Document:

EX-10.25

 Exhibit 10.25 

 
 

 
  

 Woof! Welcome to BarkBox, Inc., John! 

 
 

 
  

	01.	 On behalf of Brownie, Bowie and the rest of the Barkbox, Inc. team, I ruv that I can fetch you this paper on
November 29, 2016 with the terms of your offer of employment with Barkbox to serve as Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Director of Belly Scratches effective on or about December 5, 2016 at our offices on 221 Canal Street, 6th floor,
New York, NY 10013. You will be reporting to Matt Meeker. If your Primary language is not English, please note it here: ______________. Note: this information will only be used for purposes of complying with Section 195 of the New York Labor
Law. 

  

	02.	 Your salary will be $27,083.33 (rounded to nearest penny) per month (which equates to $325,000 annually
(rounded to nearest dollar)), less payroll deductions and required taxes and withholdings, and will be paid on or about the 15th and the last day of each month. Such salary may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with normal business
practice and in the sole discretion of Barkbox. This position is exempt under one or more of the “white collar” exemptions provided in federal or state law, and you therefore will not receive overtime pay if you work more than 40 hours in
a workweek. Your compensation may be supplemented with puppy kisses and tug of war battles. 

  

	03.	 This letter will summarize important details of matters pertaining to your employment, including information
about current benefits, which are provided to the workforce here at Barkbox, Inc (“Barkbox”). Our benefits, payroll, and other human resource management services are provided through TriNet HR Corporation, a professional employer
organization. As a result of Barkbox’s arrangement with TriNet, TriNet will be responsible for administrative tasks associated with your employment and your manager here at Barkbox will be responsible for directing your work, reviewing your
performance, setting your schedule, and otherwise directing your work at Barkbox. Barkbox, through TriNet, offers its employees insurance, retirement and pre-tax spending benefits. Information about these
benefits, including costs, qualifications and limitations, will be available at TriNet’s on-line self-service portal, HR Passport, subject to the terms and conditions included in the End User License
Agreement (EULA) you must accept in order to access HR Passport. You may participate in any and all benefit programs that Barkbox establishes and makes available to its human employees from time to time, provided you are eligible under (and subject
to all provisions of) the plan documents governing those programs. There are certain perquisites exclusively available to our canine employees, including but not limited to the right to arrive at work in nothing but your fur coat. Please remember
that those perks are only available to our canine employees. 

  
 -1- 

 

 
  

	04.	 Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of Barkbox, Barkbox may grant to you an incentive stock
option (the “Option”) under Barkbox’s 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for the purchase of an aggregate of 250,000 shares of common stock of Barkbox at a price per share equal to the fair market value, as determined by
Barkbox, at the time of Board approval. The Option shall be subject to all terms, vesting schedules and other provisions set forth in the Plan and in a separate option agreement, which shall provide that, if, after a Change in Control (as defined in
the option agreement) of Barkbox, your employment with Barkbox is terminated (i) by Barkbox without Cause (as defined in the option agreement) or (ii) by you for Good Reason (as defined in the option agreement), then the vesting schedule
of the Option shares shall be accelerated such that all the remaining unvested shares shall vest on the date of such termination. As a condition of receiving the foregoing Option grant, you will be required to sign that certain (a) Second
Amended and Restated Voting Agreement, dated May 16, 2016, and (b) Second Amended and Restated Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement, dated May 16, 2016. 

 

	05.	 You will be required to execute an Invention and Non-Disclosure
Agreement and a Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement in the forms attached as Exhibit A and Exhibit B. as a condition of employment and receipt of many
puppy kisses. Hey, and you will need to read and accept the Barkbox company handbook, and of course we reserve the right to change or revise our policies or benefits at any time. That’s just the way it is. 

 

	06.	 You shall be present at Barkbox’s New York offices no less frequently than two consecutive business days
in every two weeks. Barkbox will reimburse you for all travel, boarding and meal expenses that comply with Barkbox’s travel expense reimbursement policy. 

 

	07.	 You represent that you are not bound by any employment contract, restrictive covenant, feline relationship or
other restriction preventing you from entering into employment with or carrying out your responsibilities for Barkbox, or which is in any way inconsistent with the terms of this letter. 

 

	08.	 You represent that you ruv dogs with all your paws. 

 

	09.	 You agree to provide to Barkbox, within three days of your hire date, a completed 1-9 and supporting documentation of your eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. You may need to obtain a work visa in order to be eligible to work in
the United States. If that is the case, your employment with Barkbox will be conditioned upon your obtaining a work visa in a timely manner as determined by Barkbox. 

	

 

 
  

	10.	 This letter shall not be construed as an agreement, either expressed or implied, to employ you for any stated
term, and shall in no way alter Barkbox’s policy of employment at-will, under which both you and Barkbox remain free to terminate the employment relationship, with or without cause, at any time, with or
without notice. Similarly, nothing in this letter shall be construed as an agreement, either express or implied, to pay you any compensation or grant you any benefit beyond the end of your employment with Barkbox, other than should Barkbox terminate
your employment without Cause (as defined in the option agreement), Barkbox will pay you the equivalent of six (6) months then current salary. Notwithstanding the above, if you or Barkbox choose to terminate the employment relationship and you
would like one last puppy kiss please feel free to ask and we will do our best to accommodate your request. 

 [Continues
on next page] 

 

 
  

 If you agree with the provisions of this letter, please sign or paw print the enclosed
duplicate of this letter in the space provided below and return it to your manager. You hereby acknowledge and agree that upon your acceptance of this offer of employment, that certain Consulting Agreement, by and between you and Barkbox, dated
April 22, 2016, shall terminate immediately. If you do not accept this offer by December 2, 2016, this offer will be revoked and it is likely that at least one puppy will be very sad. 

