Document:

EX-10.9

 Exhibit 10.9 

ARTIVA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC. 

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 

for 
 THOMAS J. FARRELL

 This Executive Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into effective as of March 1, 2019
(the “Effective Date”), by and between Thomas J. Farrell (“Executive”) and Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). 

1. Employment by the Company. 

1.1 Position. Executive shall serve as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), initially reporting
to the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) with all authority corresponding responsibility of a President and Chief Executive Officer of a corporation under the laws of Delaware, subject to the overall authority of the
Board and the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, regulations and other governing documents (collectively, the “Bylaws”). During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote his best
efforts and substantially all of his business time and attention to the business of the Company, except for as permitted in Section 7.1 below and except for approved paid time off periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities
permitted by the Company’s general employment policies. Executive’s anticipated start date will be March 1, 2019 (the “Start Date”). 

1.2 Duties and Location. Executive shall perform such duties as are customarily associated with the position of President and Chief
Executive Officer and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the Board. Executive’s initial office location shall be his home office in Houston, Texas; provided that, as a condition of employment, Executive must relocate his
permanent residence to California upon request of the Board in 2019 and work from the Company’s office in California, as determined by the Board. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company reserves the right to (i) 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 (ii) modify Executive’s duties as it deems necessary and
appropriate in light of the Company’s needs and interests from time to time. 
 1.3 Service on the Board. Executive shall be
appointed to the Board and Executive agrees to continue to serve as a director of the Company, if requested by the Board, for so long as he remains recruited in the position of President and CEO of the Company, subject to election by the
stockholders of the Company and in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company. If Executive ceases to serve as President and CEO of the Company for any reason, then Executive will resign from his position as a member of the Board, if and as
determined by the Board. 

  
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 2. Compensation. 

2.1 Base Salary. For services to be rendered hereunder, Executive shall receive an initial base salary at the rate of $425,000 per year;
provided that, if Executive relocates his permanent residence to California during 2019 and remains recruited by the Company, Executive’s salary will be increased to the rate of $480,000 per year, effective as of the date of relocation pursuant
to Section 1.2. Additionally, the base salary will be automatically increased by $50,000 per year effective on each of January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021. The base salary will be paid, less standard payroll deductions and
withholdings, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule. 
 2.2 Annual Bonus. Executive will be eligible for an
annual discretionary bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) of up to thirty-percent (30%) of Executive’s base salary in effect during the bonus year, based on the achievement of individual and corporate performance targets and metrics to
be determined and approved by the Board. The Annual Bonus, if earned, will be paid on an annual basis, less standard payroll deductions and withholdings, after the close of the fiscal year and after determination by the Board of the level of
achievement of the applicable performance targets and metrics and the level of the bonus amount. No Annual Bonus amount is guaranteed and, in addition to the other conditions for earning such Annual Bonus, Executive must remain the President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or, upon mutual agreement of the Board and Executive, employed in another position at the Company) on the scheduled Annual Bonus payment date in order to be eligible to earn any Annual Bonus. 

2.3 Retention Benefit Advance. If Executive relocates his permanent residence to California during 2019 and remains employed by the
Company through the date of such relocation (the “Relocation Date”), the Company will advance Executive a one-time cash payment in an amount such that after deduction of all applicable
withholding taxes, calculated at the then applicable supplemental income withholding rates, Executive will receive a net after-tax payment in the amount of $75,000 (the “Retention
Benefit”). If advanced, the Retention Benefit will be paid to Executive during calendar year 2019, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Relocation Date. Although the Retention Benefit is advanced during the 2019 calendar year, it
is expressly conditioned on Executive not terminating employment prior to the first (1st) anniversary of the Relocation Date under any circumstances other than a termination without Cause or Good Reason resignation (as provided for in 8.2)
(“Qualifying Termination”), and such advanced Retention Benefit shall not be deemed earned by Executive until such service condition has been met. If Executive’s employment is terminated at any time prior to the first (1st)
anniversary of the Relocation Date for any reason other than a Qualifying Termination (such termination, a “Disqualifying Termination”), then, Executive shall at the time of such Disqualifying Termination promptly repay the total
gross amount of the Retention Benefit to the Company. In the event Executive does not earn and fails to promptly repay the Retention Bonus in connection with a Disqualifying Termination, then the Company shall be further entitled to recover from
Executive its costs and expenses incurred in enforcing Executive’s repayment obligation, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. The Company shall have the right to set off any such required Retention Bonus repayment amount against
any other amount owed to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, including any unpaid payments of compensation. 

  
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 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 employees from time to time, which will include health insurance
coverage. Executive will accrue paid time off as work is performed at the rate of eighteen (18) hours per months (27 paid time off days annualized), subject to a maximum accrual cap of 320 hours (40 paid time off days). 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 Awards. As an inducement material to Executive entering into employment with the Company, the Company will grant
Executive a number of shares of the Company’s common stock (“Founders Shares”), at a purchase price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant, representing five percent (5%) of the Company on a fully diluted basis on
the date of grant. In addition to the Founders Shares, at the closing of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock financing round, the Company will grant Executive an option to purchase additional shares of the Company’s common stock
(or alternatively will grant restricted shares of the Company’s common stock to Executive) to enable Executive to maintain his five percent (5%) equity interest in the Company (together, the “Options”). The Options will be
granted under an Equity Incentive Plan to be adopted by the Company (the “Plan”) and will have an exercise price (or purchase price in the case of restricted shares) per share equal to the fair market
value (as defined in the Plan) of the Company’s common stock on the respective dates of grant, and will vest with respect to one-fourth (1/4th) of the
shares subject to the Options upon the one (1) year anniversary of the grant date and the remainder of the shares subject to the Options will vest in equal monthly increments over the three year period following such one (1) year
anniversary of the respective grant dates, subject to Executive’s continuous service with the Company. The Option will automatically accelerate vesting in the event of a “Change in Control” (as such term is defined in the
Plan), subject to Executive’s continued services with the Company through the date of such Change in Control. Executive will be eligible to participate in and receive additional stock option or equity award grants under the Company’s
equity incentive plans from time to time in the discretion of the Board, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. 

