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NYSE: BURUW

Nuburu, Inc.

CIK 0001814215 · Misc Electrical Equipment

We were originally incorporated in Delaware on July 21, 2020 under the name “Tailwind Acquisition Corp.” as a special purpose acquisition company, formed for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination with one or more target businesses. On September 9, 2020 (the “IPO Closing Date”),… About this business →

10-Q Filed May 20, 2026 · Period ending Mar 31, 2026

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About Nuburu, Inc.

Source: Item 1 (Business) from the 10-K filed March 31, 2026. Description as filed by the company with the SEC.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Corporate History and Background

We were originally incorporated in Delaware on July 21, 2020 under the name “Tailwind Acquisition Corp.” as a special purpose acquisition company, formed for the purpose of effecting an initial business combination with one or more target businesses. On September 9, 2020 (the “IPO Closing Date”), we consummated our initial public offering (the “IPO”). On January 31, 2023, we consummated a business combination with Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc. f/k/a Nuburu, Inc. (“Legacy Nuburu”), a privately held operating company which merged into our subsidiary Compass Merger Sub, Inc. (the “Business Combination”) and changed our name to “Nuburu, Inc.,” and we became the owner, directly or indirectly, of all of the equity interests of Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “Nuburu,” “we,” “us,” or “our” in this section are to the business and operations of Legacy Nuburu prior to the Business Combination and to Nuburu, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries following the Business Combination.

During 2024, our focus was on developing and delivering high-power, high-brightness blue laser technology with a broad range of high value applications that included welding and 3D printing. In 2024, we had approximately 220 granted and pending patents and patent applications globally, which included: blue laser applications such as welding, blue laser technologies, single mode blue laser technology, blue Raman laser technologies, addressable array technologies, and 3D printing using blue lasers. We shipped blue laser systems for applications including EV batteries, medical device production, large screen displays, and cell phone components. In the fourth quarter of 2024, our senior secured lenders provided notice of default with respect to our outstanding secured indebtedness and initiated a foreclosure process with respect to our patent portfolio that served as collateral for our outstanding secured indebtedness (the “Foreclosure”). In the first quarter of 2025, such secured lenders completed the Foreclosure sale and obtained such patents in exchange for extinguishing our outstanding secured indebtedness, while we retained our non-patent intellectual property, including trade secrets and know-how. Following the Foreclosure, we have adjusted our laser business to focus on licensing certain intellectual property, as well as using retained intellectual property primarily for purposes of product development related to our new dual-use Defense and Security Platform, as described below.

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On February 27, 2026, we effected a 1-for-4.99 reverse stock split of our Common Stock (the “2026 Reverse Stock Split”). The 2026 Reverse Stock Split has been reflected retroactively to all Common Stock and per share amounts. Proportional adjustments were made to the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, vesting, or conversion of our outstanding stock options, restricted stock units, warrants, convertible notes, preferred stock, and other instruments convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, as well as the applicable exercise prices, conversion prices, and per share grant date fair values.

Our Transformation Plan

In January 2025, we adopted a new business plan focused on building a stable foundation for the future business, including addressing outstanding payables, entering into joint development agreements, and investing in controlling interests in strategic targets (the “Transformation Plan”). In connection with the Transformation Plan, we agreed to certain governance changes, including the appointment of Alessandro Zamboni as our Executive Chairman and changes to our Board of Directors.

Overview of Our Dual-Use Defense and Security Platform

Pursuant to our Transformation Plan, we have become a defense, security, and critical-infrastructure technology company focused on the development, integration, and deployment of dual-use, non-kinetic, and software-orchestrated solutions addressing modern security and resilience challenges across military, governmental, and civilian domains. We operate a modular, platform-based business model that integrates directed-energy technologies, electronic-warfare capabilities, and a software-centric command, control, and orchestration layer through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries, strategic investments and partnerships, and industrial cooperation arrangements.

During 2025, we undertook a comprehensive strategic transformation designed to reposition us from a legacy industrial laser manufacturer into a dual-use defense and security platform (“Defense and Security Platform”). As part of this transformation, we realigned our operating model toward licensing, joint development, system integration, and asset-light manufacturing, while retaining and expanding core non-patent intellectual property, engineering know-how, software capabilities, and system-architecture expertise.

Our Defense and Security Platform operates as a vertically integrated stack of capabilities, with each layer building upon foundational elements to deliver comprehensive mission capability. Our platform is designed to provide separate layers of distinct functional capabilities while integrating with adjacent layers through a unified software-defined control infrastructure, which enables both independent operation of specific capabilities and coordinated multi-layer mission execution. These layers consist of software governance, including AI-driven orchestration software, risk management platforms, unified command and full auditability; directed energy and electronic warfare (EW) effects, including laser systems, electro-magnetic capabilities and sensor integration; physical integration, including vehicle systems, tactical deployment and field operations; mobile manufacturing, including deployable production and rapid capability deployment; and commercial acceleration, including market access, regulatory expertise and defense partnerships.

