EX-10.14





 Exhibit 10.14 

RENEO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 This
Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of November 20, 2020 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Michael Cruse (“Executive”) and Reneo
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”). 
 WHEREAS, the Company and Executive
desire to enter into this Agreement to define their mutual rights and duties with respect to Executive’s compensation and benefits. 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows: 

1. Employment by the Company. 

1.1 Position. Executive shall serve as the Company’s Senior Vice President, Corporate Operations and shall report to the
Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention to the
business of the Company, except for approved vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies, and except as provided in Section 7.1. 

1.2 Duties and Location. Executive shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with the position of Vice President,
Corporate Operations and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the President and Chief Executive Officer. Executive’s primary office location shall be the Company’s headquarters located in San Diego, California. Subject to the
terms of this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to (a) reasonably require Executive to perform Executive’s duties at places other than Executive’s primary office location from time to time and to require reasonable business
travel, and (b) modify Executive’s job title and duties as it deems necessary and appropriate in light of the Company’s needs and interests from time to time. 

1.3 Policies and Practices. The employment relationship between the parties shall be governed by the general employment policies
and practices of the Company, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control. 

2. Compensation. 

2.1 Base Salary. For services to be rendered hereunder, Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $300,000 per year
(the “Base Salary”), less standard payroll deductions and withholdings and payable in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule. 

2.2 Bonus. Executive will be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, with a target amount for such bonus of thirty percent
(30%) of Executive’s then current Base Salary (the 

  
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“Annual Bonus”). Whether Executive receives an Annual Bonus for any given year, and the amount of any such Annual Bonus, will be determined in the good faith discretion of
the Company’s Board of Directors (“Board”) (or the Compensation Committee thereof), based upon the Company’s and Executive’s achievement of objectives and milestones to be determined on an annual basis by the
Board (or Compensation Committee thereof). No Annual Bonus is guaranteed and, in addition to the other conditions for earning such compensation, Executive must remain an employee in good standing of the Company on the scheduled Annual Bonus payment
date in order to be eligible for any Annual Bonus. 
 3. Standard Company Benefits. Executive shall, in accordance with
Company policy and the terms and conditions of the applicable Company benefit plan documents, be eligible to participate in the benefit and fringe benefit programs provided by the Company to its executive officers and other employees from time to
time. Any such benefits shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the governing benefit plans and policies and may be changed by the Company in its discretion. 

4. Expenses. The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable travel, entertainment or other expenses incurred by Executive
in furtherance or in connection with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder, in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy as in effect from time to time. 

5. Equity. Upon approval by the Board, Executive shall be granted an option to purchase such number of shares of the
Company’s common stock as is equal to 1.09% of the Company’s fully-diluted capitalization as of immediately following the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock financing (the “Option Award”) under and subject to
the terms of the Company’s 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Plan”). The Option Award shall have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock as of the date of
grant, as determined in good faith by the Board. One-fourth (1/4th) of the shares subject to the Option Award shall vest on the first anniversary of the Effective Date and the balance of the shares shall vest
in a series of thirty-six (36) successive equal monthly installments thereafter, subject to Executive’s Continuous Service (as defined in the Plan) as of each such vesting date. The Company, in its
sole discretion, may award Executive additional equity grants pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans from time to time in its sole discretion. 

6. Proprietary Information Obligations. 

6.1 Proprietary Information Agreement. As a condition to employment, Executive agrees to execute, and will continue to abide by,
the Company’s standard Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement attached hereto as EXHIBIT A (the “Proprietary Agreement”). 

