Exhibit 1.1

CONFIDENTIAL

[ ], 2026

Chief Financial Officer

Professional Diversity Network, Inc.

55 E. Monroe Street, Suite 2120

Chicago, Illinois 60603

Dear Ms. Gu,

This agreement (the “Agreement”) constitutes the agreement between Professional Diversity Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim” or the “Lead Manager”), that Maxim shall serve as the exclusive lead placement agent for the Company, on a “reasonable best efforts” basis (a “Placement”), in connection with the proposed offerings of securities (the “Securities”) of the Company. The terms of such Placement and the Securities shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Lead Manager and, if a direct placement, the purchasers (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”) and nothing herein grants Maxim the power or authority to bind the Company or any Purchaser or creates an obligation for the Company to issue any Securities or complete the Placement. This Agreement and the documents executed and delivered by the Company and the Purchasers in connection with the Placement shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents.” The date of the closing of the Placement shall be referred to herein as the “Closing Date.” The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that Maxim’s obligations hereunder are on a reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by Maxim to purchase the Securities and does not ensure the successful placement of the Securities or any portion thereof or the success of Maxim with respect to securing any other financing on behalf of the Company. Maxim may retain other brokers or dealers to act as sub-agents or selected-dealers on its behalf in connection with the Placement.

The sale of Securities to any Purchaser will be evidenced by a purchase agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) between the Company and such Purchaser, if required by the Purchaser, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Maxim. Prior to the signing of any Purchase Agreement, officers of the Company with responsibility for financial affairs will be reasonably available to answer inquiries from prospective Purchasers. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that Maxim determines that any of the terms provided for hereunder shall not comply with a FINRA rule, including, but not limited to, FINRA Rule 5110, then the Company shall agree to amend this Agreement in writing upon the request of Maxim to comply with any such rules; provided that any such amendments shall not provide for terms that are less favorable to the Company.

SECTION 1. Compensation and other Fees.

As compensation for the services provided by Maxim hereunder, the Company agrees to pay to Maxim the fees set forth below with respect to the Placement:

SECTION 2. RESERVED.

SECTION 3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company makes to Maxim all of the representations and warranties which the Company makes to the Purchasers in the Purchase Agreement, and in addition makes the following representation:

FINRA Affiliations. There are no affiliations with any FINRA member firm among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent (5%) or greater stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in the Company’s public filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC Filings”).

SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS OF MAXIM. Maxim represents and warrants that it (i) is a member in good standing of FINRA, (ii) is registered as a broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), (iii) is licensed as a broker/dealer under the laws of the States applicable to the offers and sales of Securities by Maxim, (iv) is and will be a corporate body validly existing under the laws of its place of incorporation; (v) agrees to comply in all material respects with applicable provisions of the Securities Act and any regulations thereunder and any applicable laws, rules, regulations and requirements (including, without limitation, all U.S. state law and all national, provincial, city or other legal requirements) in effecting the Placement, (vi) has duly authorized and executed this Agreement and that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Maxim enforceable in accordance with its terms, and (vii) neither it, any person compensated for soliciting investors in the Placement, nor any general partner, managing member, executive officer, director or officer of the Placement Agent participating in the Placement is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2). Maxim will immediately notify the Company in writing of any change in its status as such. Maxim covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to conduct the Placement hereunder in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the requirements of applicable law. Except as required by law or as contemplated by this agreement, Maxim will keep confidential all material nonpublic information, including information regarding the Placement contemplated hereunder, provided to it by the Company or its affiliates or advisors and use such information only for the purposes contemplated herein.

SECTION 5. INDEMNIFICATION. The Company agrees to the indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Provisions (the “Indemnification”) attached hereto as Addendum A, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

SECTION 6. ENGAGEMENT TERM. Maxim’s engagement hereunder shall end on the earlier of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) the date each party mutually agrees to terminate the engagement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification, contribution and the Company’s obligations to pay fees and reimburse expenses earned or due prior to the termination of the Agreement contained herein and the Company’s obligations contained in the Indemnification Provisions will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. Maxim agrees not to use any confidential information concerning the Company provided to Maxim by the Company for any purposes other than those contemplated under this Agreement.

SECTION 7. SUBSEQUENT EQUITY SALES.

(A) From the date hereof until thirty (30) days after the Closing Date (the “Standstill Period”), neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall (i) issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of any Shares of Common Stock or Share of Common Stock Equivalents or (ii) file any registration statement or amendment or supplement thereto without prior written consent of the Placement Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), other than the Prospectus, filing a registration statement on Form S-8 in connection with any employee benefit plan, updating an effective registration statement on Form S-3 through future SEC Filings or filing a registration statement on Form S-4 in connection with a transaction described in Section 7(B)(c).

