Starboard launches governance blueprint to professionalise startup boards

Starboard, a governance initiative founded by serial entrepreneur Chris Morton, has launched a new set of Startup Board Principles designed to improve how startup boards operate across Europe.

Developed over the past year in collaboration with more than 50 exited founders, non-executive directors (NEDs), and investors, the framework aims to set a new standard for board effectiveness in venture-backed companies.

The principles, to be unveiled at a private event featuring Maria Raga, Husayn Kassai, and Andrew Robb, establish a baseline for startup board operations, covering areas such as board composition, culture, and meeting discipline.

They were created in consultation with leading European venture funds and are intended as a practical playbook for founders and directors navigating the unique governance challenges of high-growth companies.

Starboard was founded in 2024 by Morton, best known as the founder and former chief executive of Lyst, the fashion data platform that raised over $200m from investors including Accel and Fidelity International.

Morton also served as the first independent board director at Depop, from its Series B stage through its $1.65bn sale to Etsy. His experience, along with those of other contributors, underpins Starboard’s mission: to “make startup boards great.”

The organisation argues that too many startup boards fail to add value, or worse, actively hinder progress. Rapid company growth, blurred governance roles, and misaligned incentives can make boards reactive rather than strategic.

The Startup Board Principles aim to counter this by defining a shared lexicon for governance and promoting accountability among directors.

While governance frameworks are common in public companies, startups often lack structure until later stages of growth. Industry observers note that early adoption of sound governance can yield long-term benefits, including better investor relations, more resilient leadership, and improved company performance.