Industry Advisors

Industry advisors for established companies

When your team lacks hands-on experience in a specific industry, another consultant report rarely fixes it. We match you with an advisor who already knows the buyers, norms and pitfalls. Pay only if you start working with them.

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12k+Advisors worldwide
120Countries covered
1,000+Searches completed
100%Growth guarantee
What they do

What does an industry advisor actually do?

A practitioner in your target industry who works with you part-time on a defined outcome. They open doors, stress-test plans and help you act.

Not an employee, not a board director by default, and not a report-only consultant. If the brief needs deep domain expertise, we match a specialist on the same search.

Common use cases
Win or expand in a verticalBuyer language, channel norms and warm intros where you are underpenetrating.
Navigate how the industry really worksPractice, partner norms and what fails in a high-trust or regulated space.
Sparring on a complex commercial problemSenior challenge on priorities and go-to-market without adding a full-time role.
Advisor vs consultant

When consultants are not enough

If you need another report, buy consulting. If you need a named person who already works in that industry, engage an advisor.

Consultant A scoped study or project
  • Analysis, frameworks and a deck
  • Time-boxed, then they leave
  • Paid by the hour or project
Industry advisor Ongoing judgment and access
  • Introductions to the right people
  • Stays involved on a defined brief
  • Equity, retainer or both, agreed with them
When you need one

Signs you need an industry advisor

  • You have the analysis, but no one who can open the right doors
  • Recommendations your team cannot execute without domain credibility
  • More headcount or agencies, and the vertical still feels opaque
  • You need a person buyers in that industry already trust
How it works

How Boardio finds your industry advisor

From brief to shortlist in 2 to 4 weeks. Boardio runs the full search for you with Turnkey.

01
Tell us the industry and the job

The domain, the market and the outcome you need.

02
Advisors apply to your brief

Relevant people from our network apply, so you see real interest.

03
You choose from a curated shortlist

Meet the people who fit and agree the engagement directly with them.

Pricing

Pay only if you find the right person

No upfront cost, no retainer. The success fee is charged only once you start working with an advisor we found. The advisor's own pay is agreed directly with them.

Startups
From€1,900$2,200

success fee + VAT · for pre-revenue and early-stage companies

  • Curated shortlist, not raw applicants
  • You only pay if you start working with someone we found
  • 100% Growth Guarantee included
See matching advisors
Scaleups
From€3,900$4,500

success fee + VAT · for revenue-generating companies

  • Curated shortlist, not raw applicants
  • You only pay if you start working with someone we found
  • 100% Growth Guarantee included
See matching advisors
Established
From€5,900$6,900

success fee + VAT · for established companies and larger, more complex searches

  • Curated shortlist, not raw applicants
  • You only pay if you start working with someone we found
  • 100% Growth Guarantee included
See matching advisors

100% Growth Guarantee

If your advisor underdelivers on the agreed, measurable outcomes, we run a new search at no extra cost. Applies to qualifying Turnkey searches at full list price.

Client feedback

What clients say

"We found an advisor for the German market! I recommend."
Leevi KangasCEO, Greasy Fingers
"The Boardio search process was very efficient and resulted in top quality advisors."
Jan LimetCEO, Ceriter
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is an industry advisor?

An industry advisor is an experienced operator with current industry expertise who works with your company part-time on a defined brief. They help with introductions, judgment, and execution in that industry. They are not an employee and not a fiduciary board director unless you separately appoint them.

How is an industry advisor different from a consultant?

Consultants usually sell analysis and leave after a project. Industry advisors stay engaged on an ongoing brief, often with equity or a retainer, and are expected to open doors and help you act, not only recommend.

When are consultants not enough?

When you already have the analysis, but lack live industry relationships, buyer credibility, or operator judgment inside that vertical. Adding another study rarely fixes a network or domain gap. That is when you engage an industry advisor instead of (or after) consulting.

What about a domain expert or specialist?

Same search. If the brief needs deep domain expertise, we match a domain expert or specialist as your industry advisor.

Is this the same as a market entry advisor?

Related, but not the same. Market entry is mainly about a target country or region. An industry advisor brings depth in a specific industry or domain, including in your home market.

How much does it cost to find an industry advisor through Boardio?

Turnkey costs from €1,900 ($2,200) for startups, from €3,900 ($4,500) for scaleups and from €5,900 ($6,900) for established companies, plus VAT, charged only if you start working with an advisor Boardio found. Advisor pay is separate and agreed with the advisor.

Can established companies use Boardio?

Yes. Larger organisations with a clear industry or domain gap use the same Turnkey process.

Do you place financial advisors or RIAs?

No. Boardio matches business advisors and board members for growth and industry needs. This is not investment-advisory or RIA matching.

Explore by sector

Advisors by industry

SaaS advisors → GTM, revenue scaling and expansion for B2B SaaS companies. FinTech advisors → Payments, digital banking and RegTech specialists. HealthTech advisors → MedTech and digital health commercial leaders.

Ready to find your industry advisor?

Tell us the domain and the outcome. Free to start.

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