Frequently asked questions

Boardio helps companies find skilled advisors and board members globally to support business growth, market entry, funding, and other strategic goals. You post your search and advisors from our network of 12,000+ professionals across 120 countries apply directly. Every application signals genuine interest in your specific opportunity. Boardio then selects the strongest applicants and presents them for your review. Turnkey manages the whole process for you, and you only pay if you start working with an advisor we found. See below for details.

The 100% Growth Guarantee means: if your advisor isn't working out, we run a new search at no extra cost.

Learn more: Turnkey · Full pricing

An advisor is an experienced operator or executive who works with a company part-time on a defined growth problem: strategy, introductions, and hands-on help. They have no legal authority and no fiduciary duties. Compensation is typically equity, a retainer, or both. Read the full explainer: What is an advisor?

An advisory board is an informal group of experienced individuals who support a company's leadership with strategic guidance, industry knowledge, and introductions. Unlike a formal board of directors, an advisory board has no legal authority or fiduciary duties. It exists purely to help the company grow. Members typically commit 2-4 days per month and are compensated with equity, a small retainer, or both. Most startups build their advisory board gradually, starting with one or two advisors in the areas where they need the most help.

For most startups and scaleups, advisors are the faster and more practical starting point. Learn more about advisory boards and startup advisors.

Advisor compensation is agreed directly between you and the advisor. Boardio does not take a cut. Typical arrangements include:

• Equity: 0.1-0.5% for early-stage companies, usually with a 1-2 year vesting schedule.
• Monthly retainer: €500-€2,000 depending on time commitment and seniority.
• Combination: a smaller equity stake plus a modest monthly fee is common as companies grow.

Many advisors prefer equity-heavy arrangements at early stage. See our blog post on advisor compensation for real figures and global benchmarks.

The most effective way is to post a search through a platform like Boardio, where interested advisors apply directly to your brief. This ensures everyone you speak to has read your specific situation and expressed genuine interest, unlike searching a database or LinkedIn where you reach out cold.

Other routes include asking investors or existing advisors for introductions, attending startup events, or approaching people who have solved the exact problem you are facing. What is an advisor? · Start a free search here →

Our network consists of 12,000+ professionals from 120 countries, including ex-founders, industry experts, investors, and business development specialists. Advisors apply to specific searches, so every profile you receive represents someone who has read your brief. See example profiles by country: Germany · UK · United States · Nordics · France · Spain · Benelux.

We do not match a named advisor or share information about a specific person. Start a company search: https://www.boardio.com/start

Common use cases include opening doors to clients and partners, entering new markets, getting funded, building a sales network, improving operations, or preparing for an acquisition. See our pillar pages: market entry advisors · startup advisors · advisory boards.

Turnkey: from €1,900 success fee. Boardio runs everything end-to-end. You only pay if you start working with an advisor we found. Same price for advisor and board member searches, and pre-revenue startups qualify for a discounted fee.

Includes the 100% Growth Guarantee. See full pricing details →

Yes. Standard Turnkey pricing starts from €1,900, and pre-revenue startups qualify for a further discounted success fee. Just ask your local Boardio representative.

Yes. We provide templates (like the Founder Institute FAST agreement) and best practices. See our blog post on advisor compensation.

No. Many companies start by interviewing several advisors and even work with multiple on a trial basis before finalizing ongoing cooperation.

On average we receive around 15 applications per search, typically within 2-4 weeks. Timing varies depending on the role, location, and newsletter cycle.

Absolutely. Boardio's strength is its global reach, whether you need someone in Germany, India, or Monaco, we likely have advisors with relevant local expertise. Browse: Germany · UK · United States · Nordics · France · Spain · Benelux.

Why advisors are often better for startups and scaleups:

• More affordable and committed over the long term.
• They bring not just knowledge but networks, hands-on experience, and genuine interest.
• Many are former founders or execs who've "done it before" and want to stay engaged, not bill hourly.

Learn more about startup advisors →

Boardio publishes three public research and guide resources:

• Advisor Search Report 2026: a decade of data on how European growth companies find advisors.
• Advisor Compensation Survey 2026: Boardio's 2026 advisor compensation survey findings.
• Handbook on Advisors 2026: a practical guide to finding and working with advisors, as a free PDF with no sign-up.

Yes, absolutely. Many companies use Boardio to find external board members with relevant experience and networks who complement their existing board. Learn more about board member searches.

You can find individuals with experience in international expansion, fundraising, scaling operations, industry-specific expertise, or governance.

The process is essentially the same: you post your search, candidates apply directly, and Boardio selects the strongest applicants. The difference is you specify a board member search, and we target candidates with relevant board experience.

Yes, typically a compensation package including a board fee, equity, or both, agreed between you and the candidate. We provide a contract template and best practices.