 

			
	Very Truly Yours,
	
	 BARKBOX, INC

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Carly Strife

	 Name
	 	 Carly Strife

	 Title:
	 	 President

 The foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of my offer of employment by Barkbox, Inc. 

 

							
	 /s/ John Toth
	 	             
	  	 Date:
	  	 12/5/2016

	 Name: John Toth
	 		  		  	

 Exhibit A 

INVENTION AND NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT 

This Agreement is made by and between Barkbox, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to collectively with its subsidiaries as the
“Company”), John Toth (the “Puppy Lover”). 
 In consideration of the employment or the continued employment of the
Employee by the Company, the Company and the Puppy Lover agree as follows: 
  

	 	01.	 Condition of Employment 

The Puppy Lover acknowledges that his/her employment and/or the continuance of that employment with the Company is contingent upon his/her
agreement to sign and adhere to the provisions of this Agreement. The Puppy Lover further acknowledges that the Company has agreed to grant him/her options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share partially
in consideration for his/her entry into this Agreement. The Puppy Lover further acknowledges that the nature of the Company’s business is such that protection of its proprietary and confidential information (obviously as well as a sufficient
supply of dog treats) is critical to the business’ survival and success. 
  

	 	02.	 Proprietary and Confidential Information. 

 

	 	a.	 The Puppy Lover agrees that all information and know-how, whether or
not in writing, of a private, secret or confidential nature concerning the Company’s business or financial affairs (collectively, “Proprietary Information”) is and shall be the exclusive property of the Company. By way of
illustration, but not limitation, Proprietary Information may include discoveries, inventions, products, product improvements, product enhancements, processes, methods, techniques, formulas, compositions, compounds, negotiation strategies and
positions, projects, developments, plans (including business and marketing plans), research data, clinical data, financial data (including sales costs, profits, pricing methods), personnel data, computer programs (including software used pursuant to
a license agreement), customer, prospect and supplier lists, contacts at or knowledge of customers or prospective customers of the Company and secret belly scratch formulas as may be developed from time to time by the Company. The Puppy Lover will
not disclose any Proprietary Information to any person or entity other than employees of the Company or use the same for any purposes (other than in the performance of his/her duties as an employee of the Company) without written approval by an
officer of the Company, either during or after his/her employment with the Company, unless and until such Proprietary Information has become public knowledge without fault by the Puppy Lover. While employed by the Company, the Puppy Lover will use
the Puppy Lover’s best efforts to prevent unauthorized publication or disclosure of any of the Company’s Proprietary Information. 

	 	b.	 The Puppy Lover agrees that all files, documents, letters, memoranda, reports, records, data, sketches,
drawings, models, laboratory notebooks, program listings, computer equipment or devices, computer programs or other written, photographic, or other tangible or intangible material containing Proprietary Information, whether created by the Puppy
Lover or others, which shall come into his/her custody or possession, shall be and are the exclusive property of the Company to be used by the Puppy Lover only in the performance of his/her duties for the Company and shall not be copied or removed
from the Company premises except in the pursuit of the business of the Company. All such materials or copies thereof and all tangible property of the Company in the custody or possession of the Puppy Lover shall be delivered to the Company, upon the
earlier of (i) a request by the Company or (ii) termination of his/her employment. After such delivery, the Puppy Lover shall not retain any such materials or copies thereof or any such tangible property. Notwithstanding the above, and
recognizing the importance of a good belly scratch, the Puppy Lover may continue to use any secret belly scratch formulas developed by the Company from time to time in private, in the privacy of his/her own home with his/her own dogs following the
termination of his/her employment. 

  

	 	c.	 The Puppy Lover agrees that his/her obligation not to disclose or to use information and materials of the types
set forth in paragraphs 2(a) and 2(b) above, and his/her obligation to return materials and tangible property, set forth in paragraph 2(b) above, also extends to such types of information, materials and tangible property of customers of the Company
or suppliers to the Company or other third parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to the Puppy Lover in the course of the Company’s business. 

 

	 	d.	 The Puppy Lover acknowledges that he or she has been advised of the immunity from liability under the Defend
Trade Secrets Act, and cannot be held criminally or civilly liable under federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of trade secrets (including Proprietary Information) made in confidence to government officials or to an attorney, solely
for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or included in a complaint or other document in legal proceedings, provided that any such filing is made under seal and protected from public disclosure.

	 	03.	 Developments. 

  

	 	a.	 The Puppy Lover will make full and prompt disclosure to the Company of all discoveries, inventions,
improvements, enhancements, processes, methods, techniques, developments, software, works of authorship, whether patentable or not, including but not limited to humane traps for the removal of felines from respectable society, which have been
created, made, conceived, or reduced to practice by the Puppy Lover or under his or her direction or jointly with others: (i) prior to the date hereof, using the Company’s resources and/or Proprietary Information, or (ii) during
his/her employment by the Company, whether or not during normal working hours or on the premises of the Company, which relate directly to the business of the Company, or using the Company’s resources and/or Proprietary Information (all of which
are collectively referred to in this Agreement as “Developments”). For the purposes of this Agreement, the “business of the Company” shall mean pet-focused commerce. 

 

	 	b.	 The Puppy Lover agrees to assign and does hereby assign to the Company (or any person or entity designated by
the Company) all his/her right, title and interest in and to all Developments and all related intellectual property. The Puppy Lover understands that, to the extent this Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of any state which
precludes a requirement in an employee agreement to assign certain classes of inventions made by an employee, this paragraph 3(b) shall be interpreted not to apply to any invention which a court rules and/or the Company agrees falls within such
classes. The Puppy Lover also hereby waives all claims to moral rights in any Developments. 

