Form DEF 14A HCW Biologics Inc. For: Jun 15

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.    )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

HCW BIOLOGICS 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):

April 25, 2022

To Our Stockholders:

You are cordially invited to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or the Annual Meeting, of HCW Biologics Inc. on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The Annual Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting, conducted only via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2022. You will be able to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting online, submit questions during the meeting and vote your shares electronically. In addition, although the live webcast is available only to stockholders at the time of the meeting, following completion of the Annual Meeting, a webcast replay will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2022 for a period of one year after the Annual Meeting.

The matters expected to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting are described in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy statement. The Annual Meeting materials include the notice, the proxy statement, our annual report and the proxy card, each of which is enclosed. If you elected to receive this material electronically, these documents are being emailed to you and are also available to you online at www.proxyvote.com.

Please use this opportunity to take part in our affairs by voting on the business to come before the Annual Meeting. Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on April 19, 2022, as the record date for the Annual Meeting, or the Record Date, and only stockholders of record as of the Record Date may vote at the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. All stockholders are cordially invited to participate in the Annual Meeting and any postponements or adjournments of the meeting. Returning the paper proxy card or voting electronically does NOT deprive you of your right to participate in the virtual meeting and to vote your shares for the matters acted upon at the meeting.

This notice of annual meeting, proxy statement, and proxy card are being made available on or about April 25, 2022.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting, please vote as soon as possible by submitting your proxy electronically via the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions in the proxy materials or by completing, signing and dating the proxy card and returning it in the enclosed postage paid envelope.

On behalf of the board of directors, thank you for your participation in this important annual process.

Sincerely,

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To be held June 15, 2022

By Order of the Board of Directors,

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D.

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Miramar, FL

April 25, 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

-i-

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022

INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of our board of directors of HCW Biologics Inc., or HCW Biologics, for use at HCW Biologics’ 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting” or “meeting”) to be held online on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time via live webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2022. References in the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, or the Proxy Statement, to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “HCW Biologics” refer to HCW Biologics Inc.

The Proxy Statement and the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 are first being mailed on or about April 25, 2022 to all stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PROXY MATERIALS, VOTING, AND THE MEETING

Additionally, stockholders may be asked to transact any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

1

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares, and these proxy materials were sent directly to you by HCW Biologics.

Beneficial Owner of Shares Held in Street Name: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Nominee

If your shares are held in an account at a brokerage firm, bank, broker-dealer, or other similar organization, then you are the “beneficial owner” of shares held in “street name,” and these proxy materials were forwarded to you by that organization. The organization holding your account is considered the stockholder of record for purposes of voting at the Annual Meeting. As a beneficial owner, you have the right to instruct that organization on how to vote the shares held in your account. Because you are not the stockholder of record, you may not vote your shares at the Annual Meeting unless you request and obtain a valid proxy from the organization that holds your shares giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting. Beneficial owners must obtain a valid proxy from the organization that holds their shares and present it to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, at least two (2) weeks in advance of the Annual Meeting.

Stockholder of Record: Shares Registered in Your Name

If you are a stockholder of record, you may:

2

Votes submitted by telephone or through the internet must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on June 14, 2022. If you vote by mail, your proxy card must be received by June 14, 2022. Submitting your proxy, whether by telephone, through the internet or by mail will not affect your right to vote in person virtually should you decide to attend and participate in the meeting virtually.

Beneficial Owner: Shares Registered in the Name of a Broker or Other Nominee

If you are not the stockholder of record, please refer to the voting instructions provided by your nominee to direct it how to vote your shares. Your vote is important. To ensure that your vote is counted, complete and mail the voting instruction form provided by your brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee as directed by your nominee. To electronically vote in person virtually at the meeting online, you must obtain a legal proxy from your nominee. Follow the instructions from your nominee included with our proxy materials or contact your nominee to request a proxy form.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to participate in the Annual Meeting, we urge you to vote by proxy to ensure that your vote is counted.

The telephone and internet voting procedures are designed to authenticate stockholders’ identities, to allow stockholders to give their voting instructions and to confirm that stockholders’ instructions have been recorded properly.

3

A broker non-vote occurs when the beneficial owner of shares fails to provide the broker, bank or other nominee that holds the shares with specific instructions on how to vote on any “non-routine” matters brought to a vote at the stockholders meeting. In this situation, the broker, bank or other nominee will not vote on the “non-routine” matter. Broker non-votes are counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present and have no effect on the outcome of the matters voted upon.

Note that if you are a beneficial holder, brokers and other nominees will be entitled to vote your shares on “routine” matters without instructions from you. The only proposal that would be considered “routine” in such event is the proposal for the ratification of the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (Proposal Two). A broker or other nominee will not be entitled to vote your shares on any “non-routine” matters, absent instructions from you. “Non-routine” matters include proposals other than Proposal Two, such as the election of directors. Accordingly, we encourage you to provide voting instructions to your broker or other nominee whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.

4

If you are the stockholder of record, you may change your vote by:

Please note, however, that if your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or other nominee and you wish to revoke a proxy, you must contact that firm to revoke any prior voting instructions.

We are committed to ensuring, to the extent possible, that stockholders will be given the same participation rights that they would be given if they attended an in-person meeting. We will endeavor to answer as many stockholder-submitted questions as time permits that comply with the Annual Meeting rules of conduct. We reserve the right to edit profanity or other inappropriate language and to exclude questions regarding topics that are not pertinent to meeting matters or Company business. If we receive substantially similar questions, we may group such questions together and provide a single response to avoid repetition.

The meeting webcast will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Online check-in will begin at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Time, and we encourage you to allow ample time for check-in procedures. If you experience technical difficulties during the check-in process or during the meeting, please call the technical support number provided on the log-in page of the virtual meeting. Additional information regarding the rules and procedures for participating in the Annual Meeting will be set forth in our meeting rules of conduct, which stockholders can view during the meeting at the meeting website. Regardless of whether you plan to participate in the Annual Meeting, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, we encourage you to vote in advance of the Annual Meeting. Please be aware that participating in the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. See, “Can I change my vote or revoke my proxy?” above for more details.

5

6

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that stockholders may present proposals for inclusion in our proxy statement by submitting their proposals in writing to the attention of our Secretary at our principal executive office no later than December 26, 2022 and must otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act. If we do not receive a stockholder proposal by the deadline described above, we may exclude the proposal from our proxy statement for our 2023 Annual Meeting.

Requirements for Stockholder Proposals to be presented at our 2023 Annual Meeting:

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that stockholders may present proposals to be considered at an annual meeting by providing timely notice to our Secretary at our principal executive office. To be timely for our 2023 Annual Meeting, our Secretary must receive the written notice at our principal executive office:

If we hold our 2023 Annual Meeting of stockholders more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after June 15, 2023 (the one-year anniversary date of the Annual Meeting), then notice of a stockholder proposal that is not intended to be included in our proxy statement must be received by our Secretary at our principal executive office:

Please see the section titled “Stockholder Proposals” for more information.