6. Confidential Information Obligations. 

6.1 Confidential Information Agreement. As a condition of employment, Executive shall execute and abide by the Company’s standard
form of Employee Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Confidential Information and Invention Agreement”). The Confidential Information and Invention Agreement shall be deemed fully incorporated into this
Agreement by reference. 

  
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 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 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 and Non-Competition During Employment. 

7.1 Outside Activities. 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. The Board may rescind such consent, if the Board determines, in its full and sole discretion, that such activities interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties
hereunder or present a conflict of interest with the Company or its affiliates. 
 7.2
Non-Competition During Employment. During Executive’s employment with 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 Confidential Information and Invention Agreement. 
 8. Termination of
Employment; Severance. 
 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 (as defined below) or advance notice. 

8.2 Termination Without Cause or Resignation for Good Reason. In the event Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by
the Company without Cause (and other than as a result of Executive’s death or disability) or Executive resigns for Good Reason, then provided such termination constitutes a “separation from service” (as defined under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h), without regard to any alternative definition thereunder, a “Separation from Service”), and provided that Executive satisfies the Release Requirement in
Section 9 below, and remains in compliance with the terms of this Agreement and the Confidential Information and Invention Agreement, the Company shall provide Executive with the following benefits: 

  
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 (i) The Company will provide the Executive with severance pay in the form of
continuation of Executive’s final monthly base salary for a period of three (3) months following termination (the “Severance Period”); provided, however that the Severance Period shall instead be a period of twelve
(12) months following termination if the qualifying termination occurs after the closing of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock Financing), subject to required payroll deductions and tax withholdings (the “Severance
Payments”). Subject to Section 10 below, the Severance Payments shall be made in equal installments during the Severance Period on the Company’s regular payroll schedule in effect following Executive’s termination date;
provided, however that any such payments that are otherwise scheduled to be made prior to the Release Effective Date (as defined below) shall instead accrue and be made on the first regular payroll date following the Release Effective Date. For such
purposes, Executive’s final base salary will be calculated prior to giving effect to any reduction in base salary that would give rise to Executive’s right to resign for Good Reason. 

(ii) If Executive timely elects continued coverage under COBRA, the Company will pay the COBRA premiums for Executive and
Executive’s eligible dependents during the applicable Severance Period until the earlier of either: (i) the expiration of the Severance Period or, (ii) the date on which the Executive is no longer eligible for COBRA coverage (such
period, the “COBRA Payment Period”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the Company cannot provide the COBRA premium benefits without potentially incurring financial costs or
penalties under applicable law (including, without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), the Company shall in lieu thereof pay Executive a taxable cash amount, which payment shall be made regardless of whether Executive or
his qualifying family members elect COBRA continuation coverage (the “Health Care Benefit Payment”). The Health Care Benefit Payment shall be paid in installments on the same schedule that the COBRA premiums would otherwise have
been paid to the insurer. The Health Care Benefit Payment shall be equal to the amount that the Company otherwise would have paid for COBRA insurance premiums (which amount shall be calculated based on the premium for the first month of coverage),
and shall be paid until the expiration of the COBRA Payment Period. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) references to COBRA shall be deemed to refer also to analogous provisions of state law and (ii) any applicable insurance premiums that
are paid by the Company shall not include any amounts payable by Employee under an Internal Revenue Code Section 125 health care reimbursement plan, which amounts, if any, are Employee’s sole responsibility 

8.3 Termination for Cause; Resignation Without Good Reason; Death or Disability. Executive will not be eligible for, or entitled to any
severance benefits, including (without limitation) the Severance Payments listed in Sections 8.2 above, if the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause, Executive resigns Executive’s employment without Good Reason, or
Executive’s employment terminates due to Executive’s death or disability. 
 9. Conditions to Receipt of Severance Payments.
To be eligible for the Severance Payments pursuant to Sections 8.2 above, Executive must satisfy the following release requirement (the “Release Requirement”): return to the Company a signed and dated general release of all
known and unknown claims in a termination agreement acceptable to the Company (the “Release”) within the applicable deadline set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five (45) calendar days following Executive’s
termination date, and permit the Release to become 

  
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effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms (such effective date of the Release, the “Release Effective Date”). No Severance Payments will be paid hereunder prior to
the Release Effective Date. Accordingly, if Executive breaches the preceding sentence and/or refuses to sign and deliver to the Company an executed Release or signs and delivers to the Company the Release but exercises Executive’s right, if
any, under applicable law to revoke the Release (or any portion thereof), then Executive will not be entitled to any severance, payment or benefit under this Agreement 