  

	 	c.	 The Puppy Lover agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, both during and after his/her employment with the
Company, with respect to the procurement, maintenance and enforcement of copyrights, patents and other intellectual property rights (both in the United States and foreign countries) relating to Developments. The Puppy Lover shall sign all papers,
including, without limitation, copyright applications, patent applications, declarations, oaths, formal assignments, assignments of priority rights, and powers of attorney, which the Company may deem necessary or desirable in order to protect its
rights and interests in any Development. The Puppy Lover further agrees that if the Company is unable, after reasonable effort, to secure the signature of the Puppy Lover on any such papers, any executive officer of the Company shall be entitled to
execute any such papers as the agent and the attorney-in-fact of the Puppy Lover, and the Puppy Lover hereby irrevocably designates and appoints each executive officer
of the Company as his/her agent and attorney-in-fact to execute any such papers on his/her behalf, and to take any and all actions as the Company may deem necessary or
desirable in order to protect its rights and interests in any Development, under the conditions described in this sentence. 

	 	04.	 Other Agreements. 

The Puppy Lover represents that, except as the Puppy Lover has disclosed in writing to the Company, the Puppy Lover is not bound by the terms
of any agreement with any previous employer or other party to refrain from using or disclosing any trade secret or confidential or proprietary information in the course of his/her employment with the Company, to refrain from competing, directly or
indirectly, with the business of such previous employer or any other party or to refrain from soliciting employees, customers or suppliers of such previous employer or other party. The Puppy Lover further represents that his/her performance of all
the terms of this Agreement and the performance of his/her duties as an employee of the Company do not and will not conflict with or breach any agreement with any prior employer or other party to which the Puppy Lover is a party (including without
limitation any nondisclosure or non-competition agreement), and that the Puppy Lover will not disclose to the Company or induce the Company to use any confidential or proprietary information or material
belonging to any previous employer or others. The Puppy Lover further represents that he/she is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any member of the feline species relating to provision of love, ear scratches or affection, the presence of
which may affect the Puppy Lover’s ability to provide the same to a dog. 
  

	 	05.	 United States Government Obligations. 

The Puppy Lover acknowledges that the Company from time to time may have agreements with other persons or with the United States Government, or
agencies thereof, which impose obligations or restrictions on the Company regarding inventions made during the course of work under such agreements or regarding the confidential nature of such work. The Puppy Lover agrees to be bound by all such
obligations and restrictions which are made known to the Puppy Lover and to take all action necessary to discharge the obligations of the Company under such agreements. 
  

	 	06.	 MISCELLANEOUS 

  

	 	a.	 Equitable Remedies. The restrictions contained in this Agreement are necessary for the protection of the
business and goodwill of the Company and are considered by the Puppy Lover to be reasonable for such purpose. The Puppy Lover agrees that any breach of this Agreement is likely to cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage which is
difficult to measure. Therefore, in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Puppy Lover agrees that the Company, in addition to such other remedies which may be available, shall have the right to obtain an injunction from a court
restraining such a breach or threatened breach and the right to specific performance of the provisions of this Agreement and the Puppy Lover hereby waives the adequacy of a remedy at law as a defense to such relief. 

	 	b.	 Obligations to Third Parties. The Puppy Lover acknowledges and represents that this agreement and the
Puppy Lover’s employment with the Company will not violate any continuing obligation the Puppy Lover has to any former employer or other third party or to any member of the feline species. 

 

	 	c.	 Disclosure of this Agreement. The Puppy Lover hereby authorizes the Company to notify others, including
but not limited to customers of the Company and any of the Puppy Lover’s future employers, prospective business associates or canine partners, of the terms and existence of this Agreement and the Puppy Lover’s continuing obligations to the
Company hereunder. 

  

	 	d.	 Not Employment Contract. The Puppy Lover acknowledges that this Agreement does not constitute a contract
of employment, does not imply that the Company will continue his/her employment for any period of time and does not change the at-will nature of his/her employment. 

 

	 	e.	 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both parties
and their respective successors and assigns, including any corporation with which, or into which, the Company may be merged or which may succeed to the Company’s assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations of the Puppy Lover are
personal and shall not be assigned by him or her. The Puppy Lover expressly consents to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement for the benefit of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof to whose employ the Puppy Lover may be
transferred without the necessity that this Agreement be re-signed at the time of such transfer. 

  

	 	f.	 Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby. 

  

	 	g.	 Waivers. No delay or omission by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement will operate
as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion is effective only in that instance and will not be construed as a bar to or waiver of any right on any other occasion. 

 

	 	h.	 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York (without 

	 	
reference to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof). Any action, suit, or other legal proceeding which is commenced to resolve any matter arising under or relating to any provision of this
Agreement shall be commenced only in a court of the State of New York (or, if appropriate, a federal court located within the State of New York), and the Company and the Puppy Lover each consents to the jurisdiction of such a court. The Company and
the Puppy Lover each hereby irrevocably waive any right to a trial by jury in any action, suit or other legal proceeding arising under or relating to any provision of this Agreement. 

 

	 	i.	 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between
the Puppy Lover and the Company relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified, changed or discharged in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by the Puppy Lover and the Company. The Puppy
Lover agrees that any change or changes in his/her duties, salary or compensation after the signing of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement. 

 

	 	j.	 Captions and Images. The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement. Any images included in this agreement are for convenience of reference and levity only and shall not be considered part of this Agreement.

  

	 	k.	 Levity. Certain portions of this Agreement, specifically those relating to the ongoing and subversive battle
being waged by the feline species towards dogs and relating to the general adorableness of puppies are included for the purposes of levity and, while very important from a culture perspective, are for convenience of reference only and in no way
define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement. 

