Startup Boards: Getting the Most Out of Your Board of Directors

An essential guide to understanding the dynamics of a startup'sboard of directors

Let's face it, as founders and entrepreneurs, you have a lot onyour plate€"getting to your minimum viable product, developingcustomer interaction, hiring team members, and managing theaccounts/books. Sooner or later, you have a board of directors,three to five (or even seven) Type A personalities who seek yourattention and at times will tell you what to do. While you might behesitant to form a board, establishing an objective outside groupis essential for startups, especially to keep you on track, callyou out when you flail, and in some cases, save you fromyourself.

In Startup Boards, Brad Feld€"a Boulder,Colorado-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist€"shareshis experience in this area by talking about the importance ofhaving the right board members on your team and how to manage themwell. Along the way, he shares valuable insights on various aspectsof the board, including how they can support you, help youunderstand your startup's milestones and get to them faster, andhold you accountable.

• Details the process of choosing board members, includinginterviewing many people, checking references, and remembering thatthere should be no fear in rejecting a wrong fit
• Explores the importance of running great meetings, mixingsocial time with business time, and much more
• Recommends being a board member yourself at some otherorganization so you see the other side of the equation

Engaging and informative, Startup Boards is a practicalguide to one of the most important pieces of the startuppuzzle.