Founders & startup ecosystem · Working
Advisory board
Also called: board of advisers
ELI5
A group that advises but does not govern the company.
Used in conversation
“Do not present the advisory board as if it has fiduciary authority.”
Definition
A group providing advice and credibility without the formal governance powers of a board of directors.
Here “Advisory board” means: A group providing advice and credibility without the formal governance powers of a board of directors.
Pitch context
You will see “Advisory board” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches founders & startup ecosystem.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret founders & startup ecosystem without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Connected terms
- Board of directorsA board of directors has formal governance authority and duties; an advisory board gives advice without the same statutory decision power.
Sources & evidence · 5
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsSupporting source family · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16