Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

Registration No. 333-256878

PROSPECTUS

AKERNA CORP.

$100,000,000
Shares of Common Stock
Shares of Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units

Akerna Corp. (the “Company”) may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $100,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of shares of common stock, par value $0.0001, in the capital of the Company, (which we refer to herein as “Common Stock”), shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001, in the capital of the Company (which we refer to herein as “Preferred Stock”), warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (which we refer to herein as “Warrants”) or any combination thereof (which we refer to herein as “Units”) in one or more transactions under this base prospectus (which we refer to herein as the “prospectus”). This prospectus also covers (i) Common Stock that may be issued upon the conversion of Preferred Stock and Common Stock and Preferred Stock that may be issued upon exercise of Warrants and (ii) such indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion of, as the case may be, the securities registered hereunder, including, in each case, an indeterminate number of Common Stock and Preferred Stock that may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution or adjustment provisions in Preferred Stock or Warrants issuable hereunder.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement (which we refer to herein as the “prospectus supplement”) that describes specific information about the particular securities being offered and may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and the prospectus supplement, together with any additional information which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities without the prospectus supplement which includes a description of the method and terms of that offering.

We may sell the securities on a continuous or delayed basis to or through underwriters, dealers or agents or directly to purchasers. The prospectus supplement, which we will provide to you each time we offer securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of the securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus.

Our Common Stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “KERN”. On June 16, 2021, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.34 per share. There is currently no market through which the securities, other than the Common Stock, may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell the securities purchased under this prospectus. This may affect the pricing of the securities, other than the Common Stock, in the secondary market, the transparency and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of these Securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See “Risk Factors”.

Investing in the securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4.

These Securities have not been approved or disapproved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any state securities commission nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

PROSPECTUS DATED JUNE 16, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	ii
SUMMARY	1
RISK FACTORS	4
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS	7
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS	9
USE OF PROCEEDS	10
MARKET FOR COMMON SHARES	11
DIVIDEND POLICY	11
CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS	11
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	11
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	14
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS	16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	17
EXPERTS	18
LEGAL MATTERS	18
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	19
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	20

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of initial aggregate offering price of $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in a prospectus supplement and may include, where applicable: (i) in the case of Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock offered, the offering price and any other specific terms of the offering; (ii) in the case of Preferred Stock, the number of shares of Preferred Stock offered, the designation and class of the Preferred Stock, the offering price, any dividend terms and rates, conversion terms and conversion price and any other specific terms of the Preferred Stock and offering (iii) in the case of Warrants, the designation, number and terms of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants, any procedures that will result in the adjustment of those numbers, the exercise price, dates and periods of exercise, and the currency or the currency unit in which the exercise price must be paid and any other specific terms; and (iv) in the case of Units, the designation, number and terms of the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, or Warrants comprising the Units. A prospectus supplement may include specific variable terms pertaining to the securities that are not within the alternatives and parameters set forth in this prospectus.

In connection with any offering of the securities (unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement), the underwriters or agents may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities offered at a higher level than that which might exist in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be interrupted or discontinued at any time. See “Plan of Distribution”.

Please carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the documents incorporated herein by reference under “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and the additional information described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”.

Owning securities may subject you to tax consequences in the United States. This prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully. You should read the tax discussion in any prospectus supplement with respect to a particular offering and consult your own tax advisor with respect to your own particular circumstances.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. The distribution or possession of this prospectus in or from certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted or where the person making the offer or sale is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is not permitted to make such offer or sale. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

References in this prospectus to “$” are to United States dollars.

Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to Akerna, or as “we”, “us”, or “our” refers to Akerna Corp. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Akerna” or the “Company”).  

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SUMMARY

The following highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. It does not contain all the details concerning the Offering, including information that may be important to you. You should carefully review this entire prospectus including the section entitled “Risk Factors” and the financial statement incorporated herein by reference. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Summary of Our Business

Akerna is the leading provider of enterprise software solutions within the cannabis industry. Cannabis businesses face significant complexity due to the stringent regulations and restrictions that shift based on regional, state, and national governing bodies. As the first to market more than ten years ago, Akerna’s family of software platforms enable regulatory compliance and inventory management across the entire supply chain. When the legal cannabis market started to grow, we identified a need for organic material tracking and regulatory compliance software as a service (SaaS) solution customized specifically for the unique needs of the industry. By providing an integrated ecosystem of applications and services that enables compliance, regulation, consumer safety and taxation, Akerna is building the technology backbone of the cannabis industry. While designed specifically for the unique needs of the cannabis market, our solutions are adaptable for other industries requiring government regulatory oversight, or where the tracking of organic materials from seed or plant to end products is desired.

