8-K
Strive, Inc. (ASST)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 5, 2025
| STRIVE, INC. | ||
|---|---|---|
| (Exact name of Company as specified in its charter) | ||
| Nevada | 001-41612 | 88-1293236 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| (State or other jurisdiction<br><br>of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer <br><br>Identification No.) |
| 200 Crescent Ct, Suite 1400, Dallas, TX | 75201 | |
| --- | --- | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
| (855) 427-7360 | ||
| --- | ||
| (Company’s telephone number, including area code) | ||
| (Former name or former address, if changed since last report) | ||
| --- |
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Company under any of the following provisions:
| ☒ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
|---|---|
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| --- | --- |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| --- | --- |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
|---|---|---|
| Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share | ASST | The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC |
Indicate by check mark whether the Company is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Emerging Growth Company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Company has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements ofCertain Officers.
On October 5, 2025, in connection with Benjamin Werkman’s appointment as Chief Investment Officer of Strive, Inc. (the “Company”), Mr. Werkman, a Class II director, resigned from the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company, including from his service on the Audit Committee of the Board (the “Audit Committee”), the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board (the “Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee”), effective October 5, 2025.
Mr. Werkman’s resignation was not the result of any disagreement with the Company or the Board on any matter relating to the operations, policies or practices of the Company, but instead because Mr. Werkman will be joining the Company in a full-time capacity as Chief Investment Officer and will become a board observer for the Company.
In connection with Mr. Werkman’s resignation, the Board appointed James Lavish as a member of the Audit Committee, Mahesh Ramakrishnan as a member of the Compensation Committee, and Jonathan Macey as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, effective as of Mr. Werkman’s resignation, to fill the vacancies resulting therefrom. In addition, the Board reduced the number of directors constituting the Board to ten directors, effective as of Mr. Werkman’s resignation.
A copy of the Company’s press release announcing Mr. Werkman’s transition into his new role as Chief Investment Officer is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| Exhibit No. | Description |
|---|---|
| 99.1 | Press release of Strive, Inc. dated October 6, 2025 |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
1
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: October 6, 2025 | STRIVE, INC. |
|---|---|
| /s/ Matthew Cole | |
| Name: Matthew Cole | |
| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
2
Exhibit 99.1
Strive Appoints Ben Werkman as Chief InvestmentOfficer to Advance Bitcoin Strategy
Dallas, TX – October 6, 2025 – Strive, Inc. (“Strive” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ASST) today announced the appointment of Ben Werkman as Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) reporting to Strive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Matt Cole.
A recognized Bitcoin advocate with a proven track record in corporate Bitcoin strategy and institutional finance, Mr. Werkman brings deep expertise in treasury strategy, implementation, capital allocation, equity and derivatives trading, and risk management. Most recently, he served as CIO at Swan Bitcoin, where his focus has been on capital-raising initiatives and the implementation of the first treasury services partnership with a public Bitcoin treasury company, Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS). Previously, Mr. Werkman founded NumerisX, a boutique Bitcoin treasury advisory firm, where he guided corporations in developing and implementing Bitcoin treasury strategies. Mr. Werkman began his career in commercial banking, focusing on distressed credit during the global financial crisis, and later spent more than nine years at KPMG specializing in governance and corporate strategy.
In his new role at Strive, Mr. Werkman will oversee the Company’s investment strategy, with a focus on capital deployment, risk management frameworks, and advancing Bitcoin initiatives. With his appointment as CIO of Strive, Mr. Werkman will become a board observer.
“I’m thrilled to join Strive at this pivotal moment in Bitcoin’s history where digital credit is emerging as the next frontier of corporate finance,” said Ben Werkman, CIO of Strive. “Strive has the vision, the capital structure, and the expertise to be a leader in this transition, and I’m excited to help advance our mission forward.”
“Bringing Ben onboard full time at Strive as our Chief Investment Officer is a large talent boost to our already strong Bitcoin treasury team,” said Matt Cole, CEO of Strive. “I’m confident in our team’s ability to lead in strategic decision making and communications for the years to come in pursuit of our goal to increase Bitcoin per share for common equity shareholders and outperform Bitcoin over the long run.”
This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any shares of Strive’s Class A common stock.
About Strive
Strive is the first publicly traded asset management Bitcoin treasury company. The Company is focused on increasing Bitcoin per share to outperform Bitcoin over the long run.
Since launching its first ETF in August 2022, Strive Asset Management, LLC, a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Strive and an SEC-registered investment adviser, has grown to manage over $2 billion in assets.
Learn more at strive.com and follow the Company on X at @strive.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements herein and the documents incorporated herein by reference may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 175 promulgated thereunder, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Rule 3b-6 promulgated thereunder, which statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Such statements are often characterized by the use of qualified words (and their derivatives) such as “may,” “will,” “anticipate,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” “assume,” “forecast,” “target,” “budget,” “outlook,” “trend,” “guidance,” “objective,” “goal,” “strategy,” “opportunity,” and “intend,” as well as words of similar meaning or other statements concerning opinions or judgment of Strive or its management about future events. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as of the time they are made and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, likelihood and degree of occurrence, which could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Although Strive believes that its expectations with respect to forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions within the bounds of its existing knowledge of its business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results of Strive will not differ materially from any projected future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause results to differ materially from those described above can be found in Strive’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other documents subsequently filed by Strive with the SEC. The actual results anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on Strive. Investors are cautioned not to rely too heavily on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and Strive undertakes no obligation to update or clarify these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Strive Media Contact: media@strive.com
Investor Contact: ir@strive.com
Investor Relations:
Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC
Scott Powell, President
1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Office: (646) 893-5835
Email: info@skylineccg.com