PRSO Peraso Inc

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

_______________________________

SCHEDULE 14A

_______________________________

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

Check the appropriate box:

PERASO 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 the appropriate box):

2309 Bering Drive
San Jose, CA 95131

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Peraso Inc. (the “Company”) to be held on December 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Time. The Annual Meeting will be a virtual meeting of stockholders conducted via live audio webcast to enable our stockholders to participate from any location around the world. You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/PRSO2024.

The matters expected to be acted upon at the meeting are described in detail in the following notice of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. Whether you plan to virtually attend the Annual Meeting or not, it is important that you promptly register your vote in accordance with the instructions set forth on the enclosed proxy card to ensure your proper representation. Returning the proxy does not deprive you of your right to virtually attend the Annual Meeting. If you decide to virtually attend the Annual Meeting and wish to change your proxy vote, you may do so automatically by voting at the meeting.

First mailed to stockholders
on or about November 25, 2024

NOTICE OF 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To the Stockholders of Peraso Inc.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of Peraso Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”), will be held December 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time, in a virtual meeting format, for the following purposes:

(1)    To elect five members of our board of directors to hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until their respective successors have been elected and qualified. The nominees are Ronald Glibbery, Daniel Lewis, Ian McWalter, Andreas Melder and Robert Newell;

(2)    To ratify the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024;

(3)    To approve the amendment of the Amended and Restated 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) to increase the number of shares currently reserved for issuance thereunder by 1,500,000 shares;

(4)    To approve one or more adjournments of the Annual Meeting in certain circumstances; and

(5)    To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

The foregoing items of business are more fully described in the proxy statement accompanying this notice. Only stockholders of record at the close of business on November 8, 2024 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting, or at any adjournment thereof. A list of such stockholders will be available for inspection.

You are cordially invited to attend the virtual Annual Meeting, which will be held via a live audio webcast. However, to ensure that you are represented at the Annual Meeting, please vote your shares by submitting instructions for proxy voting via the Internet, by phone, or by signing, dating and returning the proxy card in accordance with the instructions set forth on the enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience. If you wish to submit your proxy by mail, a return addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. Your proxy is revocable in accordance with the procedures set forth in the proxy statement.

San Jose, California
November 21, 2024

2309 Bering Drive
San Jose, California 95131

PROXY STATEMENT

GENERAL INFORMATION

This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation by the board of directors of Peraso Inc., a Delaware corporation, of proxies, in the accompanying form, to be used at the 2024 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) to be held virtually on December 20, 2024, at 8:00 a.m., Pacific Time, and any adjournments or postponements of the Annual Meeting. Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “Peraso,” “we,” “us” and similar terms refer to Peraso Inc. The Annual Meeting will be conducted virtually and held at the same time and on the same date as indicated above, via a live audio webcast.

This proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card are being mailed on or about November 25, 2024 to all stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On September 15, 2021, the Company (formerly known as MoSys, Inc.) and its subsidiaries, 2798832 Ontario Inc. (“Canco”) and 2798831 Ontario Inc. (“Callco”), both Ontario corporations, entered into an Arrangement Agreement (the “Arrangement Agreement”) with Peraso Technologies Inc., an Ontario corporation headquartered in Toronto, Canada (“Peraso Tech” and, together with the Company, Callco and Canco, the “Parties”), to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Peraso Tech by way of a statutory plan of arrangement (the “Arrangement”) under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), on and subject to the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, as amended. Pursuant to the completion of the Arrangement, each share of Peraso Tech common stock that was issued and outstanding immediately prior to December 17, 2021 was converted into the right to receive 0.045239122387267 newly issued shares of common stock of the Company or shares of Canco, which are exchangeable for shares of the Company’s common stock (“Exchangeable Shares”) at the election of each former Peraso Tech stockholder. In addition, all of Peraso Tech’s outstanding stock options and other securities exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, and any other rights to acquire shares of Peraso Tech common stock were exchanged for securities exercisable or exchangeable for, or convertible into, or other rights to acquire the Company’s common stock. On December 17, 2021, following the satisfaction of the closing conditions set forth in the Arrangement Agreement, the Arrangement was completed, and we changed our name from MoSys to “Peraso Inc.” and began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), under the symbol “PRSO.”

We effected a reverse stock split of our outstanding common stock and Exchangeable Shares at a ratio of 1-for-40, effective as of 4:01 p.m., Eastern Time, on January 2, 2024. We have reflected the reverse stock split herein, unless otherwise indicated.

QUORUM AND VOTING RIGHTS

The presence during the Annual Meeting or by proxy of holders of at least one-third of the outstanding shares entitled to vote on the record date constitutes a quorum for purposes of voting on a particular matter and conducting business at the meeting. We currently have three classes of stock issued and outstanding: common stock, Series A Special Voting Preferred Stock and Exchangeable Shares. Each share of common stock entitles its holder to one vote. The single outstanding share of Series A Special Voting Preferred Stock is entitled to vote one vote plus the number of Exchangeable Shares of Canco, outstanding as of the record date, pursuant to a Voting and Exchange Agency Agreement (the “Voting and Exchange Agency Agreement”) by and between us (then MoSys, Inc.), Canco and the agent thereunder (the “Agent”). If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, the stockholders present in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting to a later date in accordance with Proposal No. 4 hereof, or the Annual Meeting’s chairman may also adjourn the meeting in accordance with Article II, Section 2.7 of our amended and restated bylaws (the “bylaws”). In accordance with Article II, Section 2.8 of the bylaws, if an adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, we will provide notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

SOLICITATION AND VOTING PROCEDURES

Shares represented by valid proxies in the accompanying form received in time for use at the Annual Meeting and not revoked at or prior to the Annual Meeting will be voted as discussed below. The presence, by proxy, of the holders of at least one-third of the outstanding shares of our common stock and Exchangeable Shares is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. Holders of our common stock and Exchangeable Shares are entitled to one vote per share on all matters. To vote by proxy, a stockholder must mark, sign and date the enclosed proxy card and mail it to Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. (“Broadridge”) or submit voting instructions electronically by using the telephone or Internet and following the instructions provided on the proxy card. An automated system administered by Broadridge tabulates stockholder votes submitted by proxy, and an officer of ours will tabulate votes cast at the Annual Meeting.

The voting requirements for the proposals that we will consider at the Annual Meeting are:

•        Proposal 1 — Election of Directors.    Directors are elected by a plurality, and the five directors who receive the most votes will be elected to our board of directors. Shares represented by properly completed and timely submitted proxies will be voted “FOR” the election of the nominees listed in the notice of the Annual Meeting, unless authority to do so is specifically withheld. If any nominee declines to serve or becomes unavailable for any reason, or if a vacancy occurs before the election (although we know of no reason to anticipate that this will occur), the proxies may be voted for such substitute nominees as the board of directors may designate.

•        Proposal 2 — Ratification of Appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.    An affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter is necessary for approval of this proposal.

•        Proposal 3 — Amendment of the Amended and Restated 2019 Stock Incentive Plan to Increase the Number of Shares of Common Stock Reserved for Issuance Thereunder by 1,500,000 Shares.    An affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this matter will constitute approval of this proposal.

•        Proposal 4 — Approval of One or More Adjournments of the Annual Meeting.    An affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on this matter will constitute approval of this proposal.

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes.    Brokers holding shares in street name for customers have discretionary authority to vote on some matters when they have not received instructions from the beneficial owners of shares. Under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), an abstaining vote and a broker “non-vote” will be counted as present and, therefore, included for purposes of determining whether a quorum of shares is present at the Annual Meeting. A broker “non-vote” occurs when a broker or other nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner signs and returns a proxy with respect to shares of common stock held in a fiduciary capacity (typically referred to as being held in “street name”), but does not vote on a particular matter due to a lack of discretionary voting power and instructions from the beneficial owner. Under rules governing voting with respect to shares held in street name, brokers have the discretion to vote such shares on routine matters but not on non-routine matters. At the Annual Meeting, we believe that Proposal No. 2 (the ratification of appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 audit) and Proposal No. 4 (approval of one or more adjournments of the Annual Meeting) are routine matters under these rules. As such, brokers that do not receive instructions from the beneficial owners of the shares should be entitled to vote in their discretion on Proposal No. 2 and Proposal No. 4.

Broker non-votes are considered present but not entitled to vote on any non-routine matters. Because broker non-votes are excluded from the tabulation of votes cast on each non-routine proposal they will not affect the outcome of the vote on any of the proposals at the Annual Meeting as to which the brokers lack voting discretion. Abstentions are counted as present and entitled to vote for purposes of establishing a quorum. An abstention will have no effect on the election of directors under Proposal No. 1. However, an abstention will have the same effect as a vote “against” the ratification of the appointment by the Audit Committee of Weinberg & Company, P.A. as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2024 audit (Proposal No. 2), the approval to increase the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan (Proposal No. 3) and the approval of one or more adjournments of the Annual Meeting (Proposal No. 4), because a vote in favor of these proposals from a majority of the shares present or by proxy and entitled to vote on such matter is needed for approval.

Special Note Regarding Shares Held in Broker Accounts.    If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other nominee, it is critical that you submit a legal proxy or voting instructions if you want your shares to be counted. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other nominee, and you do not submit a proxy or otherwise instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote in the election of directors, no votes will be cast on your behalf on Proposal Nos. 1 and 3. If you submit a signed proxy, but do not provide voting instructions, your bank, broker or other nominee will have discretion to vote uninstructed shares on the ratification of our independent registered public accounting firm (Proposal No. 2) and approval of one or more adjournments of the Annual Meeting (Proposal No. 4), and your shares may still be counted for purposes of determining if a quorum is present.

All proxies will be voted as specified on the proxy cards submitted by stockholders, if the proxy card is properly executed or electronically submitted and is received by us prior to the close of voting at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. Our chief executive officer, Ronald Glibbery, and our chief financial officer, James Sullivan, have been designated as proxy holders for the Annual Meeting. If no choice has been specified, a timely returned and properly executed or electronically submitted proxy card will be voted in accordance with management’s recommendations on the proposals, which are described in detail elsewhere in this proxy statement, except with respect to broker non-votes.

Holders of Exchangeable Shares.    Holders of Exchangeable Shares are receiving these proxy materials in accordance with the provisions of the Exchangeable Shares and the Voting and Exchange Agency Agreement. The Exchangeable Shares are exchangeable for shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis. In accordance with the Voting and Exchange Agency Agreement, holders of Exchangeable Shares are effectively provided with voting rights for each Exchangeable Share that are nearly equivalent to the voting rights applicable to a share of the Company’s common stock, and holders are entitled to instruct the Agent as to how to vote their Exchangeable Shares. The Agent holds one share of the Company’s Series A Special Voting Preferred Stock designated as the “Special Voting Share.” The Special Voting Share entitles the Agent to vote on matters in which holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to vote. The Special Voting Share is entitled to a number of votes equal to the number of Exchangeable Shares outstanding and eligible to vote on the record date for determining holders of our common stock entitled to vote and for which the Agent has received voting instructions from the holders of such Exchangeable Shares. The Special Voting Share votes, together with the holders of the Company’s common stock, as a single class.

Record Date.    The close of business on November 8, 2024 has been fixed as the record date of the Annual Meeting, and only record holders and beneficial owners who held shares of our common stock and Exchangeable Shares on the record date, or their duly authorized proxies, may attend the Annual Meeting. As of November 8, 2024, we had 3,818,606 shares of common stock and 54,357 Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The amounts eligible to vote exclude 12,593 shares of our common stock and 32,828 Exchangeable Shares, which are subject to escrow under the Arrangement Agreement and are not entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of November 8, 2024, Canco is the holder of our Exchangeable Shares, entitling the single share of Series A Special Voting Preferred Stock to cast up to 54,357 votes to be voted pursuant to the Voting and Exchange Agency Agreement.

Proxy Solicitation.    The cost of soliciting proxies, including expenses incurred in connection with preparing and mailing this proxy statement and the proxy card and maintaining the Internet access for such materials and the submission of proxies will be borne by us. Copies of solicitation material will be furnished to brokerage houses, fiduciaries and custodians holding shares in their names that are beneficially owned by others so that they my forward this solicitation material to such beneficial owners of our common stock. We will reimburse brokerage firms and other persons representing beneficial owners of common stock for their expenses in forwarding proxy material to such beneficial owners. Solicitation of proxies by mail may be supplemented by telephone, electronic facsimile transmission and other electronic means, and personal solicitation by our directors, officers or employees. No additional compensation will be paid to directors, officers or employees for such solicitation. We have retained Broadridge to assist in the distribution of proxies for a fee estimated to be approximately $40,000, including estimated mailing and printing costs. In addition, we have retained Campaign Management, LLC (“Campaign Management”) as our strategic shareholder advisor and proxy solicitation agent in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Annual Meeting at an initial approximate cost of $7,500, plus reimbursement of expenses. If you have any questions or require any assistance with completing your proxy, please contact Campaign Management by telephone toll-free +1 (888) 725-4553 or collect outside North America at +1 (212) 632-8422, or by email at info@campaign-mgmt.com.

Copies of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 29, 2024 (the “2023 Annual Report”), are being mailed to stockholders with this proxy statement, and these documents can also be viewed at www.proxyvote.com and on the investor relations section of our website, www.perasoinc.com. Additional copies of our 2023 Annual Report, excluding exhibits, may be obtained by any stockholder, without charge, by sending an e-mail to priv_ir@perasoinc.com or by written request addressed to: Peraso Inc., 2309 Bering Drive, San Jose, California 95131, Attention: Investor Relations.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD DECEMBER 20, 2024

This proxy statement, the proxy card and our 2023 Annual Report (as defined above) are available at www.proxyvote.com.

Voting Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank or Other Agent and Exchangeable Shares

Holders of Exchangeable Shares and holders of common stock who have their shares in “street name,” meaning the name of a broker or other nominee who is the record holder, must either direct the record holder of their shares to vote their shares or obtain a proxy from the record holder to vote their shares at the Annual Meeting. Stockholders who have their shares in street name may also attend the Annual Meeting, however, because such stockholders are not the stockholders of record, they may not vote their shares at the Annual Meeting unless they request and obtain a valid proxy (sometimes referred to as a “legal proxy”) from their broker or other nominee who is the record holder.

Holders of shares of our common stock and Exchangeable Shares may vote their shares by:

•        By virtually attending the Annual Meeting and voting;

•        By MAIL — Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided;

•        By INTERNET — www.proxyvote.com. Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.

•        By PHONE — 1-800-690-6903. Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time the day before the meeting date. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.

If you vote your shares by Internet or by phone, you do not need to mail back your proxy card.

REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES

If you are a stockholder of record, once you have submitted your proxy by mail, telephone or internet, you may revoke it at any time before it is voted at the Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

•        You may submit another proxy marked with a later date (which automatically revokes your earlier proxy) by mail or telephone or via the internet by the applicable deadline as described above;

•        You may provide written notice that you wish to revoke your proxy to Peraso Inc., 2309 Bering Drive, San Jose, California 95131, Attention: Secretary, by no later than the close of business on December 19, 2024; or

•        You may attend the Annual Meeting and submit your vote live via the internet. Attendance at the Annual Meeting live via the internet will not, by itself, cause your previously granted proxy to be revoked.

If you are a beneficial owner holding shares in “street name,” you may change your vote by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or other agent in accordance with the instructions they provided (see “Voting Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker, Bank or Other Agent and Exchangeable Shares” above).

If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, Campaign Management:

Strategic Stockholder Advisor and Proxy Solicitation Agent

+1 (212) 632-8422 (Main)
Shareholders Call Toll-Free: +1 (888) 725-4553
Email: info@campaign-mgmt.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Directors

Our bylaws provide that the number of directors is determined by resolution of the board of directors and can be changed by approval of the stockholders or a majority of the directors. Our board of directors currently consists of five directors. Each director is elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until the election and qualification of his or her successor or his or her earlier resignation or removal.

The names of our directors, all of whom are nominees to be elected at the Annual Meeting, and certain information about each of them, are set forth below.

____________

(1)      Member of Audit Committee.

(2)      Member of Compensation Committee.

The principal occupations and positions for at least the past five years of our directors and director nominees are described below. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Ronald Glibbery.    Mr. Glibbery was appointed as our chief executive officer and to our board of directors in December 2021. He founded Peraso Technologies Inc. (Peraso Tech) in 2008 and served as its chief executive officer. In June 2020, Peraso Tech applied for and obtained an order under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (the CCAA), providing certain relief. Pursuant to the Initial Order issued by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the Court), Ernst & Young Inc. was appointed as the Monitor of Peraso Tech. In addition, the Monitor, in its capacity as Foreign Representative, filed a voluntary petition in the United States under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, seeking recognition of the CCAA proceeding. In October 2020, the Court granted an order authorizing the termination of Peraso Tech’s CCAA proceedings upon the completion of certain defined steps. In December 2020, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York issued an Order that: (i) recognized and gave full force and effect in the United States to the Court’s order approving the Settlement Agreement; and (ii) terminated the Chapter 15 Proceedings. Mr. Glibbery has over 25 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. Prior to co-founding Peraso Tech, Mr. Glibbery held executive positions at Kleer Semiconductor, a fabless semiconductor company focused on wireless audio technology and Intellon Corporation (Intellon), a pioneer and leader in the development of semiconductor devices used for powerline communications. He has held other executive roles at Cogency Semiconductor, LSI Logic Canada, Inc. and LSI Logic Corporation. Mr. Glibbery holds a B.E.Sc. in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Western Ontario.

We believe that Mr. Glibbery’s qualifications to serve on the board of directors include his service as an officer of ours and his extensive general management and technical expertise in the semiconductor industry, as well as his experience as a chief executive officer.

Daniel Lewis.    Mr. Lewis has served as a member of the board of directors since September 2017. He served as our Vice President, General Manager of Memory Products from April 2022 until his retirement in December 2022. Mr. Lewis previously served as our President from August 2018 until April 2022 and chief executive officer from August 2018 until the business combination with Peraso Tech in December 2021. Before joining MoSys, Mr. Lewis served as the managing member and an owner of GMS Manufacturing Solution LLC, a firm focused on providing engineering services to manufacturing companies. He previously held various executive and leadership roles at View Box Group, Xicor, Integrated Device Technology, Accelerant Networks, Intel Corporation, Zilog and Digital Equipment Corporation. Mr. Lewis holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Director Independence

Our board of directors has determined that each of the current directors, with the exception of Messrs. Glibbery and Lewis, is “independent,” as defined by the Nasdaq listing rules and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our board of directors have a standing audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) and compensation committee (the “Compensation Committee”), each of which is comprised solely of independent directors in accordance with the Nasdaq listing rules. No director qualifies as independent unless the board of directors affirmatively determines that he has no direct or indirect relationship with us that would impair his independence. We independently review the relationship of the Company to any entity employing a director or on whose board of directors he is serving currently.

Audit Committee

Our board of directors established the Audit Committee for the purpose of overseeing the accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements. The Audit Committee also is charged with reviewing reports regarding violations of our code of ethics and complaints with respect thereto, and internal control violations under our whistleblower policy are directed to the members of the Audit Committee. The responsibilities of our Audit Committee are described in the Audit Committee Charter adopted by our board of directors, a current copy of which can be found on the investors section of our website, www.perasoinc.com.

Ian McWalter, Andreas Melder and Robert Y. Newell are the current members of the Audit Committee. All are independent, as determined in accordance with Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Mr. Newell serves as the chair and has been designated by the board of directors as the “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and the Exchange Act. That status does not impose duties, liabilities or obligations that are greater than the duties, liabilities or obligations otherwise imposed on him as a member of the Audit Committee and the board of directors, however. The Audit Committee has delegated authority to Mr. Newell for review and pre-approval of services proposed to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm.

Compensation Committee

Ian McWalter, Andreas Melder and Robert Y. Newell are the current members of the Compensation Committee, and Dr. McWalter serves as the chair. The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing, recommending and approving our compensation policies and benefits, including the compensation of all of our executive officers and directors. Our Compensation Committee also has the principal responsibility for the administration of our equity incentive and stock purchase plans. The responsibilities of our Compensation Committee are described in the Compensation Committee Charter adopted by our board of directors, a current copy of which can be found on the investors section of our website, www.perasoinc.com.

