FAQ
For companies
For advisors
Growth guarantee
Advisor Priority
Portfolio Scan
Consulting Partners
Work with Boardio
For advisors
Growth guarantee
Advisor Priority
Portfolio Scan
Consulting Partners
Work with Boardio
For companies
Finding and working with advisors
Boardio helps companies find skilled advisors and board members globally to support business growth, market entry, funding, and other strategic goals. We post your opportunity anonymously to our network of 11,000+ advisors across 110 countries and forward you the most relevant applications. There are two ways to work with us — Connect (self-service) and Turnkey (fully managed). See below for details.
| Connect — €890 | Turnkey — from €3,900 |
|---|---|
| Self-service | Fully managed by Boardio |
| Boardio activates the search and sends matched profiles | Boardio runs the full search end-to-end |
| Boardio delivers 3 matched profiles — pay €890 to unlock all applicants | Pay only if you start working with an advisor we found |
| You manage the selection process yourself | Boardio curates the shortlist and organises Interview Day |
| Flat one-time fee, no success fee | Success fee — pay only on success |
| 100% Growth Guarantee not included | 100% Growth Guarantee included |
Our network consists of over 11,000 professionals from 110 countries, including ex-founders, industry experts, investors, and business development specialists. All advisors apply to specific roles, ensuring genuine interest. See example profiles by country: Germany · UK · United States · Nordics · France · Spain · Benelux.
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. Whatever your goal, we help you find someone who's "done it before."
There are two options:
Connect — €890 flat fee. Boardio activates the search and delivers 3 matched profiles. Pay €890 to unlock all applicants and manage the selection yourself. No success fee.
Turnkey — from €3,900 success fee. Boardio runs everything end-to-end. You only pay if you start working with an advisor we found. Includes the 100% Growth Guarantee. Discounts available for early-stage startups.
Connect — €890 flat fee. Boardio activates the search and delivers 3 matched profiles. Pay €890 to unlock all applicants and manage the selection yourself. No success fee.
Turnkey — from €3,900 success fee. Boardio runs everything end-to-end. You only pay if you start working with an advisor we found. Includes the 100% Growth Guarantee. Discounts available for early-stage startups.
Yes. While our standard Turnkey service is priced at €3,900, we understand that early-phase startups may have limited budgets. If you're a small team in the early stages, you can request access to a streamlined version of our service at a lower success fee.
Yes. We provide templates (like the Founder Institute FAST agreement) and best practices. Typical compensation includes a retainer fee, success-based bonuses, or equity. Please 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.
Most companies receive 5–10 qualified applications within 2–4 weeks. It depends on the role, location, and timing of our newsletter.
Advisors and consultants both offer expertise — but how they engage is very different:
| Advisors | Consultants |
|---|---|
| Long-term collaborators with skin in the game | Short-term problem solvers |
| Often join as strategic partners, sometimes for equity or performance-based rewards | Typically charge high fees for time-limited engagements |
| Help you grow, connect you with their network, and act as sounding boards | Deliver analysis and recommendations, then move on |
| Flexible engagement (e.g. 2–4 days/month) | Often fixed-scope, high-intensity work |
| Work side-by-side with your team over time | Work independently, with limited team integration |
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.
If you're looking for ongoing, flexible, and cost-effective expertise, an advisor is often a better fit than a consultant.
Board members
Yes, absolutely. Many companies use Boardio to find external board members with relevant experience and networks. We help you find candidates who understand your business, bring strategic insight, and complement your existing board.
You can find individuals with experience in international expansion, fundraising, scaling operations, industry-specific expertise, or governance. Boardio focuses on finding the right fit based on your company's stage and strategic needs.
The process is essentially the same: we post your opportunity, interested candidates apply, and we present the best matches for your review. The main difference is that you specify you're looking for a board member, and we target candidates with relevant board experience.
Yes, typically. Most board members expect a compensation package that may include a board fee, equity, or both. The details are fully up to you and the candidate to agree upon. We also provide a contract template and best practices to support you.
Yes. Some clients use Boardio to build or expand their board with multiple members. If you're looking for several candidates, just let us know — we can structure the search accordingly.
100% growth guarantee
The 100% Growth Guarantee is included with the Turnkey service. It means that if the advisor we found for you is not delivering, Boardio will find you a new advisor at no additional cost. It is not a performance guarantee — results depend on both the advisor and the company — but it does mean you are never left without a solution. Note: the guarantee is separate from the success fee model, where payment is only triggered when you start working with an advisor we introduced.
