Read about what we at byFounders think the "role of the board" is here:

The Role of the Board

Presentation on the Role of the Board (from Basecamp 2023): https://app.pitch.com/app/presentation/9343cfcf-9fcf-49b0-8231-8c9ed23394b1/d827f679-9039-4f93-8998-6a9af73a8e47

byFounders templates that you can use: ✍️Board meeting minutes 📝 Board deck template

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Yxp6bQDL2Pv5wqjJJH8jrjsLLPZL9YZs/edit#slide=id.p123

<aside> 💬 Board meetings: 1. Share the board material early. Share the board material latest 4 days before the board meeting, so board members have a chance to look it through properly. 2. Solicit input from board members. When sending out the materials, remember to ask whether there are any topics the board would like to discuss at the board meeting. 3. Expect board members to come prepared. Expect them to have read through the materials and come prepared. There is no need to go over slide by slide in details, as you will run out of time. 4. Optimise for conversations, not monologue. Ensure that you use the time wisely to discuss key strategic topics, and try to get most of the numbers into the investor updates. 5. "Rather be honest than nice". It's probably not the first time you hear us say this. But it's extra important in a board meeting. Remember, this is not a pitch.

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<aside> 📈 Board material: 1. Prepare "lagom" (i.e.,. just enough). If you don't create any material, it will most certainly be very difficult to get the attention and focus of your board. But if you over prepare and create too many slides, you've ended up wasting valuable time that you could have spent building the business. 2. Create scenarios with clear founder recommendations. It's difficult for board members to openly brainstorm in a meeting. But if you provide different examples/scenarios including the pro's and con's of each, and your own recommendation, we can have a more fruitful conversation. 3. Visualise visualise visualise. If you're discussing product, show the product. If you're discussing the team, show photos of them. If you're discussing numbers, show them in a graph. You get the point. 😉

byFounders board deck template

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<aside> 👥 Board work: 1. Pick your board wisely! A good board at early stages has a combination of founders, investors and industry experts. 5 people is normally a good number and you should also consider diversity in the group. 2. Most work should happen outside the board room, ensure that your board members are supporting you in between board meetings. 3. Get the timing right: *- 2h is perfect for a board meeting *****(try to not go beyond 2,5h) ****- Schedule board meetings every third month (and if you need more regular check-ins, then add 30-60min board calls during the months when you don't have a board meeting)

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Additional resources

Other relevant material to read:

Creating a Productive Board Meeting

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Remember to get a D&O insurance! It’s very important that you as directors are insured.

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