6.2 Third-Party Agreements and Information. Executive represents and warrants that Executive’s employment by the Company
does not conflict with any prior employment or consulting agreement or other agreement with any third party, and that Executive will perform Executive’s duties to the Company without violating any such agreement. Executive represents and
warrants that Executive does not possess confidential information arising out of prior employment, consulting, or other third party relationships, that would be used in connection with 

  
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Executive’s employment by the Company, except as expressly authorized by that third party. During Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive will use in the performance of
Executive’s duties only information that is generally known and used by persons with training and experience comparable to Executive’s own, common knowledge in the industry, otherwise legally in the public domain, or obtained or developed
by the Company or by Executive in the course of Executive’s work for the Company. 
 7. Outside Activities, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. 
 7.1 Outside
Activities. Throughout Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not
interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company or its affiliates. Subject to the restrictions set forth herein, and only with prior written disclosure to and consent of the
Board, Executive may engage in other types of business or public activities (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the activities listed on ANNEX I attached hereto are deemed disclosed to, and consented by, the Board). The
Board may rescind such consent, if the Board determines, in its sole discretion, that such activities compromise or threaten to compromise the Company’s or its affiliates’ business interests or conflict with Executive’s duties to the
Company or its affiliates. 
 7.2 Non-Competition During Employment. During
Executive’s employment by the Company, Executive will not, without the express written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly serve as an officer, director, stockholder, employee, partner, proprietor, investor, joint ventures, associate,
representative or consultant of any person or entity engaged in, or planning or preparing to engage in, business activity competitive with any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company or its affiliates; provided,
however, that Executive may purchase or otherwise acquire up to (but not more than) one percent (1%) of any class of securities of any enterprise (without participating in the activities of such enterprise) if such securities are listed on any
national or regional securities exchange. In addition, Executive will be subject to certain restrictions (including restrictions continuing after Executive’s employment ends) under the terms of the Proprietary Agreement. 

7.3 Non-Solicitation. Executive agrees that during the period of employment with the
Company and for twelve (12) months after the date Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason, Executive will not, either directly or through others, solicit or encourage or attempt to solicit or encourage any employee, independent
contractor, or consultant of the Company to terminate his or her relationship with the Company in order to become an employee, consultant or independent contractor to or for any other person or entity. 

8. Termination of Employment. 

8.1 At-Will Employment. Executive’s employment relationship is at-will. Either Executive or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. 

8.2 Termination and Change in Control Benefits. Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s Severance
Benefit Plan attached hereto as EXHIBIT B-1, as may 

  
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be amended from time to time pursuant to its terms (the “Severance Plan”), and shall be eligible for the termination and change in control benefits as set forth in such
Severance Plan and the Participation Agreement attached hereto as EXHIBIT B-2. Executive’s eligibility and rights under the Severance Plan shall in all events be subject to the terms
of such Severance Plan. 
 8.3 Section 409A. It is intended that all of the benefits and other payments payable under this
Agreement satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, an exemption from the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and
any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”), and this Agreement will be construed to the greatest extent possible as consistent with those provisions, and to the extent not
so exempt, this Agreement (and any definitions hereunder) will be construed in a manner that complies with Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein shall be interpreted accordingly. 

8.4 Section 280G. If any payment or benefit Executive will or may receive from the Company or otherwise (a
“Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the
Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment will be equal to the Reduced Amount (defined below). The “Reduced Amount” will be either (1) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no
portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (2) the entire Payment, whichever amount after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all
computed at the highest applicable marginal rate, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from a deduction of such state and local taxes), results in Executive’s receipt, on an
after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the Payment. If a reduction in the Payment is to be made so that the Payment equals the Reduced Amount, (x) the Payment will be paid only to the extent permitted
under the Reduced Amount alternative, and the Executive will have no rights to any additional payments and/or benefits constituting the Payment, and (y) reduction in payments and/or benefits will occur in the following order: (1) reduction
of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits paid to Executive. In the event that
acceleration of vesting of equity award compensation is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of Executive’s equity awards. In no event will the Company or any stockholder be
liable to Executive for any amounts not paid as a result of the operation of this Section. The professional firm engaged by the Company for general tax purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the change in control will perform the
foregoing calculations. If the tax firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the acquirer, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized tax firm to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company will bear
all expenses with respect to the determinations by such firm required to be made hereunder. If the tax firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it will
furnish the Company and Executive with documentation that no Excise Tax is reasonably likely to be imposed with respect to such Payment. Any good faith determinations of the tax firm made hereunder will be final, binding and conclusive upon the
Company and Executive. 
 9. Dispute Resolution. To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in
connection with Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive and the 