Beneficial stockholders – Most beneficial stockholders can elect to receive an email that will provide electronic versions of the proxy materials. To view a listing of participating brokerage firms and enroll in the online program, beneficial stockholders should go to http://www.proxyvote.com follow the enrollment instructions. The enrollment in the online program will remain in effect for as long as the brokerage account is active or until the enrollment is cancelled.

Enrolling to receive our future proxy materials online will save us the cost of printing and mailing documents, as well as help preserve our natural resources.

7

BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

We have a strong commitment to good corporate governance practices. These practices provide an important framework within which our board of directors, its committees and our management can pursue our strategic objectives in order to promote the interests of our stockholders.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

Our board of directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that set forth expectations for directors, director independence standards, board committee structure and functions and other policies for the governance of our company. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are available without charge on the Investor Relations section of our website, which is located at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/ by clicking on “Governance Documents” in the “Governance” section of our website. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are subject to modification from time to time by our board of directors.

Board Leadership Structure

The board of directors does not have a formal policy regarding the separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board, as the board of directors believes that it is in the best interests of the Company to make that determination based on the direction of the Company and the current membership of the board of directors. The board of directors has determined that having a director who is also the Chief Executive Officer serve as the Chairman is not in the best interest of the Company’s stockholders at this time. This separation of roles enables our Chief Executive Officer to focus on his core responsibility of leading and managing our operations and day-to-day performance, consistent with strategic direction provided by the Board, and our Chairman of the board to focus on leading the board of directors in its fundamental role of providing guidance to, and independent oversight of, our management. Currently, Dr. Hing C. Wong serves as our Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Scott T. Garrett serves as Chairman of the board.

Our Board of Directors’ Role in Risk Oversight

One of the key functions of our board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. Although our board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee, it administers this oversight function directly through the board of directors as a whole, as well as through its standing committees that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. Areas of focus include economic, operational, financial (accounting, credit, investment, liquidity and tax), competitive, legal, regulatory, cybersecurity, privacy, compliance and reputational risks, and more recently, risk exposures and delays related to COVID-19. The risk oversight responsibility of our board of directors and its committees is supported by our management reporting processes, which are designed to provide visibility to our board of directors and to our personnel who are responsible for risk assessment and information about the identification, assessment and management of critical risks, and our management’s risk mitigation strategies.

Our audit committee is responsible for reviewing and discussing our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures, including guidelines and policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. The audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and assists our board of directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with respect to risk management. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking. Our full board in place of a nominating and corporate governance committee assesses risks related to our corporate governance practices, the independence of our board of directors and monitors the effectiveness of our governance guidelines.

We believe this division of responsibilities is an effective approach for addressing the risks we face and that our board leadership structure supports this approach.

8

Independence of Directors

The Nasdaq listing rules generally require that a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors be independent. In addition, the listing rules generally require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees be independent. We currently do not have a nominating committee as discussed in further detail below.

In addition, audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In order to be considered independent for purposes of Rule 10A-3, a member of an audit committee of a listed company may not, other than in such member’s capacity as a member of the audit committee, the board of directors or any other board committee (i) accept, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from the listed company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) be an affiliated person of the listed company or any of its subsidiaries.

Our board of directors conducts an annual review of the independence of our directors. Our board of directors has determined that none of the members of our board of directors other than Dr. Wong has a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of the members of our board of directors other than Dr. Wong is “independent” as that term is defined under the Nasdaq rules. Our board of directors has also determined that all members of our audit committee and compensation committee are independent and satisfy the relevant SEC and Nasdaq independence requirements for such committees.

Committees of Our Board of Directors

Our board of directors has established an audit committee and a compensation committee. The composition and responsibilities of each committee are described below. Each of these committees has a written charter approved by our board of directors. Copies of the charters for each committee are available on the Investor Relations section of our website, which is located at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/, by clicking on “Governance Documents” in the “Governance” section of our website. Members serve on these committees until (i) they resign from their respective committee, (ii) they no longer serve as a director or (iii) as otherwise determined by our board of directors.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee is composed of Rick S. Greene, who is the chair of our audit committee, Scott T. Garrett, Lisa M. Giles and Gary M. Winer. In October 2021, upon the appointment of Ms. Giles and Mr. Winer to our audit committee, Dr. Wong stepped down from our audit committee. Dr. Wong had been appointed to our audit committee under applicable Nasdaq rules which permitted us to phase-in our compliance with the independence requirements for audit committees. The composition of our audit committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of our audit committee is financially literate. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Messrs. Greene and Winer are audit committee financial experts within the meaning of Item 407(d) of Regulation S K of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. This designation does not impose any duties, obligations or liabilities that are greater than those generally imposed on members of our audit committee and our board of directors.

The primary purpose of the audit committee is to discharge the responsibilities of our board of directors with respect to our corporate accounting and financial reporting processes, systems of internal control, and financial statement audits, and to oversee our independent registered public accounting firm. Our audit committee, among other things:

9

Our audit committee has a written charter approved by our board of directors. A copy of the charter is available on the Investor Relations section of our website, which is located at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/, by clicking on “Governance Documents” in the “Governance” section of our website.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee is composed of Scott T. Garrett, who is the chair of our compensation committee, Lisa M. Giles, Rick S. Greene and Gary M. Winer. The composition of our compensation committee meets the requirements for independence under current Nasdaq listing standards and SEC rules and regulations. Each member of this committee is also a non-employee director, as defined pursuant to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The primary purpose of our compensation committee is to discharge the responsibilities of our board of directors in overseeing our compensation policies, plans, and programs, and to review and determine the compensation to be paid to our executive officers, directors, and other senior management, as appropriate. Our compensation committee, among other things:

The compensation committee may delegate its authority to a subcommittee of the compensation committee (consisting either of a subset of members of the committee or, after giving due consideration to whether the eligibility criteria described within the compensation committee charter with respect to committee members and whether such other board members satisfy such criteria, any members of the board of directors) except for its exclusive authority to determine the amount and form of compensation paid to the Chief Executive Officer.

10

Our compensation committee has a written charter approved by our board of directors. A copy of the charter is available on the Investor Relations section of our website, which is located at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/, by clicking on “Governance Documents” in the “Governance” section of our website.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The members of our compensation committee during 2021 included Messrs. Garrett, Greene and Winer, and Ms. Giles. None of the members of our compensation committee in 2021 was at any time during 2021 or at any other time one of our officers or employees, and none had or have any relationships with us that are required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. During 2021, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board of directors, or as a member of the compensation or similar committee, of any entity that has one or more executive officers who served on our board of directors or compensation committee.

