How to Recruit and Structure Board and Advisor Relationships for Early-Stage Growth

​Part of Twin Cities Startup Week 2026, September 14–18.

​Building the right board and advisor bench can be one of the highest-leverage moves an early-stage founder makes, and one of the easiest to get wrong. This panel brings together experienced founders and investors to talk through how to identify the right board members and advisors, structure those relationships (equity, time commitment, expectations), and get real value out of them as your company scales.

​Topics will include:

• ​When and why to formalize a board vs. an informal advisor network

• ​What to look for in a board member or advisor, and where to find them

• ​Structuring equity, compensation, and governance terms

• ​Setting expectations and cadence to keep relationships productive

• ​Common mistakes founders make in board and advisor relationships and how to avoid them

​Speakers:

• ​Moderator: Scott Burns, General Partner at Mairs & Power Venture Capital

• ​Panelists:

• ​Chad Halverson, Founder of When I Work

• ​Janice Tam, Founder of TrueToForm

• ​Alex Steinman, Co-Founder at The Coven

​Getting here on Thursday. Parking, Basecamp, lunch, and the rest of the day: tcstartupweek.com/thursday