Executing upon our expansion strategy, we acquire complementary cannabis brands to grow the scope of Akerna’s cannabis ecosystem. Throughout 2019 and 2020, we integrated four new brands into the Akerna product and service offering. Our first acquisition, solo sciences, was initiated in the fall of 2019, with the full acquisition completed in July 2020. We added Trellis Solutions to our portfolio on April 10, 2020 and finalized the acquisition of Ample Organics and Last Call Analytics on July 7, 2020. On April 1, 2021, Akerna completed the acquisition of Viridian Sciences, a cannabis business management software system built on SAP Business One. Through our growing family of companies, Akerna provides highly versatile platforms that equip our clients with a central data management system for tracking regulated products. Our solutions also provide clients with integrated security, transparency, and scalability capabilities, all while maintaining compliance with their governing regulations.

On the commercial side, our products help state-licensed businesses operate in compliance with applicable regional laws. Our integrated ecosystem provides integrations with third-party vendors and add-ons that enhance the capabilities of our commercial software platforms. On the regulatory side, we provide track and trace solutions that allow state governments to monitor compliance of licensed cannabis businesses.  To date, our software has helped monitor the compliance of more than $20 billion in legal cannabis. While our software facilitates the success of legal cannabis businesses, we do not handle any cannabis-related material, do not process cannabis sales transactions within the United States, and our revenue is generated from a fixed-fee based subscription model and is not related to the type or amount of sales made by our clients. 

We drive revenue growth through the development of our product line, our acquisitions and from continued expansion of the cannabis, hemp, and CBD industry. Businesses across the regulated cannabis industry use our solutions. The brand recognition of our existing products, our ability to provide services in all areas of the seed-to-sale life cycle, and our wealth of relevant experience attracts cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary clients who are seeking comprehensive business optimization solutions. Our software solutions are designed to be scalable, and while mid-market and smaller customers have historically been our primary target segment, we are focused on extending our customer reach to address the needs of the emerging enterprise level operator. We believe these larger multi-state/multi-vertical operations represent significant long-term future growth opportunities as the cannabis industry continues to consolidate at a rapid rate. The sophistication of our platform accommodates the complexities of both multi-vertical and multi-state business needs, making us critical partners and allowing us to cultivate long-term, successful relationships with our clients.

Our principal executive offices are located at 1550 Larimer Street #246, Denver, Colorado 80202, and our telephone number is (888) 932-6537 and our Internet website address is www.akerna.com.  The information on our website is not a part of, or incorporated in, this prospectus.

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The Securities being Offered under this Prospectus

We may offer the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants or Units with a total value of up to $100,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:

● designation or classification;

● aggregate offering price;

● original issue discount, if any;

● rates and times of payment of dividends, if any;

● redemption, conversion or exchange terms, if any;

● conversion or exchange prices, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange;

● restrictive covenants, if any;

● voting or other rights, if any; and

● important United States federal income tax considerations.

A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or in documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement will offer a security that is not described in this prospectus.

Common Stock

We may issue shares of our Common Stock from time to time. The holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. Our certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting. Our directors are divided into three classes. At each annual meeting of stockholders, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms expire are elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election. The holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds; however, the current policy of our board of directors is to retain earnings, if any, for operations and growth. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the holders of our Common Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets that are legally available for distribution. The holders of our Common Stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, which may be designated solely by action of our board of directors and issued in the future.

Preferred Stock

We may issue shares of our Preferred Stock from time to time, in one or more series. Our board of directors will determine the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series, without any further vote or action by stockholders. Convertible Preferred Stock will be convertible into our Common Stock or exchangeable for our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option or both and would be at prescribed conversion rates. If we sell any series of Preferred Stock under this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements, we will fix the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions of the Preferred Stock of such series in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of Preferred Stock we are offering before the issuance of the related series of Preferred Stock. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the series of Preferred Stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of Preferred Stock.

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Warrants

We may issue Warrants for the purchase of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in one or more series. We may issue Warrants independently or together with Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. We will evidence each series of Warrants by warrant certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into warrant agreements with a bank or trust company that we select to be our warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of Warrants.

In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Warrants. We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the particular series of Warrants being offered, as well as the warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the Warrants. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement or warrant certificate containing the terms of the Warrants we are offering before the issuance of the Warrants.

Units

We may issue Units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock and/or Warrants for the purchase of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in one or more series. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the Units. We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the series of Units being offered, as well as the Unit agreements that contain the terms of the Units. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that describe the terms of the series of Units we are offering before the issuance of the related series of Units.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER OR SELL ANY SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk.  You should carefully consider the risks described below and discussed under the section captioned “Risk Factors” contained in our transition report on Form 10-KT for the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2020, and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, which reports are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein, including any documents subsequently filed and incorporated by reference, before making an investment decision with regard to our securities. See “Documents Incorporated by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” below.

The statements contained in this prospectus that are not historic facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or implied by forward-looking statements. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer.    