Board and Committee Meetings and Attendance

Our board of directors and its committees meet regularly throughout the year, and also hold special meetings and act by written consent from time to time. During 2021: (i) our board of directors met six (6) times (which does not include any meetings held jointly with the audit committee); (ii) our audit committee jointly with our board meetings met three (3) times; and (iii) our compensation committee met twice (2).

During 2021, each member of our board of directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate of all meetings of our board of directors and of all meetings of committees of our board of directors on which such member served that were held during the period in which such director served.

Board Attendance at Annual Meeting of Stockholders

Our policy is to invite and encourage each member of our board of directors to be present at our annual meetings of stockholders. We completed our initial public offering in July 2021, and did not have an annual meeting of stockholders in 2021 after our initial public offering.

Communication with Directors

Stockholders and interested parties who wish to communicate with our board of directors, non-management members of our board of directors as a group, a committee of our board of directors or a specific member of our board of directors (including our Chairperson) may do so by letters addressed to the attention of the Corporate Secretary.

All communications are reviewed by the Corporate Secretary and provided to the members of our board of directors as appropriate. Unsolicited items, sales materials, abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate materials and other routine items and items unrelated to the duties and responsibilities of our board of directors will not be provided to directors.

The address for these communications is:

HCW Biologics Inc.

2929 N. Commerce Parkway

Miramar, Florida 33025

Attn: Corporate Secretary

11

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of the members of our board of directors, officers and employees. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is posted on the Investor Relations section of our website, which is located at https://investors.hcwbiologics.com/, by clicking on “Governance Documents” in the “Governance” section of our website. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics by posting such information on our website at the location specified above.

12

NOMINATIONS PROCESS AND DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS

Nomination to the Board of Directors

We do not have a standing nominating committee, though we intend to form a corporate governance and nominating committee as and when required to do so by law or Nasdaq rules. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(2) of the Nasdaq rules, a majority of the independent directors may recommend a director nominee for selection by the board of directors. The board of directors believes that the independent directors can satisfactorily carry out the responsibility of properly selecting or approving director nominees without the formation of a standing nominating committee. The directors who shall participate in the consideration and recommendation of director nominees are Messrs. Greene, Garrett and Winer, and Ms. Giles. In accordance with Rule 5605(e)(1)(A) of the Nasdaq rules, all such directors are independent. As there is no standing nominating committee, we do not have a nominating committee charter in place. Although we do not have a written charter in place to select director nominees, our board of directors has adopted resolutions regarding the director nomination process. We believe that the current process in place functions effectively to select director nominees who will be valuable members of our board of directors.

We identify potential nominees to serve as directors through a variety of business contacts, including current executive officers, directors, community leaders and stockholders. We may, to the extent deemed appropriate by the board of directors, retain a professional search firm and other advisors to identify potential nominees.

We will also consider candidates recommended by stockholders for nomination to our board of directors. A stockholder who wishes to recommend a candidate for nomination to our board of directors must submit such recommendation to our Corporate Secretary at our offices located at 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025. Any recommendation must be received not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day before the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting. All stockholder recommendations of candidates for nomination for election to our board of directors must be in writing and must set forth, including without limitation, the following: (i) the candidate’s name, age, business address, and residential address, (ii) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Company that are beneficially owned or owned of record by the candidate, (iii) a complete description of the candidate’s qualifications, experience, background and affiliations, as would be required to be disclosed in the proxy statement pursuant to Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act, (iv) a statement by the candidate in which he or she consents to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serve as director if elected, and (v) the name and address of the stockholder(s) of record making such a recommendation.

We believe that our board of directors as a whole should encompass a range of talent, skill, and expertise enabling it to provide sound guidance with respect to our operations and interests. Our independent directors evaluate all candidates to our board of directors by reviewing their biographical information and qualifications. If the independent directors determine that a candidate is qualified to serve on our board of directors, such candidate is interviewed by at least one of the independent directors and our Chief Executive Officer. Other members of the board of directors also have an opportunity to interview qualified candidates. The independent directors then determine, based on the background information and the information obtained in the interviews, whether to recommend to the board of directors that the candidate be nominated for approval by the stockholders to fill a directorship. With respect to an incumbent director whom the independent directors are considering as a potential nominee for re-election, the independent directors review and consider the incumbent director’s service during his or her term, including the number of meetings attended, level of participation, and overall contribution to the board of directors. The manner in which the independent directors evaluate a potential nominee will not differ based on whether the candidate is recommended by our directors or stockholders.

13

We consider the following qualifications, among others, when making a determination as to whether a person should be nominated to our board of directors: the independence of the director nominee; the nominee’s financial literacy; level of education and business experience, including experience relating to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; whether the nominee has experience in clinical development; and key opinion leadership in immunotherapy and inflammaging. We review candidates in the context of the current composition of the board of directors and the evolving needs of our business. We believe that each of the current members of our board of directors has the requisite business, biotechnology, financial or managerial experience to serve as a member of the board of directors, as described above in their biographies under the heading “Proposal One: Election of Directors.” We also believe that each of the current members of our board of directors has other key attributes that are important to an effective board, including integrity, high ethical standards, sound judgment, analytical skills, and the commitment to devote significant time and energy to service on the board of directors and its committees.

We do not have a formal policy in place with regard to diversity in considering candidates for our board of directors, but the board strives to include a range of talents, experience, skills, diversity and expertise so that, as a group, the board of directors will possess the appropriate talent, skills and expertise to oversee our business.

Additional information regarding the process for properly submitting stockholder nominations for candidates for nomination to our board of directors is set forth in the Questions and Answers section discussing “Stockholder Proposals.”

Board Diversity Matrix (as of April 19, 2022)

The table below provides certain highlights of the composition of the board of directors as of April 19, 2022. Each of the categories listed in the table below has the meaning set forth in Nasdaq Rule 5605(f).

14

PROPOSAL ONE: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our board of directors currently consists of five directors and is divided into three classes, with staggered three-year terms, pursuant to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws. The members of the classes are divided as follows:

Directors in Class I will stand for election at the Annual Meeting. The terms of office of directors in Class II and Class III expire at our annual meetings of stockholders to be held in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Our board of directors proposes that each of the two Class I nominees named below, each of whom is currently serving as a director in Class I, be elected as a Class I director for a three-year term expiring at our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.

The Class I nominees are presently directors. If any nominee for any reason is unable to serve or for good cause will not serve, the proxies may be voted for such substitute nominee as the proxy holder might determine. Each nominee has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and to serve if elected. Proxies may not be voted for more than two directors. Stockholders may not cumulate votes for the election of directors.

Nominees to Our Board of Directors

The nominees and their ages, occupations and lengths of service on our board of directors as of April 19, 2022 are provided in the table below and in the additional biographical descriptions set forth in the text below the table.