In connection with this transformation, in early 2026, we completed the acquisition of Lyocon S.r.l. (“Lyocon”), an Italian photonics and laser-engineering company specializing in the design, development, and production of advanced laser sources, optics, electronics, and customized laser systems for industrial, medical, and high-reliability applications. This acquisition has expanded our in-house engineering, assembly, testing, and demonstration capabilities for laser-based and directed-energy systems applicable to both defense and civilian security use cases. These use cases include the protection of critical infrastructure, ports, borders, transportation hubs, and other sensitive assets, as well as applications in agri-tech and food-system resilience, where laser-based technologies may be applied to mitigate operational, environmental, and supply-chain risks. We also entered into industrial and network cooperation arrangements with defense and technology partners, including Tekne S.p.A. (“Tekne”), a defense-tech

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company that specializes in the design, production, and outfitting of a diverse range of vehicles, including industrial and military applications, as well as electronic devices for defense and security, advanced telecommunications, and tracking systems. These arrangements are intended to support scalable production, system integration, and access to established defense and dual-use supply chains.

A central pillar of our platform is our software and data-orchestration capability, which is being developed and expanded through Orbit S.r.l. (“Orbit”), an Italian software company specializing in digitalizing operational resilience solutions for mission-critical corporations. We acquired a 10.7% ownership interest in Orbit in October 2025 and an additional 11.3% ownership interest in January 2026. As a result of owning an approximate 22% ownership interest in Orbit in January 2026, we obtained control of Orbit’s board of directors and now hold a controlling position in Orbit. Orbit provides a software platform focused on operational resilience, data integration, and decision support, enabling the coordination, monitoring, and governance of complex systems and assets. Within our platform architecture, Orbit’s software capabilities are intended to function as a unifying software-defined control layer supporting sensor fusion, situational awareness, workflow orchestration, and auditability across both kinetic and non-kinetic components, as well as across defense, civilian, and critical-infrastructure environments.

Our Defense and Security Platform is designed to be applicable not only in military and governmental contexts, but also in civilian critical sectors where regulatory frameworks increasingly emphasize operational resilience, continuity of essential services, and systemic risk management. These sectors include financial services, energy, transportation, agriculture and food systems, and other critical-infrastructure operators. In this context, certain agri-tech applications—such as precision laser-based systems aimed at reducing dependency on chemical inputs, improving crop reliability, and mitigating environmental and operational risks—are viewed by us as part of a broader security and resilience framework related to food security and supply-chain stability.

This regulatory and risk-management focus underpins Orbit’s current portfolio of customers, which consists primarily of financial institutions and selected critical-infrastructure service providers, and informs our broader strategy of addressing converging defense, security, environmental, and civilian resilience requirements through a common, software-orchestrated platform approach.

In addition, we recognize that certain portions of our business—particularly those involving hardware-intensive solutions such as directed-energy systems, special-purpose platforms, and integrated defense or security assets—require capital-intensive supply chains and careful management of inventory, procurement cycles, and working capital in order to scale effectively. As part of our long-term platform strategy, we have made a strategic investment in a single financial-technology platform, Supply@ME Capital Plc ("SYME"), as further described below, which is focused on working-capital solutions with particular emphasis on inventory-related financing and optimization.

This SYME investment is intended to support the scaling of our operating businesses by enhancing supply-chain resilience, liquidity management, and capital efficiency, particularly in contexts where inventory ownership, production lead times, and delivery cycles are material to execution. Our investment in SYME is positioned as a supporting, integrated capability enabler within our platform and does not represent a broader financial-services business or investment strategy to us.

In furtherance of our Defense and Security Platform, in January 2026, we partnered with Maddox Defense Incorporated (“Maddox”) on a contractual joint venture for the development of a modular, containerized, mobile additive manufacturing platform capable of producing drone components, pods, mission-critical structural parts and related components for defense and security applications.

We continue to evaluate and pursue strategic investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, and cooperation initiatives that complement our platform strategy, expand our technological and software capabilities, and support long-term participation in defense and dual-use security, resilience, and food-system stability programs in the United States, Europe, and other allied markets.

Key Technology and Platform Advantages

Our technology portfolio is built around a combination of directed-energy laser systems, electronic-warfare capabilities, and software-based orchestration and analytics, designed to operate as individual components or as part of an integrated Defense and Security Platform. While laser technology remains a foundational element of our offerings, our competitive positioning is based on the coordinated use of multiple technologies rather than reliance on a single component. Our Defense and Security Platform enables progressive deployment, flexible scaling, and adaptive configuration based on operational requirements and threat environments.

Directed-Energy and Laser Technologies

Directed-energy systems based on blue and green laser technologies provide several advantages in defense, security, and dual-use applications, particularly in non-kinetic (i.e. information and electronic focused, rather than physical force or destruction) scenarios:


high optical absorption in common sensor materials, enabling effective sensor denial at lower power levels compared to infrared systems;


rapid engagement capability without the need for pre-heating or kinetic interceptors;


low cost per engagement relative to kinetic interception systems;


precision and controllability, enabling graduated responses and reduced collateral effects;


applicability across multiple operational domains, including land, maritime, and certain underwater environments; and


suitability for integration within layered defense architectures and escalation-control doctrines.

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Electronic Warfare and Spectrum-Related Capabilities

In addition to laser-based effects, our platform approach incorporates electronic-warfare and electromagnetic-spectrum-related capabilities designed to support detection, disruption, protection, and coordination functions. These capabilities are intended to complement directed-energy systems by enabling multi-layered responses to threats, improving situational awareness, and supporting coordinated engagement strategies across sensors and effectors.

Software-Based Orchestration and SaaS Capabilities

A key differentiator of our approach is the integration of software-based command, orchestration, and analytics capabilities, including software-as-a-service models delivered through cloud and hybrid architectures. Through Orbit, we develop software platforms focused on operational resilience, data integration, decision support, and governance. These platforms enable:


aggregation and correlation of data from multiple sensors and systems;


workflow orchestration and coordinated tasking across kinetic and non-kinetic components;


auditability, logging, and governance of operational activities; and


scalability across defense, governmental, and regulated civilian environments.