Summary of Risk Factors

The following is a short description of the risks and uncertainties you should carefully consider in evaluating our business and us which are more fully described in our transition report on Form 10-KT for the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2020 and in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2021, which reports are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The factors listed below and in the transition report and quarterly report, represent certain important factors that we believe could cause our business results to differ. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the general or specific risks that may affect us. It should be recognized that other risks may be significant, presently or in the future, and the risks set forth below may affect us to a greater extent than indicated. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Relating to Our Financial Condition and Operating History

● We have a history of losses, expect to continue to incur losses in the near term and may not achieve or sustain profitability in the future.

● We have a relatively short operating history, which makes it difficult to evaluate our business and future prospects.

● Our long-term results of operations are difficult to predict and depend on the commercial success of our clients, the continued growth of the cannabis industry generally, and the regulatory environment within which the cannabis industry operates.

● Direct and indirect consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic may have material adverse consequences.

Risks Related to the Cannabis Industry

● As a company whose clients operate in the cannabis industry, we face many unique and evolving risks.

o Marijuana remains illegal under United States federal law

o Uncertainty of federal enforcement

o We could become subject to racketeering laws

o Banking regulations could limit access to banking services and expose us to risk

o Dividends and distributions could be prevented if our receipt of payments from clients is deemed to be proceeds of crime

o Further legislative development beneficial to our operations is not guaranteed

o The cannabis industry could face strong opposition from other industries

o The legality of marijuana could be reversed in one or more states

o Changing legislation and evolving interpretations of the law

o Dependence on client licensing

o Insurance risks

● The cannabis industry is an evolving industry and we must anticipate and respond to changes.

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Risks related to Our Business

● A significant portion of our business is and is expected to be, from government contracts, which present certain unique risks.

● Our operations may be adversely affected by disruptions to our information technology, or IT, systems, including disruptions from cybersecurity breaches of our IT infrastructure.

● Privacy regulation is an evolving area and compliance with applicable privacy regulations may increase our operating costs or adversely impact our ability to service our clients and market our products and services.

● We rely on third parties for certain services made available to users of our platforms, which could limit our control over the quality of the user experience and our cost of providing services.

● Acquisitions and integration issues may expose us to risks.

● To grow and be successful, we need to attract and retain qualified personnel.

● We are smaller and less diversified than many of our potential competitors.

● Our business and stock price may suffer as a result of our limited public company operating experience and if securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business, or our market, or if they change their recommendations regarding our common stock in an adverse manner, the price and trading volume of our common stock could decline.

Risks related to Intellectual Property

● Protecting and defending against intellectual property claims may have a material adverse effect on our business.

● Our success depends in part upon our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property.

● Others may assert intellectual property infringement claims against us.

● Protecting and defending against intellectual property claims may have a material adverse effect on our business.

● Our success depends in part upon our ability to protect our core technology and intellectual property.

● Others may assert intellectual property infringement claims against us.

Risks related to Our Charter Documents

● Anti-takeover provisions contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could impair a takeover attempt and limit the price investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common stock and could entrench management.

● Our corporate opportunity provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation could enable management to benefit from corporate opportunities that might otherwise be available to us.

● Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides, subject to limited exceptions, that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for certain stockholder litigation matters, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or stockholders.

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Risks Relating to our Convertible Debt

● The issuance of shares of our common stock pursuant to our convertible notes may result in significant dilution to our stockholders.

● Our obligations to the holders of our convertible notes are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our assets, if we default on those obligations, the convertible note holders could foreclose on our assets.

● The holders of the convertible notes have certain additional rights upon an event of default under such convertible notes, which could harm our business, financial condition, and results of operations and could require us to reduce or cease our operations.

Risks Relating to our Accounting for Certain Warrants

● Certain of our warrants are accounted for as liabilities and are recorded at fair value upon issuance with any changes in fair value each period reported in our statement of operations, which may have an adverse effect on the market price of our securities.

● We may face additional risks, including regulatory, litigation, stockholder or other actions and negative impacts on our stock price, as a result of the material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and revisions to our financial statements.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

● We may seek to raise additional funds, finance acquisitions, or develop strategic relationships by issuing securities that would dilute investors’ ownership. Depending on the terms available to us, if these activities result in significant dilution, it may negatively impact the trading price of our shares of common stock.

● Warrants are exercisable for our common stock, which could increase the number of shares eligible for future resale in the public market and result in dilution to our stockholders.

● The market price of our shares of common stock is particularly volatile given our status as a relatively new public company with a generally small and thinly traded public float, which could lead to wide fluctuations in our share price. Stockholders may be unable to sell their shares of common stock at or above their purchase price, which may result in substantial losses to them.

● The market price of our common stock is still likely to be highly volatile and subject to wide fluctuations, and stockholders may be unable to resell shares of common stock at or above the price at which they are acquired.

● We have not paid dividends in the past and do not expect to pay dividends for the foreseeable future, and any return on investment may be limited to potential future appreciation in the value of our common stock.

