Document:

EX-10.23

 Exhibit 10.23 

BARKBOX, INC. 

                        
                January 21, 2013 
 Matt Meeker 

c/o Barkbox, Inc. 
 50 Elderidge Street 

Floor 5 
 New York, NY 10002 

Dear Matt: 
 On behalf of Barkbox, Inc. (the
“Company”), I am pleased to set forth the terms of your continued employment with the Company: 
 1. You will continue to be
employed on a full time basis as the CEO. As CEO, you will be responsible for the overall direction and financial health of the Company and answer to the Board of Directors, plus such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to you by the
Company. 
 2. Your salary will be $12,500.00 per month, subject to tax and other withholdings as required by law. Such salary may be
adjusted from time to time in accordance with normal business practice and in the sole discretion of the Company. 
 3. You may participate
in any and all bonus and benefit programs that the Company establishes and makes available to its employees from time to time, provided you are eligible under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents governing those programs. 

4. You acknowledge that the Board of Directors of the Company previously granted you (i) 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) 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. 
 5.
You may be eligible to receive such future stock options grants as the Board of Directors of the Company shall deem appropriate. 
 6. You
acknowledge that you 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, attached as Exhibit A and Exhibit B, respectively. 

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

8. You agree, upon request of the Company, to provide documentation of your eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the
Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. 
 9. 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 the Company’s policy of employment at will, under which both you and the Company 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 the Company. 

If you agree with the employment provisions of this letter, please sign the enclosed duplicate of this letter in the space provided below and
return it to Carly Strife. 
  

			
	 Very Truly Yours,

	
	 BARKBOX, INC.

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Carly Strife

 
			
	 Name:
	 	 Carly Strife

	 Title:
	 	 President

 The foregoing correctly sets forth the terms of my 

employment by Barkbox, Inc. 
  

			
	 /s/ Matt Meeker
	  	Date: 1/21/2013EX-10.24

 Exhibit 10.24 

 
 

 
 BARKBOX, INC 

Woof! 
 Welcome to BarkBox, Inc., Michael! 

 
 

 
 On behalf of Frida, Frank and the rest of the Barkbox, Inc. team, I ruv that I can fetch you this paper on
July 3rd, 2015 with the terms of your employment with Barkbox! 
  

			
	01.	  	You will be employed to serve on a full-time basis as a Chief Commerce Officer and Assistant Director of Belly Scratches effective July 13th, 2015 at
our offices on 221 Canal Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10013 or as mutually agreed. You will be reporting to Carly Strife. 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 $20,833 per month (which equates to $250,000 annually), less payroll deductions and required taxes and withholdings, and will be paid on 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. 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 a full range of benefits for you and your qualified dependents as outlined in the attached Summary of Benefits. Information about these benefits and
additional information will be available on-line on the terms and conditions included in the End User License Agreement (EULA) each new employee must accept in order to access TriNet’s on-line self-service portal, 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.
		
	04.	  	Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, the Company may grant to you an incentive stock option (the “Option”) under the Company’s 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) for the
purchase of a number of shares of common stock equal to 0.5% of the of the Company on a post-Series C financing, fully-diluted basis (currently estimated at approximately 70,000 shares) (“the Shares”). The Shares subject to the Option will
have an exercise a price per share equal to the fair market value 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.
		
		  	Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, after a Change in Control of the Company, the Participant’s employment with the company is terminate (i) by the Company without Cause or (ii) by the Participant for Good Reason, then
the vesting schedule of the Shares shall be accelerated such than an additional 25% of the Shares shall vest full on the date of such termination.
		
	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 sign 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 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.
		
	07.	  	You represent that you ruv dogs with all your paws.

  
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	08.	  	You agree to provide to Barkbox, within three days of your hire date, a completed I-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.
		
	09.	  	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. 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.

 If you agree with the employment 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. If you do not accept this offer by July 9, 2015, 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 employment by Barkbox, Inc. 

 

			
	/s/ Michael Novotny	  	Date: 7/7/15

  
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 Name: Michael Novotny 

  
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 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”), Michael Novotny (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. 

  
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	 	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. 

 

	 	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 (i) which have
been created, made, conceived, or reduced to practice by the Puppy Lover or under his or her direction or jointly with others prior to the date hereof and which relate directly to the business of the Company or (ii) which are created, made,
conceived or reduced to practice by him/her or under his/her direction or jointly with others during his/her employment by the Company, whether or not during normal working hours or on the premises of the Company (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. 

  
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	 	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 patents, patent applications, copyrights and copyright applications. However, this paragraph 3(b) shall not apply to Developments described in clause
3(a)(ii) above which do not relate to the business of the Company at the time such Development is created, made, conceived or reduced to practice and which are made and conceived by the Puppy Lover not during normal working hours, not on the
Company’s premises, and not using the Company’s tools, devices, equipment, or Proprietary Information. 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 

  
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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. 

  
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	 	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. 

  
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	 	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. 

 [The rest of this page is
intentionally left blank.] 
 THE PUPPY LOVER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HE/SHE HAS CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO
ALL OF THE PROVISIONS IN THIS AGREEMENT. 

  
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 WITNESS our hands and seals: 

 

			
		 	 BARKBOX, INC.

			
		
	Date: 7/03/2015	  	 By: /s/ Carly Strife

		  	 Name: Carly Strife
 Title:
President

		  	Michael Novotny

							
				
	Date: 7/7/15	 		 	Signed:	 	 /s/ Michael Novotny

  
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 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 Michael Novotny (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 Officer 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. 

  
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 (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 general 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 (within the meaning of Section 1(a)), (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 (within the meaning of Section 1(a)) (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 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. 

  
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 (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. 
 (l) 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” 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. 

  
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 (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. 

 

	 	l.	 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 

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page is intentionally left blank.] 

  
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 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: 7 / 03 / 2015	  	 By: /s/ Carly Strife

		  	Name: Carly Strife 
Title: President
		
		  	Michael Novotny

		
	Date: 7/7/15	  	Signed: /s/ Michael Novotny

  
 

 

  
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