 [Signature page follows] 

 THE PUPPY LOVER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND
UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT. 
 WITNESS our hands and seals: 

 

					
		 	 BARKBOX, INC.

			
	 Date: 11/29/2016
	 	 By: 
	 	 /s/ Carly Strife

		 	 Name: 
	 	 Carly Strife

		 	 Title: 
	 	 President

		
		 	 John Toth

			
	 Date:
12/5/2016                                       
 
	 	 Signed:
	 	 /s/ John Toth

 Exhibit B 

NON-COMPETITION AND NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT 

This Agreement is made between Barkbox, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter referred to collectively with its subsidiaries as the
“Company”), and John Toth (the “Puppy Lover”). 
 For good consideration and in consideration of the employment or
continued employment of the Puppy Lover by the Company and in partial consideration of the Company’s willingness to [grant the Puppy Lover options to purchase / sell the Puppy Lover shares] of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001
per share, the Puppy Lover and the Company agree as follows: 
  

	 	01.	 Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. While the Puppy Lover is employed
by the Company and for a period of one (1) year after the termination or cessation of such employment for any reason, the Puppy Lover will not directly or indirectly: 

(a) Engage or assist others in engaging in any business or enterprise (whether as owner, partner, officer, director, employee, consultant,
investor, lender or otherwise, except as the holder of not more than 1% of the outstanding stock of a publicly-held company) that is competitive with the Company’s Business (as defined below), including but not limited to any business or
enterprise that primarily develops, manufactures, markets, licenses, sells or provides any product or service that competes with any product or service developed, manufactured, marketed, licensed, sold or provided, or planned to be developed,
manufactured, marketed, licensed, sold or provided, by the Company while the Puppy Lover was engaged by the Company (for the purposes of this Agreement, the Company’s “Business” shall mean any business or service related to pet-focused commerce); or 
 (b) Either alone or in association with others, solicit, divert or take away,
or attempt to divert or take away, the business or patronage of any of the clients, customers, or business partners of the Company which were contacted, solicited, or served by the Company during the 12-month
period prior to the termination or cessation of the Puppy Lover’s employment with the Company; or 
 (c) Either alone or in association
with others (i) solicit, induce or attempt to induce, any employee or independent contractor of the Company to terminate his or her employment or other engagement with the Company, or (ii) hire, or recruit or attempt to hire, or engage or
attempt to engage as an independent contractor, any person who was employed or otherwise engaged by the Company at any time during the term of the Puppy Lover’s employment with the Company; provided that this clause (ii) shall not apply to
the recruitment or hiring or other engagement of any individual whose employment or other engagement with the Company has been terminated for a period of six months or longer. 

(d) Either alone or in association with others solicit, induce or attempt to induce, any other employee’s dog(s) to leave such other
employee, no matter how adorable said dog is. 

 (e) Engage or assist others in engaging in any relationship with a kitten, except to the
extent such relationship is superseded by the Puppy Lover’s genera! love of dogs, provided that if the Puppy Lover does engage in such a relationship it shall be accepted and generally acknowledged by all parties that the Puppy Lover truly
prefers the company of dogs over cats. 
 (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 1(a) shall not preclude the Puppy Lover from
becoming an employee of, or from otherwise providing services to, a separate division or operating unit of a multi-divisional business or enterprise (a “Division”) if: (i) the Division by which the Puppy Lover is employed, or to which
the Puppy Lover provides services, is not competitive with the Company’s Business, (ii) the Puppy Lover does not provide services, directly or indirectly, to any other division or operating unit of such multi-divisional business or
enterprise which is directly competitive with the Company’s Business (individually, a “Competitive Division” and collectively, the “Competitive Divisions”) and (iii) the Competitive Divisions, in the aggregate,
accounted for less than one-third of the multi-divisional business or enterprises’ consolidated revenues for the most recent fiscal year, and each subsequent quarterly period, prior to the Puppy
Lover’s commencement of employment with the Division. 
 (g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 1(e) shall not preclude the
Puppy Lover from owning a cat, however the Company would like to take this opportunity to note that doggies are much more loveable and are significantly better companions who do not plot their owners’ death at every opportunity. 

(h) Extension. If the Puppy Lover violates the provisions of any of the preceding paragraphs of this Section 1 (with the exception
of subsections (e) and (g)), the Puppy Lover shall continue to be bound by the restrictions set forth in such paragraph until a period of one (1) year has expired without any violation of such provisions. 

 

	 	02.	 Miscellaneous. 

(i) Equitable Remedies. The restrictions contained in this Agreement are necessary for the protection of the business and goodwill of
the Company and are considered by the Puppy Lover to be reasonable for such purpose. The Puppy Lover agrees that any breach of this Agreement is likely to cause the Company substantial and irrevocable damage which is difficult to measure. Therefore,
in the event of any such breach or threatened breach, the Puppy Lover agrees that the Company, in addition to such other remedies which may be available, shall have the right to obtain an injunction from a court restraining such a breach or
threatened breach and the right to specific performance of the provisions of this Agreement and the Puppy Lover hereby waives the adequacy of a remedy at law as a defense to such relief. 

(j) Obligations to Third Parties. The Puppy Lover acknowledges and represents that this agreement and the Puppy Lover’s employment
with the Company will not violate any continuing obligation the Puppy Lover has to any former employer or other third party or to a member of the feline species. 

(k) Disclosure of this Agreement. The Puppy Lover hereby authorizes the Company to notify others, including but not limited to
customers of the Company and any of the Puppy Lover’s future employers or prospective business associates or canine partners, of the terms and existence of this Agreement and the Puppy Lover’s continuing obligations to the Company
hereunder. 