General Risks

● We may not be able to timely and effectively implement controls and procedures required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

● Failure to remediate material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting could result in material misstatements in our financial statements.

● The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources and divert management’s attention. 

● We are an “emerging growth company” and we cannot be certain if the reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies will make our shares of common stock less attractive to investors.

● Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

● Our operations could be adversely affected by events outside of our control, such as natural disasters, wars, or health epidemics.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and the exhibits attached hereto contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future events or our future results of operations, financial condition, business, strategies, financial needs, and the plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “likely,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Forward-looking statements are based on information available to our management as of the date of this prospectus and our management’s good faith belief as of such date with respect to future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements, in particular the substantial risks and uncertainties related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to:

● our ability to sustain our revenue growth rate, to achieve or maintain profitability, and to effectively manage our anticipated growth;

● our short operating history makes it difficult to evaluate our business and future prospects;

● our dependence on the commercial success of our clients, the continued growth of the cannabis industry and the regulatory environment in which the cannabis industry operates;

● our ability to attract new clients on a cost-effective basis and the extent to which existing clients renew and upgrade their subscriptions;

● the timing of our introduction of new solutions or updates to existing solutions;

● our ability to successfully diversify our solutions by developing or introducing new solutions or acquiring and integrating additional businesses, products, services, or content;

● our ability to respond to changes within the cannabis industry;

● the effects of adverse changes in, or the enforcement of, federal laws regarding our clients’ cannabis operations or our receipt of proceeds from such operations;

● our ability to manage unique risks and uncertainties related to government contracts;

● our ability to manage and protect our information technology systems;

● our ability to maintain and expand our strategic relationships with third parties;

● our ability to deliver our solutions to clients without disruption or delay;

● our exposure to liability from errors, delays, fraud, or system failures, which may not be covered by insurance;

● our ability to expand our international reach;

● our ability to retain or recruit officers, key employees, and directors;

● our ability to raise additional capital or obtain financing in the future;

● our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses with Akerna’s business within anticipated timelines and at their expected costs;

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● our ability to complete planned acquisitions on time or at all due to failure to obtain stockholder approval or governmental or regulatory clearances, or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion, or the failure of completion for any other reason;

● our response to adverse developments in the general market, business, economic, labor, regulatory, and political conditions, including worldwide demand for cannabis and the spot price and long-term contract price of cannabis;

● our response to competitive risks;

● our ability to protect our intellectual property;

● the market reaction to negative publicity regarding cannabis;

● our ability to manage the requirements of being a public company;

● our ability to service our convertible debt;

● our accounting treatment of certain of our private warrants;

● our ability to effectively manage any disruptions to our business and/or any negative impact to our financial performance caused by the economic and social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken in response; and

● other factors discussed in other sections of this prospectus, including the section titled “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s transition report for the six-month period ended December 31, 2020 on Form 10-KT, incorporated herein by reference, including the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

We qualify all the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus by the foregoing cautionary statements.

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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Equity Financing

On October 28, 2020, we entered into subscription agreements with certain investors (the “Investors”) relating to the sale and issuance by the Company of 5,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001, at a price of $2.40 per share (the “Equity Offering”). The Offering closed on October 30, 2020.

In addition, on October 28, 2020,we entered into a placement agency agreement with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (the “Placement Agent”), pursuant to which the Placement Agent agreed to act as the Company’s agent for the sale of the shares to the public in the Equity Offering on a best efforts basis. The Company agreed to pay the Placement Agent a cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from the Equity Offering and to reimburse the Placement Agent for up to $60,000 of its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

Debt Modification

On December 23, 2020, we entered into waivers with all the holders (the “Holders”) of our outstanding senior secured convertible notes issued on June 9, 2020 (the “Notes”), pursuant to which the Company and the Holders, separately and not jointly, agreed to waive certain terms and conditions of the Notes as follows: (i) The Holders irrevocably waived the last sentence of Section 8(a) of the Notes requiring that all installment amounts payable under the Notes prior to April 1, 2021 be paid in cash pursuant to installment redemptions. The Company may now elect, in its sole discretion, to pay installment amounts under the Notes prior to April 1, 2021, by issuing shares of common stock pursuant to installment conversions or by paying cash pursuant to installment redemptions, in each case in accordance with the existing terms of the Notes, (ii) The Company irrevocably waived the prohibition on acceleration of installment amounts in Section 8(e) of the Notes solely in relation to the Installment Amount for January 4, 2020, to permit the Holders to accelerate the January 4, 2021 installment amount, in whole or in part, to one or more acceleration dates from December 24, 2020 through to and including January 4, 2021, as elected by each Holder pursuant to Section 8(e) of the Notes, (iii) The Company and the Holders agreed that the Company may irrevocably waive the installment scheduled principal amount for any installment date by setting forth in the installment notice for that installment date an installment amount greater than the installment scheduled principal amount due and payable on the next installment date. Each Holder may then consent to all or a portion of such increased installment amount for such installment date by written confirmation no later than 4:00 p.m. New York time on the trading day immediately prior to such installment date. Any increased amount for an installment amount above the installment scheduled principal amount for such installment date will reduce the principal amount under the Notes, and (iv) In relation to the January 4, 2021 installment amount, the Company delivered installment notices to the Holders increasing the installment amount for January 4, 2021, in the aggregate, by $2,062,500.