10. Section 409A. It is intended that all of the severance benefits and other payments payable under this Agreement
satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Code Section 409A provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4),
1.409A-1(b)(5) and 1.409A-1(b)(9), 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. For purposes of Code Section 409A (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Employee’s right to receive any installment payments under this Agreement (whether severance payments, reimbursements or otherwise) shall be treated as a right to receive a
series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Employee is deemed by the Company
at the time of Employee’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), and if any of the payments upon Separation from Service set forth herein and/or under any other
agreement with the Company are deemed to be “deferred compensation”, then to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of such payments is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i)
and the related adverse taxation under Section 409A, such payments shall not be provided to Employee prior to the earliest of (i) the expiration of the six-month and one day period measured from the
date of Employee’s Separation from Service with the Company, (ii) the date of Employee’s death or (iii) such earlier date as permitted under Section 409A without the imposition of adverse taxation. Upon the first business
day following the expiration of such applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Paragraph shall be paid in a lump sum to Employee, and any remaining payments due shall be paid as otherwise provided
herein or in the applicable agreement. No interest shall be due on any amounts so deferred. If the Company determines that any severance benefits provided under this Agreement constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A,
for purposes of determining the schedule for payment of the severance benefits, the effective date of the Release will not be deemed to have occurred any earlier than the sixtieth (60th) date following the Separation From Service, regardless of when
the Release actually becomes effective. In addition to the above, to the extent required to comply with Section 409A and the applicable regulations and guidance issued thereunder, if the applicable deadline for Employee to execute (and not
revoke) the applicable Release spans two calendar years, payment of the applicable severance benefits shall not commence until the beginning of the second calendar year. To the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under
Code Section 409A, amounts reimbursable to Employee under this Agreement shall be paid to Employee on or before the last day of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred and the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement
(and in-kind benefits provided to Employee) during any one year may not effect amounts reimbursable or provided in any subsequent year. The Company makes no representation that any or all of the payments
described in this Agreement will be exempt from or comply with Code Section 409A and makes no undertaking to preclude Code Section 409A from applying to any such payment. 

  
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 11. Definitions. 

11.1 Cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following:
(i) Executive’s conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any felony or a crime of moral turpitude; (ii) Executive’s willful and continued failure or refusal to follow lawful and reasonable instructions of the
Board or lawful and reasonable policies and regulations of the Company or its affiliates; (iii) Executive’s willful and continued failure to faithfully and diligently perform the assigned duties of Executive’s employment with the
Company or its affiliates; (iv) unprofessional, unethical, immoral or fraudulent conduct by Executive; (v) conduct by Executive that materially discredits the Company or any affiliate or is materially detrimental to the reputation,
character and standing of the Company or any affiliate; or (vi) Executive’s material breach of this Agreement, the Confidential Information and Invention Agreement, or any applicable written Company policies. An event described in
Section 11.1(ii) through Section 11.1(vi) herein shall not be treated as “Cause” until after Executive has been given written notice of such event, failure, conduct or breach and Executive fails to cure such event, failure,
conduct or breach within thirty (30) calendar days from such written notice; provided, however, that such thirty (30)-day cure period shall not be required if the event, failure, conduct or breach is
incapable of being cured. 
 11.2 Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall have “Good Reason” for
resignation from employment with the Company if any of the following actions are taken by the Company without Executive’s prior written consent: (i) a material reduction in Executive’s duties (including responsibilities and/or
authorities) without any Cause, provided, however, that a change in job position (including a change in title) or reporting line shall not be deemed a “material reduction” in and of itself unless Executive’s new duties are
materially reduced from the prior duties; or (ii) a material reduction in Employee’s base salary, unless pursuant to a salary reduction program applicable generally to the Company’s senior executives. In order for Executive to resign
for Good Reason, each of the following requirements must be met: (a) Executive must provide written notice to the Board within thirty (30) calendar days after the first occurrence of the event giving rise to Good Reason setting forth the
basis for Executive’s resignation, (b) Executive must allow the Company at least thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of such written notice to cure such event, (c) such event is not reasonably cured by the Company within such
thirty (30) calendar day period (the “Cure Period”), and (d) Executive must resign from all positions Executive then holds with the Company not later than thirty (30) calendar days after the expiration of the Cure
Period. 
 12. 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 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 Francisco, California by JAMS, Inc. (“JAMS”) or

  
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its successors before a single arbitrator, under JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures for employment disputes (which will be provided to Executive upon request); provided that the
arbitrator shall: (i) 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 (ii) 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. Questions of whether a claim is
subject to arbitration under this Agreement shall be decided by the arbitrator. Likewise, procedural questions which grow out of the dispute and bear on the final disposition are also matters for the arbitrator. 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. 

13. General Provisions. 

13.1 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. 

13.2 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. 

13.3 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. 
 13.4 Complete
Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information and Invention 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. It 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. 
 13.5 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. 

13.6 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. 

  
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 13.7 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. 
 13.8 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 this Agreement. 

13.9 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, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. 
 [Signature page follows.] 

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
Parties have executed this Agreement to become effective as of the Effective Date written above. 
  

			
	ARTIVA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Min Su Son

 
			
	Name:	 	Min Su Son
	Title:	 	March 1, 2019
		
	Date:	 	March 1, 2019

 
			
	
	EXECUTIVE
		
	Signature:	 	 /s/ Thomas J. Farrell

		 	Thomas J. Farrell
		
	Date:	 	March 1, 2019

  
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 First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement 

This First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement (this “Amendment”), effective as of June 17, 2020, amends certain
provisions of that certain Executive Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 2019 (the “Original Agreement”), by and between ARTIVA
BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Artiva”), and Thomas J. Farrell (“Executive”). 

WHEREAS, Artiva and Executive previously entered into the Original Agreement and believe it to be in
their respective best interests to amend the provisions of the Original Agreement as set forth below. 
 NOW
THEREFORE, for consideration duly given, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows 
  

	 	1.	 Except as expressly amended hereby, the Original Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in
accordance with its terms. 