Yes. Some clients use Boardio to build or expand their board with multiple members. Just let us know and we can structure the search accordingly.

The 100% Growth Guarantee applies to every Turnkey search when purchased at full list price. If the advisor you started working with is not meeting your pre-agreed goals, Boardio will run a new search at no extra cost. It is not a performance guarantee (results depend on both the advisor and the company), but it means you are never left without a next step.

Boardio does not guarantee advisor performance directly, as results depend on both the advisor and the company. However, under the 100% Growth Guarantee, if the advisor isn't delivering against clearly defined, pre-agreed objectives within the first 3-6 months (and you can provide supporting evidence), Boardio runs a new search at no additional cost.

If your selected advisor fails to deliver on clearly defined, pre-agreed goals within the first 3-6 months, Boardio will run a new search at no additional cost. This applies to Turnkey when purchased at full list price.

Yes. The 100% Growth Guarantee is included with every Turnkey search at full list price. No extra steps needed.

No, there are no hidden fees, no long-term lock-ins. If your advisor isn't working out, we run a new search at no extra cost.

The Growth Guarantee is available only in selected countries. Check with your local Boardio representative to confirm it applies to your region.

Simply sign up for free at boardio.com/advisors, complete your profile, and apply to opportunities that fit you. Creating an advisor profile is free, and many opportunities are free to apply to, but some opportunities are limited to premium advisors on paid plans.

No. Boardio uses LinkedIn-only sign-in. This keeps onboarding simple and fast, and helps maintain a high-quality network. Only your email, name, and profile photo are used from LinkedIn.

Yes. Registering on Boardio is only possible with LinkedIn. There is no other signup method.

Most companies are startups or scaleups looking for help with international expansion, fundraising, or strategic growth. Browse open opportunities.

Yes, but make sure your application is tailored to each role. Avoid generic or AI-generated submissions. See our blog post on how to write a perfect application.

Early Access lists companies that have started looking for advisors on Boardio and are keeping their search limited. Advisor Plus and Priority members can apply right away. Other advisors can let us know they are interested.

Creating an advisor profile is free, and many opportunities are free to apply to, but some opportunities are limited to premium advisors on paid plans. Advisor Plus and Advisor Priority are optional paid plans that boost visibility and unlock Plus/Priority-only searches and Early Access searches.

Every Boardio advisor search is compensated. The company and the advisor agree the pay directly: cash (a retainer or performance-based pay), equity, or a mix. The Turnkey fee is the company's cost, not the advisor's. Creating an advisor profile is free, and many opportunities are free to apply to, but some opportunities are limited to premium advisors on paid plans. Advisor Plus is €39/month and Advisor Priority is €99/month.

Every Boardio advisor search is compensated. The company and the advisor agree the pay directly: cash (a retainer or performance-based pay), equity, or a mix. The Turnkey fee is the company's cost, not the advisor's. Creating an advisor profile is free, and many opportunities are free to apply to, but some opportunities are limited to premium advisors on paid plans. Advisor Plus is €39/month and Advisor Priority is €99/month.

Open advisor positions are listed on Opportunities. Use the location filter to narrow by country. Create an advisor profile to apply at boardio.com/advisors.

Pending means the Boardio team has not yet reviewed the application.

At the moment it is not possible to upload a CV. Always add your LinkedIn profile URL. Registration is LinkedIn-only.

Most advisor roles involve 2-4 days of work per month, often remote: sharing expertise, opening doors, and helping companies make better strategic decisions.

You'll get a confirmation. If the company wants to speak with you, we'll reach out, usually within a few weeks. If not selected, you're still welcome to apply to other roles.

Advisor Plus is a monthly subscription (€39/month) that unlocks every opportunity on Boardio, sends instant alerts for new searches that match you, makes your full profile visible to all companies browsing Boardio, lets companies contact you directly, and shows your complete profile on every application. Plus advisors get about 7x more profile views than active free advisors.

Based on the last 90 days, compared with free advisor profiles viewed at least once.

Learn more at boardio.com/advisor-plus.

• Apply to every opportunity: including searches reserved for Plus and Priority members and Early Access searches.
• Instant alerts for new searches that match you: we email you when a new search fits your profile.
• Complete profile on every application: every company you apply to sees your full background.
• Visible to all companies browsing Boardio: not only when you apply.
• Companies can contact you directly on People.

€39/month, with an annual plan at a lower effective rate. No hidden fees, cancel anytime.

No. Paid plans give extra visibility. They do not affect selection decisions, which are based entirely on your profile and application.

Advisor Plus is right if you want every opportunity, match alerts, browsing visibility, and direct contact. Advisor Priority adds Advisor Positioning, a homepage feature, the top of People, and a spotlight on top of that.

Plus advisors get about 7x more profile views than active free advisors. Priority advisors get about 10x more profile views than active free advisors.