Acquisition of Veridian

On March 10, 2021, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Viridian Agreement”) with Navigator Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”), and Viridian Sciences, Inc., a Delaware company (“Viridian”), whereby we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Viridian from Seller for 1,000,000 shares of Akerna common stock valued at $6.00 per share (the “Transaction”).

The Agreement provides for a contingent payment of shares of Akerna’s common stock equal to up to $1,000,000 payable after the one-year period following the closing of the Transaction based upon certain revenue achievements set forth in the Agreement. A portion of the Share Consideration (as defined in the Agreement) in an amount equal to 100,000 shares of Akerna common stock valued at $6.00 per share in cash was deposited into an escrow account to satisfy certain net working capital adjustments and indemnification obligations of Seller.

We closed the acquisition of Veridian on April 1, 2021.

Transition Period

On September 25, 2020, our Board of Directors adopted resolutions pursuant to Article XII of our Bylaws to change the Company’s fiscal year end from June 30 to December 31, effective for the year ending December 31, 2020.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless we specify another use in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, and to the extent we have any debt, debt repayment.

We may also use such proceeds to fund acquisitions of businesses, product candidates or technologies that complement our current business. We may set forth additional information on the use of net proceeds from the sale of the securities we offer under this prospectus in a prospectus supplement related to a specific offering.

Investors are cautioned, however, that expenditures may vary substantially from these uses. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management, who will have broad discretion regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including the amount of cash generated by our operations, the amount of competition and other operational factors. We may find it necessary or advisable to use portions of the proceeds from this offering for other purposes.

From time to time, we evaluate these and other factors and we anticipate continuing to make such evaluations to determine if the existing allocation of resources, including the proceeds of this offering, is being optimized. Circumstances that may give rise to a change in the use of proceeds include:

● a change in development plan or strategy;

● the addition of new products or applications;

● technical delays;

● delays or difficulties with our clinical trials;

● negative results from our clinical trials;

● difficulty obtaining regulatory approval;

● failure to achieve sales as anticipated;

● the availability and terms of debt financing to fund a portion of the purchase price(s) for potential acquisitions; and

● the availability of other sources of cash including cash flow from operations and new bank debt financing arrangements, if any.

Pending other uses, we intend to invest the proceeds to us in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities such as money market funds, certificates of deposit, or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government, or hold as cash. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable, or any, return.

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MARKET FOR COMMON SHARES

Our shares of Common Stock trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “KERN”. On June 7, 2021, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $4.27 per share, there were 25,212,342 shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding, and we had approximately 220 registered shareholders of record.

DIVIDEND POLICY

We do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future. In addition, our ability to pay dividends is restricted by agreements governing Akerna’s and its subsidiaries’ debt, including the Company’s senior secured convertible notes. See “Risk Factors” above.

CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The applicable prospectus supplement will also describe certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of Securities by an initial investor who is a U.S. person (within the meaning of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code), if applicable, including, to the extent applicable, any such consequences relating to Securities payable in a currency other than the U.S. dollar, issued at an original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes or containing early redemption provisions or other special terms.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

As of June 7, 2021, our authorized capital stock consists of 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of which 25,212,342 shares of common stock are issued and outstanding and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value, of which one share of special voting Preferred Stock is issued and outstanding. We are a Delaware corporation and our affairs are governed by our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws. The following are summaries of material provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws insofar as they relate to the material terms of our Common Stock. Complete copies of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws are filed as exhibits to our public filings.

Common Stock

All outstanding shares of Common Stock are of the same class and have equal rights and attributes. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. Subject to the prior rights of all classes or series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to dividends or other distributions, all stockholders are entitled to share equally in dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available. Subject to the prior rights of creditors of Akerna and the holders of all classes or series of stock at the time outstanding having prior rights as to distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Akerna, in the event of liquidation, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of all liabilities. The stockholders do not have cumulative, preemptive rights, or subscription rights.

Preferred Stock

The board of directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, without further vote or action by the stockholders, to issue from time to time shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series. Each such series of Preferred Stock shall have such number of shares, designations, preferences, voting powers, qualifications, and special or relative rights or privileges as shall be determined by the board of directors, which may include, among others, dividend rights, voting rights, liquidation preferences, conversion rights and preemptive rights. Issuance of Preferred Stock by our board of directors may result in such shares having dividend and/or liquidation preferences senior to the rights of the holders of our Common Stock and could dilute the voting rights of the holders of our Common Stock.

