Jake Bauer
About Jake Bauer
Jake Bauer, age 46, is an independent Class II director at Enliven Therapeutics (ELVN) since February 23, 2023; he chairs the Audit Committee and is designated the board’s “audit committee financial expert.” He is a Venture Partner at ARCH Venture Partners and SR One Capital Management, formerly Chief Business Officer at MyoKardia (following roles as SVP Finance & Corporate Development/Principal Financial Officer and VP Business Development), and holds a B.Sc. in Biology and a B.A. in Economics from Duke University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| MyoKardia, Inc. | Chief Business Officer | Apr 2018 – Nov 2020 | Led BD through BMS acquisition; senior finance oversight |
| MyoKardia, Inc. | SVP Finance & Corporate Development; Principal Financial Officer | Jul 2016 – Apr 2018 | Corporate development and finance leadership |
| MyoKardia, Inc. | VP Business Development & Operations | Jul 2014 – Jul 2016 | Built BD/operations capabilities |
| ARCH Venture Partners | Venture Partner | Since Sep 2021 | Venture investing and portfolio support |
| SR One Capital Management | Venture Partner | Since Sep 2021 | Venture investing and portfolio support |
| Independent Consultant | Consultant (Life Sciences) | Since Nov 2020 | Advisory to biopharma companies |
| Enliven (Former Enliven board) | Director | Since Jun 2021 | Continued as ELVN director post-merger |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attralus, Inc. | Director | Current | Clinical-stage biopharma board seat |
| Simcha Therapeutics, Inc. | Director | Current | Clinical-stage biotech board seat |
| Phoenix Tissue Repair, Inc. | Director | Nov 2018 – 2022 | Prior public/private company board experience |
| ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp V | Director | May 2021 – Aug 2023 | SPAC board experience |
| ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp II | Director | Jul 2020 – Oct 2020 | SPAC board experience |
Board Governance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Board determined Jake Bauer is independent under Nasdaq rules; also independent for Audit and Compensation committees |
| Committees | Audit Committee (Chair; financial expert); Compensation Committee (Member) |
| Attendance | In 2024, board held 4 meetings; each director attended at least 75% of board and committee meetings for which they served |
| Committee Meetings (2024) | Audit: 4 meetings ; Compensation: 3 meetings ; Nominating & Corporate Governance: 3 meetings |
| Board Leadership | Chairman separate from CEO (Chair: Richard Heyman; CEO: Sam Kintz) |
| Current Nomination | Class II nominee to serve through 2028 if elected |
Fixed Compensation
| Component (Cash) | 2024 Policy Rate | 2025 Policy Rate | Bauer 2024 Earned ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board annual retainer | $35,000 | $40,000 | $35,000 (Included in total) |
| Audit Committee Chair | $15,000 | $15,000 | $15,000 (Included in total) |
| Compensation Committee Member | $5,000 | $6,000 | $5,000 (Included in total) |
| Total Cash Fees | — | — | $55,000 |
Notes:
- Cash paid quarterly in arrears; chairs receive chair fee (not member fee) .
- Increases effective Jan 2025 include Board ($40k) and certain chair/member fees .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Grant Value ($) | Instrument | Vesting | Change-in-Control Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Option Award (2024) | $249,890 | Stock Options | Vests in full on earlier of first anniversary of annual meeting or next annual meeting; must continue as director through vest date | All outstanding director equity fully vests immediately prior to change in control, contingent on continued service |
Additional equity details:
- Bauer held 9,324 unvested shares issued upon early exercise of an option, subject to repurchase right as of Dec 31, 2024 .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Significant Shareholder Representation | OrbiMed affiliates beneficially own ~16.2% of ELVN; OrbiMed partner Rishi Gupta is a director and chairs Compensation Committee . |
| Shared Affiliations | Bauer is a Venture Partner at ARCH; Board Chair Richard Heyman is also a Venture Partner at ARCH Venture Partners, creating a network interlock (not a disclosed related-party transaction) . |
| Independence Safeguards | Board affirmed Bauer’s independence; Related party transactions are reviewed/approved by Audit Committee per policy . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Audit Committee Financial Expert (SEC Section 407); financial sophistication under Nasdaq standards .
- Life sciences business development and corporate finance leadership (MyoKardia CBO, PFO, SVP roles) .
- Education: Duke University (Biology; Economics), Harvard Business School (MBA) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % Outstanding | Composition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Bauer | 125,753 | <1% | 87,372 shares held of record; 38,381 options exercisable within 60 days of Mar 31, 2025 |
Alignment policies:
- Hedging and pledging of Company stock are prohibited under ELVN’s Insider Trading Policy, supporting alignment and risk controls .
- Director stock ownership guidelines: not disclosed in the proxy; no pledging reported .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent director; chairs Audit Committee and serves as designated financial expert—supports robust financial oversight and risk management .
- Attendance at least 75% alongside peers; active committee cadence (Audit: 4; Comp: 3) indicates engagement .
- Compensation mix leans toward equity (standardized option awards), creating skin-in-the-game; change-in-control vesting clarity and anti-hedging/pledging policies bolster investor alignment .
-
Potential Risks / Monitoring Items
- Governance interlocks: ARCH affiliation shared with Board Chair Richard Heyman; while not a related-party transaction, investors should monitor independence in strategic decisions .
- Significant shareholder influence: OrbiMed’s 16% stake and its partner chairing Compensation Committee—board discloses independence and related-party oversight, but concentration warrants ongoing attention to pay and strategic decisions .
- Change-in-control accelerated vesting for directors could be perceived as a softer alignment feature; however, this is a common market practice and fully disclosed .
Overall, Bauer’s audit leadership and industry finance background are positives for board effectiveness; watch for any perceived influence from major holders and venture affiliations, balanced by formal independence determinations and robust related-party review protocols .