Software-based delivery models allow for modular deployment, recurring revenue structures, and continuous enhancement without the need for full system replacement.

Dual-Use Platform-Level Integration

The combined use of directed-energy, electronic-warfare, and software technologies enables us to offer a modular, platform-based architecture, in which individual capabilities can be deployed independently or progressively integrated over time for both defense and civilian commercial applications. This “building-block” approach is intended to provide customers with flexibility, scalability, and adaptability as operational requirements, threat environments, and regulatory constraints evolve.

Together, these technologies support our strategy of addressing converging defense, security, and civilian resilience needs through a unified, software-orchestrated platform rather than through stand-alone products.

Manufacturing and Supply

Historically, we conducted manufacturing operations at a leased facility in Centennial, Colorado, primarily focused on laser system assembly and testing. Following the Foreclosure of our patent portfolio and our related strategic repositioning, we have discontinued internal manufacturing operations in the United States.

As part of our transformation into a Defense and Security Platform, we have restructured our manufacturing and supply model around a combination of wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, industrial partners, and network-based production arrangements.

In this context, in early 2026, we completed the acquisition of Lyocon, which operates from a leased production and engineering site in Italy, supporting the design, assembly, testing, and demonstration of laser-based and directed-energy systems. The Lyocon facility includes:


an open-space technical office supporting engineering and program activities;


a meeting room for internal coordination and partner or customer engagement;


a warehouse area supporting components, sub-assemblies, and logistics;


an electrical and mechanical assembly and testing laboratory equipped with multiple benches, including a bench dedicated to system demonstrations;


a clean-room environment housing optical assembly, alignment, and testing benches for precision photonics work; and


a curtained clean-shield area configured for controlled optical assembly and optical testing activities.

Through this facility, Lyocon provides us with in-house capabilities for system engineering, prototyping, integration, validation, and customer demonstrations, as well as established relationships with specialized suppliers and subcontractors. These capabilities support our focus on directed-energy systems, non-kinetic effects, and application-specific configurations for defense, security, and critical-infrastructure use cases.

In parallel, in early 2026, we entered into a network and industrial cooperation arrangement with Tekne, an established defense and industrial technology company with operations in Italy. Under this arrangement, Tekne provides access to manufacturing capacity, systems-integration capabilities, and supply-chain infrastructure suitable for defense and security applications, including vehicle-mounted, fixed-site, and mobile platforms. This network-based approach is intended to enable us to scale production selectively and support program-specific requirements without maintaining capital-intensive, vertically integrated manufacturing facilities.

Under our current operating model, hardware manufacturing and system assembly are expected to be performed through a combination of Lyocon’s in-house capabilities, Tekne’s industrial network, Maddox's in-house capabilities and other qualified third-party manufacturers or suppliers, depending

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on application and customer requirements. Our internal focus remains on system architecture, non-patent intellectual property, software orchestration, and coordination of multi-supplier production and delivery.

Research and Development

Our research and development activities are conducted through a combination of subsidiary-level programs, centralized group initiatives, and collaboration with external partners. This structure is intended to balance domain-specific innovation with platform-level scalability and long-term technology coordination.

Each of our operating businesses and acquired subsidiaries maintains its own internal research and development activities aligned with its respective market focus, technical specialization, and regulatory environment. These activities include, as applicable, software development, system engineering, prototyping, testing, and application-specific adaptation of technologies. Research and development activities at the subsidiary level are funded through a combination of operating resources and capital support provided by us, subject to budget approvals and strategic priorities.

In addition to subsidiary-level research and development, we are investing in the development of a centralized research and development capability intended to support the evolution and scalability of our Defense and Security Platform. This centralized function is focused on identifying, evaluating, and integrating technologies that may enhance interoperability, software orchestration, data integration, system resilience, and cross-domain deployment across defense, security, and dual-use applications.

To govern and coordinate research and development activities across the group, we have established a technology coordination and advisory framework that includes designated leaders responsible for key technology verticals, together with selected external advisors. This group-level structure is intended to facilitate knowledge sharing, alignment of technical roadmaps, prioritization of innovation initiatives, and evaluation of emerging technologies relevant to our strategic objectives.

We may also directly evaluate and, where appropriate, participate in joint ventures, partnerships, consortiums, or other collaborative arrangements aimed at advancing research and development initiatives with a global scope. Such initiatives may involve industrial partners, academic institutions, technology providers, or governmental and multilateral programs, and are intended to complement internal development efforts and support the long-term evolution of our platform-based strategy.

Competition

We operate in multiple technology and market segments, each characterized by different competitive dynamics, customer profiles, regulatory frameworks, and procurement processes.

In the directed-energy and laser technology area, including blue- and green-laser systems, we compete with established industrial laser defense and civilian commercial manufacturers and technology providers. These competitors often have significantly greater financial, manufacturing, and operational resources, longer operating histories, and better-established customer relationships than we do. Competition in this area is based on performance, reliability, system-integration capabilities, regulatory compliance, and total cost of ownership, as well as the ability to adapt laser technologies to specific defense, security, and dual-use applications.

Beyond stand-alone laser technologies, our broader activities in the defense and security domain place us in competition with companies that seek to provide integrated defense and security platforms, rather than individual components. These competitors typically offer combinations of sensors, electronic-warfare capabilities, effectors, and command-and-control or mission-management software within unified system architectures.

In this context, our competitive positioning is focused on delivering a modular, platform-based approach, in which individual capabilities—such as directed-energy systems, electronic-warfare functions, and software-based orchestration—can be deployed independently or progressively integrated under a common command and control framework. This approach is intended to provide customers with flexibility, scalability, and the ability to adapt systems over time, in contrast to monolithic or single-vendor solutions.

We face competition from both specialized providers of individual subsystems and larger defense and security companies pursuing integrated, end-to-end platform strategies. Many of these competitors benefit from greater scale, broader product portfolios, and better-established positions within defense procurement ecosystems than we do. There can be no assurance that our platform-based strategy will be adopted by customers or that it will be able to compete effectively against integrated platform providers.

Government Regulation and Compliance

Our technologies, products, and services are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and internationally, particularly in the areas of product safety, export controls, defense, and dual-use technologies.

Historically, laser systems produced by us were classified as Class IV lasers under regulations administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health and were required to comply with applicable safety, labeling, and registration requirements. Products marketed outside the United States were subject to applicable foreign regulatory regimes, including European Union CE-marking requirements.

We are subject to U.S. export control laws and regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, including the Export Administration Regulations. We maintain export-compliance policies and procedures and expect to update them as our business evolves, including as we expand into defense and security applications.

As we increase our focus on defense, security, and dual-use technologies in Europe, particularly in Italy, we may become subject to additional regulatory frameworks governing strategic assets and national security. Italian “Golden Power” regulations and related EU and national defense

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regimes may require notification, review, or authorization of certain transactions, investments, cooperation arrangements, or operational activities involving defense or strategically significant technologies, including activities that do not involve a change of control. Authorities may impose conditions, limitations, or mitigation measures, or may delay or restrict certain transactions or activities.

In addition, to the extent we or our partners engage in the development, production, or testing of defense articles or defense services in the United States, including through potential future joint ventures or outsourced manufacturing activities, we may become subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations ("ITAR") administered by the U.S. Department of State. ITAR may restrict exports, re-exports, and transfers of controlled items, technical data, and know-how, including transfers to non-U.S. persons, and may require registrations, licenses, and ongoing compliance measures.

Compliance with these U.S., Italian, EU, and other international regulatory regimes may result in additional costs, delays, operational constraints, or limitations on our ability to pursue certain strategic initiatives.

Sales and Marketing

Historically, our sales efforts involved direct engagement by senior management with customers over extended sales cycles and required significant technical expertise and customer-specific evaluation.

Under our current operating model, sales and marketing activities are primarily executed at the operating subsidiary level, reflecting the specialized nature of our defense, security, dual-use, and software offerings. Go-to-market activities for defense, security, and critical-infrastructure solutions are conducted by the relevant subsidiaries and operating units, including those operating within the perimeter of Nuburu Defense, LLC and our wholly-owned or partially-owned subsidiaries, such as Orbit and Lyocon, as well as activities conducted in cooperation with industrial and network partners, including Tekne and Maddox, pursuant to applicable cooperation arrangements.

These subsidiary-level teams are responsible for customer engagement, solution positioning, technical pre-sales, and participation in program-specific procurement processes, including interactions with governmental, defense, and regulated civilian customers. This decentralized execution model is intended to align commercial activities closely with domain expertise, regulatory requirements, and customer-specific needs in each market segment.

We retain responsibility for centralized group-level activities, including corporate communications, public relations, investor relations, and selected group marketing initiatives intended to support overall brand positioning, strategic messaging, and coordination across our platform.

In addition, we have established a centralized revenue-officer function to support and coordinate go-to-market strategies across our subsidiaries and partnered activities. This function is intended to assist operating units in areas such as commercial strategy alignment, pricing frameworks, pipeline development, partner coordination, and execution of cross-platform opportunities, while sales execution and customer relationships remain primarily managed at the subsidiary level.

Future sales cycles are expected to continue to involve extended evaluation periods, technical validation, and, in certain cases, participation in government-sponsored programs, pilot projects, or framework agreements if and when commercialization is achieved. Revenue generation may include a mix of licensing fees, software subscriptions, system-integration services, joint-development arrangements, and program-based contracts, depending on the applicable business line and customer requirements.

Employees and Human Capital

As of December 31, 2025, we had nine total employees, five of which were full-time employees. We view our human capital investments as crucial for our success; however, we had to implement furloughs of employees during the year ended December 31, 2024 due to lack of funding. In January 2026, we completed the acquisition of Lyocon, which currently has six full-time employees, and we obtained a controlling interest in Orbit, which currently has eight full-time employees. None of our employees are either represented by a labor union or subject to a collective bargaining agreement. We continually evaluate our business needs and weigh the use of in-house expertise and capacity with outsourced expertise and cost. We currently outsource the functions of accounting, financial reporting, investor relations, human resources, and information technology to third-party consultants and service providers. We also use the services of advisors and consultants on projects on an as-needed basis. We anticipate that in order to reach our strategic objectives, we will be required to recruit and retain additional management, human resources, accounting, finance, technical, engineering and sales personnel.

Investments, Acquisitions and Joint Ventures during 2025 and 2026

January 2026 Tekne Agreements

Effective as of January 13, 2026, we, through Nuburu Defense, LLC (“Nuburu Defense”), our wholly-owned subsidiary, executed definitive agreements with Tekne and its shareholders, implementing (i) the “Contratto di Rete” (the “Network Contract”), which is a specific form of joint-venture contractual agreement under Italian law, (ii) our initial 2.9% investment in Tekne, and (iii) a convertible receivable made by us to Tekne (the “Tekne Convertible Receivable”). In connection with these arrangements, the parties agreed that the Tekne Financial Assurances (which consist of $4,200,000 in assets placed in escrow by S.F.E. Equity Investments SARL (“SFE EI”) for purposes of guaranteeing our performance obligations in connection with acquiring an interest in Tekne and $875,000 in cash collateral provided by us and used to obtain a letter of credit for Tekne) will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Network Contract. The Network Contract entered into between Tekne and Nuburu Defense has an initial term ending December 31, 2030, which will be renewed on an annual basis thereafter unless a party terminates in writing at least 30 business days prior to December 31st. The Network Contract programs currently include (i) the Americas Program, pursuant to which Tekne is granting exclusive distribution rights for Tekne’s products and solutions within the Americas to Nuburu Defense; (ii) the NATO MENA APAC Program, pursuant to which Tekne will supply its knowledge, workforce, and production and operational facilities, Nuburu Defense will provide guarantees, use its inventory purchasing hub for the purchase of receivables and bear the expenses in connection with legal, marketing, and representation activities and the establishment of regional production sites,

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and the parties may pursue joint ventures with local companies; and (iii) the Italy Program, which includes the joint study and proposal to Tekne’s customers of Nuburu Defense’s products, the adoption by Tekne of Nuburu Defense’s operational resilience solutions through Orbit, and the possible implementation of cooperation models similar to the ones used in the NATO MENA APAC Program for orders for Italian customers. Activities under the Network Contract are governed by a Common Body, which is composed of two representatives from each of Tekne and Nuburu Defense. The Common Body includes Mr. Zamboni and Mr. Barisoni on behalf of Nuburu Defense, and Ambrogio D’Arrezzo and another individual designated by Mr. D’Arrezzo on behalf of Tekne. Decisions require unanimous agreement of the members of the Common Body. Nuburu Defense may also provide consultancy services to Tekne in exchange for 8% of the actual amounts used by Tekne under the Tekne Convertible Receivable.

Acquisition of 2.9% Interest. We entered into the Share Transfer and Shareholder Convertible Loan Agreement (the “Tekne Purchase Agreement”) with Mr. D’Arrezzo, Carlo Ulacco, and Andrea Lodi, the shareholders of Tekne (the "Tekne Shareholders"), pursuant to which we obtained a 2.9% interest in Tekne from Mr. D’Arrezzo and we issued to Tekne the Tekne Convertible Receivable. Under the Tekne Purchase Agreement, Mr. D’Arrezzo agreed to sell a 2.9% interest in Tekne to us or our subsidiary, in exchange for the issuance of a Subordinated Convertible Note (the “Tekne Subordinated Convertible Note”) in the principal amount of $1,740,000 by us to Mr. D’Arrezzo. The Tekne Subordinated Convertible Note may be converted into 1,394,790 shares of Common Stock at a fixed conversion price of $1.25 per share of Common Stock. The Tekne Subordinated Convertible Note has a maturity date of January 31, 2027, bears no interest except in the event of a default, and may not be repaid or redeemed in cash. The Tekne Subordinated Convertible Note may either be converted into shares of Common Stock following the receipt of the Italian government regulatory approvals required to approve our acquisition of a controlling interest in Tekne, or the Tekne Subordinated Convertible Note will be automatically extinguished upon the exercise of put and call options for the required transfer of the 2.9% interest in Tekne from us back to Mr. D’Arrezzo, if the required regulatory approvals are not obtained. Upon the transfer of the 2.9% interest to us, an Observer is being appointed to Tekne’s board of directors acceptable to us, Mr. Sinnott will remain as a director of Tekne, certain administrative structures will be adopted by Tekne, Tekne will evaluate the adoption of Orbit’s “operational resilience” platform, and Tekne’s financial reporting processes will be adjusted to comply with U.S. GAAP.

Tekne Convertible Receivable. Under the Tekne Purchase Agreement, we funded the Tekne Convertible Receivable in the amount of €13,000,000 to Tekne by depositing funds in a bank account pledged by Tekne to us. Tekne may use the proceeds for certain purposes set forth in the Tekne Purchase Agreement. The Tekne Convertible Receivable has a 4% per annum interest rate and a maturity date of January 13, 2027. Tekne may prepay the Tekne Convertible Receivable in whole or in part without penalty. We may request and obtain full repayment of the Tekne Convertible Receivable upon the repeated use of the funding for unapproved purposes, a change of control, or a negative outcome of the Italian government Golden Power review of our anticipated acquisition of a controlling interest in Tekne. If the required Italian regulatory approvals are obtained, we may elect to receive newly issued shares of Tekne equal to a 25% interest in Tekne (the “Capital Increase”) in consideration for issuing the Tekne Convertible Receivable. Any early repayment of the Tekne Convertible Receivable will not reduce the amount of the Capital Increase that we are entitled to make. Following the Capital Increase, we would own a 27.9% interest in Tekne and would receive governance rights in Tekne consistent with our ownership percentage in Tekne under new by-laws adopted by Tekne.

March 2026 Tekne Letter

In a letter, dated March 19, 2026 (the “March Tekne Letter”), among us, Nuburu Defense and the Tekne Shareholders, we agreed to increase the amount of the Tekne Convertible Receivable from EUR 13,000,000 to EUR 16,692,000, which would represent a 32.1% interest in Tekne. We confirmed our intention to file an application to the Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri in accordance with the Italian Golden Power regulations (“GP Authorization”) and to make the Capital Increase of EUR 13,000,000, which would represent a 25% interest in Tekne, upon receipt of the GP Authorization. Subject to obtaining GP Authorization, we plan to obtain a 60% interest in Tekne from (i) the 2.9% interest obtained from Mr. D’Arrezzo in January 2026, (ii) the conversion of the Tekne Convertible Receivable into a 32.1% interest in Tekne, and (iii) the 25% interest obtained from the Capital Increase. Thereafter, we plan to obtain an additional 10% interest in Tekne from the Tekne Shareholders on a pro-rata basis, for EUR 6,000,000 paid in cash, which would result in our owning a 70% interest in Tekne.

Under the March Tekne Letter, the parties also agreed to (i) as part of a restructuring plan for Tekne under Italian law, a possible purchase or financial lease of an industrial complex located in the Municipality of Ortona (CH) in Contrada Villa Caldari and the development of further business lines between us, Nuburu Defense and Tekne, including the manufacture of mobile units for the dual-use production of drones and related components, and (ii) a spin-off from Tekne of its equity interest in Turismo Italia S.r.l. and certain vehicles. We, Nuburu Defense, and the Tekne Shareholders plan to negotiate in good faith and enter into definitive agreements to complete the transactions set forth in the March Tekne Letter.

Orbit Transactions (Related Party)

On October 31, 2025, we, Nuburu Defense, Alessandro Zamboni, and Vanguard Holdings S.r.l. (“Vanguard”), a newly-formed Italian limited liability company wholly owned by Alessandro Zamboni, entered into a Sale, Purchase and Investment Agreement (the “Orbit Agreement”) for the sale of all of the ownership interests in Orbit to Nuburu Defense (the “Orbit Acquisition”). Nuburu Defense is permitted to make up to a $5,000,000 equity investment in Orbit (the “Equity Infusion”), the proceeds of which are anticipated to provide working and growth capital (including for the repayment of payables incurred in the ordinary course of business) for Orbit. In addition to the Equity Infusion, Nuburu Defense will acquire all outstanding capital stock of Orbit from Vanguard for an aggregate purchase price of $12,500,000, consisting of $3,750,000 in cash and $8,750,000 in securities (the “Orbit Consideration”). Effective as of February 3, 2026, the parties to the Orbit Agreement agreed to issue 10,020,040 shares of Common Stock to satisfy the securities component of the Orbit Consideration. Since Orbit is wholly owned by Alessandro Zamboni, our Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, indirectly through Vanguard, the Orbit Acquisition constitutes a related party transaction under U.S. securities laws and, as a result, the Orbit Acquisition and Orbit Agreement have been reviewed and approved by our independent directors and our Audit Committee and securities to be issued in connection with such transaction were approved by the Company’s stockholders at a special meeting held on March 12, 2026.

Under the Orbit Agreement, we have agreed to consummate the Equity Infusion in tranches, with the final tranche closing no later than October 7, 2028. We paid $1,500,000 of the Equity Infusion amount in connection with the signing of the binding letter of intent, dated October 6, 2025, between us and Alessandro Zamboni, resulting in our holding a 10.7% ownership interest in Orbit. Effective as of January 15, 2026, we closed on a second

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tranche of the Equity Infusion, resulting in our now owning approximately 22% of Orbit. The board of directors of Orbit has been reconstituted and is now comprised of Mr. Zamboni (Chairman and Executive Director), Mr. Barisoni, and Anthony D. Sinnott.

As a result of obtaining control of Orbit's Board of Directors, Orbit became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company on January 15, 2026, and the transaction will be accounted for as a business combination under ASC 805, Business Combinations. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the initial accounting for the business combination of Orbit, including the preliminary determination of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, is incomplete due to the proximity of the closing and the ongoing valuation procedures.

Under the Orbit Agreement, in exchange for the Orbit Consideration, we will acquire full ownership of Orbit from Vanguard in tranches, with the final tranche closing no later than December 31, 2026.

Lyocon Acquisition

On November 28, 2025, we entered into a binding term sheet with the owners of Lyocon, pursuant to which we, through Nuburu Subsidiary, Inc. (“Nuburu Subsidiary”), intended to acquire all of the ownership interests in Lyocon. On January 15, 2026, we, through Nuburu Subsidiary, consummated the acquisition of all of the ownership interests in Lyocon from Paola Zanzola (“PZ”) and Alessandro Sala (“AS” and, together with PZ, the “Sellers”). Pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement, among us, Nuburu Subsidiary and the Sellers, we paid $2,000,000 in consideration to the Sellers, including (i) $750,000 in cash to the Sellers on the closing date, and (ii) a subordinated convertible note in the principal amount of $625,000 to each of the Sellers, which bears no interest, except in the event of a default, and has a maturity date of March 19, 2027 (the “Lyocon Maturity Date”). At the Lyocon Maturity Date, the holder of a convertible note may elect to convert all or a portion of the outstanding principal amount and accrued interest into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price of $1.47, which equals the volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Common Stock during the 60 trading days immediately preceding the closing date (as adjusted for the 2026 Reverse Stock Split). At the Lyocon Maturity Date, the holder of a convertible note has the right to request us to satisfy all or a portion of the outstanding principal and accrued interest under such convertible note in cash. We may elect to pay all or a portion of the outstanding principal amount and accrued interest under a convertible note in cash in lieu of shares of Common Stock in the event the VWAP of the Common Stock during the 60 trading days immediately preceding the Lyocon Maturity Date is at least 30% higher than the conversion price.

The Sellers may receive an earn out payment of up to an aggregate of $1,000,000 (the “Earn-out Cap”), which would be earned over a 5-year period, with potential earn-out payments being made at the end of 2028 and the end of 2030, upon achievement of certain milestones.

We will also provide $1,000,000 in funding to Lyocon in the form of capital contributions or other debt facility, at our election, of which $500,000 was paid on the closing date, $250,000 is due within 12 months of the closing date, and the remaining $250,000 is due within 24 months of the closing date, but not later than December 31, 2027. In the event that Nuburu Subsidiary ceases to hold more than a 50% interest in Lyocon, any unpaid funding amount will become due and payable upon such loss of control of Lyocon. If Nuburu Subsidiary fails to make a funding payment when due, which is not remedied within 30 days from written notice thereof, the Sellers will be entitled to an earn-out amount of 30% of the Earn-out Cap.

Following the closing date, Lyocon is managed by a board of directors (the “Lyocon Board”) nominated by Nuburu Subsidiary; provided that PZ will be designated as a member of the Lyocon Board for an initial term of 3 years, renewable until the expiration of the five-year business plan developed by the parties. The Lyocon Board is now comprised of Dario Barisoni (Chairman and Executive Director), Alessandro Zamboni, and PZ (Executive Director). The Sellers are employed as managers of Lyocon and entitled to participate in a management equity incentive plan under which they may receive equity awards for Common Stock to be issued by us.

Lyocon became a consolidated subsidiary of the Company on January 15, 2026, and the transaction will be accounted for as a business combination under ASC 805, Business Combinations. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the initial accounting for the business combination of Lyocon, including the preliminary determination of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, is incomplete due to the proximity of the closing and the ongoing valuation procedures.

SYME Convertible Note Receivable and Strategic Investment (Related Party)

On March 14, 2025, we entered into a convertible note receivable with SYME to invest up to $5,150,000 in SYME. As of the date hereof, we have invested the full $5,150,000. SYME is a fintech platform focused on Inventory Monetisation© solutions for manufacturing and trading companies. Upon conversion, we are expected to hold a controlling interest in SYME. Following approval by SYME stockholders, the Financial Conduct Authority, and The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (collectively, the “Approvals”), we may convert amounts outstanding under the facility into ordinary shares of SYME at a fixed conversion rate of £0.00003 per ordinary share, with conversion shares accompanied by a warrant to acquire one additional ordinary share of SYME for every two ordinary shares of SYME issued on any conversion, with an exercise price of £0.000039, as well as the ability to exercise on a cashless basis. Our Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer is the founder and current Chief Executive Officer of SYME, and as a result, the proposed investment was negotiated and approved by our independent board members.

SYME and its operating subsidiaries provide its platform for use by manufacturing and trading companies to access inventory trade solutions, enabling their businesses to generate cashflow, through a non-credit arrangement and without incurring debt. This is achieved by their existing eligible inventory being added to the platform and then monetised through purchases by third-party inventory funders. The inventory to be monetised can include warehoused goods waiting to be sold to end-customers or goods that are part of a typical import/export transaction.

In September 2025, in connection with an inventory monetization program related to the Tekne transaction, we advanced $400,000 to a special purpose vehicle affiliated with SYME (the “SYME Inventory Advance”), pursuant to an advance payment letter in connection with a proposed subscription of a financial instrument to be issued by such entity with the aim of monetizing the inventory of Tekne. On March 12, 2026, we entered into a bond subscription agreement (the “SYME 3 Agreement”) with Supply@ME Stock Company 3 S.r.l.(“SYME 3”), an affiliate of SYME For a description of the SYME 3 Agreement, see Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements included herein.During the year ended December 31, 2025, we advanced a total of $5,668,545 in SYME Inventory Advances.

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Heckler & Koch AG Investment

On February 6, 2026, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “H&K Investment Agreement”) with Brick Lane Capital Management Limited (“Brick Lane”) pursuant to which we acquired from Brick Lane 295,000 shares (or approximately 0.8% of the outstanding common shares) of Heckler & Koch AG (“H&K”), a leading manufacturer of small firearms for NATO and EU countries whose shares are listed on Euronext Paris under the ticker MLHK, for an aggregate purchase price of $15,000,000, which was paid by Subordinated Convertible Note (the “H&K Investment Note”). The H&K Investment Note bears no interest except in the event of a default, has a March 19, 2027 maturity date, and is convertible for $0.7560 per share, which was the closing VWAP on the day prior to the execution date of the H&K Investment Agreement (as adjusted for the 2026 Reverse Stock Split). Conversion of the note is limited in the event stockholder approval or an increase in authorized shares is required, or when conversion would result in Brick Lane and its affiliates beneficially owning more than 9.9% of our then outstanding shares of Common Stock. The H&K Investment Note is subordinate to (i) the currently outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, solely with respect to dividend rights and rights on the distribution of assets on any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, and (ii) the debenture (the “Debenture”) that we issued to YA II PN, LTD. (“YA”) in the principal amount of $25,000,000 in December 2025. We are required to file a resale registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the H&K Investment Note by no later than 10 business days following the filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC.

Maddox Joint Venture

On October 22, 2025, we entered into a non-binding Strategic Framework Agreement (the “SFA”), among us, Nuburu Defense and Maddox, pursuant to which we and Maddox agreed to establish a joint venture to develop, manufacture, and deploy military drones for NATO customers and for commercial or civilian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) applications.

On February 26, 2026, we and Nuburu Defense entered into a Contractual Joint Venture Agreement (the “Maddox Agreement”), with Maddox, pursuant to which we and Maddox have established a contractual joint venture for the development of a modular, containerized, mobile additive manufacturing platform capable of producing drone components, pods, mission-critical structural parts and related components for defense and security applications (the “Maddox Program” or the “Maddox Product”).

Under the Maddox Agreement, the Maddox Program is structured in two phases. Phase I is the development phase, during which we will fund up to $4,000,000 (the “Development Funds”) for Maddox’s development of the first full operating container at its U.S. facility. We will be entitled to a governance, supervision, accounting, compliance and reporting allocation (the “Governance Allocation”) equal to 10% of the Development Funds. We are entitled to a total reimbursable amount (the “Reimbursable Amount”) consisting of the Development Funds actually funded and the Governance Allocation applicable to such Development Funds. During Phase I, a Steering Committee consisting of two representatives appointed by each of us and Maddox will supervise the execution of the Maddox Program. Decisions of the Steering Committee require majority approval and, in the event of a deadlock, the parties must follow the processes set forth in the Maddox Agreement. Phase I will continue until the Maddox Product has successfully completed factory and site acceptance testing and has been certified as market-ready by the Steering Committee.

Phase II is the commercialization phase, during which the parties will form a new entity (“NewCo”) that will be owned 60% by us and 40% by Maddox. NewCo will be governed by a board consisting of five members, three of whom are appointed by us and two of whom are appointed by Maddox. NewCo will be the exclusive commercial vehicle for sales and production of the Maddox Product. During Phase II, until the Reimbursable Amount has been fully repaid to us, all distributable profits of NewCo will be allocated to us and Maddox’s 40% equity interest in NewCo will be pledged in favor of us. Thereafter, distributions will be made in accordance with ownership percentages. NewCo will serve as prime contractor for U.S. and European Union (“EU”)/NATO contracts to the extent permissible; provided that, if necessary, Maddox may act as prime contractor on behalf of NewCo for U.S. contracts and Nuburu, or Tekne, pursuant to a technology transfer agreement with us, may act as prime contractor on behalf of NewCo for EU/NATO contracts. Maddox will lead commercial engagement in the U.S. and we will lead commercial engagement in the EU and NATO territories.

The Maddox Agreement has an initial five-year term and will automatically renew for successive one-year terms unless a party provides notice of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the current term.

Cooperation Agreement with Beryl

On March 3, 2026, Nuburu Defense entered into an International Cooperation Agreement (“Beryl Agreement”) with Tekne and Engineering Bureau Beryl LLC (“Beryl”), pursuant to which the parties will collaborate to support the deployment in Ukraine of a high-performance vehicle developed and manufactured by Tekne based on the Graelion platform, known as the “Tekne Graelion” (the “Graelion Product”). The Beryl Agreement provides a framework for the qualification, deployment, and coordinated industrial scaling of the Graelion Product in Ukraine. Tekne and Nuburu Defense are parties to the Network Contract, which is a specific form of joint-venture contractual agreement under Italian law, and this program is being entered into by Tekne and Nuburu Defense in connection with the Network Contract.

Beryl, a Ukrainian industrial company currently producing and supplying vehicles to Ukrainian military forces, is expected to verify compliance of the Graelion Product with the characteristics stated by the manufacturer, carry out mission-specific kit integration to bring the Graelion Product into conformity with the technical requirements of state customers in Ukraine, and demonstrate the Graelion Product to potential customers. Tekne will be the sole provider of the Graelion Product chassis and core technology required to operate the Graelion Product.

The Beryl Agreement provides a two-year exclusivity period during which (i) Beryl is prohibited from representing any product that competes with the Graelion Product, except for contracts entered into by Beryl prior to the effective date of the Beryl Agreement, and (ii) Tekne will not enter into negotiations with any other third party with respect to the deployment of the Graelion Product in Ukraine or development of the mission-specific kit integration of the Graelion Product. Under the Beryl Agreement, and as part of the Network Contract, Nuburu Defense and Tekne will establish a joint representative office in Kyiv to serve as the program’s operational, industrial and compliance coordination center. Under the Beryl Agreement, Nuburu Defense may provide capital, advance payments, and procurement support, enabling Tekne to acquire materials and components for the

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Graelion Product. Nuburu Defense and Tekne will jointly assess and determine the economic feasibility of any transaction involving the Product, including pricing, margin structure and overall program profitability thresholds.

Available Information

Our internet address is https://nuburu.net. We will file or furnish periodic reports and amendments thereto, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K (and amendments to those reports), proxy and information statements and other information filed or furnished pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically, which may be accessed through the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Our reports, amendments thereto, proxy statements and other information are also made available, free of charge, on our investor relations website at https://ir.nuburu.net as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such information with the SEC. The information contained on the websites referenced in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is not incorporated by reference into this filing. Further, our references to website URLs are intended to be inactive textual references only. All statements made in any of our securities filings, including all forward-looking statements or information, are made as of the date of the document in which the statement is included, and we do not assume or undertake any obligation to update any of those statements or documents unless we are required to do so by law.