  

	 	2.	 Section 2.1 of the Original Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following: 

 “2.1 Base Salary. For services to be rendered hereunder, Executive shall receive
an initial base salary at the rate of $425,000 per year; provided that, if Executive relocates his permanent residence to California during 2019 and remains recruited by the Company, Executive’s salary will be increased to the rate of $480,000
per year, effective as of the date of relocation pursuant to Section 1.2. Additionally, the base salary will be automatically increased by $50,000, to $530,000 per year, effective January 1, 2021. The base salary will be paid, less
standard payroll deductions and withholdings, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule.” 
  

	 	3.	 Section 2.2 of the Original Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced
with the following: 

 “2.2 Annual Bonus. Executive will be eligible for an annual discretionary
bonus (the “Annual Bonus”) of up to forty-percent (40%) of Executive’s base salary in effect during the bonus year, commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 (with the Annual Bonus being thirty-percent (30%)
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019), based on the achievement of individual and corporate performance targets and metrics to be determined and approved by the Board. The Annual Bonus, if earned, will be paid on an annual basis, less
standard payroll deductions and withholdings, after the close of the fiscal year and after determination by the Board of the level of achievement of the applicable performance targets and metrics and the level of the bonus amount. No Annual Bonus
amount is guaranteed and, in addition to the other conditions for earning such Annual Bonus, Executive must remain the President and Chief Executive 

  
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Officer of the Company (or, upon mutual agreement of the Board and Executive, employed in another position at the Company) on the scheduled Annual Bonus payment date in order to be eligible to
earn any Annual Bonus.” 
  

	 	4.	 This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all
of which shall constitute together the same document. The parties agree that signatures transmitted by electronic means (e.g. facsimile or a scanned version of the executed agreement in PDF format attached to an
e-mail) shall bind the parties. This Amendment is otherwise governed by the terms and conditions of the Original Agreement, except as amended hereby. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned parties have had this Amendment executed by
its duly authorized representatives. 
  

					
	ARTIVA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.	 		  	EXECUTIVE
			
	By: /s/ Anne
Frese                                        
              	 		  	Signature: /s/ Thomas J.
Farrell                                        
    
		 		  	 Thomas J. Farrell

	Printed Name:    Anne
Frese                                        
	 		  	
	Title: Vice President, Human Resources                    	 		  	Date: June 17, 2020
			
	Date: June 17,
2020                                         
           	 		  	

  
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 Second Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement 

This Second Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement (the “Amendment”), effective as of December 18, 2020, amends
certain provisions of that certain Executive Employment Agreement dated March 1, 2019 (the “Original Agreement”) by and between Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Artiva”), and Thomas J. Farrell (“Executive”), as subsequently amended by that certain First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement by and between Artiva and Executive dated June 17, 2020 (together with
the Original Agreement, the “Agreement”, and collectively with this Second Amendment, the “Amended Agreement”). 

WHEREAS, Artiva and Executive previously entered into the Agreement and believe it to be in their
respective best interests to further amend the provisions of the Agreement as set forth below. 
 NOW
THEREFORE, for consideration duly given, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree to the terms set forth below. 

1. Defined Terms. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement. 

2. Entire Agreement. This Amendment shall be taken together with the Agreement (and all exhibits thereto) and construed as one
agreement; provided, however, that the terms set forth herein shall supersede and replace any conflicting or inconsistent provisions in the Agreement. Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, the Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect in accordance with its terms. 
 3. Resignation; Continuing Board Service. Executive shall resign as President & Chief
Executive Officer (“CEO”) effective as of January 1, 2021, but will continue to serve as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), subject to election by the stockholders of the Company
and in accordance with the Bylaws of the Company. If requested to do so by the Board (and as a condition of receiving any severance benefits), Executive will resign from the Board upon termination of his employment with the Company. 

4. New Title/Role. Beginning January 1, 2021 (the “Transition Date”), Executive shall transition to the role of
“Founder & Chief Strategy Officer” and perform all duties customarily associated with that role and reasonably assigned to Executive by the Company from time to time. Executive will report to the CEO in this role. 

5. Compensation. 
 a.
Base Salary. Effective as of the Transition Date, Executive shall be paid for his services at the rate of $470,000 per year, less standard payroll deductions and withholdings, in accordance with the Company’s regular payroll schedule. 

b. Annual Bonus. Beginning in calendar year 2021, Executive will be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus (the
“Annual Bonus”) of up to forty percent (40%) of Executive’s base salary in effect during the bonus year, as set forth in the Agreement. 

  
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 6. Termination of Employment; Severance. 

a. At-Will Status. Executive’s employment shall remain at will; however, the Company
requests that Executive provide at least two (2) weeks advance notice of resignation to allow for an orderly transition. The Company may elect to make the resignation effective earlier if Executive’s transition assistance is not needed.

 b. Baseline Severance Benefits. If Executive’s employment ends for any reason other than for Cause (including as the result of
Executive’s resignation with or without Good Reason, termination without Cause, and death or disability) Executive shall be eligible to receive the following severance benefits (the “Baseline Severance Benefits”): 