  
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Company agree that any and all disputes, claims, or causes of action, in law or equity, including but not limited to statutory claims, arising from or relating to the enforcement, breach,
performance, or interpretation of this Agreement, Executive’s employment with the Company, or the termination of Executive’s employment from the Company, will be resolved pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §1-16, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, by final, binding and confidential arbitration conducted in San Diego, California by JAMS, Inc. (“JAMS”) or its successors, under
JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures for employment disputes (which can be found at http://www.jamsadr.com/rules-clauses/, and which will be provided to Executive on request); provided that the arbitrator shall: (a) have the
authority to compel adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute and to award such relief as would otherwise be permitted by law; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision including the arbitrator’s essential findings and
conclusions and a statement of the award. Executive and the Company shall be entitled to all rights and remedies that either would be entitled to pursue in a court of law. Both Executive and the Company acknowledge that by agreeing to this
arbitration procedure, they waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding. The Company shall pay all filing fees in excess of those which would be required if the dispute were decided
in a court of law, and shall pay the arbitrator’s fee. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either the Company or Executive from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such
arbitration. 
 10. General Provisions. 

10.1 Notices. Any notices provided must be in writing and will be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery
(including personal delivery by fax) or the next day after sending by overnight carrier, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at the address as listed on the Company payroll. 

10.2 Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and
valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction to the extent possible in keeping with the intent of the Parties. 

10.3 Waiver. Any waiver of any breach of any provisions of this Agreement must be in writing to be effective, and it shall not
thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement. 
 10.4
Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Proprietary Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company with regard to the subject matter hereof and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of
the Company’s and Executive’s agreement with regard to this subject matter. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation, written or oral, other than those expressly contained herein, and it supersedes
any other such promises, warranties or representations. This Agreement cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company, with the exception of those changes expressly reserved to the Company’s
discretion in this Agreement. 

  
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 10.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts,
any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but both of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement. 

10.6 Headings. The headings of the paragraphs hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a
part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof. 
 10.7 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to
the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign any of Executive’s duties hereunder and Executive may not assign
any of Executive’s rights hereunder without the written consent of the Company, which shall not be withheld unreasonably. 

10.8 Tax Withholding. All payments and awards contemplated or made pursuant to this Agreement will be subject to withholdings of
applicable taxes in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations of all appropriate government authorities. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company has neither made any assurances nor any guarantees concerning the tax treatment of
any payments or awards contemplated by or made pursuant to this Agreement. Executive has had the opportunity to retain a tax and financial advisor and fully understands the tax and economic consequences of all payments and awards made pursuant to
the Agreement. 
 10.9 Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement
will be governed by the laws of the State of California. 
 [Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank] 

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on the day and year
first written above. 
  

			
	RENEO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
		
	By:	 	/s/ Gregory J. Flesher
		 	Gregory J. Flesher
		 	President and Chief Executive Officer


  

			
	EXECUTIVE
		
	By:	 	/s/ Michael Cruse
		 	MICHAEL CRUSE














 ANNEX I 

Executive is providing transition consulting services to Novus Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical stage biotechnology company targeting the CD40L pathway to
develop potential treatments for people undergoing organ or cellular transplantation, and for people with autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease. The transition services will be performed primarily after normal business hours and will not occur
more frequently than three hours per week during normal business hours. The total time committed will not exceed 10 hours a week and will be completed by the end of February 2021. 












 EXHIBIT A 

PROPRIETARY AGREEMENT 












 EXHIBIT B-1 

SEVERANCE PLAN 












 EXHIBIT B-2 

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT