Boardio vs Connectd: Advisor Platform Comparison
If you're comparing Boardio vs Connectd, the two platforms are solving a similar problem from opposite directions. Connectd is a UK/US-founded AI-matching platform that connects startups with fractional executives, board advisors and non-executive directors, and it doesn't charge companies to use it. Boardio is a matchmaking platform built for founders who need to fill a specific advisor or board seat, often outside their home market, and success fees apply only once you hire. Here's how the two actually differ once you get past the pitch.
What is Connectd?
Connectd, founded in 2019 and based in London and New York, uses AI-powered matching alongside direct search and filtering to connect startups with fractional C-suite executives (CFO, CMO, CTO, COO and similar), board advisors and non-executive directors. The platform is free for companies to use: instead of charging startups placement fees, Connectd monetizes through membership fees paid by the executives in its network, who pay for training, community access and visibility. Connectd's own pages describe a network spanning 60+ countries, with strongest representation in the UK and US.
What is Boardio?
Boardio connects startups and scaleups with experienced advisors and board members across 120 countries, with a network of 12,000+ advisors. 90% of companies on Boardio are looking for an advisor outside their home market, which makes Boardio a common choice for founders doing cross-border expansion, fundraising in a new region, or building a board with international governance experience. Companies post a search describing what they need, Boardio sources and vets a curated shortlist, and the success fee (starting at €1,900) only applies once the company starts working with an advisor Boardio found. A 100% Growth Guarantee means Boardio runs a new search at no extra cost if the match isn't working out.
Boardio vs Connectd: side-by-side
| Boardio | Connectd | |
|---|---|---|
| Network size | 12,000+ advisors, 120 countries | Community spanning 60+ countries (company pages also cite 40+ and 80+ depending on the page) |
| How it works | Post a search, Boardio sources and vets a shortlist | AI recommendations plus direct search and filtering |
| What's covered | Advisors and board members, all functions and sectors | Fractional C-suite roles, board advisors, non-executive directors |
| Cost to companies | Success fee from €1,900, pay only if you hire | Free; Connectd monetizes via advisor membership fees |
| Cost to advisors | Free to join, free to apply to most opportunities | Paid membership for training, community and visibility |
| Best fit | A defined search, especially cross-border | Ongoing access to a self-serve talent pool, especially UK/US fractional hires |
Where each platform makes sense
Connectd's zero-cost-to-companies model is a real advantage if you want to browse and filter a pool yourself, particularly for UK or US-based fractional executive hires where its network is strongest. It suits founders comfortable running their own search and interview process end to end.
Boardio makes more sense when the search itself is the hard part: a specific market, sector or governance need, especially one that means finding an advisor outside your own country. Because Boardio only charges once you hire, and vets and delivers a shortlist rather than a self-serve pool, it fits founders who want the search done for them rather than added to their own workload. With 90% of Boardio searches looking outside the founder's home country, it's built around exactly that cross-border case.
Which one should you use?
If you need a fractional CFO or CMO for a UK or US startup and want to run the search yourself at no cost, Connectd is worth a look. If you're hiring across borders, want a vetted shortlist rather than a filtered list, and would rather pay only once you've made a hire, start a free search with Boardio.
Frequently asked questions
Is Connectd free for startups?
Yes. Connectd doesn't charge companies placement fees, ongoing markups or conversion fees. It monetizes through membership fees paid by the fractional executives, advisors and NEDs in its network.
Is Boardio free to use?
Posting a search and reviewing matched profiles on Boardio is free. A success fee starting at €1,900 applies only once a company starts working with an advisor Boardio found, and a 100% Growth Guarantee covers a new search at no extra cost if it doesn't work out.
Does Connectd operate outside the UK and US?
Connectd describes a global network, with figures ranging from 40+ to 80+ countries depending on the page, but its strongest representation is in the UK and US. Boardio's network spans 120 countries, with 90% of companies specifically seeking advisors outside their home market.
What's the difference between a fractional executive and a board advisor?
A fractional executive works part-time inside a company in a hands-on leadership role, such as CFO or CMO. A board advisor provides strategic guidance and mentoring without a formal governance role. A non-executive director sits on the board itself, with oversight and fiduciary responsibilities — see our guide to executive director vs non-executive director roles for a full breakdown. Both Boardio and Connectd help companies find people across all three categories, though Boardio also covers company-side and go-to-market advisory roles more broadly.
Boardio is an advisor and board member matchmaking platform connecting startups and scaleups with experienced advisors across 110 countries.
