Startup Boards – A Field Guide to Building and Leading an Effective Board

Date: 2024-04-15

Book Authors: Brad Feld, Mahendra Ramsinghani & Matt Blumberg

Most founders dread their board. This book helps you build one that works with you, not against you. It covers how to recruit the right board members, run meetings that don’t suck, and avoid power struggles — especially when you’re pre-IPO or post-funding.

💡 Practical Highlights: • Don’t treat the board as an obligation — treat it as a strategic lever. • Set expectations early. Mismatched incentives ruin trust. • Diversity on a board = diversity in decisions.

❤️ What Works: • Tons of real-world scenarios, including horror stories. • Clarifies legal roles vs. practical influence. • Good for first-time CEOs and investor-backed companies.

🤔 What's Technical: • Some overlap with Venture Deals if you’ve read both. • A bit U.S.-centric in legal structure.

📈 Verdict: If you have a board — or will soon — read this before your next quarterly. It could save you from avoidable friction.

Rating: 4.5/5