Quora Answer: What Should Startups Expect from Board Members?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What should startups reasonably expect from their board members?”

In a startup, the members of the board should ideally be more experienced than the founders, if the founders are new to business.  If the founders are themselves established in the industry prior to founding the company, then the board members should be of equivalent experience. 

Board memberships are given out for a reason.  These people must add value.  Either they have experience, access to funding, have a network, or bring something else to the table that would enhance the value of the company in preparation for exit.  In specific situations, people are offered membership of the board because they represent certain stakeholders or investors.  They are there to represent the parties to each other.