Company: HCWB
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-058961
Chunk: 3

Company: HCW Biologics Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 3
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| INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING                                                  |  1 |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT PROXY MATERIALS, VOTING, AND THE MEETING                       |  1 |
| BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE                                                |  8 |
| NOMINATIONS PROCESS AND DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS                                            | 12 |
| PROPOSAL ONE: DIRECTOR ELECTION                                                            | 15 |
| PROPOSAL TWO: RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 20 |
| SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT                             | 22 |
| EXECUTIVE OFFICERS                                                                         | 24 |
| EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION                                                                     | 25 |
| EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION                                                       | 30 |
| CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS                                       | 31 |
| DELINQUENT SECTION 16(A) REPORTS                                                           | 34 |
| REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE                                                              | 35 |
| HOUSEHOLDING                                                                               | 35 |
| STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS                                                                      | 36 |
| OTHER MATTERS                                                                              | 37 |

TABLE OF CONTENTS

<div align='center'>HCW BIOLOGICS INC.

PROXY STATEMENT FOR THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025

INFORMATION ABOUT SOLICITATION AND VOTING</div>

The accompanying proxy is solicited on behalf of our board of directors of HCW Biologics Inc. (“HCW Biologics”) for use at HCW Biologics’ 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting” or “meeting”) to be held online on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time via live webcast atwww.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HCWB2025. 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.

<div align='center'>INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS</div>

We will mail, on or about April 28, 2025, the Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the “