Being a director of an early stage, angel- or VC-backed company is different, and in many ways more challenging than established company directorships.

Governance provides a framework of guides and guard rails within which the business grows. The board adds a wide range of perspectives on how to grow a business, and in particular, this business – enabling founders and management to get on with doing it, without the full burden of sole founder responsibility for every decision made.

A good board looks to the future, ensuring that the focus remains on the longer term strategy, balancing immediate needs of revenue with longer term needs of building enterprise value.