Based on the last 90 days, compared with free advisor profiles viewed at least once.

The free account lets you apply to most open searches. Advisor Plus (€39/month) unlocks every opportunity, including Early Access searches, sends instant alerts for new searches that match you, makes your full profile visible to all companies browsing Boardio, lets companies contact you directly, and shows your complete profile on every application. Advisor Priority (€99/month) includes everything in Plus, then adds an included Advisor Positioning interview (worth €49), a feature on the Boardio homepage and at the top of People, a top 3 match scan, and an advisor spotlight. None of the paid plans affect whether a company selects you. That is always based on your background and application.

Yes, in account settings at any time. Benefits remain active until the end of the current billing period.

A monthly premium package (€99/month) that includes everything in Advisor Plus, then adds an included Advisor Positioning interview (valued at €49), a feature on the Boardio homepage and at the top of People, a top 3 match scan, and an advisor spotlight. Priority advisors get about 10x more profile views than active free advisors.

Based on the last 90 days, compared with free advisor profiles viewed at least once.

• Everything in Plus: apply everywhere, instant match alerts, browsing visibility, direct contact, full profile on apply.
• Advisor Positioning included (value €49): voice interview, your advisor game plan, rewritten profile and the Advisor Positioning badge.
• Featured on the Boardio homepage and at the top of People.
• Personal match scan: top 3 fits at signup.
• Advisor spotlight: blog interview and newsletter feature.

€99/month, including the Advisor Positioning interview (€49 on its own).

• Advisor Priority includes everything in Plus, an Advisor Positioning interview, a homepage feature and the top of People, and a spotlight (€99/month).
• Advisor Positioning is a one-time purchase (€49) giving you your advisor game plan and a badge on your profile: credibility, not listing visibility.

Yes. Free advisor accounts can apply to the large majority of opportunities on Boardio. A limited number, including Early Access searches, are reserved for Advisor Plus and Priority members. Either paid plan gives you access to those as well, on top of the visibility benefits. Selection itself is always based on your profile and application, never on which plan you're on.

Yes, in account settings at any time. Benefits remain active for the rest of your billing cycle.

Advisor Positioning is a one-time service (€49 / $49) that gives you your advisor game plan: how to land an advisor or board role, built on 17 years of Boardio searches. You do a 10 to 30 minute voice interview with Boardio's AI interviewer, and within 24 hours you get your game plan by email: where you fit best, which open searches to apply to now, how to write your applications, how much demand Boardio has had in your area, suggestions for your LinkedIn profile, a rewritten Boardio profile, and practical tips on how Boardio searches work. You also get the Advisor Positioning badge on your profile. Learn more at boardio.com/advisor-positioning.

Your advisor game plan, with seven parts:

• Where you fit best: your positioning and the roles and companies that suit you.
• Open searches for you: the searches open now that fit your background.
• Application guidance: how to write your applications, with an example opening paragraph.
• Demand snapshot: what Boardio has had in your area over the last 24 months.
• LinkedIn suggestions.
• Your rewritten Boardio profile.
• Boardio tips: how searches work and what companies look for.

You also get the Advisor Positioning badge on your Boardio profile.

Buy Advisor Positioning, then start the voice interview straight away (the link is also emailed to you). The interview takes 10 to 30 minutes. Within 24 hours of finishing it you receive your advisor game plan by email.

The voice interview opens right away and the interview link is emailed to you. The Advisor Positioning badge is added to your profile. Within 24 hours of finishing the interview you receive your advisor game plan by email. There is no call with a Boardio representative.

Make sure you are signed in to Boardio with the same account you used when paying, and open the interview link from your email. If it still does not work, contact us.

If you received a welcome code by email, enter it at checkout. If the code is not accepted or the interview does not open after payment, contact us.

The badge is added to your profile automatically after your payment is confirmed.

A one-time fee of €49 / $49. No subscription, no recurring cost. It is included in Advisor Priority at no extra charge.

• Experienced professionals entering advisory seriously who aren't sure their profile communicates it clearly.
• Active advisors who haven't landed the right opportunities yet and want to know exactly how to position themselves.

Verified Advisor, our earlier package with a 1:1 session and a badge, has been replaced by Advisor Positioning.

Application Review is a paid service for advisors: €19 / $19 per application. Your application is the most important part of the process, because companies build their short list from the applications. Boardio reviews your application together with your LinkedIn and Boardio profiles and sends you an improved version by email, with notes on what changed and why. You then resubmit it, and Boardio forwards that version to the company.

1. When you apply to a search, choose Submit and get it reviewed first. You can also order the review from the confirmation email or the confirmation popup after you have applied.
2. After you pay, Boardio sends you the improved application by email.
3. You resubmit it on the same search, and Boardio forwards that version to the company. Your first application is held and not forwarded.

