Commercial board advisor for B2B SaaS
A commercial voice at board level, for chairs and chief executives who want the sales story tested before it reaches investors.
Best at: scale-up, before a raise or an exit.
A commercial board advisor gives the chair and chief executive an experienced sales voice at board level, without a statutory directorship. Each month I test the forecast, the pipeline and the commercial story, so the board sees problems early and investors see evidence rather than opinion.
When does a board need a commercial advisor?
- A board without a non-executive who has run a sales function.
- A chair who wants an independent read of the forecast and pipeline.
- A company preparing for a raise or an exit, where the commercial story will be examined closely.
What does the board receive?
- An experienced commercial view at the table.
- Board reporting that separates evidence from opinion.
- Earlier warning when the plan and the pipeline start to diverge.
How does board advisory run?
A board-level session with the chair or chief executive on the commercial position.
Review of the sales section of the board pack and of investor materials.
A short set of questions the board asks of the number every month, so that trends show early.
Every engagement has a fixed scope and a fixed fee, agreed in a short written proposal before work starts. Ongoing work is paid monthly in advance. There is no hourly billing, and no work on commission or for equity alone.
Main board member of a PLC. Co-founder of a company whose business was acquired by NitroSecurity and later McAfee. Part of the growth an IPO was built on, and led the EMEA integration after a trade sale to VMware.
Frequently asked questions.
Is a board advisor the same as a non-executive director?
No. This is a commercial advisory role, not a statutory directorship, so it carries no director's duties. It suits boards that want sales experience at the table without changing the board's composition.
What does the board get each month?
A board-level session with the chair or chief executive, a review of the sales section of the board pack before it circulates, and a short set of standing questions the board asks of the number every month.
Is it useful before a raise or an exit?
That is when it matters most. The commercial story will be examined closely, and it helps to have it tested before investors do.
How is it priced?
A fixed monthly fee, paid in advance, with a three-month minimum.
Would it help to talk it through?
Thirty minutes on what the board has committed to and what is in the way. If this service is not the right fit, I will say so.
Or email priority@jonnyrocket.com, or connect on LinkedIn