Nominations Process

We do not have a nominating committee, as we are a small company and currently only have five directors. Instead of having such a committee, our board of directors historically has appointed all of the independent directors on our board to search for and evaluate qualified individuals to become nominees for director and board committee members. The independent directors recommend candidates for nomination for election or reelection at each annual meeting of stockholders and, as necessary, to fill vacancies and newly created directorships, and evaluate candidates for appointment to and removal from committees. The independent directors operate in this capacity under authority granted by resolution of the board of directors, rather than by charter.

When new candidates for our board of directors are sought, the independent directors evaluate each candidate for nomination as a director within the context of the needs and the composition of the board of directors as a whole. The independent directors conduct any appropriate and necessary inquiries into the backgrounds and qualifications of candidates. When evaluating director nominees, our board of directors generally seeks to identify individuals

with diverse, yet complementary business backgrounds. Although we have no formal policy regarding diversity, our directors consider both the personal characteristics and experience of director nominees, including each nominee’s independence, diversity, age, skills, expertise, time availability and industry background in the context of the needs of the board of directors and the Company. The board of directors believes that director nominees should exhibit proven leadership capabilities and experience at a high level of responsibility within their chosen fields and must have the experience and ability to analyze the complex business issues facing us, and specifically, the issues inherent in the semiconductor industry. In addition to business expertise, the board of directors requires that director nominees have the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values and, above all, are committed to representing the long-term interests of our stockholders and other stakeholders. To date, we have not paid any fee to a third party to assist in the process of identifying or evaluating director candidates. Our independent directors will consider candidates for nomination as director who are recommended by a stockholder and will not evaluate any candidate for nomination for director differently because the candidate was recommended by a stockholder. To date, we have not received or rejected any suggestions for a director candidate recommended by any stockholder or group of stockholders owning more than 5% of our common stock. The recommendation must include the information specified in our bylaws for stockholder nominees to be considered at an annual meeting, including the following:

•        The stockholder’s name and address and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is proposed;

•        The stockholder’s reason for making the nomination at the annual meeting, and the signed consent of the nominee to serve if elected;

•        The number of shares owned by, and any material interest of, the record owner and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the record owner is proposing the nominee;

•        A description of any arrangements or understandings between the stockholder, the nominee and any other person regarding the nomination; and

•        Information regarding the nominee that would be required to be included in our proxy statement by the rules of the SEC, including the nominee’s age, business experience for the past five years and any other directorships held by the nominee.

The information listed above is not a complete list of the information required by our bylaws. The secretary will forward any timely recommendations containing the required information to our independent directors for consideration.

Director Qualifications and Diversity

Our board of directors seeks independent directors who represent a diversity of backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the quality of the board of director’s deliberations and decisions. Our board of directors is particularly interested in maintaining a mix that includes individuals who are active or retired executive officers and senior executives, particularly those with experience in the semiconductor industry and with high technology enterprises; research and development; finance and accounting; or marketing and sales.

There is no difference in the manner in which the board of directors evaluates nominees for directors based on whether the nominee is recommended by a stockholder. In evaluating nominations, the board of directors also looks for depth and breadth of experience within our industry and otherwise, outside time commitments, special areas of expertise, accounting and finance knowledge, business judgment, leadership ability, experience in developing and assessing business strategies, corporate governance expertise, and for incumbent members of the board of directors, the past performance of the incumbent director. Each of the candidates nominated for election to our board of directors was recommended by our independent directors.

Board of Directors Diversity Matrix

The following table below provides certain information regarding the diversity of our board of directors, as of the date of this proxy statement.

Board of Directors Leadership Structure

Our bylaws provide the board of directors with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of chair of the board of directors and chief executive officer in accordance with its determination that utilizing one or the other structure is in the best interests of our company. Currently, the board of directors has not appointed a chair or lead independent director. From time to time, each of the independent directors works with our chief executive officer to perform a variety of functions related to our corporate governance, including coordinating activities of the board of directors, setting the agenda for meetings (in consultation with our chief executive officer, as necessary or appropriate) and ensuring adequate communication between the board of directors and management. Our Audit Committee oversees critical matters such as our relationship with our auditors, our financial reporting practices, system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting. Our Compensation Committee oversees our executive compensation program. Each of these committees consists entirely of independent directors.

Risk Oversight

The board of directors is actively involved in the oversight of risks — including strategic, credit, liquidity, operational and other risks — which could affect our business. The board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee and administers this oversight function directly through the board of directors as a whole and through its committees, which oversee risks relevant to their respective functions. For example, in addition to the oversight matters described in the preceding paragraph, the Audit Committee also assists the board of directors in its risk oversight function by reviewing and discussing with management our compliance with accounting principles and the treasury function, including management of our cash and investments. The Compensation Committee assists the board of directors in its risk oversight function by considering risks relating to the design of our executive compensation programs and arrangements and employee benefit plans. The full board of directors considers strategic risks and opportunities and receives reports from the committees regarding risk oversight in their areas of responsibility as necessary. The board of directors and each committee administers its respective risk oversight function by evaluating management’s monitoring, assessment and management of risks, including steps taken to limit our exposure to known risks, through regular interaction with our senior management and in board and committee deliberations that are closed to members of management. The interaction with management occurs not only at formal board and committee meetings but also periodically through other written and oral communications.

Stockholder Communications with the Board of Directors

Stockholders who desire to communicate with the board of directors, or a specific director, may do so by sending the communication addressed to either the board of directors or any director, c/o Peraso Inc., 2309 Bering Drive, San Jose, California 95131. These communications will be delivered to the board of directors, or any individual director, as specified.

Annual Meeting Attendance

We have a policy of encouraging each director to attend the annual meeting of stockholders, but attendance is not required.

Meetings of the Board of Directors and Committees

During 2023, there were 23 meetings of the board of directors, four meetings of the Audit Committee and no meetings of the Compensation Committee. Each director attended at least 87% of the total number of meetings of the board of directors. Each director serving on the Audit Committee attended 100% of the meetings held. The board of directors, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee also acted at times by unanimous written consent, as authorized by our bylaws and the DGCL.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During 2023, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors or Compensation Committee of any entity that had one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or Compensation Committee. Dr. McWalter and Messrs. Melder and Newell, the members of the Compensation Committee, were not officers or employees of ours during 2023 or at any other time.

Code of Ethics

We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to all of our employees. The code of ethics is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote, among other things, honest and ethical conduct, full, fair, accurate, timely, and understandable disclosures in reports and documents submitted to the SEC and other public communications, compliance with applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations, the prompt internal reporting of violations of the code to an appropriate person or persons identified in the code and accountability for adherence to such code.

The code of ethics is available on our website, www.perasoinc.com. If we make any substantive amendments to the code of ethics or grant any waiver, including any implicit waiver, from a provision of the code to our chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, where such amendment or waiver is required to be disclosed under applicable SEC rules, we intend to disclose the nature of such amendment or waiver on our website.

Employee, Officer, and Director Hedging

Our policy against insider trading prohibits all directors, officers or other employees from engaging in any short sales of our securities, transactions in puts, calls or other derivative securities on an exchange or in any other organized market and hedging transactions.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

The following table summarizes the compensation we paid to our non-employee directors in the year ended December 31, 2023:

____________

(1)      Award amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value, as determined pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718, with respect to awards granted during 2023. The assumptions used to calculate the aggregate grant date fair value of option and stock awards are set forth in the notes to the audited consolidated financial statements included in the 2023 Annual Report. These amounts do not reflect actual compensation earned or to be earned by our directors. Restricted stock units were awarded to Dr. McWalter and Messrs. Melder and Newell on February 3, 2023 for 500 shares each; these awards vested in full on December 15, 2023.

(2)      Consists of (i) $45,000 of fees earned in 2023, of which $22,500 was not paid in 2023, and (ii) $11,250 of fees earned in 2022 and paid in 2023.

(3)      Consists of (i) $44,000 of fees earned in 2023, of which $22,000 was not paid in 2023, and (ii) $11,000 of fees earned in 2022 and paid in 2023.

(4)      Consists of (i) $40,000 of fees earned in 2023, of which $20,000 was not paid in 2023, and (ii) $10,000 of fees earned in 2022 and paid in 2023

(5)      Includes $17,500 of fees earned but not paid in 2023.

(6)      Represents a cash bonus paid to Mr. Lewis in January 2023 equal to 3% of the gross proceeds we received from the sale of our Virtual Accelerator Engine intellectual property, pursuant to the terms of his offer of employment, dated August 8, 2018, as amended on April 15, 2022. Mr. Lewis resigned as our Vice President, General Manager of Memory Products in December 2022.

Director Fee Compensation

As a small company, it can be challenging for us to attract new non-employee directors. Nasdaq and SEC regulations require that a majority of the directors on our board of directors and its committees be independent, non-employee directors, as defined by each entity. In December 2021, we amended our director compensation structure and adopted our Outside Director Compensation Plan (the “Director Plan”). Under the Director Plan, we pay the following annual cash retainer fees, payable in quarterly installments, to our non-employee directors for their service on our board of directors and, as applicable, for service on committees of our board of directors:

•        $35,000 for service on the board of directors;

•        $8,000 for service as chairperson of the Audit Committee;

•        $3,000 for service as a member of the Audit Committee;

•        $6,000 for service as chairperson of the Compensation Committee; and

•        $2,000 for service as a member of the Compensation Committee.

Director Equity Compensation

Under the Director Plan, upon initial appointment to our board of directors, each non-employee director will receive a stock option with a value of $100,000, calculated by dividing the $100,000 by the closing trading price of our common stock on the date of grant. The initial stock option will have an exercise price equal to the closing price of our common stock on the date of grant and will vest as to one-third of the shares on the first annual anniversary of the grant and the remaining shares quarterly over the subsequent two years, provided the non-employee director continues to serve on the board of directors. In the event of a merger, sale of substantially all of our assets or similar transaction, vesting of all director options would accelerate as to 100% of the unvested shares subject to the award.