 (1) Not Employment Contract. The Puppy Lover acknowledges that this Agreement does
not constitute a contract of employment, does not imply that the Company will continue his/her employment for any period of time and does not change the at-will nature of his/her employment. 

(m) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both parties and their respective
successors and assigns, including any corporation with which, or into which, the Company may be merged or which may succeed to the Company’s assets or business, provided, however, that the obligations of the Puppy Lover are personal and shall
not be assigned by him or her. The Puppy Lover expressly consents to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement for the benefit of the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof to whose employ the Puppy Lover may be transferred without the
necessity that this Agreement be re-signed at the time of such transfer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is merged with or into a third party which is engaged in multiple lines of business, or if
a third party engaged in multiple lines of business succeeds to the Company’s assets or business, then for purposes of Section 1(a), the term “Company’s Business” shall mean and refer to the business of the Company as it
existed immediately prior to such event and as it subsequently develops and not to the third party’s other businesses. 
 (n)
Interpretation. If any restriction set forth in Section 1 is found by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable because it extends for too long a period of time or over too great a range of activities or in too broad a
geographic area, it shall be interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, range of activities or geographic area as to which it may be enforceable. 

(o) Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby. 
 (p) Waivers. No delay or omission
by the Company in exercising any right under this Agreement will operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by the Company on any one occasion is effective only in that instance and will not be construed as a bar to or
waiver of any right on any other occasion. 
 (q) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York (without reference to the conflicts of laws provisions thereof). Any action, suit, or other legal proceeding which is commenced to resolve any matter arising under or relating to any provision of this Agreement
shall be commenced only in a court of the State of New York (or, if appropriate, a federal court located within the State of New York), and the Company and the Puppy Lover each consents to the jurisdiction of such a court. The Company and the Puppy
Lover each hereby irrevocably waive any right to a trial by jury in any action, suit or other legal proceeding arising under or relating to any provision of this Agreement. 

 (r) Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements,
written or oral, between the Puppy Lover and the Company relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified, changed or discharged in whole or in part, except by an agreement in writing signed by the Puppy Lover and
the Company. The Puppy Lover agrees that any change or changes in his/her duties, salary or compensation after the signing of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement. 

(s) Captions and Images. The captions of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and in no way define,
limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement. Any images included in this agreement are for convenience of reference and levity only and shall not be considered part of this Agreement. 

(t) Levity. Certain portions of this Agreement, specifically those relating to the ongoing and subversive battle being waged by the
feline species towards dogs and relating to the general adorableness of dogs are included for the purposes of levity and Company culture and, while very important from a culture perspective, are for convenience of reference only and in no way
define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement. 
 [Signature page follows] 

 THE PUPPY LOVER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND
UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT. 
  

					
		 	 BARKBOX, INC.

			
	 Date: 11/29/2016
	 	 By: 
	 	 /s/ Carly Strife

		 	 Name: 
	 	 Carly Strife

		 	 Title: 
	 	 President

		
		 	 John Toth

			
	 Date:
12/5/2016                                       
 
	 	 Signed:
	 	 /s/ John TothEX-10.26

 Exhibit 10.26 

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR AGREEMENT 

This Independent Contractor Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of January 1st, 2012 (the “Effective
Date”) between Barkbox Inc (“BARKBOX”), a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at 50 Eldridge Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10002 and Prehype, LLC (“Contractor”), with the address
specified on the signature page of this Agreement. Contractor acknowledges that both Contractor and Prehype LLC have previously executed and continue to be bound by the terms of an Invention and Non-Disclosure
Agreement and a Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, each dated on or about November 1, 2011. If there are any contradictions, The Nov 1, 2011 Agreements
take precedence over this document. For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows: 
  

	I.	 SERVICES.  

(A) Structure of Agreement. BARKBOX and Contractor may enter into one (1) or more statements of work (each, an
“SOW”) specifying certain services that are to be provided to BARKBOX by Contractor as an independent contractor (the “Services”). Each SOW will be subject to the terms of this Agreement and will be incorporated
into and form a part of this Agreement. Each SOW will be substantially in the form of the initial SOWs, which are attached to this Agreement as Exhibits A, B, and C, and may include, among other things, a description of the Services and the
deliverables to be delivered by Contractor (the “Deliverables”), the duration of the Services, and the fee to be paid for such Services (the “Fee”). For clarity, if the term of Services in an SOW begins prior to the
Effective Date, the terms of this Agreement will apply to Services performed prior to the Effective Date as well as those performed on and/or after the Effective Date. 

(B) Services. Contractor agrees to deliver the Services and Deliverables as set forth in the applicable SOW. Further, Contractor agrees
to (i) provide all Services and Deliverables in a professional and competent manner; (ii) keep BARKBOX regularly apprised of the progress of the Services and Deliverables, including, but not limited to, by providing updates to BARKBOX
regarding the progress of the Services and Deliverables at weekly meetings or otherwise as agreed upon by the parties; (iii) permit BARKBOX to review, from time to time, upon BARKBOX’s request, the progress of the Services and
Deliverables; and (iv) comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to independent contractors. 
  

	II.	 COMPENSATION AND PAYMENTS. 

(A) Fees. In consideration of the Services and Deliverables in each SOW, BARKBOX will pay Contractor the Fee set forth in such SOW.
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable SOW, the Fee includes any taxes payable by BARKBOX related to the Services and/or the Deliverables. If BARKBOX pays any taxes pursuant to this Agreement, then, upon BARKBOX’s request, Contractor will
provide a statement signed on behalf of Contractor attesting that tax amounts paid to Contractor by BARKBOX were actually remitted to the appropriate taxing authority. If any Fees are time-based, Contractor agrees to provide BARKBOX, upon request,
documentation reasonably acceptable to BARKBOX to support such fees (including, but not limited to, time sheets). If any Fee is a flat fee, then Contractor will be entitled only to the flat fee amount (and any reimbursable costs and expenses under
this Agreement) regardless of the hours worked. 
 (B) Payment Schedule. Unless a different payment schedule is specified in the
applicable SOW, the Fee for each SOW shall be paid within thirty (30) days of Contractor’s completion of all the Services and Deliverables in that SOW and BARKBOX’s receipt of Contractor’s invoice. 