Prior to the issuance of shares of each series of Preferred Stock, the board of directors is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law and our certificate of incorporation to adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The certificate of designation fixes for each class or series the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions, including, but not limited to, some or all of the following:

● the number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by action of the board of directors;

● the dividend rate and the manner and frequency of payment of dividends on the shares of that series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and, if so, from which date;

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● whether that series will have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

● whether that series will have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the board of directors may determine;

● whether or not the shares of that series will be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption;

● whether that series will have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;

● whether or not the shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the shares of any other series or class in any respect;

● the rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and

● any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.

Once designated by our board of directors, each series of Preferred Stock may have specific financial and other terms that will be described in a prospectus supplement. The description of the Preferred Stock that is set forth in any prospectus supplement is not complete without reference to the documents that govern the Preferred Stock. These include our certificate of incorporation and any certificates of designation that our board of directors may adopt.

All shares of Preferred Stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable, including shares of Preferred Stock issued upon the exercise of Preferred Stock Warrants or subscription rights, if any.

Although our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize the issuance of a series of Preferred Stock that could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt.

Special Voting Share

The special voting share has a par value of $0.0001 per share. The special voting share entitles the holder thereof to an aggregate number of votes equal to the number of the Exchangeable Shares issued and outstanding from time to time and that are not owned by us or our subsidiaries. Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holder of the special voting share and the holders of our common stock will vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of Akerna’s shareholders. With respect to all meetings of shareholders of Akerna at which holders of Akerna shares are entitled to vote, each registered holder of Exchangeable Shares shall be entitled to instruct the trustee holding the special voting share to cast and exercise, in the manner instructed, that number of votes equal to the “Equivalent Vote Amount” for each Exchangeable Share owned of record by such holder of Exchangeable Shares at the close of business on the record date established by Akerna or by applicable law for such meeting, in respect of each matter, question, proposal or proposition to be voted on at such meeting. At such time as the special voting share has no votes attached to it, the special voting share shall be automatically cancelled.

Exchangeable Shares

The Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco are intended to be substantially economically equivalent to shares of our common stock. The rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco include the following:

● any holder of Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco is entitled to require Exchangeco to redeem any or all of the Exchangeable Shares registered in his/her name in exchange for one share of our common stock for each Exchangeable Share presented and surrendered;

● in the event Akerna declares a dividend on its common stock, the holders of Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco are entitled to receive from Exchangeco the same dividend, or an economically equivalent dividend, on their Exchangeable Shares;

● the holders of the Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco are not entitled to receive notice of or to attend any meeting of the shareholders of Exchangeco or to vote at any such meeting, except as required by law or as specifically provided in the Exchangeable Share conditions; and

● the holders of Exchangeable Shares of Exchangeco are entitled to instruct the Trustee to vote the special voting stock as described above.

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Of the 3,294,574 Exchangeable Shares that were issued to former Ample shareholders in connection with the consummation of the Arrangement, an aggregate of 658,915 Exchangeable Shares were issued as “Closing Consideration” and an aggregate of 2,635,659 Exchangeable Shares, constituting part of the “Escrowed Consideration” were issued into escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement (the “Escrow Agreement”), entered into on July 7, 2020 by and among the Company, ExchangeCo, John Prentice, as Shareholder Representative, and Odyssey Trust Company. Under the Escrow Agreement, subject to unresolved claims by the Company under the Arrangement Agreement in respect of fraud, the Escrowed Consideration shall be released to former Ample shareholders upon the six-, nine-, and twelve-month anniversaries of the Closing Date in accordance with the following schedule -- 988,372 shares on the six-month anniversary, 823,643 shares on the nine-month anniversary, and 823,644 shares on the twelve-month anniversary. As of the date hereof, 2,255,201 shares of common stock of Akerna have been issued on conversion of Exchangeable Shares.

CVRs

In addition to the Exchangeable Shares, each Ample shareholder, immediately prior to the time at which the Arrangement became effective received one CVR. Each CVR entitles the holder to receive a portion of Deferred Consideration (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement) that the initial holder of such CVR is entitled to receive in its capacity as an Ample shareholder, with an aggregate of up to CAD$10,000,000 additional Exchangeable Shares issuable to the holders of the CVRs subject to downward adjustment pursuant to the Arrangement Agreement. Pursuant to the Rights Indenture entered into on July 7, 2020 by and among Akerna, Exchangeco, John Prentice as Shareholder Representative and Odyssey Trust Company, holders of CVRs shall be entitled to additional Exchangeable Shares if certain revenue targets are achieved by Ample during the twelve month period following effectiveness of the Arrangement.

