Startup Boards / Techstars (PDF)

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

Let's face it, as founders and entrepreneurs, you have a lot on
your plate--getting to your minimum viable product, developing
customer interaction, hiring team members, and managing the
accounts/books. Sooner or later, you have a board of directors,
three to five (or even seven) Type A personalities who seek your
attention and at times will tell you what to do. While you might be
hesitant to form a board, establishing an objective outside group
is essential for startups, especially to keep you on track, call
you out when you flail, and in some cases, save you from
yourself.

In Startup Boards, Brad Feld--a Boulder,
Colorado-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist--shares
his experience in this area by talking about the importance of
having the right board members on your team and how to manage them
well. Along the way, he shares valuable insights on various aspects
of the board, including how they can support you, help you
understand your startup's milestones and get to them faster, and
hold you accountable.

* Details the process of choosing board members, including
interviewing many people, checking references, and remembering that
there should be no fear in rejecting a wrong fit

* Explores the importance of running great meetings, mixing
social time with business time, and much more

* Recommends being a board member yourself at some other
organization so you see the other side of the equation

Engaging and informative, Startup Boards is a practical
guide to one of the most important pieces of the startup
puzzle.