(C) Expenses. Should Contractor be required by BARKBOX to incur reimbursable expenses in order to perform the Services, Contractor
agrees to follow the guidelines of BARKBOX’s policies relating to such expenses and secure approval for such expenses from BARKBOX in writing (including via email) prior to incurring such expenses. Unless a different payment schedule is
provided in the applicable SOW, all expenses’ incurred and approved in accordance with this Agreement will be reimbursed within thirty (30) days of being incurred and BARKBOX’s receipt of Contractor’s invoice. 

(D) Estimates. If the applicable SOW provides an estimate of any amounts (such as the Fee or expenses) then (i) actual amounts due
to Contractor will not exceed estimated amounts without prior written approval of BARKBOX in each instance as to the nature and amount; (ii) if estimated amounts exceed actual amounts and BARKBOX already paid to Contractor any excess amount,
then Contractor shall remit the difference owed to BARKBOX within five (5) business days; and (iii) if actual amounts exceed estimated amounts (and any excesses have been approved by BARKBOX in accordance with this Agreement), then BARKBOX
will remit the difference owed to Contractor in accordance with the schedule specified in the applicable SOW, and if all payments have already been made under the applicable SOW, then within thirty (30) days from receipt of Contractor’s
invoice therefor. 

 (E) No Tax Withholding. Contractor acknowledges and agrees that no amounts will be
withheld or deducted by BARKBOX for purposes of taxes, and that BARKBOX will not be liable for any taxes, worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, employer’s liability, employer’s FICA, social security, withholding tax, or other
tax withholding for or on behalf of Contractor. To the extent any taxes may be due on the payments due to Contractor pursuant to this Agreement, Contractor agrees to pay them. BARKBOX reserves the right to withhold any taxes that are required by law
to be withheld on any payments due to Contractor. 
  

	III.	 OWNERSHIP AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. 

(A) Work Made for Hire. Subject to any additional terms in the applicable SOW, all Deliverables and other project materials created or
delivered by Contractor under this Agreement, other than Pre-Existing Materials and Licensed Materials (both as defined below) (collectively, “Work Product”) will be considered specially
commissioned for BARKBOX as “works made for hire” under U.S. copyright laws, and all Rights (as defined below) therein will vest and remain in perpetuity with BARKBOX. If, for any reason, any Work Product is not deemed a
“work made for hire,” Contractor hereby assigns all Rights therein to BARKBOX. The term “Rights” means all intellectual property rights (including, but not limited to, patent, copyright, trademark and trade dress,
and trade secret rights, and all applications, registrations, and renewals relating thereto), all rights to sublicense and assign, and all other right, title, and interest, in all jurisdictions, in perpetuity. Contractor waives any moral rights that
Contractor may have in the Work Product. Contractor will cooperate and reasonably assist BARKBOX with respect to any applications and/or assignments reasonably requested by BARKBOX to obtain any copyright, patent, trademark, or other statutory
protection for the Deliverables, provided that all such applications and/or assignments shall be made at BARKBOX’s sole expense. 
 (B)
Pre-Existing Materials. “Pre-Existing Materials” means Contractor’s proprietary or licensed tools, methods, and know-how, to the extent (i) developed independently of and before the Effective Date (other than modifications thereto made after the Effective Date); (ii) developed by Contractor for other business purposes;
(iii) Contractor has the right to grant a license therein to BARKBOX to use as contemplated under this Agreement; and (iv) not containing BARKBOX’s Confidential Information (as defined in Section VIII below). Nothing in this Agreement
will be deemed to transfer any ownership in the Pre-Existing Materials, provided that Contractor hereby grants to BARKBOX (and its agents, representatives, designees, licensees, Affiliates, and assigns) a non-exclusive, non-transferable, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, fully-paid license to use, display, perform, transmit, and otherwise exploit any Pre-Existing Materials as incorporated in or as necessary for the use of the Deliverables or other Work Product. 

(C) Licensed Materials. Prior to incorporating any third-party assets or materials (including, but not limited to, literary, dramatic,
musical, and visual works, and personal likenesses and other talent assets) (“Licensed Materials”) into any Work Product, Contractor will disclose to BARKBOX the proposed use of such third-party asset or materials. BARKBOX shall be
responsible for obtaining a license to use such Licensed Materials. 
  

	IV.	 TERM AND TERMINATION. 

(A) Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin as of the Effective Date and, unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section IV,
shall continue so long as any SOW is in effect. The term of each SOW shall begin as of the date specified in such SOW and shall continue for the duration of the term of Services specified in such SOW. Termination of this Agreement will terminate all
SOWs then in effect 
 (B) Termination for Convenience. Either party may terminate this Agreement, any SOW, and/or any Services for
any reason upon sixty (60) days written notice to the other party. 
 (C) Termination for Material Breach. Either party may
terminate this Agreement or any SOW upon written notice to the other party of a material breach of this Agreement or such SOW if a material breach has not been cured within thirty (30) days of written notice of such breach. 