 Registration Rights

We have granted registration rights under the Securities Act to certain holders of our common stock in relation to our acquisitions of Solo, Trellis and Ample. In relation to Ample, we agreed to file and maintain, until no Exchangeable Shares remain outstanding, a registration statement regarding the exchange of the Exchangeable Shares into shares of our common stock pursuant to their terms. In relation thereto, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on July 9, 2020 (333-239783) which was brought effective on August 14, 2020. In relation to Trellis, we agreed to file a registration statement registering the resale of shares of certain of the shares of common stock held by the former shareholders of Trellis, totaling 314,684 shares. In relation thereto, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on August 7, 2020 (333-242474) registering the resale of 314,684 shares of our common stock, which was brought effective on August 14, 2020. In relation to Solo, we have agreed to use of commercially reasonable efforts to file a registration statement to register the resale of 2,000,000 shares of common stock held by the former shareholders of Solo. In relation thereto, we filed a registration statement on Form S-1 on January 15, 2021 (333-252178) registering the resale of 2,717,245 shares of our common stock related to the Solo transaction (such registration statement also acted as a post-effective amendment to the Trellis registration statement and a prior registration statement on S-3 for the resale of shares), which was brought effective on January 25, 2021. We may also be required in the future to file amendments to these registration statements to maintain effectiveness.

Election of Directors

Our Class I Directors held office until the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders and were reelected at such meeting. Our Class II Directors held office until the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders and were reelected at such meeting. Our Class III Directors hold office until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and are eligible for reelection at such meeting. Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the annual meeting by the holders of Common Stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting. There is no cumulative voting for directors.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover proposals that stockholders may consider to be in their best interests. We are also subject to anti-takeover provisions under Delaware law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. Together these provisions may make more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

These provisions:

● create a staggered Board of Directors making it more difficult for stockholders to remove a majority of the Board of Directors and take control;

● grant the Board of Directors the ability to designate the terms of and issue new series of preferred shares, which can be created and issued by the Board of Directors without prior stockholder approval, with rights senior to those of the common stock;

● impose limitations on our stockholders’ ability to call special stockholder meetings;

● make it more difficult the removal of management and may discourage transactions that otherwise could involve payment of a premium over prevailing market prices for our securities.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue Warrants for the purchase of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in one or more series. We may issue Warrants independently or together with Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and the Warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

We will evidence each series of Warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into a warrant agreement with a warrant agent. Each warrant agent may be a bank that we select which has its principal office in the United States. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of Warrants.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of Warrants, including:

● the offering price and aggregate number of Warrants offered;

● if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the Warrants are issued and the number of Warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

● if applicable, the date on and after which the Warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

● in the case of Warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the number or amount of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one Warrant and the price at which and currency in which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

● the manner of exercise of the Warrants, including any cashless exercise rights;

● the warrant agreement under which the Warrants will be issued, if any;

● the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the Warrants;

● anti-dilution provisions of the Warrants, if any;

● the terms of any rights to redeem or call the Warrants;

● any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants;

● the dates on which the right to exercise the Warrants will commence and expire or, if the Warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the Warrants will be exercisable;

● the manner in which the warrant agreement and Warrants may be modified;

● the identities of the warrant agent and any calculation or other agent for the Warrants;

● federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the Warrants;

● the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the Warrants;

● any securities exchange or quotation system on which the Warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the Warrants may be listed or quoted; and

● any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the Warrants. 

Before exercising their Warrants, holders of Warrants may not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including, in the case of Warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

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Exercise of Warrants

Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the Warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. mountain time, the close of business, on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised Warrants will become void.

Holders of the Warrants may exercise the Warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the Warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required exercise price by the methods provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate, and in the applicable prospectus supplement, the information that the holder of the Warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the Warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will, if required by the terms of the warrant, issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of Warrants.

Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants

Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any Warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of Warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or Warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a Warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other Warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its Warrants in accordance with their terms.

Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act

No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of Warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their Warrants.

Governing Law

Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, each warrant agreement and any Warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by Delaware law.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

We may issue Units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement in any combination. Each Unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder, with the rights and obligations of a holder, of each security included in the Unit. The unit agreement under which a Unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any times before a specified date or upon the occurrence of a specified event or occurrence.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

● the designation and the terms of the Units and of the securities comprising the Units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

● any unit agreement under which the Units will be issued;

● any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the Units or of the securities comprising the Units; and

● whether the Units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

General

We may offer and sell the securities on a continuous or delayed basis, separately or together: (a) to one or more underwriters or dealers; (b) through one or more agents; or (c) directly to one or more other purchasers. The securities offered pursuant to any prospectus supplement may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at: (i) a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; (ii) market prices prevailing at the time of sale; (iii) prices related to such prevailing market prices; or (iv) other negotiated prices.

The distribution of securities may be effected, from time to time, in one or more transactions, including:

● block transactions (which may involve crosses) and transactions on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any other organized market where the securities may be traded;

● purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus;

● ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

● sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; and

● sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.

We may only offer and sell the securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement during the 36-month period that this prospectus, including any amendments hereto, remains effective. The prospectus supplement for any of the securities being offered thereby will set forth the terms of the offering of such securities, including the type of security being offered, the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of such securities, the proceeds to us from such sale, any underwriting commissions or discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers. Only underwriters so named in the prospectus supplement are deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities offered thereby.