Boardio does not guarantee advisor performance directly, as results depend on both the advisor and the company. However, under the 100% Growth Guarantee (included with Turnkey), if the advisor you selected is not delivering against clearly defined, pre-agreed objectives within the first 3–6 months — and you can provide supporting evidence — Boardio will find you a new advisor 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 find you a replacement at no additional cost. This applies to Turnkey searches only.
No. The 100% Growth Guarantee is included with Turnkey only. With Connect, you manage the selection process yourself, so the guarantee does not apply.
No — there are no hidden fees, no long-term lock-ins. The growth guarantee is a straightforward, risk-reduced commitment: results that work, or we work harder.
The growth guarantee is available only in selected countries. To confirm whether it applies to your region, please check with your local Boardio representative.
For advisors
Joining and working on Boardio
Simply sign up for free at boardio.com/advisors, complete your profile, and apply to any opportunity that interests you. Companies review applications and may contact you for interviews.
No. Boardio uses LinkedIn-only sign-in. This keeps onboarding simple and fast, and helps maintain a high-quality network by reducing fake or anonymous profiles. The only data we use from your LinkedIn profile is your email, name, and profile photo.
Most companies are startups or scaleups looking for help with international expansion, fundraising, or strategic growth. Roles range from informal advisors to board members or interim executives.
Yes — but make sure your application is tailored to each role. Avoid generic or AI-generated submissions. Companies want to see genuine interest. See our blog post on how to write a perfect application.
No. Advisor accounts and applications are free. There is an optional paid plan (Advisor Priority) that boosts visibility — see the section below for details.
Compensation is agreed directly with the company. It can be cash (retainer or performance-based), equity, or a mix. Many advisors prefer flexible, part-time roles.
Most advisor roles involve 2–4 days of work per month, often remote. You'll share your expertise, open doors, and help 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 Priority
Advisor Priority is a monthly premium package (€99/month) that provides you with extra visibility and expert support. It includes a Verified Advisor call (valued at €99) and increased profile visibility — making you more likely to be contacted.
- Verified Advisor call: a 30-minute session with a Boardio expert to validate your profile and focus areas.
- Advisor spotlight feature: blog interview and newsletter promotion.
- Enhanced visibility: your profile receives up to 10x more views.
Advisor Priority costs €99/month and includes the Verified Advisor call (normally €99 on its own).
- Advisor Priority includes the Verified Advisor call and ongoing monthly visibility boosts (€99/month).
- Verified Advisor is a one-time purchase (€99) that gives your profile a Verified Badge for 12 months after a profile review and interview — increasing credibility but not affecting visibility in listings.
Yes. The free advisor account lets you apply to all opportunities. Advisor Priority simply increases your visibility and selection chances.
Yes. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your account settings. The visibility and benefits remain active for the rest of your billing cycle.
Portfolio Scan
Growth diagnostic for portfolio operators
The Portfolio Scan is a free, structured growth diagnostic for VCs, accelerators, holding companies, and other portfolio operators. Boardio meets with each portfolio company, maps their growth priorities and bottlenecks, and delivers a written brief per company plus a portfolio-level summary. Learn more at boardio.com/portfolio-scan.
You receive three outputs:
- Per-company brief — growth priorities, bottlenecks, and a concrete advisor recommendation for each company.
- Portfolio summary — cross-portfolio themes, common bottlenecks, and recurring patterns across your companies.
- Priority shortlist — the top 5 companies where advisor engagement would have the most immediate impact, ranked by urgency.
It's completely free, with no commitment required. The scan is Boardio's way of demonstrating value before any contract is signed.
Any entity that manages or supports multiple companies: venture capital funds, accelerators, incubators, holding companies, and family offices. It works for any portfolio size, from a 5-company accelerator cohort to a 20-company fund.
It's straightforward and requires no preparation from your side:
- You send us a list of portfolio companies with basic context.
- Boardio schedules a 30-minute call with each company.
- We write a structured brief per company.
- You receive the full scan — all briefs, portfolio summary, and priority shortlist — within 5 business days of the last company call.
Yes — the Portfolio Scan is available for portfolios of up to 20 companies. This ensures we can deliver a thorough diagnostic within one week. If your portfolio is larger, get in touch and we'll discuss how to structure the engagement.
Yes. The briefs are formatted to be shared directly with founders. Many VCs and accelerators use them as a starting point for conversations about advisory needs.