Non-employee directors will also receive an annual equity award of restricted stock units of common stock equal to $50,000 of value per non-employee director. The restricted stock unit award will be made upon initial appointment to our board of directors and then subsequently at the first scheduled meeting of the board of directors following our annual meeting of stockholders. The number of restricted stock units will be calculated by dividing $50,000 by the closing trading price of our common stock on the date of the award, provided, however, that such annual equity award for each non-employee director cannot exceed 500 shares per year in accordance with the 2019 Plan. The restricted stock unit award will vest in full on the earlier to occur of the next annual meeting of stockholders or the one-year anniversary of the award. All equity awards granted under the Director Plan will be made from the 2019 Plan.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION — COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Overview of Compensation Program

The Compensation Committee of the board of directors has responsibility for establishing, implementing and monitoring adherence to our compensation philosophy. The board of directors has delegated to the Compensation Committee the responsibility for determining our compensation policies and procedures for senior management, including the named executive officers, periodically reviewing these policies and procedures, and making recommendations concerning executive compensation to be considered by the full board of directors, when such approval is required under any of our plans or policies or by applicable laws.

The compensation received by our named executive officers in fiscal year 2023 is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table, below. For 2023, our named executive officers included Ronald Glibbery, our chief executive officer, James Sullivan, our chief financial officer, and Bradley Lynch, our chief operating officer.

Compensation Philosophy

In general, our executive compensation policies are designed to recruit, retain and motivate qualified executives by providing them with a competitive total compensation package based in large part on the executive’s contribution to our financial and operational success, the executive’s personal performance and increases in stockholder value, as measured by the price of our common stock. We believe that the total compensation paid to our executives should be fair, reasonable and competitive.

We seek to have a balanced approach to executive compensation with each primary element of compensation (base salary, variable compensation and equity incentives) designed to play a specific role. Overall, we design our compensation programs to allow for the recruitment, retention and motivation of the key executives and high-level talent required in order for us to:

•        supply high-value and high-quality integrated circuit solutions to our customer base;

•        achieve or exceed our annual financial plan and be profitable;

•        make continuous progression towards achieving our long-term strategic objectives to be a high-growth company with growing profitability; and

•        increase our share price to provide greater value to our stockholders.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

The chief executive officer (the “CEO”) makes recommendations for equity and non-equity compensation for executives to be approved by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee reviews these guidelines annually. The CEO annually reviews the performance of our executives (other than himself) and presents his recommendations for proposed salary adjustments, bonuses and equity awards to the Compensation Committee once a year. In its discretion, the Compensation Committee may accept, modify or reject the CEO’s recommendations. The Compensation Committee evaluates the compensation of the CEO on its own without the participation or involvement of the CEO. Only the Compensation Committee and the board of directors are authorized to approve the compensation for any named executive officer. Compensation of new executives is based on hiring negotiations between the individuals and our CEO and/or Compensation Committee.

Elements of Compensation

Consistent with our compensation philosophy and objectives, we offer executive compensation packages consisting of the following three components:

•        base salary;

•        annual incentive compensation; and

•        equity awards.

In each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee determines the amount and relative weighting of each component for all executives, including the named executive officers. Base salaries are paid in fixed amounts and thus do not encourage risk taking. Our widespread use of long-term compensation, consisting of stock options and restricted stock units (the “RSUs”), focuses recipients on the achievement of our longer-term goals and conserves cash for other operating expenses. For example, the RSUs granted to our executives generally vest in increments over three years, while stock options granted to our executives generally vest over 36 months from the date of grant. The Compensation Committee does not believe that these awards encourage unnecessary or excessive risk taking because the ultimate value of the awards is tied to our stock price, and the use of multi-year vesting schedules helps to align our employees’ interests even more closely with those of our long-term investors.

Base Salary

Because our compensation philosophy stresses performance-based awards, base salary is intended to be a smaller portion of total executive compensation relative to long-term equity. The Compensation Committee takes into account the executive’s scope of responsibility and significance to the execution of our long-term strategy, past accomplishments, experience and personal performance and compares each executive’s base salary with those of the other members of senior management. The Compensation Committee may give different weighting to each of these factors for each executive, as it deems appropriate. The Compensation Committee did not retain a compensation consultant or determine a compensation peer group for 2023.

There were no changes to the annual base salaries of our executive officers in 2023. In April 2023, we entered into amendments to our employment agreements with each of our executive officers based in Canada, namely Messrs. Glibbery, Lynch and Tomkins, which provide that for purposes of calculating any cash compensation amounts payable by us under their employment agreements, each payment shall be converted into Canadian dollars at the exchange rate reported by the Bank of Canada (or such other equivalent exchange rate source, as determined by the Company) as of 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the first business day of each calendar quarter during which the payment is made.

Annual Incentive Compensation

There were no changes to the incentive compensation targets for our named executive officers in 2023.

Equity Awards

Although we do not have a mandated policy regarding the ownership of shares of common stock by officers and directors, we believe that granting equity awards to executives and other key employees on an ongoing basis gives them a strong incentive to maximize stockholder value and aligns their interests with those of our other stockholders on a long-term basis. Our 2019 Plan, which was approved by our stockholders and became effective in August 2019, enables us to grant equity awards, as well as other types of stock-based compensation, to our executive officers and other employees. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all equity awards granted under the 2019 Plan to the named executive officers. We grant equity awards to achieve retention and motivation:

•        upon the hiring of key executives and other personnel;

•        annually, when we review progress against corporate and personal goals; and

•        when we believe that competitive forces or economic conditions threaten to cause our key executives to lose their motivation and/or where retention of these key executives is in jeopardy.

With the Compensation Committee’s approval, we grant equity awards to acquire shares of common stock when we initially hire executives and other employees, as a long-term performance incentive. The Compensation Committee has determined the size of the initial equity awards to newly hired executives with reference to equity awards held by existing executives, the percentage that such award represents of our total shares outstanding and hiring negotiations with the individual. In addition, the Compensation Committee would consider other relevant information regarding the size and type of compensation package considered necessary to enable us to recruit, retain and motivate the executive.

Typically, when we hire an executive, the equity awards vest over a three-year period. The options granted to executives in connection with annual performance reviews typically vest monthly over a three-to four-year period, and RSUs granted typically vest annually over a period of from one- to three-years, as the Compensation Committee may decide. As matters of policy and practice, we grant stock options with an exercise price equal to fair market value, although the 2019 Plan allows us to use a different exercise price. In determining fair market value, we use the closing price of the common stock on the Nasdaq on the grant date.

Historically, no employee has been eligible for an annual performance grant until the employee has been employed for at least six months. Annual performance reviews are generally conducted in the first half of each fiscal year. Our CEO conducts the performance review of all other executives, and he makes his recommendations to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also reviews the CEO’s annual performance and determines whether he should receive additional equity awards. Aside from equity award grants in connection with annual performance reviews, we do not have a policy of granting additional awards to executives during the year. The board of directors and Compensation Committee have not adopted a policy with respect to setting the dates of award grants relative to the timing of the release of material non-public information. Our policy with respect to prohibiting insider trading restricts sales of shares during specified black-out periods, including at all times that our insiders are considered to possess material non-public information.

In determining the size of equity awards in connection with the annual performance reviews of our executives, the Compensation Committee takes into account the executive’s current position with and responsibilities to us, and current and past equity awards to the executive.

In 2023, we did not grant equity awards to any of our named executive officers.

Going forward, we intend to continue to evaluate and consider equity grants to our executives on an annual basis. We expect to consider potential equity awards for executives at the same time as we annually review our employees’ performance and determine whether to award grants for all employees.

Pay Versus Performance

As required by Section 953(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, and Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, which was adopted by the SEC in 2022, the Company is providing the following information regarding the relationship between “compensation actually paid” (“CAP”) to our principal executive officer (“PEO”), former principal executive officer (“Former PEO”) and non-PEO named executive officers (“NEOs”) and certain financial performance of the Company for the fiscal years listed below.

____________

(1)      Represent the amounts of total compensation reported for our PEO and Former PEO during each corresponding year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table below. Ronald Glibbery, our PEO, was appointed as our CEO at the effective time of the Arrangement on December 17, 2021, at which time Daniel Lewis, our Former PEO, resigned as our CEO. Mr. Lewis served as our President during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and until April 2022; from April 2022 until December 2022, Mr. Lewis served as our Vice President, General Manager of Memory Products.

(2)      Represents the amount of “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and Former PEO, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, with the following adjustments:

(3)      Represents the average of the amounts reported for our NEOs as a group (excluding our PEO and our Former PEO) in each applicable year in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table below. For 2023, this consists of James Sullivan and Bradley Lynch, for 2022, Daniel Lewis and James Sullivan, and for 2021, James Sullivan (the “Non-PEO NEOs”).

(4)      Represents the average amount of “compensation actually paid” to the Non-PEO NEOs, as computed in accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K. The dollar amounts do not reflect the actual average compensation earned or paid to the Non-PEO NEOs during the applicable year. In accordance with the requirements of Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K, the following adjustments were made to average total compensation for the Non-PEO NEOs for each year:

(5)      TSR is cumulative for the measurement periods beginning on December 31, 2020 and ending on December 31 of each of 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, calculated by dividing the difference between our share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by our share price at the end of the measurement period. No dividends were paid in 2023, 2022 or 2021.

(6)      The dollar amounts reported represent the amount of net loss reflected in our consolidated audited financial statements for the applicable years.

The illustrations below provide an additional graphical description of CAP compared to both our cumulative “Total Shareholder Return” (TSR) and our net loss. As the illustrations show, the compensation actually paid to our PEO and Former PEO and the average amount of compensation actually paid to our non-PEO NEOs during the periods presented are not directly correlated with TSR. We do utilize several performance measures to align executive compensation with our performance, but those tend not to be financial performance measures, such as TSR. Compensation actually paid is influenced by numerous factors including, but not limited to, the timing of new grant issuances and award vesting, NEO mix, share price volatility during the fiscal year, our mix of performance metrics and other factors.

____________

*        All information provided above under the “Pay Versus Performance” heading will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any filing of ours under the Securities Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis provisions to be included in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in our proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

The following table sets forth compensation information for fiscal years 2023 and 2022 for each of our named executive officers.

____________

(1)      The dollar amounts in this column represent base salary earned during the indicated fiscal year. Pursuant to the employment agreements for Messrs. Sullivan and Lynch, each as amended in April 2022, such named executive officers received a base salary increase that was retroactive to December 17, 2021. Accordingly, the amounts in this column for fiscal year 2022 for Messrs. Sullivan and Lynch reflect retroactive salary increases for the time period from December 17, 2021 through December 31, 2021 in the aggregate amounts of $1,719 and $4,992, respectively, plus fiscal year 2022 base salary.

