Professional Diversity Network, Inc.

Previous wording

We recorded a net loss from continuing operations of approximately $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, and $3.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Our revenues decreased from $8.3 million during 2022 to $7.7 million during 2023, and our costs and expenses increased from $11.4 million during 2022, to $12.2 million during 2023. In addition, we used approximately 3.0 million in cash flow from continuing operations during the year ended December 31, 2023. Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in its audit report for the year ended December 31, 2023, an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We will need to continue to increase revenues, reduce our corporate operating expenses, raise capital through the issuance of common stock, issue capital in relation to our line of equity, or enter into a strategic merger or acquisition, to achieve profitability and positive cash flow from operations. Despite our efforts, we may not achieve profitability or positive cash flow in the future, and even if we do, we may not be able to sustain being profitable.

Current wording

We recorded a net loss from continuing operations of approximately $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, and $4.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Our revenues decreased from $7.7 million during 2023 to $6.7 million during 2024, and our costs and expenses decreased from $12.2 million during 2023, to $9.1 million during 2024. In addition, we used approximately $2.5 million in cash flow from continuing operations during the year ended December 31, 2024. Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in its audit report for the year ended December 31, 2024, an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. We will need to continue to increase revenues, reduce our corporate operating expenses, raise capital through the issuance of common stock or enter into a strategic merger or acquisition, to achieve profitability and positive cash flow from operations. Despite our efforts, we may not achieve profitability or positive cash flow in the future, and even if we do, we may not be able to sustain being profitable.

Previous wording

Our industry is rapidly evolving and is becoming increasingly competitive. Larger and more established online professional networking companies, such as LinkedIn or Monster Worldwide, may focus on the online diversity professional networking market and could directly compete with us. Rival companies or smaller companies, including application developers, could also launch new products and services that could compete with us and gain market acceptance quickly. Individual employers have and may continue to create and maintain their own network of diverse candidates.

Current wording

Our industry is rapidly evolving and becoming increasingly competitive. Larger and more established online professional networking companies, such as LinkedIn or Monster Worldwide, may focus on the online diversity professional networking market and could directly compete with us. Rival companies or smaller companies, including application developers, could also launch new products and services that could compete with us and gain market acceptance quickly. Individual employers have and may continue to create and maintain their own network of diverse candidates.

Previous wording

Maintaining, protecting and enhancing all of our brands is critical to expanding the base of members for the PDN Network and NAPW Network and increasing their engagement with the product and services offerings of the Company, and will depend largely on our ability to maintain member trust, be a technology leader and continue to provide high-quality offerings, which we may not do successfully in the future. We have devoted significant resources in developing our brands, particularly NAPW. That brand is predicated on the idea that professional women will trust it and find value in building and maintaining their professional identities and reputations on the NAPW Network platform. Despite our efforts to protect our brands and prevent their misuse, if others misuse any of our brands or pass themselves off as being endorsed or affiliated with the PDN Network or the NAPW Network, it could harm our reputation and our business could suffer. If members of any of our networks or potential members determine that they can use other platforms, such as social networks, for the same purposes as or as a replacement for the PDN Network or the NAPW Network, or if they choose to blend their professional and social networking activities, our brands and the business of the Company could be harmed. Members of any of our networks could find that new product or service offerings that are introduced are difficult to use or may feel that they degrade their experience with our organization, which could harm the reputation of the networks and the Company for delivering high-quality offerings. Our brands are also important in attracting and maintaining high performing employees. If we do not successfully maintain strong and trusted brands for our networks, our business can be materially and adversely affected.

Current wording

Maintaining, protecting, and enhancing all of our brands is critical to expanding the base of members for the TalentAlly Network and NAPW Network and increasing their engagement with the product and services offerings of the Company, and will depend largely on our ability to maintain member trust, be a technology leader and continue to provide high-quality offerings, which we may not do successfully in the future. We have devoted significant resources in developing our brands, particularly NAPW. That brand is predicated on the idea that professional women will trust it and find value in building and maintaining their professional identities and reputations on the NAPW Network platform. Despite our efforts to protect our brands and prevent their misuse, if others misuse any of our brands or pass themselves off as being endorsed or affiliated with the TalentAlly Network or the NAPW Network, it could harm our reputation and our business could suffer. If members of any of our networks or potential members determine that they can use other platforms, such as social networks, for the same purposes as or as a replacement for the TalentAlly Network or the NAPW Network, or if they choose to blend their professional and social networking activities, our brands and the business of the Company could be harmed. Members of any of our networks could find that new product or service offerings that are introduced are difficult to use or may feel that they degrade their experience with our organization, which could harm the reputation of the networks and the Company for delivering high-quality offerings. Our brands are also important in attracting and maintaining high performing employees. If we do not successfully maintain strong and trusted brands for our networks, our business can be materially and adversely affected.

Previous wording

The regulatory environment favorable to promoting diversity in the workplace may change.

Current wording

The regulatory environment favorable to promoting diversity in the workplace has changed.

Previous wording

Federal and state laws and regulations require certain companies engaged in business with governmental entities to report and promote diverse hiring practices. Repeal or modification of such laws and regulations could decrease the incentives for employers to actively seek diverse employee candidates through networks such as ours and materially affect our revenues.

Current wording

Federal and state laws and regulations require certain companies engaged in business with governmental entities to report and promote diverse hiring practices. The repeal or modification of such laws and regulations could decrease the incentives for employers to actively seek diverse employee candidates through networks such as ours and materially affect our revenues. In January 2025, President Trump introduced Executive Orders that impact diversity initiatives in Federal programs which may trickle down to Corporations.