The scan stands on its own — you're not obligated to do anything else. When you're ready to run an actual advisor search for one or more portfolio companies, Boardio can handle that through Connect or Turnkey, or via the VC & Portfolio track, which gives your entire portfolio ongoing access to the Boardio advisor network.
Consulting Partners
Using Boardio as a consultant or advisory firm
Boardio Consulting Partners is a service designed for consultants, advisory firms, and management consultants who want to tap into Boardio's network of 11,000+ vetted advisors globally. Whether you need to strengthen your own team on an assignment or source an advisor or board member for a client, Boardio gives you the infrastructure to do it quickly and reliably. Learn more at boardio.com/consulting.
There are three main ways:
- Strengthen your own team — find a specialist to work alongside you on a client assignment without a lengthy hiring process.
- Source an advisor for your client — your client needs experienced guidance; you facilitate the search and present the right candidates.
- Win work you couldn't take on before — pitch confidently for cross-border or out-of-sector projects by showing you can assemble the right expertise.
There are two options:
- Single search — €890 — a full advisor search for one brief, one-time, prepaid. Best for trying Boardio on a specific assignment.
- Consulting Partner bundle — €2,200 — three searches valid for 12 months, saving roughly 18% vs. single searches. Designed for consultants with recurring client needs.
All prices exclude VAT.
Every search includes brief scoping, advisor outreach, shortlisting, and candidate coordination — drawn from 11,000+ vetted professionals across 110 countries and 30+ industries. You receive a shortlist of best-matched candidates, typically within two weeks. A named account manager handles everything.
Yes. Every Consulting Partner gets a named account manager — the same person each time. They learn your practice, your typical briefs, and what good looks like for you, so you don't have to re-explain yourself on every search.
All Consulting Partner plans include a re-search guarantee. If a search doesn't produce a suitable candidate, we run a new search at no additional cost — no questions asked.
Yes. If you're sourcing an expert to work alongside you on an assignment, Boardio stays discreet. If you want to present Boardio as your named search partner to a client, that's also fine. It's entirely your call.
Book a short intro call at boardio.com/consulting. We'll introduce you to your account manager, walk through how Consulting Partners works in practice, and figure out if there's a fit for your current client work.
Work with Boardio
Joining as Ambassador or Country Manager
A Boardio Ambassador refers companies from their network to Boardio. When a referral converts to a paying client, the Ambassador earns 30% of Boardio's revenue from that engagement. It's a flexible, low-commitment role — no sales work required, no minimum activity. Learn more at boardio.com/ambassador.
A Country Manager (also called an Ecosystem Lead) actively represents Boardio in a specific country, region, or vertical. They build relationships with startups, investors, and accelerators; qualify and close deals; and grow Boardio's presence locally. In return they earn 70% of the revenue from all deals they close. The role starts with a structured pilot period. Learn more at boardio.com/country-manager.
| Ambassador | Country Manager / Ecosystem Lead |
|---|---|
| Refers companies from their network | Actively builds pipeline and closes deals |
| Low commitment — occasional referrals | Higher commitment — ongoing, territory-focused |
| Boardio handles qualification and closing | CM handles full sales cycle with Boardio support |
| 30% revenue share per referral | 70% revenue share on all deals closed |
| No pilot period required | Starts with a structured pilot period |
| No geographic exclusivity | Owns a defined country, region, or vertical |
No. You can apply directly for Country Manager or Ecosystem Lead — no Ambassador phase is required. Some people choose to start as Ambassador to get familiar with Boardio first, but it's entirely optional. Either way, every Country Manager starts with a pilot period.
Before taking on the full Country Manager role, every new CM runs a structured pilot period. It's a defined period where you actively represent Boardio — building early relationships and closing first deals. The pilot confirms commitment and market fit on both sides. You earn the full 70% share from day one of the pilot.
They're the same role with different scope. A Country Manager focuses on a single country. An Ecosystem Lead may cover a broader region, a specific industry vertical, or operate globally. Both earn 70% and follow the same process. You define your scope when you apply.
No. Both the Ambassador and Country Manager roles are purely commission-based (revenue share). There is no salary, no retainer, and no upfront cost. You earn when deals close.
Visit boardio.com/join to see both options and apply. For Ambassador, use the form at boardio.com/ambassador. For Country Manager / Ecosystem Lead, apply at boardio.com/country-manager.
Still have questions?
Talk to one of our local representatives — we're happy to help.