SEC FORM 3 SEC Form 3
FORM 3 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
 
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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Venture Investors Early Stage Fund IV LP

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
03/19/2014
3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. [ AKBA ]
4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director X 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
Form filed by One Reporting Person
X Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4) 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4) 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4) 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5) 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (1) (1) Common Stock 767,172 (1) D(4)(5)
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (2) (2) Common Stock 304,351 (2) D(4)(5)
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (3) (3) Common Stock 378,567 (3) D(4)(5)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Venture Investors Early Stage Fund IV LP

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Venture Investors LLC

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
VIESF IV GP LLC

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
NEIS JOHN

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
WEISS PAUL M

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Button Scott

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Arida George

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Adox James R

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Peterson Loren G

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Venture Investors Southeast LLC

(Last) (First) (Middle)
505 SOUTH ROSA ROAD, SUITE 201

(Street)
MADISON WI 53719

(City) (State) (Zip)
Explanation of Responses:
1. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible into Common Stock on a one for five basis (as adjusted for the 1.75-for-1 stock split effected on March 6, 2014), at any time at the holder's election, and automatically upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering, and have no expiration date.
2. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible into Common Stock on a one for 1.75 basis (as adjusted for the 1.75-for-1 stock split effected on March 6, 2014), at any time at the holder's election, and automatically upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering, and have no expiration date.
3. Represents 201,811 shares of Series C Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock has no expiration date and is convertible at any time, at the holder's election. Upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering, the Series C Preferred Stock will automatically convert into shares of the Issuer's Common Stock, with a conversion ratio equal to the Series C Accrued Value (the original issuance price of $14.00, plus accrued but unpaid cash dividends) divided by the Applicable Conversion Price of $14.00, adjusted for the 1.75 stock split, as provided in the Issuer's Eighth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. The shares shown reflect an anticipated conversion date of March 25, 2014.
4. The shares are held by Venture Investors Early Stage Fund IV Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership. Its general partner, VIESF IV GP LLC, has sole voting and investment control over the shares owned by Venture Investors Early State Fund IV Limited Partnership. The members of VIESF IV GP LLC, John Neis, Paul M. Weiss, Scott Button, George Arida, James R. Adox, Loren G. Peterson and Venture Investors Southwest LLC (of which Roger H. Ganser is the sole member), have sole voting and investment power for VIESF IV GP LLC with respect to its voting power in its capacity as General Partner for the shares held by Venture Investors Early Stage Fund IV Limited Partnership. None of the members of VIESF IV GP LLC has individual voting or investment power with respect to the shares and each disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.(Continued in Footnote 5)
5. Venture Investors LLC is the fund manager for Venture Investors Early Stage Fund IV Limited Partnership.
Remarks:
Exhibit List Exhibit 24 - Limited Power of Attorney Form 1 of 2
/s/ Nicole R. Hadas, attorney-in-fact 03/19/2014
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.
                                                                      Exhibit 24

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              VENTURE INVESTORS EARLY STAGE FUND IV LP

                              By:         /s/ John Neis
                                          --------------------------------------

                              Print Name: John Neis
                                          --------------------------------------

                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          --------------------------------------

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              VENTURE INVESTORS LLC

                              By:         /s/ John Neis
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: John Neis
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.


                              VIESF IV GP LLC


                              By:         /s/ John Neis
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: John Neis
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Member
                                          -------------------------------------

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.


                              By:         /s/ John Neis
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: John Neis
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              By:         /s/ Paul M. Weiss, Ph.D.
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: Paul M. Weiss, Ph.D.
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              By:         /s/ Scott Button
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: Scott Button
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              By:         /s/ George Arida
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: George Arida
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              By:         /s/ James R. Adox
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: James R. Adox
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.


                              By:         /s/ Loren G. Peterson
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: Loren G. Peterson
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Director
                                          -------------------------------------


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Know all by these present, that the undersigned hereby constitutes and
appoints each of John P. Butler, Jason A. Amello and Nicole R. Hadas, signing
singly, as the undersigned's true and lawful attorney-in-fact to:

        (1)     execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
                undersigned's capacity as an officer and/or director or
                shareholder of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms
                3, 4 and 5 in accordance with Section 16(a) of the Securities
                Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules
                thereunder;

        (2)     do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the
                undersigned which may be necessary or desirable to complete and
                execute any such Form 3, 4 or 5 and timely file such form with
                the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any
                stock exchange or similar authority; and

        (3)     take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with
                the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact,
                may be of benefit to, in the best interest of, or legally
                required by, the undersigned, it being understood that the
                documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on behalf of the
                undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such
                form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such
                attorney-in-fact may approve in such attorney-in-fact's
                discretion.

        The undersigned hereby grants to each attorney-in-fact full power and
authority to do and perform any and every act and thing whatsoever requisite,
necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights and powers
herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or
could do if personally present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts such attorney-in-fact shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney and the
rights and powers herein granted. The undersigned acknowledges that each of the
foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, is not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply
with Section 16 of the Act.

        This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until the
undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect to the
undersigned's holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the Company,
unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing delivered to each
of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of Attorney to be
executed as of March 17, 2014.

                              VENTURE INVESTORS SOUTHEAST LLC

                              By:         /s/ Roger H. Ganser
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Print Name: Roger H. Ganser
                                          -------------------------------------
                              Title:      Managing Partner
                                          -------------------------------------