i. The Company shall provide Executive with the severance benefits described in Sections 8.2(i) and 8.2(ii) of the Original Agreement;
provided, however, that the Severance Period shall set at eighteen (18) months, calculated and paid using Executive’s base salary in effect at the time of separation and shall be payable in a lump sum payment on the first regularly
scheduled payroll date after the Release Effective Date. 
 ii. If not already paid, Executive also shall be entitled to receive a pro-rated Annual Bonus for the year in which his employment terminates, with the pro-ration calculated based on the number of calendar days Executive remained employed during
the year (the “Severance Bonus”). The amount of the Severance Bonus shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion based on the Company’s achievement of applicable corporate performance targets and metrics for the
fiscal year in which the Executive’s employment terminates. The Severance Bonus shall be paid in a lump sum, less applicable payroll withholdings and deductions, on the later of (x) the same schedule as Annual Bonuses are paid to the
Company’s other executives and (y) on the first regularly scheduled payroll date after the Release Effective Date. 
 c.
Enhanced Severance Benefits. If (1) Executive’s employment ends because of Executive’s resignation (with or without Good Reason) or as a result of a termination by the Company without Cause after the earlier of (i) the
closing of the Company’s initial public offering or (ii) June 30, 2021, and (2) such resignation or termination constitutes a Separation from Service, then Executive shall be eligible to receive the following enhanced
severance package: 
 i. vesting of all of Executive’s 545,000 outstanding unvested Options, granted on June 26, 2020
following the first tranche closing of the Company’s Series A preferred stock financing (the “First Tranche Options”), shall accelerate in full and be one hundred percent (100%) vested and exercisable as of the Separation Date;
and 
 ii. the exercise period applicable to 375,000 of the First Tranche Options ( the “375,000 Options“) shall be
extended so that Executive has eighteen (18) months after the Separation Date to exercise the 375,000 Options (including, for avoidance of doubt, any portion of such 375,000 Options that became vested as a result of the foregoing accelerated
vesting benefit) (the “Extended Exercise Period”), subject to the terms of the Plan. This Extended Exercise Period benefit may convert the 375,000 Options that were previously incentive stock options into non-statutory stock options. Executive should consult with an independent tax advisor for additional guidance. Except for the foregoing accelerated vesting and Extended Exercise Period benefits, all existing terms
and conditions applicable to the First Tranche Options shall remain in full force and effect (including the ability to early exercise 85,000 of the First Tranche Options as approved by the Board on or about the date hereof). 

  
 14 

 d. For avoidance of doubt, Executive must satisfy the Release Requirement set forth
in Section 9 of the Agreement and remain in compliance with the terms of the Amended Agreement and Executive’s Confidential Information and Invention Agreement to receive any severance benefits. Except as expressly modified in this
Amendment, the severance benefits shall be provided in accordance with all terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement. 
 e. The
second tranche stock option grant of 400,000 shares approved by the Board on June 26, 2020 for grant to Executive upon the closing of the Company’s second tranche of its Series A financing is cancelled and will not be granted to Executive
upon the second tranche closing. In the event that the Board elects to grant Executive additional stock options, Executive understands and agrees that such stock options shall not be subject to the Enhanced Severance Benefits set forth herein. 

7. Better After Tax Provision. If any payment or benefit that Executive will or may receive from the Company or otherwise (a
“280G Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code (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 any such 280G Payment will be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” will be either (x) the largest portion of the
280G Payment that would result in no portion of the 280G Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the 280G Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount
determined by clause (x) or by clause (y)), 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), results in Executive’s
receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the 280G Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a 280G Payment is required
pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction will occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic
benefit for Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”). 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the 280G Payment being
subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, will be modified
so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code as follows: (A) as a first priority, the modification will preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Executive as determined on
an after-tax basis; (B) as a second priority, 280G Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without Cause) will be reduced (or eliminated) before 280G Payments that are
not contingent on future events; and (C) as a third priority, 280G Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code will be reduced (or eliminated) before 280G Payments that are not
“deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. 

  
 15 

 If Section 280G of the Code is not applicable by law to Executive, the Company will
determine whether any similar law in Executive’s jurisdiction applies and should be taken into account. 
 The independent professional
firm engaged by the Company for general tax audit purposes will make all determinations required to be made under this Section. If the firm so engaged by the Company is serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting
the change in control, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized independent professional 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. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and Executive within
thirty (30) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a 280G Payment becomes reasonably likely to occur (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive.

 If Executive receives a 280G Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (x) of the first paragraph of
this Section and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the 280G Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, Executive will promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the 280G Payment (after reduction pursuant
to clause (x) of the first paragraph of this Section) so that no portion of the remaining 280G Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) of the first
paragraph of this Section, Executive will have no obligation to return any portion of the 280G Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence. 

8. Execution. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which
shall constitute together the same document. The parties agree that signatures transmitted by electronic means (e.g. facsimile or a scanned version of the executed agreement in PDF format attached to an
e-mail) shall bind the parties. 
 IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, each of the undersigned parties have had this Second Amendment executed by its duly authorized representatives. 
  

					
	ARTIVA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.	 		  	EXECUTIVE
			
	By: /s/ Brian
Daniels                                        
                	 		  	Signature: /s/ Thomas J.
Farrell                                        

		 		  	 Thomas J. Farrell

			
	Printed Name: /s/ Brian
Daniels                                        
	 		  	
	Title: Chairman of the Board	 		  	Date: December 19, 2020
	Date: December 18, 2020	 		  	

  
 16EX-10.10

 Exhibit 10.10 

 
 

 
 March 16th, 2019 

Dr. Peter Flynn 
 Re: Employment Offer Letter 

Dear Peter 
 On behalf of Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. (the
“Company”), I am pleased to offer you employment under the terms set forth in this offer letter agreement (this “Agreement”). These employment terms will be effective as of your start date, which will be April 15th, 2019 (the first date of your employment, the “Start Date”). This offer is contingent upon approval by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), and your
successful completion of a background check to the satisfaction of the Company. 
 1. Employment Position; Schedule; Duties. 

(a) Position; Schedule. You will be employed as the Company’s Chief Technology Officer initially reporting to the
Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Beginning on the Start Date, you will provide services to the Company on a part-time basis (anticipated to be sixty-percent (60%) of a forty (40) hour work-week schedule) (the “Part
Time Status”); provided that you and the Company may later mutually agree, in a written agreement executed by both parties, to increase your work commitment to full-time status (anticipated to be a minimum of forty (40) hours per week
on average) (the “Full Time Status”). 
 (b) Duties and Location. As Chief Technology Officer, you will have
those duties and responsibilities as are customary for this position and as may be directed by the Company. You will work from your home office until such times as the Company’s San Diego office is open, and your position may require business
travel. 
 2. Base Salary; Employee Benefits and Business Expenses. 