(2)      Award amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value with respect to awards granted during the years indicated, as determined pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718. The assumptions used to calculate the aggregate grant date fair value of option and stock awards are set forth in the notes to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in our 2023 Annual Report. These amounts do not reflect actual compensation earned or to be earned by our named executive officers.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

We did not grant plan-based awards to any of our named executive officers in 2023.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END

The following table sets forth information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2023.

____________

(1)      The standard option term is generally ten years, but all of the options expire automatically unless exercised within 90 days after the cessation of service as an employee, director or consultant.

(2)      The stock options were acquired on December 17, 2021 as consideration for the person’s securities of Peraso Technologies Inc., which we acquired by way of a reverse takeover.

(3)      The stock option was granted on March 30, 2015, and the shares subject to this option vested monthly over 48 months subject to continued employment (or service as a director or consultant).

(4)      In August 2016, officers tendered their eligible options and received new options at a rate of 1 replacement option share for each 1.75 option shares tendered. The stock option was granted on August 23, 2016, and the shares subject to this option vested monthly over 48 months subject to continued employment (or service as a director or consultant).

(5)      The stock option was granted on February 6, 2019, and the shares subject to this option vest monthly over three years subject to continued service as an employee, director or consultant).

(6)      The stock option was granted on November 20, 2019, and the shares subject to this option vested monthly over three years subject to continued service as an employee, director or consultant.

(7)      The shares subject to each restricted stock unit grant vest on each semi-annual anniversary over a three-year period commencing on December 17, 2021 subject to continued employment (or service as a director or consultant).

(8)      The amount is calculated using the Company’s closing price on the Nasdaq of $11.20 per share of common stock on December 29, 2023.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

The following table sets forth the number of shares acquired and aggregate dollar amount realized pursuant to the exercise of options and vesting of stock awards by our named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2023.

____________

(1)      The aggregate dollar value realized upon vesting represents the closing price of a share of common stock on the Nasdaq at the date of vesting, multiplied by the total number of shares vested.

EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE-IN-CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS

Our Executive Change-in-Control and Severance Policy (the “Policy”) provides benefits that are intended to encourage the continued dedication of our executive officers and to mitigate potential disincentives to the consideration of a transaction that would result in a change in control, particularly where the services of our named executive officers may not be required by a potential acquirer. The Policy provides for benefits for our named executive officers in the event of a “Change-in-Control,” which is generally defined as:

•        an acquisition of 45% or more of our common stock or voting securities by any “person,” as defined under the Exchange Act; or

•        consummation of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of all or substantially all of our assets (collectively, a “Business Combination”) other than a Business Combination in which (A) our stockholders receive 50% or more of the stock of the corporation resulting from the Business Combination and (B) at least a majority of the board of directors of such resulting corporation were our incumbent directors immediately prior to the consummation of the Business Combination, and (C) after which no individual, entity or group (excluding any corporation or other entity resulting from the Business Combination or any employee benefit plan of such corporation or of ours) who did not own 45% or more of the stock of the resulting corporation or other entity immediately before the Business Combination owns 45% or more of the stock of such resulting corporation or other entity.

Under the Policy, the following compensation and benefits are to be provided to our chief executive officer upon the occurrence of a Change-in-Control, and in the case of our other named executive officers, upon a Change-in-Control combined with a termination of the named executive officer’s employment without cause, or due to disability or resignation for good reason (as defined in the Policy) in connection with the Change-in-Control or within 24 months after it:

•        any base salary earned but not yet paid through the date of termination;

•        any annual or discretionary bonus earned but not yet paid to him for any calendar year prior to the year in which his termination occurs;

•        any compensation under any deferred compensation plan of ours or deferred compensation agreement with us then in effect;

•        a single lump sum payment equal to the sum of (a) one year of his or her then-current base salary plus (b) the average of his or her annual bonus payments in the preceding three years or such shorter time as he or she has been employed by us (with prorated weighting assigned to any bonus earned for a partial year of employment), which payment will be made within 60 days following the Change-in-Control (in the case of the chief executive officer), or 60 days following the date of employment termination (in the case of all other named executive officers).

•        vesting in 100% of all outstanding equity awards as of the date of the Change-in-Control for the chief executive officer, or as of the date of termination of employment for all other named executive officers;

•        reimbursement of any business expenses incurred by him through the date of termination but not yet paid;

•        reimbursement of the cost of continuation of medical benefits for a period of 12 months; and

•        outstanding equity awards that are structured as stock options, stock appreciation rights or similar awards shall be amended effective as of the date of termination to provide that such awards will remain outstanding and exercisable until the earlier of (a) 12 months following the date of the Change-in-Control for the chief executive officer, or the termination of employment for the other named executive officers, and (b) the expiration of the award’s initial term.

Under the Policy, “cause” means the executive’s:

•        willful failure to attend to the executive’s duties that is not cured by the executive within 30 days of receiving written notice from the CEO (or, in the case of the CEO, from the board of directors) specifying such failure;

•        material breach of the executive’s then-current employment agreement (if any) that is not cured by the executive within 30 days of receiving written notice from the CEO (or, in the case of the CEO, from the board of directors) specifying such breach;

•        conviction of (or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to) any felony or any misdemeanor involving theft or embezzlement; or

•        misconduct resulting in material harm to our business or reputation, including fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation of funds or a material violation of the executive’s employment, confidential information, non-disclosure, invention assignment and arbitration agreement.

Under the Policy, “good reason” means the occurrence of any of the following conditions without the executive’s consent, but only if such condition is reported by the executive within 90 days of the executive’s knowledge of such condition and remains uncured 30 days after written notice from the executive to the board of directors of said condition:

•        a material reduction in the executive’s then-current base salary or annual target bonus (expressed as a percentage of Executive’s then-current base salary), except for a reduction proportionate to reductions concurrently imposed on all other members of the Company’s executive management;

•        a material reduction in the executive’s then-current employee benefits package, taken as a whole, except for a reduction proportionate to reductions concurrently imposed on all other members of executive management;

•        a material reduction in the executive’s responsibilities with respect to our overall operations, such that continuity of responsibilities with respect to business operations existing prior to a corporate transaction will serve as a material reduction in responsibilities if such business operations represent only a subsidiary or business unit of the larger enterprise after the corporate transaction;

•        a material reduction in the responsibilities of the executive’s direct reports, including a requirement for the chief executive officer to report to another officer as opposed to our board of directors or a requirement for any other executive to report to any officer other than our chief executive officer;

•        a material breach by us of any material provision of the executive’s then-current employment agreement (if any);

•        a requirement that the executive relocate to a location more than 35 miles from the executive’s then-current office location, unless such office relocation results in the distance between the new office and Executive’s home being closer or equal to the distance between the prior office and the executive’s home;

•        a failure of a successor or transferee to assume our obligations under this Policy; or

•        a failure to nominate the executive for election as a board of directors director, if, at the proper time for nomination, the executive is a member of the board of directors.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information as of November 8, 2024 concerning the ownership of our common stock by:

•        each stockholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock;

•        each of our directors;

•        each of the named executive officers; and

•        all directors and executive officers as a group.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act and includes all shares over which the beneficial owner exercises voting or investment power. Shares that are issuable upon the exercise of options, warrants and other rights to acquire common stock that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of November 8, 2024, are reflected in a separate column in the table below. These shares are taken into account in the calculation of the total number of shares beneficially owned by a particular holder and the total number of shares outstanding for the purpose of calculating percentage ownership of the particular holder. We have relied on information supplied by our officers, directors and certain stockholders and on information contained in filings with the SEC. The stockholders identified below may have acquired securities or sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of some or all of their securities since the date on which the information in the following table is presented. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe, based on information provided by these persons, that the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them. The percentage of beneficial ownership is based on 3,918,384 shares of common stock and Exchangeable Shares outstanding as of November 8, 2024.

Unless otherwise stated, the business address of each of our directors and named executive officers listed in the table is 2309 Bering Drive, San Jose, California 95131.

____________

*        Represents holdings of less than one percent

(1)      Excludes shares subject to outstanding options, restricted stock units or other rights to acquire common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of November 8, 2024.

(2)      Represents the number of shares subject to outstanding options, restricted stock units or other rights to acquire common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of November 8, 2024.

(3)      Based on information reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024 by Iroquois Capital Management L.L.C. (“Iroquois Capital”), Richard Abbe and Kimberly Page, and on information provided by Iroquois Master Fund Ltd. (“Iroquois Master Fund”), Iroquois Capital Investment Group LLC (“ICIG”), Mr. Abbe and Ms. Page. The information reflects that (i) Iroquois Capital, Mr. Abbe and Ms. Page share voting and dispositive power over 78,000 shares of common stock and 495,232 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of Series A warrants, Series C warrants and Series D warrants (collectively, the “Warrants”), which securities are directly held by Iroquois Master Fund, and (ii) Mr. Abbe has sole voting and dispositive power over 222,000 shares of common stock and 1,409,528 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, which securities are directly held by ICIG. The table above excludes 176,190 shares of common stock that were not issued upon the holders’ exercise of warrants at the closing of a warrant inducement offering, which closed on November 6, 2024, because such exercised warrants were subject to a 9.99% beneficial ownership blocker and 1,803,164 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants because the warrants are subject to a 9.99% beneficial ownership blocker. Mr. Abbe shares authority and responsibility for the investments made on behalf of Iroquois Master Fund with Ms. Kimberly Page, each of whom is a director of the Iroquois Master Fund. As such, Mr. Abbe and Ms. Page may each be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all shares of common stock held by and underlying the Warrants held by, Iroquois Master Fund. Iroquois Capital is the investment advisor for Iroquois Master Fund and Mr. Abbe is the President of Iroquois Capital. Mr. Abbe has the sole authority and responsibility for the investments made on behalf of ICIG. As such, Mr. Abbe may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all shares of common stock held by and underlying the Warrants held by, Iroquois Master Fund and ICIG. Iroquois Capital, Mr. Abbe and Ms. Page each disclaims any beneficial ownership of any such shares of common stock except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The principal business address of Iroquois Capital, Iroquois Master Fund, ICIG, Mr. Abbe and Ms. Page is 2 Overhill Road, 4th Floor, Scarsdale, New York 10583.

