Form 4: Datavault AI Director David Howitt Receives Equity Compensation Grant

Datavault AI Inc. Director David Marc Howitt was granted 26,372 shares of common stock as compensation, aligning his interests with the company's long-term performance.

Summary

• David Marc Howitt, a Director of Datavault AI Inc. (DVLT), acquired 26,372 shares of the company's common stock.
• The shares were received as compensation for his service on the issuer's board of directors.
• This grant was made pursuant to the issuer's 2018 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.
• The acquired shares have a stated price of $0, indicating they were granted rather than purchased.
• Following this transaction, Mr. Howitt beneficially owns a total of 120,362 shares.
• The granted shares are scheduled to vest in equal installments quarterly, on September 20th, December 20th, March 20th, and June 20th, from September 20, 2025, to June 20, 2028, contingent on his continued service to the issuer.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The document reports a routine equity compensation grant to a director, which is a positive event for aligning interests and retaining talent, indicating stability and adherence to compensation plans.

Positives

• The grant of 26,372 shares as compensation aligns the director's financial interests directly with the long-term performance and shareholder value of Datavault AI Inc.
• The use of the 2018 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan demonstrates a structured approach to director compensation and retention.

Future Outlook

The granted shares are subject to a vesting schedule extending from September 20, 2025, to June 20, 2028, contingent upon the director's continued service, indicating an expectation of ongoing commitment.

Industry Context

The granting of equity compensation to directors is a common practice across industries, particularly in technology and growth-oriented companies, to incentivize long-term commitment and align leadership interests with shareholder returns.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• The practice of granting equity as compensation to board members, as seen with Datavault AI Inc.'s grant to Director David Marc Howitt, is a standard corporate governance practice globally.
• Many companies, including peers in the software and data analytics sector, utilize similar long-term incentive plans to retain and motivate key personnel and directors.
• The vesting schedule, tied to continued service, is also a typical feature designed to ensure ongoing commitment and performance, comparable to compensation structures at companies like Palantir Technologies or Snowflake Inc. for their board members, though specific grant sizes and vesting periods vary by company size and individual roles.

Corporate Governance

Related Party Transactions

• The acquisition of 26,372 shares by David Marc Howitt, a Director of Datavault AI Inc., as compensation for his board service, constitutes a related party transaction between the company and a member of its leadership.

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: The equity grant aligns the director's interests with shareholders, potentially leading to more focused decision-making aimed at increasing long-term stock value.
• Employees: While not directly impacting employees, the compensation structure for directors can reflect the company's overall approach to incentivizing key personnel.

Next Steps

• The granted shares will vest in equal installments on a quarterly basis (September 20th, December 20th, March 20th, and June 20th) from September 20, 2025, to June 20, 2028, provided the reporting person remains in service.

Key Dates

Keywords

Datavault AI Inc., DVLT, David Marc Howitt, Director Compensation, Equity Grant, SEC Form 4, Insider Transaction, Stock Incentive Plan, Common Stock, Vesting Schedule