(a) Base Salary. During your Part Time Status, your base salary will be paid at the annual rate of $228,000.00 less standard
payroll deductions and tax withholdings. If you and the Company mutually agree to change your employment commitment to Full Time Status, your base salary will be paid at the annual rate of $380,000.00 less standard payroll deductions and tax
withholdings. Your base salary will be paid on the Company’s normal payroll schedule. As an exempt salaried employee, you will be required to work within the Company’s normal business 

 

					
	Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc.	  	720 Rusk St #301, Houston TX 77002	  	www.artivabio.com

 
hours, and such additional time as appropriate for your work assignments and position. You will not be eligible for extra payment under the overtime laws. 

(b) Employee Benefits. Based on your employment time commitment, you may be eligible to participate in the Company’s
standard employee benefits (pursuant to the terms and conditions of the benefit plans and applicable policies), as they may be terminated or changed from time to time within the Company’s discretion. 

(c) Business Expenses. Your legitimate and documented business expenses will be reimbursed by the Company as provided under its
business expense reimbursement policies. 
 3. Annual Bonus. In addition to base salary, you will be eligible to earn
discretionary incentive compensation at an annual target amount of thirty percent (30%) of your base salary in effect during the bonus year. With respect to the annual incentive compensation program, the Company’s executive team will
evaluate and recommend specific annual individual and corporate performance targets, metrics and/or management-by-objectives (“MBOs”), to be finalized
and approved by Company’s Board, as part of its annual compensation review process. Annual bonuses are paid on an annual basis, after the close of the fiscal year and after determination by the Board of (a) the level of achievement of the
applicable individual and corporate performance targets, metrics and/or MBOs, and (b) the amount of the annual incentive compensation earned by you (if any). No amount of annual incentive compensation is guaranteed and, in addition to the other
conditions for earning such compensation, you must remain an employee in good standing of the Company on the scheduled annual incentive compensation payment date in order to be eligible for any annual incentive compensation. This annual incentive
compensation program will be the only incentive compensation, commissions, or other bonus program that will apply to you.] 
 4.
Equity Award. As an inducement material to your entering into this Agreement, subject to approval of the Board, the Company will grant you a number of shares of the Company’s common stock (“Founders Shares”), at a
purchase price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant, representing three percent (3%) of the Company on a fully diluted basis on the date of grant. The Founders Shares will be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company,
which will lapse at the rate of 25% of the Founders Shares on each of the one year anniversaries of the date of grant; such that the repurchase option will terminate on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant, subject to your continued
employment with the Company. In addition to the Founders Shares, at the closing of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock financing round (the “Series A Financing”), the Company will grant you an option to purchase additional
shares of the Company’s common stock to enable you to maintain one and one half percent (1.5%) equity interest in the Company on a fully diluted basis (together, the “Option”). The Option will be granted under an Equity
Incentive Plan to be adopted by the Company (the “Plan”) and will have an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value (as defined in the Plan) of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant, and will vest with
respect to one-fourth (1/4th) of the shares subject to the Option upon the one (1) year anniversary of the grant

 
date and the remainder of the shares subject to the Option will vest in equal monthly increments over the three year period following such one (1) year anniversary of the grant date, subject
to your continuous service with the Company. The Option will automatically accelerate vesting in the event of a “Change in Control” (as such term is defined in the Plan), subject to your continued services with the Company through
the date of such Change in Control. You also will be eligible to participate in and receive additional stock option or equity award grants under the Company’s equity incentive plans from time to time, in the discretion of the Board, and in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan. 
 5. Compliance with Confidentiality Agreement and Company Policies. As
a condition of employment, you shall sign and comply with the Company’s standard form of Employee Confidential Information and Invention Assignment Agreement (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The Confidentiality Agreement
shall be deemed fully incorporated into this Agreement by reference. 
 6. Protection of Third Party Information and Outside Activities.

 (a) Third Party Information. In your work for the Company, you will be expected not to make any unauthorized use or
disclosure of any confidential information or materials, including trade secrets, of any former employer or other third party; and not to violate any lawful agreement that you may have with any third party. By signing this Agreement, you represent
that you are able to perform your job duties within these guidelines, and you are not in unauthorized possession or control of any confidential documents, information, or other property of any former employer. In addition, you represent that you
have disclosed to the Company in writing any agreement you may have with any third party (e.g., a former employer) that may limit your ability to perform your duties to the Company or that could present a conflict of interest with the Company,
including but not limited to disclosure (and a copy) of any contractual restrictions on solicitations or competitive activities. 

(b) Outside Activities. During your employment by the Company, you may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not interfere with the performance of your 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 written consent of the Board, you may engage in other types of business or public activities. The Board may withdraw such consent, if the Board determines, in its sole
discretion, that such activities compromise or threaten to compromise the business interests of the Company or its Affiliates or conflict with your duties to the Company. 

(c) Non-Competition. During your employment by the Company, you will not, without the
express written consent of the Board, directly or indirectly serve as an officer, director, stockholder, employee, partner, proprietor, investor, joint venturer, 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 you 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, you will be subject to certain
restrictions (including restrictions continuing after your employment ends) under the terms of your Confidentiality Agreement. 
 7.
At-Will Employment Relationship. Your employment relationship with the Company is employment at-will. Accordingly, you may terminate your employment with the
Company at any time and for any reason whatsoever simply by notifying the Company; and the Company may terminate your employment at any time with or without Cause (as defined below) or prior notice. In addition, the Company retains the discretion to
modify your other employment terms from time to time, including but not limited to your position, duties, reporting relationship, work location, compensation (including base salary and incentive compensation terms), and benefits. 

