How to Form an Effective Board: Lessons from the Front Lines

Join us for a discussion with Series B- and C-stage founders who have successfully built and managed boards—navigating everything from initial selection to political dynamics and long-term strategic alignment.

Start-up boards play a critical role in shaping company direction. When well-structured and thoughtfully managed, they help founders make smarter decisions, navigate market shifts, attract top talent, and raise capital. When misaligned, they can present challenges that stall growth or shift control away from founders.

This session will explore:

• When and how to form your board—and how it evolves from pre-seed to Series A and beyond
• How to select the right mix of board members (investors, independents, operators)
• Board dynamics, decision making, and maintaining productive relationships
• Common pitfalls and how to avoid dysfunction
• Legal and fiduciary responsibilities of board members

We'll close with a Q&A to dive deeper into specific challenges facing founders today.

Featured Speakers:

• Ro Gupta, Founder, JumpRope; Former Founder & CEO, CARMERA (acquired by Woven by Toyota)
• Neil Capel, Founder & CEO, Solve; Former Founder & CEO, Sailthru
• Peter Fusco, Partner, Morrison Foerster; Co-chair, Emerging Companies + Venture Capital Group

We hope you can join us for a practical and insightful conversation with founders and legal experts on turning your board into a strategic asset.