(1) Member of our audit committee

(2) Member of our compensation committee

Scott T. Garrett has served on our board of directors since May 2021 and as Chairman of the board since June 2021. Mr. Garrett is currently a Senior Operating Partner at Water Street Healthcare Partners (“Water Street”). Prior to joining Water Street in 2011, Mr. Garrett served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Beckman Coulter, Inc., a leading biomedical company, from 2008 to 2011. Mr. Garrett joined Beckman Coulter, Inc. in 2002 as President, Clinical Diagnostics Division and was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer in 2003. In January 2005, he became Chief Executive Officer and in 2008, added the position of Chairman. Prior to that, Mr. Garrett served as Vice Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Kendro Laboratory Products from 1999 to 2001; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Dade Behring, a leading diagnostics company, from 1994 to 1998; and Operating Partner of Garrett Capital, First Chicago Equity Capital from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Garrett began his career at American Hospital Supply Corporation and continued there after the company was acquired by Baxter International, ultimately serving as Chief Executive of Baxter International’s global laboratory business, Baxter Diagnostics from 1992 to 1994. Mr. Garrett serves on the board of Immucor, Inc. and Hologic, Inc. and the boards of companies in which Water Street has an ownership interest, including Orgentec Diagnostics and Pathnostics, Inc. He also serves on the

15

board of the Advanced Medical Technology Association Diagnostics and its Executive Committee. Mr. Garrett received his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Valparaiso University and an M.B.A. from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. He also completed the Executive Management program at Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

We believe that Mr. Garrett is qualified to serve as a director because of his experience as a Chief Executive Officer and in other senior leadership positions with biomedical and diagnostics companies, which enables him to bring to our board of directors an operational perspective as well as valuable insights and experience.

Gary M. Winer has served on our board of directors since October 2021. Mr. Winer served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of ORGENTEC Diagnostika GmbH. a specialty manufacturer of autoimmune and infectious disease diagnostic tests, from April 2019 until the sale of the company in September 2021. In addition, since January 2015, Mr. Winer has worked as a consultant for DRC Health Care Advisors, a consulting firm in the biopharma, medical device and diagnostic health sectors. From April 2014 until January 2015, Mr. Winer was the Vice President of Global Commercial Strategies for AbbVie and from January 2013 until April 2014, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AbbVie Japan, following AbbVie’s separation from Abbott. Prior to that, from April 2003 to January 2013, Mr. Winer served in a variety of roles for Abbott Laboratories, a multinational medical devices and healthcare company, including most recently as corporate vice president and president for Abbott Japan. Mr. Winer has served on the board of directors of Lensar. Inc. since 2018. Mr. Winer received his B.S. in finance from California State University, and his MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

We believe that Mr. Winer is qualified to serve as a director due to his experience leading and managing biotechnology companies, as well as his healthcare industry knowledge and his experience serving on the board of directors of other companies.

Vote Required and Board of Directors’ Recommendation

The nominees for Class I director who receive the most votes (also known as a plurality) will be elected. You may vote either FOR all the nominees, FOR any one of the nominees, WITHHOLD your vote from all the nominees or WITHHOLD your vote from any one of the nominees. Votes that are withheld will not be included in the vote tally for the election of directors. If your shares are held in “street name” by a broker, bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or other nominee does not have authority to vote your unvoted shares held by the firm for the election of directors. As a result, any shares not voted by you will be treated as a broker non-vote. Such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.

The proposal for the election of directors relates solely to the election of Class I directors nominated by our board of directors.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR ALL” NOMINEES FOR THE ELECTION OF THE TWO CLASS I DIRECTORS SET FORTH IN THIS PROPOSAL ONE.

16

Continuing Directors

The directors who are serving for terms that end following the Annual Meeting and their ages, occupations and lengths of service on our board of directors as of April 19, 2022 are provided in the table below and in the additional biographical descriptions set forth in the text below the table.

(1)   Member of our audit committee

(2)   Member of our compensation committee

Lisa M. Giles has served on our board of directors since October 2021. Ms. Giles founded and has served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Giles & Associates Consultancy, Inc. (GAC), a consulting firm in the life sciences industry and academic medical centers, since 2000. In addition to HCW Biologics, Ms. Giles currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Milestone Pharmaceuticals and the Northwestern Memorial Health System Foundation Board. She previously served as a member of the board of directors for GenMark Diagnostics from 2015 to 2021; Durata Therapeutics, Inc. from 2012 to 2014, and Intranasal Therapeutics, Inc. from 2005 to 2006. She also was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Optivara, Inc. a sister company to GAC, from 2013 to 2019. Prior to founding GAC, Ms. Giles was the Vice President of strategy development at G.D. Searle Pharmaceutical, a division of Monsanto, and held various leadership roles with Abbott Laboratories. Ms. Giles received her B.S. in economics from Juniata College, and completed executive management programs at Stanford University and the University of Chicago.

We believe that Ms. Giles is qualified to serve as a director because she has over 35 years of extensive and significant experience in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, device and healthcare industries, including enterprise strategic planning, R&D and commercial planning, operations, and business development. She also brings a wealth of corporate governance experience having served on the board of several public companies.

Rick S. Greene has served on our board of directors since May 2021. Mr. Greene is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Epiphany Dermatology. Prior to joining Epiphany Dermatology in March 2018, Mr. Greene served as the Chief Financial Officer of Altor BioScience Corporation from 2015 to 2018, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cumberland Pharmaceuticals from 2011 to 2015, Executive at Crowe Horwath LLP from 2007 to 2011, Director at LBMC from 2005 to 2007, Chief Financial Officer at Surgical Alliance Corporation from 2002 to 2005, Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP from 1998 to 2002 and 1987 to 1997, and Director Financial Operations at Phycor Inc. from 1997 to 1998. Mr. Greene received his B.S. degree in accounting from Carson-Newman University and is currently registered as a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in the state of Tennessee.

We believe that Mr. Greene is qualified to serve as a director because of his extensive professional experience in financial management and reporting, operations and business development, and in the healthcare industry.

17

Hing C. Wong has served as our Founder and Chief Executive Officer since April 2018. Prior to founding our Company, Dr. Wong founded and served as the Chief Executive Officer of Altor BioScience Corporation, from 2002 to August 2017, when it was acquired by NantCell, Inc. (which subsequently became ImmunityBio, Inc.). After the acquisition of Altor, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of NantCell until March 2018. Prior to that, Dr. Wong founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Sunol Molecular Corporation from 1996 to 2002; the Director, Biology Skills Center of Baxter Healthcare Inc. from 1992 to 1996; and the Director of Microbial Genetics of Cetus Corporation from 1983 to 1992. Dr. Wong received his Ph.D. degree in Microbiology and Immunology at the University Massachusetts, Amherst and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Washington.

We believe that Dr. Wong is qualified to serve as a member of our board of directors due to the perspective and experience he brings as our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and his extensive experience leading life sciences companies and in the development of immunotherapeutics for cancer and other diseases.