(4)      Based on information reported on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024 by Ionic Ventures, LLC (“Ionic”), Ionic Management, LLC (“Ionic Management”), Brendan O’Neil and Keith Coulston, which each report shared voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares. The table above excludes 517,488 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Series A warrants because the warrants are subject to a 9.99% beneficial ownership blocker. Ionic has the power to dispose of and the power to vote the shares beneficially owned by it, which power may be exercised by its manager, Ionic Management. Each of the managers of Ionic Management, Mr. O’Neil and Mr. Coulston, has shared power to vote and/or dispose of the shares beneficially owned by Ionic and Ionic Management. The principal business address of Ionic, Ionic Management, Mr. O’Neil and Mr. Coulston is 3053 Fillmore Street, Suite 256, San Francisco, California 94123.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS

Below we describe any transactions to which we have been a participant, in which the amount involved in the transaction exceeds or will exceed the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at year end for the last two completed fiscal years and in which any of our directors, director nominees, executive officers, or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any immediate family member of, or person sharing the household with, any of these individuals, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest since January 1, 2022.

On June 11, 2024, we entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Ian McWalter, a member of our board of directors, pursuant to which we sold and Mr. McWalter purchased 100,000 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock at a price per share of $1.27. The Shares sold pursuant to the Purchase Agreement were issued as restricted securities, as defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933.

A family member of one of our executive officers is employed by us. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we recorded compensation expense of approximately $111,400 and $101,000, respectively, to the employee. The amount paid in 2022 includes the aggregate grant date fair value, as determined pursuant to FASB ASC Topic 718, of an RSU awarded in April 2022. The Company recorded compensation expense of approximately $85,600 for the employed family member during the nine months ended September 30, 2024.

Additionally, a family member of one of our executive officers previously served as a consultant to the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2022, we paid approximately $162,000 to the consultant family member.

Review, Approval, or Ratification of Transactions with Related Persons.

Our Audit Committee reviews issues involving potential conflicts of interest, and reviews and approves all related party transactions, including those required to be disclosed as a “related party” transaction under applicable federal securities laws. Our Audit Committee has not adopted any specific procedures for conducting reviews of potential conflicts of interest and considers each transaction in light of the specific facts and circumstances presented. However, to the extent a potential related party transaction is presented to our Audit Committee, we expect that the Audit Committee would become fully informed regarding the potential transaction and the interests of the related party, and would have the opportunity to deliberate outside of the presence of the related party. We expect that the Audit Committee would only approve a related party transaction that was in the best interests of the Company, and further would seek to ensure that any completed related party transaction was on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained in a transaction with an unaffiliated third party. Other than as described above, no transaction requiring disclosure under applicable federal securities laws occurred since January 1, 2022 that was submitted to our Audit Committee for approval as a “related party” transaction.

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee reviews, acts on and reports to the board of directors with respect to various auditing and accounting matters. The Audit Committee also monitors the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm and reviews the audit report on the consolidated financial statements following completion of the audit and our accounting practices with respect to internal accounting and financial controls. Management has primary responsibility for our financial statements and the overall reporting process, including our system of internal control over financial reporting. Our independent registered public accounting firm audits the financial statements prepared by management, expresses an opinion as to whether those financial statements fairly present our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and discusses with the Audit Committee any issues they believe should be raised with us. The Audit Committee’s responsibilities under the Audit Committee charter adopted by the board of directors, effective as of August 15, 2000, and amended as of February 1, 2006, February 8, 2008 and February 14, 2022, include the selection or dismissal of our independent registered public accounting firm, review of the scope of the annual audits, and approval of fees to be paid to our independent registered public accounting firm.

The Audit Committee charter, as amended to date, can be found through the investors section of our website, www.perasoinc.com.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, Ian McWalter, Andreas Melder and Robert Newell served on the Audit Committee and were considered independent, as determined in accordance with Rule 5605(a)(2) of the Nasdaq listing rules and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act.

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for fiscal year 2023 with management and Weinberg & Company, or Weinberg, our independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee discussed with Weinberg matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 16, “Communications with Audit Committees,” as currently in effect. Weinberg has provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and letter required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with the Audit Committee regarding independence, and the Audit Committee has discussed Weinberg’s independence with members of that firm. The Audit Committee has determined that the rendering of audit and audit-related services by Weinberg was compatible with maintaining the auditors’ independence.

Based on the discussions with management and Weinberg concerning the audit, the independence discussions and the financial statement review, and such other matters deemed relevant and appropriate by the Audit Committee, the Audit Committee recommended to the board of directors that our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2023 be included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for such fiscal year filed with the SEC.

PROPOSAL NO. 1:

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

At the Annual Meeting, five directors are to be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until a successor for such director is elected and qualified, or until the death, resignation or removal of such director.

NOMINEES

Set forth below, and above under “Board of Directors — Directors,” is information regarding the five nominees for election to our board of directors:

Each person nominated has agreed to serve if elected, and our board of directors has no reason to believe that any nominee will be unavailable or will decline to serve. In the event, however, that any nominee is unable or declines to serve as a director at the time of the Annual Meeting, the proxies will be voted for any nominee who is designated by the current board of directors to fill the vacancy.

Required Vote

The nominees for the five director seats who receive the largest number of votes cast “FOR” of the shares that are represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote will be elected to serve as directors.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF ALL OF THE ABOVE NOMINEES.

PROPOSAL NO. 2:
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED
PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We are asking stockholders to ratify and approve the appointment of Weinberg & Company, P.A. (“Weinberg”), as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024.

The Audit Committee meets with our independent registered public accounting firm at least four times a year. At such times, the Audit Committee reviews both audit and non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm, as well as the fees charged for such services. The Audit Committee is responsible for pre-approving all auditing services and non-auditing services (other than non-audit services falling within the de minimis exception set forth in Section 10A(i)(1)(B) of the Exchange Act and non-audit services that independent auditors are prohibited from providing to us) in accordance with the following guidelines: (1) pre-approval policies and procedures must be detailed as to the particular services provided; (2) the Audit Committee must be informed about each service; and (3) the Audit Committee may delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members, who shall report to the full committee, but shall not delegate its pre-approval authority to management. Among other things, the Audit Committee examines the effect that performance of non-audit services may have upon the independence of the auditors. Weinberg billed us for the following professional services for 2023 and 2022 (in thousands of dollars):

____________

(1)      Audit fees consisted of fees for professional services rendered for the audit of our annual consolidated financial statements, review of our quarterly financial statements and services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings.

(2)      Audit-related fees consisted of fees related to the issuance of SEC registration statements.

(3)      Weinberg did not provide any non-audit or other services other than those reported under “Audit Fees” and “Audit-Related Fees.”

In the event the stockholders fail to ratify and approve the appointment of Weinberg, the Audit Committee will reconsider its selection. Even if the appointment is ratified and approved, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year, if the Audit Committee determines that such a change would be in our and the stockholders’ best interests.

Representatives of Weinberg are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Required Vote

Ratification of the selection of Weinberg as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2024 requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares that are represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such matter (meaning that of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, a majority of them must be voted “FOR” Proposal No. 2 for it to be approved).

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THIS PROPOSAL NO. 2 TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF WEINBERG & COMPANY, P.A., TO SERVE AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2024.

PROPOSAL NO. 3:
APPROVE THE AMENDMENT OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES CURRENTLY RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE THEREUNDER BY 1,500,000 SHARES

At the Annual Meeting, we will request that our stockholders approve an amendment to the Amended and Restated 2019 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2019 Plan”) to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance by 1,500,000 shares of common stock. In August 2019, our stockholders approved our 2019 Plan, which included an initial reserve of 4,563 shares. In November 2021, our stockholders approved an increase of 77,674 shares to the share reserve. As of November 8, 2024, under the 2019 Plan, we had approximately 12,168 shares of our common stock subject to existing stock-based compensation awards and approximately 42,391 shares currently available for issuance with respect to awards (plus any shares that might in the future be returned to the 2019 Plan as a result of cancellation, expiration or forfeit of outstanding awards). In addition, as of November 8, 2024, we had approximately 27,244 shares of our common stock subject to stock options issued under the Peraso Technologies Inc. 2009 Share Option Plan, which we assumed in December 2021 upon the closing of the Arrangement with Peraso Technologies Inc. Also, as of November 8, 2024, we had approximately 921 shares of our common stock subject to stock options issued under our 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, which was terminated and remains in effect only as to outstanding equity awards granted prior to the date of termination; no new awards may be made under such plan. As of November 8, 2024, the 40,333 shares subject to existing awards represented approximately 1.4% of our shares of common stock and Exchangeable Shares outstanding and approximately 0.3% of our fully diluted shares outstanding, which we have calculated as the sum of (1) total shares of common stock and Exchangeable Shares outstanding, (2) shares of common stock subject to existing stock-based compensation awards, (3) 1,358,550 shares of common stock held in abeyance (the “Abeyance Shares”) from a warrant inducement offering that closed on November 6, 2024 and (4) shares of common stock exercisable under common stock warrants. The additional 1,500,000 shares under the 2019 Plan that we are requesting represent 28.4% of our shares of common stock and Exchangeable Shares currently outstanding and the Abeyance Shares and 10.4% of the fully diluted number of shares of common stock and Exchangeable Shares. We explain below our rationale for and how we intend to use the additional 1,500,000 shares, if approved by our stockholders.

The challenges our business has faced and the substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern have made it more challenging for us to attract and hire employees. Historically, we have issued equity awards in the form of restricted stock units to our employees and consultants. The value of these awards is denominated in dollars based on the price per share of our common stock on the date of grant of the award. The price of our common stock has declined during 2023 and 2024, and the perceived value of the awards to the recipients has declined, especially given our financial condition. We have not provided our employees and consultants with refresh equity awards since April 2022, as we did not have adequate shares available for issuance under the 2019 Plan. We believe that the awards we have granted are inadequate to motivate, retain and incentivize our employees and consultants, and we believe we will need to increase the award levels at out next performance review cycle in the first half of 2025.