8. Severance. 
 (a)
Severance for Qualifying Termination. If (i) your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, other than due to your death or disability, and (ii) you satisfy the Release Requirement (as defined below), then you will
receive the following Severance Payments as your sole severance benefits, and you will not be eligible for severance benefits under any other policy, plan or agreement. Specifically, you will receive severance pay in the form of continuation of your
final monthly base salary for three (3) months if your termination occurs prior to the Series A Financing and for six (6) months if your termination occurs subsequent to the Series A Financing, less standard payroll deductions and tax
withholdings (the “Severance Payments”). Subject to Section 8(e), the Severance Payments will be paid in equal installments on the Company’s regular payroll schedule in effect following your termination date, with such
payments to begin on the first regular payroll date following the Release Effective Date (as defined below). If the Severance Payments do not commence with the first regular payroll date following your termination date because the Release Effective
Date is later than such first payroll date, the first installment of the Severance Payments you receive will be a “catch up” payment in the total amount of the Severance Payments you would have received through such payroll date if such
payments had begun with the first payroll date after your termination date. 
 (b) Release Requirement. To be eligible for the
Severance Payments pursuant to Section 8(a) above you must satisfy the following release requirement (the “Release Requirement”): return to the Company a signed and dated general release of all known and unknown claims in a
separation agreement acceptable to the Company (the “Release and Waiver”) within the applicable deadline set forth therein, but in no event later than forty-five (45) calendar days following your termination date, and permit
the Release and Waiver to become effective and irrevocable in accordance with its terms (such effective date of the Release and Waiver, the “Release Effective Date”). No Severance Payments will be paid hereunder prior to such
Release Effective Date. You may be required by the separation agreement to provide reasonable transitional services as a condition of payment of Severance Payments. 

 (c) Definition of Cause. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Cause” means the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) your conviction of, or plea of no contest, or commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, embezzlement, dishonesty or moral turpitude;
(ii) your attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud, embezzlement or act of dishonesty (or an attempted fraud or act of dishonesty) that results in (or could result in) material harm to the Company, including but not limited to
material harm to reputational interests; (iii) your violation of a fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty owed to the Company; (iv) your material breach of any contract or agreement between you and the Company, or any material Company policies
that are disclosed or otherwise made available in writing to you prior to such breach; (v) persistent neglect of your job duties, which is not cured within fifteen (15) calendar days after you are provided written notice by the Company
(provided, that such written notice and opportunity to cure are not required if your performance or neglect is not reasonably susceptible to being cured); or (vi) your gross misconduct or material failure to comply with a reasonable written
instruction of the Company. 
 (d) Other. You will not be eligible for any Severance Payments under any circumstances other
than those described herein, including circumstances in which your employment is terminated for Cause, you terminate your employment for any reason, or your employment terminates due to your death or disability. In addition, if you materially breach
any continuing obligations to the Company (including, but not limited to, any material breach of this Agreement or any material breach of the Confidentiality Agreement) during the period of time that you are receiving any Severance Payments, you
will forfeit your entitlement to any then unpaid Severance Payments, and the Company’s obligation to continue to pay or provide such Severance Payments will immediately terminate as of the date of your material breach. 

9. IRS Code Section 409A. All payments provided hereunder are intended to constitute separate payments for
purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2). If the Company determines that any benefits provided under this Agreement constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (“Section 409A”), such benefits will not commence in connection with your termination of employment unless such termination also qualifies as a “separation from
service” with the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any permissible alternative definition thereunder) (“Separation from
Service”). If the Company determines that any benefits provided under this Agreement constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A and you are a “specified employee” of the Company or any affiliate (or any
successor entity thereto) within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code on the date of your Separation from Service, then the payment of any such benefits shall be delayed until the earlier of (i) the date that is six
(6) months and one (1) day after the date of your Separation from Service, or (ii) the date of your death (such date, the “Delayed Payment Date”), and the Company (or the successor entity thereto, as applicable) shall
(A) pay to you a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the benefit payments that otherwise would have been paid to you on or before the Delayed Payment Date, without any adjustment on account of such delay, and (B) continue the benefit
payments in accordance with any applicable payment schedules set forth for the balance of the period specified herein. In addition to the above, to the extent required to comply with Section 

 
409A and the applicable regulations and guidance issued thereunder, if the applicable deadline for you to execute (and not revoke) the applicable Release and Waiver spans two (2) calendar
years, your Severance Payments shall commence to be paid in installments on the first regularly scheduled payroll date that occurs in the second calendar year after the Release Effective Date of the Release and Waiver 

10. Section 280G; Limitations on Payment. 

(a) If any payment or benefit you will or may receive from the Company or otherwise (a “280G Payment”) would
(i) any 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 any such 280G Payment provided pursuant to this Agreement (a “Payment”) shall be equal to the Reduced Amount. The “Reduced Amount” shall be either (x) the largest portion of the Payment
that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (y) the largest portion, up to and including the total, of the Payment, whichever amount (i.e., the amount determined by clause (x) or by
clause (y)), 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), results in your receipt, on an
after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding
sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (x) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for you. If more
than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”). 

