,903 of the shares have vested as of the date of this Report.

Participation in the Offering

Certain of our existing investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors and prior directors, have purchased an aggregate of 116,666 shares of our common stock in the Offering, for an aggregate gross purchase price of $349,998. Such purchases were made on the same terms as the shares that were sold to other investors in the Offering and not pursuant to any pre-existing contractual rights or obligations.

Indemnification Agreements

We maintain indemnification agreements with each of our current executive officers. The indemnification agreements and our restated bylaws will require us to indemnify our directors to the fullest extent not prohibited by Delaware General Corporation Law. Subject to very limited exceptions, our restated bylaws will also require us to advance expenses incurred by our directors and officers.

Promoters and Certain Control Persons

As per the definition of a “promoter” under the Securities Act, generally defined as anyone involved in the formation of the issuer, Mr. Tompkins, the incorporator of the Company, would be considered a “promoter.” Mr. Tompkins has 2,715,833 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with incorporation, merger and private offerings. Mr. Tompkins’ shares are currently subject to a lock-up agreement with Aeluma pursuant to which he is restricted from selling or transferring his shares for a period of 18 months from the date shares of our common stock commence trading on the OTCQB or OTCQX market maintained by OTC Markets Group, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the NYSE American.

The term “promoter” includes: i) any person who, acting alone or in conjunction with one or more persons, directly or indirectly takes initiative in founding and organizing the business or enterprise of an issue; or ii) any person who, in connection with the founding and organizing of the business or enterprise of an issuer, directly or indirectly receives in consideration of services or property, or both services and property, 10 percent or more of any class securities of the issuer or 10 percent or more of the proceeds from the sale of any class of such securities. However, a person who receives such securities or proceeds either solely as underwriting commissions or solely in consideration of property shall not be deemed a promoter within the meaning of this paragraph, if such person does not otherwise take part in founding and organizing the enterprise.

Other than Mr. Tompkins, there are no promoters being used in relation to this offering. No person who may, in the future, be considered a promoter will receive or expect to receive any assets, services or other consideration from the Company. No assets will be or are expected to be acquired from any promoter on behalf of the Company.

Item 14.     Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The following table shows the fees that were billed for the years ended June 30, 2024 and 2023.

Audit Fees — This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with engagements for those fiscal years.