(B) Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 7 shall not apply in respect of an Exempt Issuance, except that no Variable Rate Transaction shall be an Exempt Issuance. For purposes hereof, an “Exempt Issuance” means the issuance of (a) Shares of Common Stock, options, restricted stock units or other equity-based awards to employees, officers, consultants or directors of the Company pursuant to any stock or option plan duly adopted for such purpose before or after this Placement, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company, (b) securities upon the exercise or exchange of or conversion of any Securities issued hereunder, and/or other securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date of this Agreement, provided that such securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities (other than in connection with stock splits or combinations), (c) securities issued in connection with the Placement and Shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of such securities, and (d) securities issued pursuant to acquisitions or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person (or to the equityholders of a Person) which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company or an owner of an asset in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and shall provide to the Company additional benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

SECTION 8. LEAD MANAGER INFORMATION. The Company agrees that any information or advice rendered by Maxim in connection with this engagement is for the confidential use of the Company only in their evaluation of the Placement and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company will not disclose or otherwise refer to the advice or information in any manner without Maxim’s prior written consent, provided, however, that the Company may share such information or advice with its directors, officers, employees, legal counsel and financial advisors on a confidential basis.

SECTION 9. NO FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating rights enforceable by any person or entity not a party hereto, except those entitled hereto by virtue of the Indemnification Provisions hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that Maxim is and shall not be construed to be a fiduciary of the Company and shall have no duties or liabilities to the equity holders or the creditors of the Company or any other person by virtue of this Agreement or the retention of Maxim hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

SECTION 10. CLOSING. The obligations of Maxim and the closing of the sale of the Securities hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and its Subsidiaries of their obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

(A) All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement, the Securities, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to Maxim, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(B) Maxim shall have received from outside counsel to the Company such counsel’s written opinion (including a negative assurance letter), addressed to Maxim and dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Maxim.

(C) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Filings, any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, terrorist act or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated by the SEC Filings, and (ii) since such date there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth in or contemplated by the SEC Filings, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the reasonable judgment of Maxim, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement.

(D) The shares of Common Stock of the Company are registered under the Exchange Act.

(E) No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities or materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.

(F) The Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K with respect to the Placement within the time required by the Exchange Act.

(G) The Company shall have entered into Purchase Agreements with each of the Purchasers and such agreements shall be in full force and effect and shall contain representations and warranties of the Company as agreed between the Company and the Purchasers.

(H) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to Maxim such further information, certificates and documents as Maxim may reasonably request.

SECTION 11. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in such State. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or any transaction or conduct in connection herewith is waived. Any dispute arising under this Agreement may be brought into the courts of the State of New York or into the Federal Court located in New York, New York and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of aforesaid courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by delivering a copy thereof via overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of a Transaction Document, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

SECTION 12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement (including the attached Indemnification Provisions) embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by Maxim and the Company. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the closing of the Placement and delivery and/or exercise of the Securities, as applicable. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or a “.pdf” format file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page were an original thereof.

SECTION 13. CONFIDENTIALITY. Maxim (i) will keep the Confidential Information (as such term is defined below) confidential and will not (except as required by applicable law or stock exchange requirement, regulation or legal process), without the Company’s prior written consent, disclose to any person any Confidential Information, and (ii) will not use any Confidential Information other than in connection with its evaluation of the Placement. Maxim further agrees to disclose the Confidential Information only to its Representatives who need to know the Confidential Information for the purpose of evaluating the Placement, and who are informed by Maxim of the confidential nature of the Confidential Information. The term “Confidential Information” shall mean, all confidential, proprietary and non-public information (whether written, oral or electronic communications) furnished by the Company to Maxim or its Representatives in connection with Maxim’s evaluation of the Placement. The term “Confidential Information” will not, however, include information which (i) is or becomes publicly available other than as a result of a disclosure by Maxim or its Representatives in violation of this Agreement, (ii) is or becomes available to Maxim or any of its Representatives on a nonconfidential basis from a third-party, (iii) is known to Maxim or any of its Representatives prior to disclosure by the Company or any of its Representatives, (iv) is or has been independently developed by Maxim and/or the Representatives without use of any Confidential Information furnished to it by the Company, or (v) is required to be disclosed pursuant to applicable legal or regulatory authority. The term “Representatives” shall mean a party’s directors, board committees, officers, employees, financial advisors, attorneys and accountants. This provision shall be in full force until the earlier of (a) the date that the Confidential Information ceases to be confidential and (b) two years from the date hereof.

SECTION 14. NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via email attachment at the email address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a business day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business day, (c) the business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereto.

[Signature page follows]

We are excited about this equity offering and look forward to working with you. Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by signing and returning the enclosed copy of this Agreement.

Accepted and Agreed to as of

the date first written above:

Address for notice:

Chief Financial Officer

Professional Diversity Network, Inc.

55 E. Monroe Street, Suite 2120

Chicago, Illinois 60603  

ADDENDUM

INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS

In connection with the engagement of Maxim Group LLC (“Maxim”) by Professional Diversity Network, Inc. (the “Company” or “Indemnitor”) pursuant to this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees as follows:

Accepted and Agreed to as of

the date first written above:

Address for notice:

Chief Financial Officer

Professional Diversity Network, Inc.

55 E. Monroe Street, Suite 2120

Chicago, Illinois 60603