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of Section 10(a) to the contrary, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would
result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be,
shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (i) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for you as determined on
an after-tax basis; (ii) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without Cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not
contingent on future events; and (iii) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within
the meaning of Section 409A. 
 (c) Unless you and the Company agree on an alternative accounting firm or law firm, the
accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax compliance purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change of Control transaction shall perform the foregoing calculations. If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is
serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change in Control transaction, the 

 
Company shall appoint a nationally recognized accounting or law firm to make the determinations required by this Section 10. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the
determinations by such accounting or law firm required to be made hereunder. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the accounting or law firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder to provide its calculations, together
with detailed supporting documentation, to you and the Company within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which your right to a 280G Payment becomes reasonably likely to occur (if requested at that time by you or the Company) or such
other time as requested by you or the Company. 
 (d) If you receive a Payment for which the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to
clause (x) of Section 10(a) and the Internal Revenue Service determines thereafter that some portion of the Payment is subject to the Excise Tax, you agree to promptly return to the Company a sufficient amount of the Payment (after
reduction pursuant to clause (x) of Section 10(a)) so that no portion of the remaining Payment is subject to the Excise Tax. For the avoidance of doubt, if the Reduced Amount was determined pursuant to clause (y) of
Section 10(a), you shall have no obligation to return any portion of the Payment pursuant to the preceding sentence. 
 11.
Dispute Resolution. To ensure the rapid and economical resolution of disputes that may arise in connection with your employment with the Company, you and the 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, your employment with the Company, or the termination of your employment with 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 by JAMS, Inc.
(“JAMS”) or its successors by a single arbitrator. The arbitration will be held in San Diego, California, or such other location as then-agreed by the parties. Both you and the Company acknowledge that by agreeing to this
arbitration procedure, you each waive the right to resolve any such dispute through a trial by jury or judge or administrative proceeding. 
 Any
such arbitration proceeding will be governed by JAMS’ then applicable rules and procedures for employment disputes, which will be provided to you upon request. In any such proceeding, 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. You and the Company shall be entitled to all rights and remedies that either would be entitled to pursue in a court of law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent either the Company or you from obtaining injunctive
relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration pursuant to applicable law. 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 fees and any other fees or costs unique to arbitration. Any awards or orders in such arbitrations may be entered and enforced as judgments in the federal and state courts of any competent jurisdiction. 

 12. General. This Agreement, along with the Confidentiality Agreement, forms
the complete and exclusive statement of your agreement with the Company regarding the subject matter hereof. It supersedes and replaces any other agreements or promises made to you by anyone concerning your employment compensation, benefits and/or
terms, whether oral or written. This Agreement may not be amended or modified except by a written modification signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company, with the exception of those changes expressly reserved to the Company’s
discretion in this Agreement. This Agreement is governed by the laws of the state of California, without reference to conflicts of law principles, and it is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Company and its
successors and assigns. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the other provisions of this Agreement, and such provision will be reformed,
construed and enforced so as to render it valid and enforceable consistent with the general intent of the parties insofar as possible under applicable law. With respect to the enforcement of this Agreement, no waiver of any right hereunder shall be
effective unless it is in writing. Any ambiguity in this Agreement shall not be construed against either party as the drafter. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts which shall be deemed to be part of one original, and facsimile signatures
shall be equivalent to original signatures. 
 To confirm your terms of continuing employment, please sign and date this Agreement and the Confidentiality
Agreement, and return the fully signed documents to me. Please let me know if you have any questions. 
 Sincerely, 

 

					
	ARTIVA BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
		
	By:	 	 /s/ Thomas J. Farrell

		 	     Thomas J. Farrell,
		 	     President and Chief Executive Officer

					
	
	Reviewed, Understood, and Accepted:
		
	 /s/ Dr. Peter Flynn
	 	 03/19/19

	Dr. Peter Flynn	 	Date

 

 
 May 18, 2019 

Dr. Peter Flynn 
 Dear Peter, 

Amendment to Employment Agreement 

The following amendments have been made to your employment agreement of March 16, 2019 and are effective May 20, 2019: 

1 Your time commitment to Artiva will increase from 60% to 75%. As a result, your base salary will increase to $285,00000, based on an annual salary of
$380,000.00. 
 2. The increase in time now makes you eligible to participate in the Artiva Health Insurance plans. You will receive instructions on
enrollment from GCAM Human Resources. Should you choose not to participate you will need to provide proof of alternative coverage. 
 All other conditions
of employment will remain the same. 
 Please contact me should you have any questions. Upon agreement please provide your signature below. 

Kind regards, 
 Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. 

 

	
	 /s/ Thomas J. Farrell

	 Thomas J. Farrell

	 President & CEO

 I agree to the above amendments to my Employment Agreement of March 16, 2019 

 

					
	 /s/ Peter Flynn
	 	Date:	  	 05/20/19

	Peter Flynn	 		  	

 

 
 March 25, 2020 

Dr. Peter Flynn 
 Dear Peter, 

Amendment to Employment Agreement 

The following amendment has been made to your original employment agreement of March 16, 2019 and will be effective April 5, 2020: 

As agreed, effective April 5, 2020, your role as Chief Technology Officer will be based on a 40-hour work week.
Your current salary will be adjusted to reflect this change and will be increased to the full-time amount of $380,000, as stated in your agreement of March 16, 2019. 

All other conditions of employment will remain the same. 

Please contact me should you have any questions. Upon agreement please provide your signature below. 

Kind regards, 
 Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc. 

 

	
	 /s/ Thomas J. Farrell

	 Thomas J. Farrell

	 President & CEO

 I agree to the above amendments to my Employment Agreement of March 16, 2019 

 

					
	 /s/ Dr. Peter Flynn
	 	Date:	  	 04/03/20

	 Dr. Peter Flynn
	 		  	

  

			
	 Artiva Biotherapeutics, Inc.
	  	 4747 Executive Drive #1150, San Diego Ca 92121

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