It should be where the CEO turns when he or she is out of answers. Good directors are knowledgeable, calm advisors. Calm is important, since panic at sea can cost lives, and all start-ups hit heavy weather sooner or later. Being calm in a tough spot comes from both experience and disposition. In considering Board members, the CEO should consider both of these attributes.
Small boards are more effective than large ones.
Start-ups suffer many disadvantages to larger competitors. Their principal advantage is agility. A cumbersome board can severely impair agility. A small working board can turbocharge it. The Board of Directors should not be comprised of the entire management team, blood or marital relatives, service providers such as company counsel, or luminaries.