If our stockholders approve the requested increase to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, we anticipate that the share pool will provide us for adequate shares for at least the next two years. We intend to issue equity awards in the form of stock options to our employees and consultants, rather than issuing restricted stock units. The options will only have value to the recipients if our stock price increases. We recognize the need to balance stockholder concerns over the potentially dilutive effects of the increased number of authorized shares under the 2019 Plan with our ability to attract, motivate, reward and retain our employees and non-employee directors, who are critical to driving our business plan and increasing stockholder value. We believe the dilutive effect of our equity awards has been reasonable and consistent with these essential requirements, especially as we have not granted refresh equity awards since April 2022. We are managing our equity awards closely, and we intend to continue doing so. If the increase to the share reserve is approved, we expect that it may be necessary to request our stockholders to approve additional increases to the share reserve in the future, as we expect to grow our business, increase our headcount and expand the size of our board of directors.

In addition, as disclosed in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 13, 2024, there was uncertainty regarding our ability to maintain liquidity sufficient to allow us to operate our business effectively, which raises substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern within one year from November 13, 2024. We will need to raise capital through additional convertible debt or equity sales and offerings, and we expect significant additional dilution from the additional financing we require. Given the anticipated dilution

from an offering of our securities, we believe that an additional 1,500,000 shares of common stock for the 2019 Plan will provide us with a reasonable amount of shares available for issuance as compared to our overall amount of shares of common stock outstanding, on a fully diluted basis, following an offering, and will give us the ability to grant awards for retaining, motivating and incentivizing our employees, consultants and non-employee directors over the next two years.

Stockholder approval of our request for additional shares under Proposal No. 3 is necessary to authorize a sufficient number of shares under the 2019 Plan to allow us to continue to motivate, reward and retain the services of our non-employee directors and personnel. If this increase is not approved, the 2019 Plan will remain in effect with its current terms and conditions but without the additional shares we consider necessary for our continued competitiveness, and it may make it difficult for us to retain our employees and non-employee directors. In addition, if the increase is not approved, in the future, we may be unable to provide equity awards to our non-employee directors or provide additional awards to our employees, whose existing awards have and are expected to experience significant dilution. Without the increase in shares available under the 2019 Plan, in the future, we would be reliant on cash-settled awards as our sole method of incentive-based compensation. We believe this would not be in our stockholders’ best interests as it would (a) remove incentives aligning our employees and our senior leaders with stockholders to drive firm-wide performance and create long-term stockholder value and (b) increase our cash burn, as we would need to increase our reliance on cash-settled awards. Our board of directors and management, therefore, recommend that stockholders approve the amendment to our 2019 Plan.

Summary of the 2019 Plan

The 2019 Plan was approved by our stockholders in August 2019. The principal features of the 2019 Plan are summarized below, but the summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2019 Plan itself.

Highlights of 2019 Plan

Purpose.    The 2019 Plan is intended to retain and reward highly qualified employees and other service providers, including contract employees, consultants, and directors, and encourage their ownership of our common stock.

Administration.    The 2019 Plan is administered by our compensation committee of the board of directors. Subject to the provisions of the 2019 Plan, the compensation committee has discretion to determine the employee, consultant or director to receive an award, the form of award and any acceleration or extension of an award. Further, the compensation committee has complete authority to interpret the 2019 Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to it, to determine the terms and provisions of the respective award agreements (which need not be identical), and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2019 Plan.

Eligibility.    Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees, including officers, and the employees of any subsidiaries. All other stock awards may be granted to employees, officers, non-employee directors, and consultants and the employees and consultants of subsidiaries.

Shares Subject to the 2019 Plan.    The shares issued or to be issued under the 2019 Plan are authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or treasury shares. As of November 8, 2024, the maximum number of shares of common stock which may be issued or made subject to awards under the 2019 Plan was approximately 42,391.

If an award granted under the 2019 Plan expires or otherwise terminates without being exercised in full the shares of common stock not acquired pursuant to the stock award again will become available for subsequent issuance under the 2019 Plan. In addition, shares that have been issued but are forfeited prior to becoming fully vested may become available for the grant of new stock awards under the 2019 Plan. If restricted stock units are settled, then only the number of shares (if any) actually issued in settlement of such award shall reduce the number available under the 2019 Plan and the balance shall again become available for awards. The full number of stock appreciation rights settled shall be counted against the number of shares available for award under the 2019 Plan, regardless of the number of shares actually issued in settlement of such award.

Types of Awards.    Awards under the 2019 Plan may include incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance-based awards and stock grants. Each award will be evidenced by an instrument in such form as the compensation committee may prescribe, setting forth

applicable terms such as the exercise price and term of any option or applicable forfeiture conditions or performance requirements for any restricted stock or restricted stock units. Except as noted below, all relevant terms of any award will be set by the compensation committee in its discretion.

•        Nonstatutory Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options (together, “Stock Options”) are rights to purchase our common stock. A Stock Option may be immediately exercisable or become exercisable in such installments, cumulative or non-cumulative, as our compensation committee may determine. The compensation committee determines the exercise price for a stock option, within the terms and conditions of the 2019 Plan, provided that the exercise price of a Stock Option generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. A Stock Option may be exercised by the recipient giving written notice to us, specifying the number of shares with respect to which the Stock Option is then being exercised, and accompanied by payment of an amount equal to the exercise price of the shares to be purchased. Payment of the exercise price may be made in cash or, if provided for in the stock option agreement evidencing the award, (1) by surrendering, or attesting to the ownership of, shares which have already been owned by the optionee, (2) by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to us in payment of the aggregate exercise price, (3) by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker or lender to pledge shares and to deliver all or part of the loan proceeds to us in payment of the aggregate exercise price, (4) by a “net exercise” arrangement, (5) by delivering a full-recourse promissory note or (6) by any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and rules

•        Stock Appreciation Rights, or SARs, generally provide for payments to the recipient based upon increases in the price of our common stock over the exercise price of the stock appreciation right. The compensation committee determines the exercise price for a stock appreciation right, which generally cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant. A stock appreciation right granted under the 2019 Plan vests at the rate specified in the stock appreciation right agreement as determined by the compensation committee. The compensation committee determines the term of stock appreciation rights granted under the 2019 Plan, up to a maximum of ten years. Upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, we will pay the participant an amount in stock, cash, or a combination of stock and cash as determined by the compensation committee, equal to the product of (1) the excess of the per share fair market value of our common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price, multiplied by (2) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the stock appreciation right is exercised.

•        Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted stock is a stock award that may be subject to vesting conditioned upon continued service, the achievement of performance objectives or the satisfaction of any other condition as specified in a restricted stock agreement. Subject to the terms of the 2019 Plan, the compensation committee will determine the terms and conditions of any restricted stock award, including any vesting arrangement, which will be set forth in a restricted stock agreement to be entered into between us and each recipient. Restricted stock awards may be granted in consideration for (1) cash, (2) future services or services rendered to us or our affiliates prior to the award, (3) full recourse promissory notes or (4) any other form of legal consideration, as determined by the compensation committee. Common stock acquired under a restricted stock award may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in our favor in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the compensation committee. A restricted stock award may be transferred only upon such terms and conditions as set by the compensation committee.

•        Restricted Stock Unit Awards. Restricted stock unit awards give recipients the right to acquire a specified number of shares of stock at a future date upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including any vesting arrangement, established by the compensation committee and as set forth in a restricted stock unit award agreement. A restricted stock unit award may be settled by cash, delivery of stock, a combination of cash and stock as deemed appropriate by the compensation committee. Recipients of restricted stock unit awards generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time the vesting conditions are satisfied and the award is settled.

•        Performance-Based Awards. The number of shares or other benefits granted, issued, retainable and/or vested under a stock award may be made subject to the attainment of performance goals. The compensation committee may utilize any performance criteria selected by it in its sole discretion to establish performance goals.

•        Stock Grant. Stock grants are grants of shares of common stock not subject to restrictions or other forfeiture conditions. Stock grants may be awarded only in recognition of significant contributions to our success, in lieu of compensation otherwise already due, or in other limited circumstances which the compensation committee deems appropriate.

•        Director Awards. The 2019 Plan permits the board of directors to establish by resolution the number of shares, up to a maximum of 500 each year for each non-employee director, to be covered by annual option grants or other awards to our non-employee directors for each year of service on our board of directors. The shares would vest in full at the end of the 12-month period following a director’s election to the board of directors at the annual meeting, corresponding to a full year of service. In the event of a merger, sale of substantially all of our assets or similar transaction, vesting would accelerate as to 100% of the unvested shares subject to the award. The 2019 Plan further provides that each non-employee director may be granted an award to acquire up to 2,500 shares upon his or her initial appointment or election to our board. The shares covered by these awards vest over a three-year period at the rate of one-third of the total number of shares each year, subject to the non-employee director’s continuous service on the board. In the event of a merger, sale of substantially all of our assets or similar transaction, vesting would accelerate as to 100% of the unvested shares subject to the award. The 2019 Plan also permits a disinterested majority of the board of directors, in its discretion, to authorize additional shares to be awarded or granted under stock options to committee chairs and other non-employee directors for extraordinary service on the board.

•        Effect of Termination of Employment or Association. Unless the compensation committee determines otherwise in connection with any particular award under the 2019 Plan, Stock Options and SARs will generally terminate 12 months following the recipient’s termination of employment or other association with us due to death or disability and 90 days following the recipient’s termination of employment or other association with us for any other reason. The effect of termination on other awards will depend on the terms of those awards.

•        Transferability. Unless the compensation committee provides otherwise, no award granted under the 2019 Plan may be transferred in any manner (prior to the vesting and lapse of any and all restrictions applicable to shares issued under such award), except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

•        No Stock Option Repricing. Under the 2019 Plan, the compensation committee may not reduce the exercise price of outstanding stock options or stock appreciation rights that are “underwater,” or cancel those awards in exchange for cash or new awards, without stockholder approval (unless in connection with a capital adjustment).

•        Clawback/Recoupment. If we are required to prepare restated financial results because of an executive officer’s intentional misconduct or grossly negligent conduct, our board of directors will have authority under the 2019 Plan, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to require reimbursement or forfeiture of the amount of compensation such executive officer received during the three fiscal years preceding the year the restatement is determined to be required to the extent that such compensation exceeds what the officer would have received based on the restated performance.