No. You write it, Boardio reviews it. You get an improved version with notes on what changed and why, so the application stays yours and in your own voice. If a fact is missing, the improved version marks where you need to add it.

No. It is saved with Boardio but not forwarded to the company. When you have your improved version, you resubmit it and Boardio forwards that one.

No. The company decides who to talk to. The review makes your application clearer and stronger against what the search is asking for.

No. Application Review covers the application only. Suggestions for your LinkedIn and Boardio profiles are part of Advisor Positioning.

Yes, until Boardio has approved your application. Use the link in your confirmation email or the confirmation popup after you apply.

A free, structured growth diagnostic for VCs, accelerators, holding companies, and other portfolio operators. Boardio meets with each portfolio company, maps growth priorities and bottlenecks, and delivers a written brief per company plus a portfolio-level summary. Learn more at boardio.com/portfolio-scan.

• Per-company brief: growth priorities, bottlenecks, and an advisor recommendation.
• Portfolio summary: cross-portfolio themes and recurring patterns.
• Priority shortlist: the top 5 companies for advisor engagement, ranked by urgency.

It's completely free, with no commitment required.

Any entity that manages or supports multiple companies (VC funds, accelerators, incubators, holding companies, and family offices), for portfolios from around 5 up to 20 companies.

1. You send us a list of portfolio companies with basic context.
2. Boardio schedules a 30-minute call with each company.
3. We write a structured brief per company.
4. You receive the full scan within 5 business days of the last call.

Yes, available for portfolios of up to 20 companies. Larger portfolios can get in touch to discuss a structured engagement.

Yes. The briefs are formatted to be shared directly with founders.

The scan stands on its own. When ready, Boardio can run a search via Turnkey, or via the VC & Portfolio track.

A service for consultants, advisory firms, and management consultants to tap into Boardio's network of 12,000+ advisors globally. You can strengthen your own team on an assignment, or match an advisor for a client. Searches run as Turnkey. Learn more at boardio.com/consulting.

• Strengthen your own team on a client assignment.
• Match an advisor for your client.
• Win work you couldn't take on before by showing you can assemble the right expertise.

• Single Turnkey search: €1,900 per search, one-time and prepaid.
• Consulting Partner bundle: €4,500 for three Turnkey searches valid for 12 months (€1,500 per search, about 21% savings versus single searches).

All prices exclude VAT.

A full Turnkey advisor or expert search: brief scoping, advisor outreach, shortlisting, and candidate coordination from 12,000+ professionals across 120 countries and 30+ industries. Typical turnaround is a shortlist within two weeks, handled by a named account manager.

Yes. Every Consulting Partner gets a named account manager: the same person each time.

All Consulting Partner plans include a re-search guarantee: a new search at no additional cost, no questions asked.

Yes. Boardio can stay discreet, or be presented as your named search partner. It's entirely your call.

Book a short intro call at boardio.com/consulting.

A Boardio Ambassador refers companies from their network to Boardio and earns 30% of Boardio's revenue when a referral converts. No sales work required, no minimum activity. Learn more at boardio.com/ambassador.

A Country Manager actively represents Boardio in a specific country, region, or vertical (building relationships, qualifying and closing deals), earning 70% of the revenue from deals they close, starting with a structured pilot. Learn more at boardio.com/country-manager.

No. You can apply directly for Country Manager or Ecosystem Lead. No Ambassador phase required. Every Country Manager starts with a pilot period either way.

A defined period where you actively represent Boardio, building early relationships and closing first deals. You earn the full 70% share from day one.

The same role with different scope. A Country Manager focuses on a single country. An Ecosystem Lead may cover a broader region or industry vertical. Both earn 70%.

No. Both roles are purely commission-based. There is no salary, no retainer, and no upfront cost.

Visit boardio.com/join to see both options. For Ambassador, use boardio.com/ambassador. For Country Manager / Ecosystem Lead, apply at boardio.com/country-manager.

You can delete your account yourself while signed in: open Profile, choose Update profile, then Delete my account. That permanently removes your Boardio account. If you can't sign in or need help, contact us at https://www.boardio.com/about#contact.

To stop billing, first cancel your Advisor Plus or Priority subscription in account settings, then delete your account. Your plan benefits stay active until the end of the current billing period. To delete your account, sign in, open Profile, choose Update profile, then Delete my account. If you already deleted your account and are unsure about billing, contact us at https://www.boardio.com/about#contact.

To stop billing, first cancel your Advisor Plus or Priority subscription in account settings, then delete your account. Your plan benefits stay active until the end of the current billing period. To delete your account, sign in, open Profile, choose Update profile, then Delete my account. If you already deleted your account and are unsure about billing, contact us at https://www.boardio.com/about#contact.