Startup Boards | Reading List | v0.1

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2		Startup Boards \| Reading List \| v0.1		Suggestion Box:	https://forms.gle/gUDnZZnrtcRCfweg7
3		Additional Suggestions & Improvements Welcome! Use FORM link (above) OR email becker@bosware.co OR slack me @becker (Kauffman Fellows)

4	id	ORIGINAL AUTHOR	TITLE	HEADLINE	Read-Order (1=first)	URL	DATE	ref_type
5	1	Brad Feld & Mahendra Ramsinghani	Startup Boards	Locus Classicus for startup boards; not perfect, but everyone should have on their desk as reference	1	https://www.amazon.com/Startup-Boards-Getting-Board-Directors/dp/1118443667	Jun 2014	book
6	2	Mark Suster	Startup Boards	Good intro / overview of startup board structure and dynamics; select follow-on articles from series as relevant	2	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/startup-boards-ee3ad0389040	Feb 2019	blog
7	3	Ham Lord; Chris Mirabile	Seraf Director's Guidebook	Solid and reasonably comprehensive collection of posts & frameworks; worth downloading PDF	3	https://seraf-investor.com/compass/article/directors-guidebook-series	Jun 2017	practice guide
8	4	FirstRound Capital	The Secret to Making Board Meetings Suck Less	Founder Jeff Bonforte recommends turning the board into a team that "works for the company" vs. critiquing the CEO	4	https://firstround.com/review/The-Secret-to-Making-Board-Meetings-Suck-Less/	Feb 2015	article
9	5	Anu Hariharan	How to Manage a Board	Building a strong board can be a great asset; Anu provides comprehensive guide to doing so	5	https://blog.ycombinator.com/how-to-manage-a-board/	Jun 2020	blog
10	6	Bryan Schreier	Preparing a Board Deck	Consider using a "memo" format (not deck); be thoughtful about structure and don't over-prepare	6	https://www.sequoiacap.com/article/preparing-a-board-deck/	Jun 2020	website
11	7	WSGR (Amy Simmerman, et. al.)	Guidebook to Boardroom Governance Issues	Current roundup of legal issues under DE law; lawyerly-style, but must read for any DE corp. Director	7	https://www.wsgr.com/en/insights/a-guidebook-to-boardroom-governance-issues.html	Oct 2019	legal guide
12	8	Orinola Gbadebo-Smith	Effective Startup Boards: What They Are and How to Build Them	Reasonably good overview / literature review	8	https://www.toptal.com/finance/venture-capital-consultants/building-effective-startup-boards	Jun 2020	article
13	9	Pillar.vc	Board Deck Template	Good starting point for board deck template	9	https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HH86mNAhxwmlgHgNSQt-csFlFa7za2WfPZUNDNS4o_Q/edit#slide=id.p3	Feb 2018	template
14	10	Mark Suster	One Simple Way to Eliminate Distractions in a Board Meeting	Make your meetings "electronics free" discussions. 100% free. Make it a rule.	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/one-simple-way-to-eliminate-distractions-in-a-board-meeting-761fb24beba7	Mar 2019	blog
15	11	Mark Suster	How to Stop Your Board Meeting from Going Down a Rat Hole	Avoiding the rat-hole is all about good prep / hygene; also know the various 'types' of disrupters and how to handle each	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-to-stop-your-board-meeting-from-going-down-a-rat-hole-4ffd10a5789e	Feb 2019	blog
16	12	Mark Suster	How to Run an Effective Networking Dinner	Get the details right to turn an OK board dinner practice into a great one.	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-to-run-an-effective-networking-dinner-90b3c0794613	Feb 2019	blog
17	13	Mark Suster	How to Prepare for a Board Meeting to Make Sure you Crush It	Good preparation will make a good / productive meeting; lack or preparation will kill it.	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-board-meeting-to-make-sure-you-crush-it-b52b8ce61636	Feb 2019	blog
18	14	Mark Suster	High Functioning vs. Low Functioning Startup Boards	Great boards matter when the "chips are down" - you might not be aware your board is not ready until its too late	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/high-functioning-vs-low-functioning-startup-boards-ae3ebe69cd9e	Feb 2019	blog
19	15	Mark Suster	What Makes a Great Independent Board Member?	Independents can be a great addition to the board; recruiting / selecting can play a big role in the outcome	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/what-makes-a-great-independent-board-member-4f2837963e30	Feb 2019	blog
20	16	Mark Suster	Should You Allow Board Observers on Your Startup Board?	Avoid board observers to the extent possible	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/should-you-allow-board-observers-on-your-startup-board-cbc4754a0700	Feb 2019	blog
21	17	Mark Suster	How to Be a Good Board Member	Be prepared, be engaged, follow-up strongly. Don't be all-talk, no action.	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/how-to-be-a-good-board-member-df07f43d9aa8	Feb 2019	blog
22	18	Mark Suster	Should All of Management Attend Board Meetings?	Avoid all-mgmt meetings AND ceo-only meetings; aim for a balanced mix and always keep some board-only time	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/should-all-of-management-attend-board-meetings-f73213b1da13	Feb 2019	blog
23	19	Mark Suster	Who Should be on Your Startup Board?	Try to keep board small with a balance of VC's and independents	10	https://bothsidesofthetable.com/who-should-be-on-your-startup-board-c099daa7178e	Feb 2019	blog
24	20	Emily Green	Managing Your Board	Notes from workshop on "Managing Your Board" hosted by Pillar.vc	10	https://www.pillar.vc/founders-guide/guides/managing-your-board-of-directors/	Jun 2018	article
25	21	Fred Wilson	The Board Of Directors: Role and Responsibilities	Good boards put the company interest above their own	10	https://avc.com/2012/03/the-board-of-directors-role-and-responsibilities/	May 2012	blog
26	22	José del Barrio Puerta	10 tips to turn your startup board into a secret weapon	A strong board can be a secret weapon; alignment is the key	10	https://medium.com/samaipata-ventures/10-tips-to-turn-your-startup-board-into-a-secret-weapon-cf34000c2e54	Feb 2019	blog
27	23	Roger Chabra	Ask an Investor: How do I build a board of directors for my startup?	Putting a good board in place is one of the simplest ways a founder can gain advantage over peers	10	https://betakit.com/ask-an-investor-how-do-i-build-a-board-of-directors-for-my-startup/	Mar 2017	article
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