(D) Effect of Termination. Each party will continue to perform its obligations up until the effective date of termination. Upon the
expiration or termination of this Agreement or a particular SOW (as applicable): 

 (i) Contractor will provide to BARKBOX all documentation, electronic copies, and other
tangible embodiments of Work Product and return to BARKBOX all BARKBOX Confidential Information in Contractor’s possession or control, and BARKBOX will become the sole owner of all such Work Product as provided in Section III above. 

(ii) Unless specified otherwise in the applicable SOW, if BARKBOX has terminated this Agreement or such SOW without cause, then, upon receipt
of all Work Product up to the effective date of termination, BARKBOX will pay Contractor (a) a portion of the Fee representing the pro rata portion of the work completed and delivered prior to the effective date of termination and accepted by
BARKBOX in accordance with this Agreement; and (b) for any reimbursable costs and expenses properly incurred and invoiced pursuant to Section II(C) above; and thereafter, BARKBOX will have no further payment obligations to Contractor. 

(iii) If Contractor has already been paid an amount greater than that which is owed to Contractor pursuant to this Agreement, Contractor will
refund the balance to BARKBOX within five (5) business days. 
 (iv) All provisions in this Agreement intended by their terms to
survive shall continue in effect (including, in particular, Sections II (Ownership and Intellectual Property), IV(d) (Effect of Termination), V (Representations and Warranties), VI (Indemnity), VII (Confidentiality), and VIII (Miscellaneous)). 

 

	V.	 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. 

(A) Contractor Representations, Warranties, and Covenants. Contractor represents, warrants, and covenants that: 

(i) Contractor has the full right to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations under this Agreement (including, but not
limited to, to provide all Work Product provided to BARKBOX under this Agreement), and Contractor’s entering into this Agreement and each SOW does not conflict with any other contractual obligations of Contractor. 

(ii) In performing the Services, Contractor will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, and
with all applicable union agreements. 
 (B) BARKBOX Representations, Warranties, and Covenants. BARKBOX each represents and warrants
that it has the full right to enter into this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations under this Agreement, and BARKBOX’s entering into this Agreement and each SOW does not conflict with any other contractual obligations of BARKBOX.

  

	VI.	 INDEMNITY AND LIABILITY. 

(A) Indemnity. Contractor hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless BARKBOX, its Affiliates, and their respective officers,
employees, managers, agents, representatives, assigns, licensees from and against all third-party claims, losses, damages, costs (including, but not limited to, settlement costs), and expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorneys’ fees), arising out of (i) any breach or alleged breach by Contractor of it’s Representations and Warranties; and (ii) the violation or claimed violation by Contractor of the rights of any third party (including, but
not limited to, intellectual property rights and rights of publicity). provided that Contractor will not have indemnification obligations to the extent arising from (x) Contractor’s use of materials provided by BARKBOX in order to perform
the Services (except to the extent caused by modification or use thereof not in accordance with the applicable SOW and/or BARKBOX’s directions), (y) BARKBOX’s use of the Deliverables or Work Product outside the scope of licenses for
Licensed Materials, or (z) BARKBOX’s use of the Deliverables or Work Product in a manner that violates laws, rules, or regulations or violates or infringes any rights (including, but not limited to, intellectual property rights and rights
of publicity) of any third parties after Contractor has provided notice to BARKBOX of such violation or infringement (or belief or suspicion thereof) in accordance with Section V(A)(iv). BARKBOX hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Contractor, its Affiliates, and their respective officers, employees, managers, agents, representatives, assigns, licensees from and against all third-party claims, losses, damages, costs (including, but not limited to, settlement costs), and
expenses (including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees), arising out of (i) any breach or alleged breach by BARKBOX of it’s Representations and Warranties; (ii) Contractor’s use of materials provided by BARKBOX
in order to perform the Services (except to the extent caused by modification or use thereof not in accordance with the applicable SOW and/or BARKBOX’s directions), (iii) BARKBOX’s use of the Deliverables or Work Product outside the scope
of licenses for Licensed Materials, or (iv) BARKBOX’s use of the Deliverables or Work Product in a manner that violates laws, rules, or regulations or violates or infringes any rights (including, but not limited to, intellectual property rights
and rights of publicity) of any third parties. 

 (B) Limitation of Liability. Neither party’s liability under this Agreement or
any particular SOW will exceed the total aggregate amounts due to Contractor under this Agreement and all SOWs; provided that the foregoing limitation will not apply to breach of Confidentiality or Indemnification. 

 

	VII.	 CONFIDENTIALITY. 

Without prejudice to the provisions of any non-disclosure agreement previously entered into between the parties, each
party acknowledges that during the Term of the Agreement of any SOW, it may have access to Confidential Information, and Consultant has therefore agreed to accept the restrictions in this Section VII. Each party shall not, and shall not, neither
during the Term or at any time after its termination, use or disclose to any firm or person any Confidential Information. This restriction does not apply to: (a) any use or disclosure authorized by the
non-disclosing party or required by law; or (b) any information which is already in, or comes into, the public domain otherwise than through unauthorized disclosure. “Confidential
Information” means information of a confidential or sensitive nature relating to a party and/or its affiliates and shall include, without limitation: (a) details of their suppliers, licensees, licensors and any other third party with
which it contracts and their terms of business or licensing agreements; (b) details of their customers or clients and their requirements, client or customer lists or contact lists and the prices charged and terms of business with their
customers or clients; (c) financial information, results and forecasts; (d) details of employees and consultants and their remuneration/fees; (e) business methods financial, marketing development or manpower plans; (f) computer
systems and software, know-how, research activities, inventions, creative, briefs, computer programs (whether in source code or object code) secret processes, designs and formulae or after Intellectual
Property undertaken, commissioned or produced by or on behalf of Consultant; (g) key metric information such as details of website page hits, visitors, visits, orders per day, total order values, average rder size, volume of goods or services
supplied or held, customer acquisition costs, repeat rates and word of mouth rates; (h) Confidential Information as defined in any non disclosure agreement previously entered into between the parties; and (i) any information which a party
is told is confidential or should reasonably expect is confidential. 
  