There are no family relationships among our directors and executive officers.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Our executive officers and their ages as of April 19, 2022 and positions with HCW Biologics are provided in the table below and in the additional biographical descriptions set forth in the text below the table.

Our board of directors chooses our executive officers, who then serve at the discretion of our board of directors. There is no family relationship between any of the directors or executive officers and any of our other directors or executive officers.

Rebecca Byam has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 2019. Prior to joining our company, Ms. Byam served as a Director of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP from 2003 to 2019; the Chief Financial Officer of MaMaMedia Inc. from 1998 to 2002; the Chief Financial Officer of Momentum Partners from 1995 to 1998; and as an Investment Professional at Apax Partners LLP, where she specialized in biotechnology investments among other areas with strong intellectual property, from 1985 to 1995. Additionally, Ms. Byam served on the Investment Advisory Council, assisting the development of the Small Business Investment Company program of the U.S. Small Business Administration. Ms. Byam received a B.A. degree in liberal arts from Kenyon College and an M.B.A from the New York University Stern School of Business with a major in finance. She is currently registered as a Certified Public Accountant in the states of Florida and New York.

Lee Flowers has served as our Senior Vice President of Business Development since September 2019. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Flowers served as Executive Vice President of Dade International, a spin-off of Baxter International Inc., from 1994 to 1996; the Vice President of Venture Development at Baxter Diagnostics, Baxter International Inc.’s largest subsidiary, from 1993 to 1994; and Division President at Baxter Diagnostics from 1991 to 1993. Upon the merger between American Hospital Supply Corporation and Baxter International Inc.’s predecessor, Mr. Flowers served as the Vice President of Global Marketing for the Dade Division in 1990 and Vice President, Sales and Marketing for the Paramax Systems Division from 1986 to1989 at the merged entity. Mr. Flowers received his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Kentucky.

18

Peter Rhode has served as our Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations since May 2019. Prior to joining our company, Dr. Rhode served as the Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Altor BioScience Corporation following its April 2017 acquisition by NantCell, Inc. (which subsequently became ImmunityBio, Inc.) until 2019. Prior to that, Dr. Rhode served as Vice President, Research and Development at Altor BioScience Corporation from its inception in 2002 until its acquisition by NantCell, Inc. Dr. Rhode was among the team of scientists that formed Sunol Molecular Corporation in 1996 and served as Research Director at Sunol Molecular from 1996 to 2002. Dr. Rhode also served as Senior Scientist at Baxter International Inc. from 1991 to 1996. Dr. Rhode received his B.S. degree at the University of California, Davis and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Biophysics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Additionally, Dr. Rhode was a postdoctoral fellow at the California Institute of Technology.

Jin-an Jiao has served as our Vice President of Development since May 2019. Prior to joining our company, Dr. Jiao served as the Vice President of Development at Altor BioScience Corporation from March 2017 to May 2019; the Chief Scientific Officer at SAB Biotherapeutics from July 2014 to March 2017; Head of Product Development at Sanford Applied Biosciences from December 2013 to July 2014; the Executive Vice President of Product Development and Manufacturing at Hematech Inc. from March 2003 to December 2013; the Director of Protein Development at Sunol Molecular Corporation from May 1995 to March 2003; and a group leader of protein biochemistry at Baxter Diagnostics, Baxter International Inc.’s largest subsidiary, from 1992 to 1995. Dr. Jiao received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed his postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley.

Director Compensation

Director Compensation Table

The following table provides information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by and paid to each person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Dr. Wong is not included in the table below, as he is employed as our Chief Executive Officer, and receives no compensation for his service as a director. The compensation received by Dr. Wong as an employee is shown in “Executive Compensation-Summary Compensation Table” below.

19

Non-Employee Director Compensation Arrangements

Our non-employee director compensation policy is designed to obtain and retain the services of qualified persons to serve as members of our board of directors.

The policy provides for the following annual cash retainers, which are payable quarterly in arrears and pro-rated for partial quarters of service:

Annual Cash Retainer

All other non-employee directors: $40,000;

Non-employee chairperson of the audit committee: $50,000 (in lieu of the above); and

Non-employee chairperson of the board of directors: $60,000 (in lieu of the above).

Equity Grants

The policy also provides for grants of nonstatutory stock options to purchase shares of our common stock under the HCW Biologics Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) to the non-employee directors upon their initial election or appointment to our board of directors and annually during their continued service thereafter. The stock options granted will have an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant.

Each non-employee director who was elected or appointed for the first time to our board of directors during the two months prior to and after the closing of our initial public offering was granted a stock option to purchase shares of our common stock with a grant date fair value (disregarding estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting) of $100,000. The initial option grant will fully vest on the one-year anniversary of the date such director was elected or appointed to our board of directors, subject to the director’s continued service through the vesting date.

In addition, on the date of each annual meeting of our stockholders beginning with the 2022 annual meeting, we will grant each continuing non-employee director who has served on our board of directors for at least 6 months prior to such annual meeting a stock option to purchase shares of our common stock with a grant date fair value (disregarding estimated forfeitures related to service-based vesting) of $100,000. The annual option grant will fully vest on the earlier of the one-year anniversary of the date of grant and the date of the next annual meeting of our stockholders, subject to the director’s continued service through the vesting date.

Our board of directors also has the discretion to continue the vesting of any non-employee director option beyond the date of the director’s termination of service, if warranted by the circumstances, and to make discretionary stock award grants to our non-employee directors.

All stock options granted to non-employee directors will be made pursuant to our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan and will vest in full immediately prior to, and contingent upon, the consummation of a change in control of our company, subject to the director’s continued service as a member of our board of directors through the change in control.

We also reimburse our directors for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending meetings of our board of directors and committees.

The non-employee director compensation program is intended to provide a total compensation package that enables us to attract and retain qualified and experienced individuals to serve as directors and to align our directors’ interests with those of our stockholders.

20

PROPOSAL TWO: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Our audit committee has selected Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to perform the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 and recommends that our stockholders vote for the ratification of such selection. In the event that Grant Thornton LLP is not ratified by our stockholders, the audit committee will review its future selection of Grant Thornton LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

Grant Thornton LLP audited our financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Representatives of Grant Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting and they will be given an opportunity to make a statement at the Annual Meeting if they desire to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fees and Services

We regularly review the services and fees from our independent registered public accounting firm. These services and fees are also reviewed with our audit committee annually. In addition to performing the audit of our financial statements, Grant Thornton LLP provided various other services during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. Our audit committee has determined that Grant Thornton LLP’s provision of these services, which are described below, does not impair Grant Thornton LLP’s independence from us. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, fees for services provided by Grant Thornton LLP were as follows:

Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Our audit committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm, the scope of services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm and the fees for the services to be performed. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. Our independent registered public accounting

21

firm and management are required to periodically report to the audit committee regarding the extent of services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date.

All of the services relating to the fees described in the table above were approved by our audit committee.