By Underwriters

If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, the obligations of underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions, but the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement if any of such securities are purchased. We may agree to pay the underwriters a fee or commission for various services relating to the offering of any securities. Any such fee or commission will be paid out of the proceeds of the offering or our general corporate funds.

By Dealers

If dealers are used, and if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will sell such securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealers at the time of resale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

By Agents

The securities may also be sold through agents designated by us. Any agent involved will be named, and any fees or commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any such fees or commissions will be paid out of the proceeds of the offering or our general corporate funds. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Direct Sales

Securities may also be sold directly by us at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to by us and the purchaser. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved in the offering.

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General Information

Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities offered by this prospectus may be deemed underwriters under the U.S. Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the U.S. Securities Act.

With respect to the sale of securities under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, No Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) member firm may receive compensation in excess of that allowable under FINRA rules, including Rule 5110, in connection with the offering of the securities.

Underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under United States securities legislation, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Such underwriters, dealers or agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third parties may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third parties in such sale transactions will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

One or more firms, referred to as “remarketing firms,” may also offer or sell the securities, if the prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with a remarketing arrangement upon their purchase. Remarketing firms will act as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. These remarketing firms will offer or sell the Securities in accordance with the terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement will identify any remarketing firm and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and will describe the remarketing firm’s compensation. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the securities they remarket.

To facilitate the public offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be eligible for trading as listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market. Any underwriters who are qualified market makers to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. 

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Akerna as of December 31, 2020, June 30, 2020 and 2019, for the six months ended December 31, 2020 and for each of the two years in the period ended June 30, 2020 included in our transition report on Form 10-KT which is incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated herein by reference, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The financial statements of Solo as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for years then ended included in our current report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Marcum LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated herein by reference, and are included in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Ample as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for years then ended included in our current report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on July 8, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon, which is incorporated herein by reference, which report includes an explanatory paragraph as to the ability of Ample to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements, and are included in reliance on such report given upon such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered hereby have been passed upon for Akerna by Dorsey & Whitney LLP.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information we file with the SEC.  This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. Any information we reference in this manner is considered part of this prospectus.  Information we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and, to the extent inconsistent, supersede the information contained in this prospectus.

The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC, are specifically incorporated by reference into, and form an integral part of, this prospectus.

(a) our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the six-month period ended December 31, 2021, which report contains our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto as of December 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020 and 2019 and for the six-month transition period ended December 31, 2020 and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, together with the auditors’ report thereon and the related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the six-month period ended December 31, 2020 and the fiscal years ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, as filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021;

(b) our Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A in connection with our June 7, 2021 annual general meeting of stockholders, to the extent such information is specifically incorporated by reference into Part III of our Transition Report on Form 10-KT for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on April 27, 2021;

(c) our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which report contains the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and the notes thereto as of March 31, 2021 and for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and the related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020, as filed with the SEC on May 21, 2021;

(d) Exhibit 99.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on May 29, 2020, which exhibit contains the financial statements of Solo as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for years then ended, together with the auditor’s report thereon;

(e) Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on July 8, 2020, which exhibit contains the consolidated financial statements of Ample as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for years then ended, together with the auditor’s report thereon;

(f) pages F-50 through F-64 and F-108 through F-112 of our prospectus dated January 25, 2021, as filed with SEC on February 10, 2021, which pages contain, respectively (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Ample Organics Inc. as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 and (ii) the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations of Akerna, Solo and Ample for the year ended June 30, 2020;

(g) our Current Reports on Form 8-K as filed on January 14, 2021, February 3, 2021, March 16, 2021, April 26, 2021, April 30, 2021 and June 7, 2021;

(h) The description of the Common Stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A of MTech Acquisitions Corp. with the SEC on January 26, 2018, including any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating such description. The Company is the successor issuer to MTech Acquisitions Corp.; and

(i) all other documents filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding, unless otherwise provided therein or herein, information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K), after the date of this prospectus but before the end of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus.

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We also hereby specifically incorporate by reference all filings by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of the filing of the initial registration statement on Form S-3 to which this prospectus relates and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement.

You may obtain copies of any of these documents by contacting us at the address and telephone number indicated below or by contacting the SEC as described below. You may request a copy of these documents, and any exhibits that have specifically been incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or telephoning to:

AKERNA CORP.
1550 Larimer Street #246

Denver, Colorado 80202

Attention: John Fowle, Secretary

Telephone: 1-888-932-6537

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act relating to the offering of these securities. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information respecting our company and the shares offered by this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules thereto.

We file annual, quarterly and other reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, including any amendments to those reports, and other information that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act can be accessed free of charge through the Internet. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. You may access the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, at the SEC’s Internet site. You may also access these documents at the Company’s website at www.akerna.com.

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PROSPECTUS

AKERNA CORP.

$100,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Warrants
Units

June 16, 2021