Find the right kind of contribution
Boardly matches candidates with Chair, Non-Executive Director (NED), Board Advisor and fractional leadership opportunities at venture-backed companies, mostly in the UK and often in London.
These roles are not interchangeable. A board appointment, an advisory relationship and a part-time operating role can have very different responsibilities. Use this guide to orient your search, then discuss the exact remit with the company.
Chair: help the board do its best work
Lead the board, keep it effective and help the founder navigate the decisions that shape the company.
Relevant experience might include leading complex discussions, navigating disagreement, supporting leadership teams and helping a company through a major transition.
Questions worth asking
- What does the founder need from the Chair at this stage?
- How does the board currently make difficult decisions?
- Where would an experienced, independent perspective be most useful?
Non-Executive Director: bring independent judgement
A board director who brings independent judgement, challenges strategy and oversees performance without running the business day to day.
Think about situations you have actually worked through: building a function, entering a market, supporting a funding round or managing a difficult transition. A clear link between that experience and the company’s next stage is more useful than a broad claim to be “strategic”.
Board Advisor: contribute specialist experience
Advise a founder or board on a challenge you have already handled, bringing specialist experience where it is needed.
This may be a useful way to apply deep operating expertise. An advisory role does not automatically mean a formal seat on the company’s board.
Make the remit concrete
- Which problem will you help the founder work through?
- What kind of involvement would be useful?
- How will both sides know the relationship is working?
Fractional Leader: stay close to the work
Lead a business function on a part-time basis, taking responsibility for decisions and delivery.
If you enjoy building teams, establishing processes and turning plans into action, fractional leadership may fit the way you want to contribute. It is not automatically a board position.
Make your experience easy to understand
You do not need a previous board appointment to join Boardly. Start with the work you have done, the moments you understand and the kind of contribution you can credibly make.
Read our guide to approaching your first board role or writing a focused Board CV. Boardly is free for candidates, including matching and introductions.
Further reading: the FRC’s corporate governance guidance discusses board effectiveness, and the Institute of Directors’ advisory board toolkit explores advisory relationships. This is general orientation, not legal advice. A listed-company governance code should not be assumed to apply to every startup.