Vote Required and Board of Directors’ Recommendation

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast FOR this proposal is required to ratify the appointment of our independent public accountant. Votes that are withheld will be counted towards the tabulation of votes cast on this proposal and will have the same effect as a negative vote. If your shares are held in “street name” by a broker, bank or other nominee, your broker, bank or other nominee has authority to vote your unvoted shares held by the firm on this proposal. If your broker, bank or other nominee does not exercise this authority, such broker non-votes will have no effect on the results of this vote.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL TWO TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF GRANT THORNTON LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE DISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2022.

22

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of April 19, 2022 by:

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power. Unless otherwise indicated below, to our knowledge, the persons and entities named in the table have sole voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable. Shares of our common stock subject to stock options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of April 19, 2022 and shares issuable upon the settlement of RSUs that will vest within 60 days of April 19, 2022 are deemed to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned by the person holding the stock options for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

Percentage ownership of our common stock is based on 35,795,386 shares of our common stock outstanding on April 19, 2022. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the individuals and entities named below is c/o HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025.

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock.

23

24

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

We became a public company in July 2021, and we are an “emerging growth company” under applicable federal securities laws and therefore permitted to take advantage of certain reduced public company reporting requirements. As an emerging growth company, we provide in this proxy statement the scaled disclosure permitted under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, including certain executive compensation disclosures required of a “smaller reporting company,” as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as an emerging growth company, we are not required to conduct votes seeking approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers or the frequency with which such votes must be conducted. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of our initial public offering, (ii) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenue is $1.07 billion or more, (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous rolling three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities, or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in the Exchange Act.

Named Executive Officers

Our named executive officers for 2021, which consist of our principal executive officer and the next two most highly compensated executive officers, are:

Hing C. Wong, Ph.D, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer;

Rebecca Byam, our Chief Financial Officer; and

Peter Rhode, Ph.D., our Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by and paid to each of our named executive officers during 2020 and 2021:

25

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

Employment Agreement with Dr. Hing Wong

We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Wong, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, dated June 18, 2021, which became effective on July 2, 2021. The employment agreement provides the general terms of Dr. Wong’s employment, including a $390,000 base salary, an opportunity to earn cash bonus incentives, an additional equity award after our initial public offering, and certain severance rights if he is terminated by us without cause or if he resigns for good reason (as each are defined in the employment agreement). Dr. Wong is employed by us at will.

Cash Bonus Opportunities

In accordance with the employment agreement, Dr. Wong is eligible for a cash bonus each calendar year up to an initial target amount of 60% of his annual base salary based on Dr. Wong’s achievement of certain objective and subject criteria established by our board of directors or the compensation committee of our board of directors. For 2021, the cash bonus opportunity would be split into two distinct components: (i) a cash bonus equal to 30% of his base salary for a successful completion of our initial public offering with a pre-money valuation of the Company equal to or in excess of $200 million and (ii) a cash bonus equal to 30% of his base salary if his performance meets or exceeds his established performance goals. See the section entitled “Executive Compensation – Summary Compensation Table” for Dr. Wong’s bonus payment in 2021.

Equity Incentive Grant

Per Dr. Wong’s employment agreement, during the 60-day period after our initial public offering, we promised to negotiate in good faith with him regarding the terms of a grant of a stock option, restricted stock units and/or other equity incentives in accordance with the terms of our 2021 Plan. Per his employment agreement, on September 8, 2021, we granted Dr. Wong a stock option to purchase 800,000 shares of our common stock, which will vest over a four-year period. See the section entitled “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table” for additional details about the stock option grant. The equity award also provides that if, in connection with a change of control of the Company (as defined in the 2021 Plan), the acquiror does not assume or substitute for the equity award, then it will vest in full effective as of immediately prior to the closing of such transaction.

Severance Benefits

If we terminate Dr. Wong’s employment without cause or if he resigns from employment for good reason (as each are defined in his employment agreement), subject to his execution of a release of claims in favor of the Company, Dr. Wong is entitled to receive certain severance benefits, as described below.

Employment Agreement with Ms. Rebecca Byam

We entered into an employment agreement with Ms. Byam, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, dated October 9, 2019. The employment agreement provides the general terms of Ms. Byam’s employment, including her initial base salary, the opportunity to earn cash bonus incentives, an initial stock option award under our 2019 Plan and the opportunity to receive additional stock option grants upon the achievement of certain events. The employment agreement provides for an initial four-year term of employment, which automatically renews for additional twelve-month terms unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the employment agreement. Ms. Byam’s employment is terminatable by us at any time, with or without cause, and upon 30 days or more advance written notice to her if for reasons other than for cause. Ms. Byam may terminate her employment at any time, with or without cause, and without advance written notice.

26

Cash Bonus Opportunities

In accordance with the employment agreement, Ms. Byam is eligible for the following cash bonuses each year: (i) a base bonus equal to 50% of Ms. Byam’s annual base salary and based on Ms. Byam’s achievement of specific performance metrics mutually agreed upon by Ms. Byam and our Chief Executive Officer prior to the given bonus year, and (ii) additional bonus opportunities for performance by her that exceeds her established objectives, payable at the discretion of our board of directors. See the section entitled “ – Summary Compensation Table” for Ms. Byam’s bonus payment in 2021.

Stock Option Grants

Per her employment agreement, on October 11, 2019, we granted Ms. Byam the initial stock option to purchase 135,000 shares of our common stock, which vests over a four-year period. Additionally, Ms. Byam is eligible to be granted the following stock option awards under the terms of her employment agreement: (i) a stock option to purchase 135,000 shares of our common stock, to be granted to Ms. Byam upon our closing of a private placement equity financing of at least $20 million; and (ii) a stock option to purchase 135,000 shares of our common stock, to be granted to Ms. Byam upon our initial public offering having a pre-money valuation of at least $200 million (collectively, the “Performance Options”). Per her employment agreement, on August 29, 2021 and September 8, 2021, the Company granted Ms. Byam stock options to purchase 135,000 and 80,000 shares of our common stock, respectively. See the section entitled “ –Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table” for additional details about the stock option grants.

Severance Benefits

If we terminate Ms. Byam’s employment without cause (as defined in her employment agreement), subject to her execution of a release of claims in favor of the Company, Ms. Byam will be entitled to receive certain severance benefits, as described below.

Employment Agreement with Dr. Peter Rhode

We entered into an employment agreement with Dr. Rhode, the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations, dated July 6, 2021, which became effective on July 15, 2021. The employment agreement provides the general terms of Dr. Rhode’s employment, including a $230,000 base salary (which may not be reduced by the Company to less than 90% of his base salary during the prior year without Dr. Rhode’s consent), an opportunity to earn cash bonus incentives, an additional equity award after the closing of our initial public offering, and certain severance rights if he is terminated by us without cause. The employment agreement provides for a three-year term of employment, unless earlier terminated in accordance with the terms of the employment agreement. Dr. Rhode is employed by us at will.

