Startup Advisors

Find the right startup advisor for your company

Experienced operators for fundraising, go-to-market and growth, working with you part-time. Free brief, no retainer. Pay only if you start working with an advisor we found.

See matching advisors How Turnkey works
12k+Advisors worldwide
120Countries covered
1,000+Searches completed
100%Growth guarantee
What they do

What is a startup advisor?

An experienced operator or executive who works with your company a few hours a month, usually for equity, a retainer or both.

Unlike a consultant, an advisor stays involved: they open doors, challenge your plans and help you act. Not an employee, and not a board director unless you appoint them. What is an advisor?

Common focus areas
FundraisingOperators and investors who help you prepare and open the right conversations.
Go-to-marketCommercial operators who build pipeline, close deals and scale revenue.
Market entryLocal experts who open doors to buyers, distributors and partners.
Industry depthSpecialists who already know your buyers and sector norms.
When you need one

When does a startup need an advisor?

When a growth job needs experience you do not have full-time, and a report alone will not move it.

  • Entering a new country and needing warm intros, not desk research
  • Preparing a funding round with someone who has done it before
  • Go-to-market has stalled: pipeline, pricing or channel choices
  • A domain gap that does not justify a full-time hire yet
  • A clear 90-day outcome that needs senior help to reach
How it works

How Boardio finds your advisor

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

01
Tell us what you need

Your company, target market or industry, and the outcome you want. Free to start.

02
Advisors apply to your brief

Relevant people from 12,000+ advisors in 120 countries apply, so you see real interest.

03
You choose from a curated shortlist

Meet the people you like and agree the engagement directly with the advisor.

Pricing

How much does a startup advisor cost?

No upfront cost, no retainer. Boardio's success fee is charged only if you start working with an advisor we found. The advisor's own pay (equity, fee or both) is agreed directly with them. See how to compensate advisors.

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
ScaleupsMost common
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.

Further reading

Guides on working with startup advisors

Expanding to the US? Read how to find an advisor for US expansion. Want to advise startups yourself? See how to become a startup advisor.

Companies · Market entry How to Find a Market Entry Advisor (And What to Look For) Compensation Startup Advisory Board Compensation: 2026 Benchmarks Handbook Handbook on Advisors: finding and working with advisors →
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is a startup advisor?

A startup advisor is an experienced operator or executive who works with your company part-time, typically for equity (often in the 0.1-1% range for early startups) or a small retainer. They bring networks, judgment, and credibility that help the company grow faster. They are not an employee and not a board director unless you appoint them separately.

How much does it cost to find a startup advisor?

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, paid only if you start working with someone Boardio found. The advisor's own compensation is agreed directly between you and the advisor.

How do I find a startup advisor outside my home country?

Boardio specialises in cross-border advisor searches. With 12,000+ advisors across 120 countries, about 90% of companies on the platform look for advisors outside their home market. Start a Turnkey search.

How is a startup advisor different from a consultant?

Consultants usually charge by the hour or project and deliver analysis or reports. Startup advisors work part-time on an ongoing brief, are often compensated with equity or retainers, and are expected to open doors and help you act, not only recommend from a distance.

Does Boardio hire advisors for my startup?

No. Boardio is a matchmaking platform. We help you find and engage advisors. Advisors are independent; they are not Boardio employees, and we do not place them as hires on your payroll.

What is the Growth Guarantee?

On qualifying Turnkey searches at full list price, if the advisor underdelivers on the agreed, measurable outcomes, Boardio runs a new search at no extra cost.

Explore by sector

Startup advisors by industry

SaaS advisors → CROs, GTM builders and fractional operators who have scaled B2B SaaS companies. FinTech advisors → Payments, digital banking and RegTech operators with enterprise bank relationships. HealthTech advisors → MedTech commercial leaders and digital health founders from J&J, Philips and GSK.
Explore by location

Find startup advisors by country

Germany 1,000+ United Kingdom 1,000+ United States 1,000+ Nordics 4,000+ France 400+ Spain 600+ Benelux 1,000+ All locations 120

Ready to find your startup advisor?

Free to start. Pay only if you start working with an advisor we found.

See matching advisors