	VIII.	 MISCELANEOUS. 

(A) Securities Regulations. Contractor acknowledges that Contractor is aware that Confidential Information provided under this Agreement
may concern a party that is an issuer of publicly-traded securities and that the United States securities laws and other laws prohibit any person or entity who has material nonpublic information about such issuer (i) from purchasing or selling
any of its securities and (ii) from communicating such information to any person under circumstances in which it is reasonably foreseeable that such person is likely to purchase or sell such securities. Contractor further acknowledges that
Confidential Information may be, at the time of its disclosure, material nonpublic information within the meaning of Regulation FD of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and that Contractor expressly agrees to maintain the Confidential
Information in confidence within the meaning of Section 100(b)(2)(ii) of such regulation. 
 (B) Agreement. This Agreement and
the NDA, if applicable, constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any prior oral or written agreements, and all contemporaneous oral communications. All additions or
modifications to this Agreement must be made in writing and must be signed by the parties hereto. All waivers must be in writing and signed by the waiving party. Any failure to enforce a provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver
thereof or any other provision. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is held unenforceable for any reason, the remainder of the provisions shall continue in full force and effect and the unenforceable provision shall be modified so as
to most closely effect the parties’ intentions. To the extent that any provision of these terms conflicts with the terms of any SOW, the terms of the SOW will take precedence. 

(C) Signatures and Counterparts. BARKBOX and Contractor agree that facsimile and scanned or image signatures delivered via email will
be of the same force and effect as originals and that this Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be considered an original, and all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument 

(D) Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Remedies. This Agreement and any dispute arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State
of New York without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof. The parties hereto irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York, New York in connection with all matters and issues
arising under this Agreement, agree not to bring any claim or action except in such courts, and irrevocably waive all claims, defenses, and objections based on improper venue, inconvenient forum, and/or lack of personal jurisdiction with respect to
such courts. 

 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Independent Contractor Agreement for as
of the date first written above. 
  

			
	 BARKBOX

		
	By:	 	/s/ Carly Strife

			
		
	Name:	 	Carly Strife

			
		
	Title:	 	President

			
		
	Date:	 	1/23/2013
	
	 PREHYPE, LLC

		
	 By:
	 	/s/ Henrik Werdelin

			
		
	Title:	 	Managing Partner

			
		
	 Date:
	 	

 Exhibit A 

STATEMENT OF WORK NO. 1 

ADVISER SERVICES - HENRIK WERDELIN 
 This
Statement of Work (this “SOW”) is entered into as of January 1st 2012 between Prehype, LLC (“Contractor” or “Prehype”) and Barkbox Group, LLC
(“BARKBOX”), pursuant to the Independent Contractor Agreement, with an effective date as of, between the same parties (the “Agreement”), and is subject to the terms of and forms part of the Agreement. 

 

	1.	 Services 

This SOW is for the services of Henrik Werdelin, who will be the lead partner on this project and provide the above services (key strategic input),
provided that from time to time other employees of Prehype may engage in services with BARKBOX as directed by Henrik Werdelin and agreed upon by the CEO of BARKBOX. 

The objectives of the Services are: 
  

	(a)	 Act as the brand guard for Barkbox and oversee the development of the visual identity and `tone of voice’
for Barkbox and its products and services. 

  

	(b)	 Oversee the development of New Business Initiatives including (but not limited to) conceptualize new services
and products 

  

	(c)	 Oversee the production of BARKBOX’ s content including BarkPost 

 

	(d)	 Participate in the general development and growth of BARKBOX by providing input to the strategy direction and
vision for the company 

	(e)	 To provide mentoring/coaching of BARKBOX’s teams. 

- Title of Henrik Werdelin: Adviser / Co-Founder / CCO 

- Contractor’s Contact at BARKBOX: Matt Meeker 
  

	2.	 Term 

Contractor is engaged and ongoing starting on or about January 1, 2012 and will continue until terminated by either party, which may be changed upon
agreement of BARKBOX and Contractor and is subject to the other terms of the Agreement. 
  

	3.	 Fee 

The Company shall pay to the Consultant consulting fees of $6,950 per month, payable in arrears on the last day of each month. Payment for any partial month
shall be prorated. In addition, you acknowledge that the Board of Directors of the Company previously granted (i) to Prehype Ventures LLC, an entity wholly owned by Contractor, 1,500,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company, which
are subject to a Stock Restriction Agreement, dated June 14, 2012, (the “Restricted Stock”) and (ii) to Contractor an incentive stock option under the Company’s 2011 Stock Incentive Plan for the purchase of an
aggregate of 85,833 shares of common stock of the Company pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option Agreement, dated May 17, 2012, as amended by the Accelerated Vesting Addendum dated June 14, 2012 (the “Option”). The
Restricted 
 Stock and the Option shall be subject to all terms, vesting schedules and other provisions set forth in the applicable agreements referenced
above. You may be eligible to receive such future stock options grants as the Board of Directors of the Company shall deem appropriate. 

 AGREED AND ACCEPTED: 
  

									
	BARKBOX INC	 		 	PREHYPE LLC
					
	By:	 	 /s/ Carly Strife
	 	  
	 	By:	 	 /s/ Henrik Werdelin

					
	Name:	 	Carly Strife	 		 	Name:	 	 Henrik Werdelin

					
	Title:	 	President	 		 	Title:	 	 Managing Partner

					
	 Date:
	 	   
	 	  
	 	Date:

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