Previous wording

We are highly dependent on our management and other key employees. The skills, knowledge and experience of our management team, are critical to the growth of our business. In particular, Mr. Adam He, our Chief Executive Officer, provides significant leadership in every aspect of our business operations and strategic direction. Mr. He is supported by a talented group of knowledgeable executives in business operations, sales and marketing, and information technology including Larry Aichler, our Chief Financial Officer, and Chad Hoersten, our Chief Technology Officer. Our future performance will be dependent upon the continued successful service of members of our management and key employees. We do not maintain life insurance for any of the members of our management team or other key personnel. Competition for management in our industry is intense, and although we have entered into employment agreements with certain members of our management team, we may not be able to retain our management and key personnel or attract and retain new management and key personnel in the future, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Current wording

We are highly dependent on our management and other key employees. The skills, knowledge and experience of our management team, are critical to the growth of our business. In particular, Mr. Adam He, our Chief Executive Officer, provides significant leadership in every aspect of our business operations and strategic direction. Mr. He is supported by a talented group of knowledgeable executives in business operations, sales and marketing, and information technology including Megan Bozzuto, our Interim Chief Financial Officer, Russell Esquivel, Jr., our Chief Revenue Officer, and Chad Hoersten, our Chief Technology Officer. Our future performance will be dependent upon the continued successful service of members of our management and key employees. We do not maintain life insurance for any of the members of our management team or other key personnel. Competition for management in our industry is intense, and although we have entered into employment agreements with certain members of our management team, we may not be able to retain our management and key personnel or attract and retain new management and key personnel in the future, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Previous wording

Cosmic Forward Limited (“CFL”) beneficially owned approximately 23.5% of our common stock as of December 31, 2023. As a result of its ownership CFL is able to influence significantly all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors. In addition, our directors and executive officers and their affiliated entities, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 3.3% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2023. Stockholders other than these principal stockholders may, therefore, have relatively little influence on decisions regarding such matters. These stockholders may have interests that differ from yours, and they may vote in a way with which you disagree and that may be averse to your interests. The concentration of ownership of our common stock may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our Company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our Company and may affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership also limits the number of shares of stock likely to be traded in public markets and, therefore, will adversely affect liquidity in the trading of our common stock. This concentration of ownership of our common stock may also have the effect of influencing the completion of a change in control that may not necessarily be in the best interests of all of our stockholders.

Current wording

Cosmic Forward Limited (“CFL”) beneficially owned approximately 14.8% of our common stock as of December 31, 2024. As a result of its ownership CFL is able to influence significantly all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors. In addition, our directors and executive officers and their affiliated entities, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately 7.7% of our outstanding common stock as of December 31, 2024. Stockholders other than these principal stockholders may, therefore, have relatively little influence on decisions regarding such matters. These stockholders may have interests that differ from yours, and they may vote in a way with which you disagree and that may be averse to your interests. The concentration of ownership of our common stock may have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change of control of our Company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common stock as part of a sale of our Company and may affect the market price of our common stock. This concentration of ownership also limits the number of shares of stock likely to be traded in public markets and, therefore, will adversely affect liquidity in the trading of our common stock. This concentration of ownership of our common stock may also have the effect of influencing the completion of a change in control that may not necessarily be in the best interests of all of our stockholders.

Previous wording

The trading price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile. Our closing stock price has ranged from $1.22 to$7.64 during the fiscal year of 2023. In addition to the factors discussed in this Annual Report, the trading price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

Current wording

The trading price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to be, volatile. Our closing stock price has ranged from $4.00 to$30.10 during the fiscal year of 2024. In addition to the factors discussed in this Annual Report, the trading price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

Previous wording

The Company’s 2013 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2013 Plan”) was adopted for the purpose of providing equity incentives to employees, officers, directors and consultants including options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, other equity awards, annual incentive awards and dividend equivalents. Following amendments approved by the Company’s stockholders in June 2017, November 2018 and June 2021, the Company was authorized to issue 750,000 shares under the amended 2013 Plan.

Current wording

The Company’s 2013 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2013 Plan”) was adopted for the purpose of providing equity incentives to employees, officers, directors and consultants including options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, other equity awards, annual incentive awards and dividend equivalents. Following amendments approved by the Company’s stockholders in June 2017, November 2018 and June 2021, the Company was authorized to issue 75,000 shares under the amended 2013 Plan.

Previous wording

In April 2023, the Board of Directors adopted a new equity incentive plan, the Professional Diversity Network, Inc. 2023 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2023 Equity Compensation Plan”). The 2023 Equity Compensation Plan was approved by our stockholders on June 15, 2023. The 2023 Equity Compensation Plan supersedes and replaces the 2013 Plan, and no new awards will be granted under the 2013 Plan. Any awards outstanding under the 2013 Plan remain subject to and will be paid under the 2013 Plan. The 2023 Equity Compensation Plan reserves 750,000 shares of common stock for issuance of awards to directors, officers, employees and qualifying consultants of the Company and its affiliates.

Current wording

In April 2023, the Board of Directors adopted a new equity incentive plan, the Professional Diversity Network, Inc. 2023 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2023 Equity Compensation Plan”). The 2023 Equity Compensation Plan was approved by our stockholders on June 15, 2023. The 2023 Equity Compensation Plan supersedes and replaces the 2013 Plan, and no new awards will be granted under the 2013 Plan. Any awards outstanding under the 2013 Plan remain subject to and will be paid under the 2013 Plan. The 2023 Equity Compensation Plan reserves 75,000 shares of common stock for issuance of awards to directors, officers, employees and qualifying consultants of the Company and its affiliates.