Cash Bonus Opportunities

In accordance with the employment agreement, Dr. Rhode is eligible for a cash bonus each calendar year up to an initial target amount of 30% of his annual base salary based on Dr. Rhode’s achievement of certain objective and subject criteria established by our board of directors or the compensation committee of our board of directors. See the section entitled “ – Summary Compensation Table” for Dr. Rhode’s bonus payment in 2021.

Equity Incentive Grant

Per Dr. Rhode’s employment agreement, subject to the approval of our board of directors, Dr. Rhode will be entitled to a grant of stock options in accordance with the terms of the Company’s 2021 Plan. The stock options will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant. Per his employment agreement, on September 8, 2021, we granted Dr. Rhode a stock option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock, which will vest over a four-year period. See the section entitled “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table” for additional details of the stock option grant.

27

Severance Benefits

If we terminate Dr. Rhode’s employment without cause (as defined in his employment agreement), subject to his execution of a release of claims in favor of the Company, Dr. Rhode is entitled to receive certain severance benefits, as described below.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

Dr. Wong

If we terminate Dr. Wong’s employment without cause or if he resigns for good reason (as each are defined in his employment agreement), subject to his execution of a release of claims in our favor, Dr. Wong is entitled to receive (i) a lump sum cash severance payment equal to 2 times his then-current annual base salary, and (ii) the vesting of all of his then unvested and outstanding equity awards that would have become vested had he remained in the employ of the Company for the 24 month period following his termination of employment; provided, however that if Dr. Wong’s termination occurs in connection with or within the 12 months following a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 2021 Plan), the equity awards will vest in full as of the date of his termination.

Ms. Byam

If we terminate Ms. Byam’s employment without cause (as defined in her employment agreement), subject to her execution of a release of claims in our favor, Ms. Byam is entitled to receive (i) cash severance equal to nine months of her then-current base salary, provided that this amount will be increased to 12 months if the termination occurs within one year following the consummation of a change of control (as defined in her employment agreement) of the Company, and (ii) immediate vesting of each of her then-outstanding stock option awards which are described above.

In addition, if we decline to extend the term of Ms. Byam’s employment under the employment agreement past the initial four-year term or past any subsequent 12-month term, subject to her execution of a release of claims in favor of the Company, Ms. Byam will be also entitled to the immediate vesting of each of her then-outstanding stock option awards which are described above. If Ms. Byam’s employment is terminated due to disability (as defined in her employment agreement), she will receive the cash severance described above, and in the event of her death, the Performance Options, to the extent granted, will immediately vest in full.

Dr. Rhode

If we terminate Dr. Rhode’s employment without cause (as defined in the employment agreement), subject to his execution of a release of claims in our favor, Dr. Rhode will be entitled to receive (i) a lump sum cash severance payment equal to 75% of his then-current annual base salary, and (ii) the vesting of all of his then unvested and outstanding equity awards that would have become vested had he remained in the employ of the Company for the 9 month period following his termination of employment; provided, however that if Dr. Rhode’s termination occurs in connection with or within the 12 months following a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 2021 Plan), the equity awards will vest in full as of the date of his termination.

Executive Incentive Bonus Plan

Our board of directors approved our Executive Incentive Bonus Plan, or the Bonus Plan, in June 2021.

General

The purpose of the Bonus Plan is to motivate and reward our eligible officers and employees, including our named executive officers, for their contributions toward the achievement of certain performance goals. The

28

Bonus Plan is administered by the compensation committee of our board of directors, which shall have the discretionary authority to interpret the provisions of the Bonus Plan, including all decisions on eligibility to participate, the establishment of performance goals, the number of awards payable under the plan, and the payment of awards. The compensation committee, in its sole discretion and on such terms and conditions as it may provide, may delegate all or part of its authority and powers under the Bonus Plan to one or more of our directors and officers. The compensation committee may terminate the Bonus Plan at any time, provided such termination shall not affect the payment of any awards accrued under the Bonus Plan prior to the date of the termination. The compensation committee may, at any time, or from time to time, amend or suspend and, if suspended, reinstate, the Bonus Plan in whole or in part.

Targets and Performance Criteria

The compensation committee may establish cash bonus targets and corporate performance goals for a specific performance period or fiscal year pursuant to the Bonus Plan. Corporate performance goals may be based on wide-ranging criteria and metrics described in the Bonus Plan, which mirror those in our 2021 Plan. Awards issued to participants, however, may also take into account other factors, including subjective factors. Performance goals may differ from participant to participant, performance period to performance period, and from award to award.

Eligibility and Clawback

Unless otherwise determined by the compensation committee, a participant must be actively employed and in good standing with us on the date the award is paid. The compensation committee may make exceptions to this requirement in the case of retirement, death or disability, an unqualified leave of absence or under other circumstances, as determined by the compensation committee in its sole discretion.

Awards granted under the Bonus Plan are subject to any clawback policy as may be established and/or amended from time to time by us. The compensation committee may require a participant to forfeit or return to and/or reimburse us for any amounts paid with respect to an award, pursuant to the terms of such company policy or as necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable laws.

Hedging and Pledging Policy

Under the terms of our insider trading policy, no employees, contractors, consultants and members of our board of directors (and their respective family members and any affiliated entities, such as venture capital funds) may engage in hedging or monetization transactions involving our securities, such as prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars or exchange funds. In addition, such persons may not hold our securities in a margin account or pledge our securities as collateral for a loan unless the pledge has been approved by our Compliance Officer.

29

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

The following table provides information regarding the outstanding stock option awards held by our named executive officers on December 31, 2021.

30

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

We currently maintain the following equity compensation plans that provide for the issuance of shares of our common stock to our officers and other employees, directors and consultants, each of which has been approved by our stockholders: our 2021 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2021 Plan, and our 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2019 Plan.

The following table presents information as of December 31, 2021 with respect to compensation plans under which shares of our common stock may be issued.

31

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

In addition to the executive officer and director compensation arrangements discussed above under “Executive Compensation” and “Proposal One: Election of Directors-Director Compensation,” respectively, since January 1, 2021, the following are the only transactions or series of similar transactions to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and in which any director, nominee for director, executive officer, beneficial holder of more than 5% of our capital stock or any member of their immediate family or any entity affiliated with any of the foregoing persons had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Initial Public Offering

On July 22, 2021, Dr. Wong, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors purchased 627,500 shares of our common stock at the initial public offering price of $8.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $5,020,000 in connection with our initial public offering.

On July 22, 2021, Ms. Byam, our Chief Financial Officer purchased 25,000 shares of our common stock at the initial public offering price of $8.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $200,000 in connection with our initial public offering.

On July 22, 2021, Dr. Rhode, our Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Clinical Operations purchased 12,500 shares of our common stock at the initial public offering price of $8.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $100,000 in connection with our initial public offering.

