The Founder’s Silent Struggle: Choosing the Right Board

One of the most overlooked challenges that startup founders face is selecting the right board of directors. While product-market fit, fundraising, and hiring usually dominate a founder’s focus, building a strong board often comes later — and sometimes, too late. Jack Altman, co-founder of Lattice and now general partner at Alt Capital, is on a mission to change that. In a June 2025 Business Insider interview, Altman laid out his hard-earned board advice for founders navigating high-growth environments.

According to Jack Altman board advice, a company’s board can be either a powerful strategic asset or a painful liability. When chosen thoughtfully, directors bring experience, insight, and accountability. When misaligned, they can create dysfunction, stall momentum, or even lead to a founder’s ouster.

Altman’s perspective is rooted in his dual experience: scaling Lattice from a startup into a category leader in HR software and now backing early-stage companies through Alt Capital. He’s seen firsthand what makes boards effective — and what makes them fall apart.

Founders Must Own Their Board Choices

A key theme in Jack Altman’s board advice is intentionality. Many founders treat board formation as a legal or procedural formality, allowing investors to fill seats without deep consideration of team dynamics, shared values, or long-term strategy. Altman argues that this passive approach is dangerous.

“The board is not just a formality,” he told Business Insider. “It’s one of the most important teams you’ll ever build.”

Instead, Altman advises founders to think of board members like co-founders or senior hires: people who will be in the room for pivotal decisions, shaping the company’s direction in moments of crisis and growth. He encourages founders to seek diversity — not just demographically, but in thought, expertise, and temperament.

He also emphasizes the importance of chemistry and values alignment. A director with an impressive resume is not enough. Founders should seek board members who genuinely care about the company’s mission and are willing to invest time, not just capital.

Practical Tips on Structuring a Strong Board

Jack Altman’s board advice includes several practical principles that early-stage founders can act on immediately:

1. Balance investor and independent voices: Altman recommends that at least one or two board seats be reserved for independent directors — people who are not investors and who can offer objective, founder-friendly guidance. These individuals often bring domain expertise or operating experience that complements the founding team.
2. Set expectations early: Many board problems stem from mismatched expectations. Altman suggests founders be upfront about how often the board will meet, what types of decisions require board input, and what the relationship dynamics should look like. Clear communication at the start prevents conflict down the road.
3. Prioritize trust and psychological safety: A good board meeting is not one where the founders feel like they are being evaluated, Altman says. Instead, it should be a space where the team can wrestle with big questions, explore options, and receive candid feedback without fear. That trust only comes when founders carefully choose who sits at the table.
4. Be open to change: As a company evolves, its board needs may change too. Altman believes founders should periodically reassess their board structure and make changes if necessary. Removing a board member is never easy, but sometimes it’s necessary for the health of the company.

These insights align with Altman’s broader philosophy on leadership: founders should build with intentionality and empathy, not just speed.

The Impact of Good Governance on Startup Success

While corporate governance might sound like a topic reserved for public companies or later-stage startups, Altman believes that good governance is critical from day one. The earlier founders build a healthy, collaborative board dynamic, the better their chances of long-term success.

Studies have shown that startups with experienced, well-balanced boards are more likely to secure follow-on funding, navigate crises effectively, and achieve successful exits. Good boards serve as thought partners, not just overseers.

Jack Altman board advice also reflects the changing expectations of modern founders. In the post-2020 startup environment, leadership is no longer just about vision and product. It is also about resilience, team building, and transparency. A strong board can amplify those values — or undermine them if poorly constructed.

Founders are increasingly looking for board members who are emotionally intelligent, operationally savvy, and aligned with their mission. Altman’s framework gives them a path to find those people and to structure their boards in a way that sets them up for long-term impact.

Alt Capital’s Role in Shaping Founder-Friendly Boards

Altman’s transition from operator to investor hasn’t changed his passion for founder empowerment. At Alt Capital, his investment firm launched in 2024, he’s doubling down on the idea that early-stage companies deserve strong, founder-aligned boards from the beginning.

Part of Alt Capital’s model includes helping portfolio companies build intentional governance structures. Altman and his team work closely with founders not just on metrics or product strategy, but also on board design, director selection, and conflict resolution.

“Too many boards are reactive,” Altman says. “We want to help founders make them proactive, strategic, and useful.”

This reflects a growing trend in venture capital: moving beyond capital to offer deep operational support. Altman’s board advice is part of a larger mission to help founders build not just great products, but great companies.

Conclusion: Founders Should Treat Board Building as Core Strategy

Jack Altman’s board advice is a timely reminder that startup success depends on more than just fundraising or product-market fit. Building the right board is a strategic decision that can dramatically influence a company’s trajectory.

Whether you’re a first-time founder or a seasoned entrepreneur, Altman’s insights offer a roadmap for assembling a board that works with you, not against you. By choosing wisely, setting expectations early, and treating governance as an asset, founders can ensure their boards become a source of strength in every chapter of their journey.