Get on a board — but maybe not with Boardsi

Can Boardsi really get you a six-figure board and advisory positions like they claim?

Hello Boardsi

Over the last few months, I have gotten a few messages on LinkedIn from Boardsi. They claim to offer access to the largest curated collection of compensated board and advisory openings available anywhere, as well as a wide range of opportunities to expand your network and contribute to influential boards. All this for a monthly fee of $195 and a one-time setup fee of $200.

They sell this by claiming how profitable these board positions can be. According to Boardsi, startup advisory positions can pay $10,000 or more annually with a variable equity position, small to mid-cap advisory positions at $10,000 to $60,000 annually with a variable equity position, and formal board seats at $20,000 to $100,000, with higher figures for public companies.

The Boardsi representative I spoke with said they do much of their vetting via LinkedIn profiles. I noted that was an issue, as I could create a profile stating that I was a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon (full disclosure: I’m not). The representative said they did have a more formal…