On July 22, 2021, an entity affiliated with Mr. Garrett, Chairman of our board of directors, purchased 125,000 shares of our common stock at the initial offering price of $8.00 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $1,000,000 in our initial public offering on the same terms as the other purchasers in the initial public offering.

Investors’ Rights, Voting, and Right of First Refusal Agreements

In connection with our preferred stock financings, we entered into investors’ rights, voting, and right of first refusal and co-sale agreements containing voting rights, and rights of first refusal, among other things, with certain holders of our preferred stock and certain holders of our common stock. The parties to these agreements include entities affiliated with our former directors, Ms. Chiu, Mr. Middleton and Dr. Sun, each of which owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock, and with Dr. Wong, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer. These stockholder agreements terminated upon the closing of our initial public offering.

Stock Option Grants to Executive Officers

We have granted stock options to our named executive officers as more fully described in the section entitled “Executive Compensation.”

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and officers. The indemnification agreements and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws require us to indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Parties

Our written related party transactions policy states that our executive officers, directors, nominees for election as a director, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock and any members of the

32

immediate family of and any entity affiliated with any of the foregoing persons are not permitted to enter into a material related party transaction with us without the review and approval of our audit committee. The policy provides that any request for us to enter into a transaction with an executive officer, director, nominee for election as a director, beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock or with any of their immediate family members or affiliates in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 must be presented to our audit committee for review, consideration and approval. In approving or rejecting any such proposal, our audit committee considers the relevant facts and circumstances available and deemed relevant to the committee, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms no less favorable than terms generally available to an unaffiliated third party under the same or similar circumstances and the extent of the related party’s interest in the transaction.

33

DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and any persons who own more than 10% of our common stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the SEC. Based solely on our review of the copies of such forms filed with the SEC and written representations from the directors and executive officers, we believe that all Section 16(a) filing requirements were timely met in the year ended December 31, 2021 except for a Form 4 for each of Scott Garrett, Rebecca Byam and Rick Greene related to grants of options to purchase shares of our common stock which were inadvertently filed late. Additionally, there were two transactions with respect to the purchase of shares of our common stock by Dr. Wong that were inadvertently not included in the original filings. These were subsequently included in amended filings.

34

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

The information contained in the following report of our audit committee is not considered to be “soliciting material,” “filed” or incorporated by reference in any past or future filing by us under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act unless and only to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference.

Our audit committee has reviewed and discussed with our management and Grant Thornton LLP, our audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. Our audit committee has also discussed with Grant Thornton LLP the matters required to be discussed by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the SEC.

Our audit committee has received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from Grant Thornton LLP required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent accountant’s communications with our audit committee concerning independence, and has discussed with Grant Thornton LLP its independence from us.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, our audit committee recommended to our board of directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 for filing with the SEC.

Submitted by the Audit Committee

Rick S. Greene, Chair

Scott T. Garrett

Lisa M. Giles

Gary M. Winer

35

HOUSEHOLDING

Some banks, brokers and other nominee record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of our documents, including the annual report to stockholders and proxy statement, may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of either document to you upon written or oral request to HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025, Attention: Corporate Secretary or (954) 842-2024 X205. If you want to receive separate copies of the proxy statement or annual report to stockholders in the future, or if you are receiving multiple copies and would like to receive only one copy per household, you should contact your bank, broker or other nominee record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and phone number.

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

A stockholder who would like to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our 2023 proxy statement must submit the proposal in accordance with the procedures outlined in Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act so that it is received by us no later than December 26, 2022. However, if the date of the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before we begin to print and send our proxy statement for the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. SEC rules set standards for eligibility and specify the types of stockholder proposals that may be excluded from a proxy statement. Stockholder proposals should be addressed to HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

If a stockholder wishes to propose a nomination of persons for election to our Board of Directors or present a proposal at an annual meeting but does not wish to have the proposal considered for inclusion in our proxy statement and proxy card, our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for such nominations and proposals. Stockholders at an annual meeting may only consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely notice in proper form to our Corporate Secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting.

To comply with the universal proxy rules (once effective), stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than the Company’s nominees must provide notice that sets forth the information required by Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act no later than April 16, 2023.

The required notice must be in writing and received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. However, in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be so received no earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of  (A) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. For stockholder proposals to be brought before the 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the required notice must be received by our Corporate Secretary at our principal executive offices no earlier than February 15, 2023 and no later than March 17, 2023. Stockholder proposals and the required notice should be addressed to HCW Biologics Inc., 2929 N. Commerce Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33025, Attention: Corporate Secretary.

36

OTHER MATTERS

Our board of directors does not presently intend to bring any other business before the Annual Meeting and, so far as is known to our board of directors, no matters are to be brought before the Annual Meeting except as specified in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As to any business that may arise and properly come before the Annual Meeting, however, it is intended that proxies, in the form enclosed, will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.

37

HCW BIOLOGICS INC.
2929 N COMMERCE PARKWAY MIRAMAR, FL 33025
SCAN TO
VIEW MATERIALS & VOTE
VOTE BY INTERNET
Before The Meeting - Go to www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode above
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 14, 2022. 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.
During The Meeting - Go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2022
You may attend the meeting via the Internet and vote during the meeting. Have the information that is printed in the box marked by the arrow available and follow the instructions.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on June 14, 2022. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS:
D74910-P66930
KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS
THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED.
DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY
HCW BIOLOGICS INC.
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following:
1. Elect Scott T. Garrett and Gary M. Winer as Class I directors to serve for a term of three years and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Nominees:
01) Scott T. Garrett 02) Gary M. Winer
The Board of Directors recommends you vote FOR the following proposal:
2. Ratify the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of HCW Biologics Inc. for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.
NOTE: Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.
For All Withhold All Except For All
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee mark “For All Except” and write the number of the nominee on the line below.
For Against Abstain
Please sign exactly as your name(s) appear(s) hereon. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, or other fiduciary, please give full title as such. Joint owners should each sign personally. All holders must sign. If a corporation or partnership, please sign in full corporate or partnership name by authorized officer.
Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX]    Date Signature (Joint Owners) Date

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:
The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.
D74911-P66930
HCW BIOLOGICS INC. Annual Meeting of Stockholders June 15, 2022 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors
The stockholder(s) hereby appoint(s) Hing C. Wong, Chief Executive Officer, and Rebecca Byam, Chief Financial Officer, or either of them, as proxies, each with the power to appoint his/her substitute, and hereby authorize(s) them to represent and to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this ballot, all of the shares of (common/preferred) stock of HCW BIOLOGICS INC. that the stockholder(s) is/are entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on June 15, 2022, virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2022, and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein. If no such direction is made, this proxy will be voted in accordance with the Board of Directors’ recommendations.
Continued and to be signed on reverse side