•        Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization. In the event of a recapitalization, stock split, or similar capital transaction, the compensation committee will make appropriate and equitable adjustments to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 2019 Plan, the maximum number of shares subject to initial and annual grants to non-employee directors, the number of shares that can be issued as incentive stock options, the number of shares subject to outstanding awards and the exercise price under each outstanding option or stock appreciation right.

•        Transactions. If we are involved in a merger or other reorganization, outstanding awards will be subject to the agreement or merger or reorganization. Subject to compliance with applicable tax laws, such agreement will provide for (1) the continuation of the outstanding awards by us, if we are a surviving corporation, (2) the assumption or substitution of the outstanding awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary, (3) immediate vesting, exercisability, and settlement of the outstanding awards followed by their cancellation, or (4) settlement of the intrinsic value of the outstanding awards (whether or not vested

or exercisable) in cash, cash equivalents, or equity (including cash or equity subject to deferred vesting and delivery consistent with the vesting restrictions applicable to such award or the underlying shares) followed by cancellation of such awards.

•        Amendments to the 2019 Plan. Our board of directors has the authority to amend, suspend, or terminate the 2019 Plan, provided that such action does not materially impair the existing rights of any participant without such participant’s written consent. No Incentive Stock Options may be granted after the tenth anniversary of the date our board of directors adopted the 2019 Plan.

•        Summary of Tax Consequences. The following is a brief and general discussion of the United States federal income tax consequences to recipients of awards granted under the 2019 Plan. This summary is not comprehensive and is based upon laws and regulations currently in effect. Such laws and regulations are subject to change. This summary is intended for the information of stockholders considering how to vote and not as tax guidance to participants in the 2019 Plan. Participants in the 2019 Plan should consult their own tax advisers as to the tax consequences of participation.

•        Nonstatutory Stock Options. Generally, there are no federal income tax consequences to the participants upon grant of nonstatutory stock options. Upon the exercise of such an option, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the amount by which the fair market value of the common stock acquired upon the exercise of such option exceeds the exercise price, if any. A sale of common stock so acquired will give rise to a capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the fair market value of the common stock on the exercise and sale dates.

•        Incentive Stock Options. Except as noted at the end of this paragraph, there are no federal income tax consequences to a participant upon grant or exercise of an incentive stock option. If the participant holds shares of common stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option for at least two years after the date the option was granted and at least one year after the exercise of the option, the subsequent sale of common stock will give rise to a long-term capital gain or loss to the participant and no deduction will be available to us. If the participant sells the shares of common stock within two years after the date an incentive stock option is granted or within one year after the exercise of an option, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value at the exercise date and the option exercise price, and any additional gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss. Some participants may have to pay alternative minimum tax in connection with exercise of an incentive stock option, however.

•        Restricted Stock. A participant will generally recognize ordinary income on receipt of an award of restricted stock when his or her rights in that award become substantially vested, in an amount equal to the amount by which the then fair market value of the common stock acquired exceeds the price he or she has paid for it, if any. Recipients of restricted stock may, however, within 30 days of receiving an award of restricted stock, choose to have any applicable risk of forfeiture disregarded for tax purposes by making an “83(b) election.” If the participant makes an 83(b) election, he or she will have to report compensation income equal to the difference between the value of the shares and the price paid for the shares, if any, at the time of the transfer of the restricted stock.

•        Stock Appreciation Rights. A participant will generally recognize ordinary income on receipt of cash or other property pursuant to the exercise of an award of SARs.

•        Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units and Stock Grants. A participant will generally recognize ordinary income on receipt of any shares of common stock, cash or other property in satisfaction of any of these awards under the 2019 Plan.

•        Potential Deferred Compensation. For purposes of the foregoing summary of federal income tax consequences, we assumed that no award under the 2019 Plan will be considered “deferred compensation” as that term is defined for purposes of recent federal tax legislation governing nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, Section 409A of the Code, or, if any award were considered to any extent to constitute deferred compensation, its terms would comply with the requirements of that legislation (in general, by limiting any flexibility in the time of payment). For example, the award of an SAR at less than 100% of the market value of our common stock, would constitute deferred compensation. If an award

includes deferred compensation, and its terms do not comply with the requirements of the legislation, then such award will be taxable when it is earned and vested (even if not then payable) and the recipient will be subject to a 20% additional tax.

•        Section 162(m) Limitations on Tax Deductions. In general, whenever a recipient is required to recognize ordinary income in connection with an award, we will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction. However, we will not be entitled to deductions in connection with awards under the 2019 Plan to certain executive officers to the extent that the amount of deductible income in a year to any such officer, together with his or her other compensation from us exceeds the $1 million dollar limitation of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act repealed the performance-based exception to the deduction limit for remuneration that is deductible in tax years commencing after December 31, 2017.

New Plan Benefits.    If the proposed amendment to the 2019 Plan is approved by our stockholders, in the future, our compensation committee will have available additional shares of our common stock for awards under the 2019 Plan to eligible participants, including to our officers and directors. The benefits or amounts that will be received under the 2019 Plan by or allocated to each of (1) the named executive officers, (2) each of the nominees for election as a director, (3) all directors who are not executive officers of the company as a group, (4) all present executive officers as a group, and (5) all employees, including all other current officers, as a group are not determinable in advance because these grants are subject to the discretion of the compensation committee and/or our board of directors.

New Plan Benefits Table

Because the compensation committee, in its discretion, will select the participants who receive awards and the timing, size and types of those awards, we cannot currently determine the awards that will be made to particular individuals or groups under the 2019 Plan, as proposed to be amended, other than with respect to non-employee directors. Under the Director Plan for our non-employee directors, each of our non-employee directors receives an annual award of restricted stock units with a value equal to $50,000, provided, however, that the number of restricted stock units will not exceed a maximum of 500 each year for each non-employee director. The compensation committee has not made any grants of awards under the 2019 Plan that are conditioned upon stockholder approval of the amendment to the 2019 Plan.

Required Vote

Approval of the amendment to the 2019 Plan to increase the number of shares currently reserved for issuance thereunder by 1,500,000 shares requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares that are represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such matter (meaning that of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, a majority of them must be voted “FOR” Proposal No. 3 for it to be approved).

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE ‘‘FOR’’ APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2019 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES CURRENTLY RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE BY AN ADDITIONAL 1,500,000 SHARES.

PROPOSAL NO. 4:
APPROVE ONE OR MORE ADJOURNMENTS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING
IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

We are asking our stockholders to approve a proposal that will allow us to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to approve any of the foregoing proposals or if we do not have a quorum at the Annual Meeting. If our stockholders approve this proposal, we could adjourn the Annual Meeting and any reconvened session of the Annual Meeting and use the additional time to solicit additional proxies, including the solicitation of proxies from stockholders that have previously returned properly executed proxies voting against approval of any of the foregoing proposals in this proxy statement. Among other things, approval of this proposal could mean that, even if we had received proxies representing a sufficient number of votes against approval of any of the foregoing proposals, such that any of the proposals would be defeated, we could adjourn the Annual Meeting without a vote on the approval of such proposal and seek to convince the holders of those shares to change their votes to votes in favor of approval of that proposal. Additionally, we may seek to adjourn the Annual Meeting if a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting.

If a quorum is not present at the Annual Meeting, Article II, Section 2.7 of our bylaws also permits the chairman of the Annual Meeting to adjourn any meeting of stockholders, from time to time, whether or not there is a quorum.

In any event, our board of directors believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders to be able to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates if necessary or appropriate for the above-referenced reasons.

Required Vote

Approval to adjourn the Annual Meeting to a later date or dates to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes to approve any of the foregoing proposals or in the absence of a quorum requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares that are represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote on such matter (meaning that of the shares represented at the Annual Meeting and entitled to vote, a majority of them must be voted “FOR” Proposal No. 4 for it to be approved).

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS YOU VOTE “FOR” ALLOWING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO ADJOURN THE ANNUAL MEETING TO A LATER DATE, OR DATES, IF NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE TO SOLICIT ADDITIONAL PROXIES IF THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT VOTES TO APPROVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING PROPOSALS OR IN THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

Deadline for Stockholder Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Materials Pursuant to Rule 14a-8.    To be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement relating to the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, stockholder proposals must be received no later than July 24, 2025. Such proposals should be delivered to Peraso Inc., Attn: Secretary, 2309 Bering Drive, San Jose, California 95131.

Requirements for Stockholder Nominations for Director and Stockholder Proposals Outside of Rule 14a-8 to be brought before the Annual Meeting.    To be timely for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, a stockholder’s notice containing the information specified in our bylaws must be delivered or mailed to and received by our secretary at our principal executive offices not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting of stockholders, or, between August 22, 2025 and September 21, 2025, except that if no annual meeting of stockholders was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 calendar days earlier than the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the stockholders to be timely must be not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which the date of the annual meeting is publicly announced. A stockholder’s notice to our secretary must set forth the information required by our bylaws with respect to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting. In addition to complying with the advance notice provisions of our bylaws, to nominate a director, stockholders must give timely notice that complies with the additional requirements of Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, which must be received no later than October 21, 2025. A copy of the full text of our bylaws, including the provisions dealing with stockholder proposals and stockholder nominations, is available to stockholders upon written request to Peraso Inc., Attn: Secretary, 2309 Bering Drive, San Jose, California 95131.

In addition, the proxy solicited by the board of directors for the 2025 annual meeting of stockholders will confer discretionary authority to vote on (1) any untimely proposal presented by a stockholder at that meeting and (2) any proposal made in accordance with the bylaw provisions, if the proxy statement briefly describes the matter and how management’s proxy holders intend to vote on it, and if the stockholder does not comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-4(c)(2) under the Exchange Act.

OTHER MATTERS

Our board of directors knows of no other matters to be presented for stockholder action at the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters do properly come before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournments or postponements thereof, our board of directors intends that the persons named in the proxies will vote upon such matters in accordance with the best judgment of the proxy holders, as indicated on the enclosed proxy.

Whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting, you are urged to fill out, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy at your earliest convenience.

San Jose, California
November 21, 2024