TechCrunch+ roundup: LatAm startup strength, global chip shortage, Visa Bulletin update
“You had one job” might be funny when a birthday cake decoration goes wrong, but if we’re talking about executives who don’t show up for board meetings, the stakes are much higher.
“Disengaged or dysfunctional boards aren’t just bad for CEOs and LPs; they’re bad for everyone,” writes Matt Blumberg, co-founder and CEO of Bolster, a realization that spurred him to revise meeting formats to include follow-up surveys and additional outreach.
“That is a lot of moving pieces to manage, but I find that doing so keeps the meeting fresh and well-paced.”
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Many entrepreneurs view board meetings as hurdles to avoid or overcome, which is unfortunate. Well-run sessions are legitimate opportunities to discuss challenges and ask for help when needed.
Example: No one wants to read slides in a board meeting, so distribute material well in advance and ask your attendees to submit questions via email. A board meeting should be a working session, not a monologue.
To promote engagement and diversity, Blumberg recommends adding one independent director for each investor board seat and reserving a single spot for a founder or team member.
“There’s no question that running an effective board, or serving as an effective director, takes serious time, energy and diligence,” he says. “But that’s no reason not to try.”
Thanks very much for reading,
Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@yourprotagonist
Today: Q&A with Silicon Valley immigration attorney Sophie Alcorn
Image Credits: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a new window)
I’m hosting a Twitter Space today at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET with immigration attorney and TC+ columnist Sophie Alcorn.
If you’re trying to navigate the byzantine U.S. immigration process — or if you know someone who is — please join the conversation and bring your questions.
8 investors discuss what’s ahead for reproductive health startups in a post-Roe world
TechCrunch+ asked investors their thoughts regarding the state of venture in a Post-Roe world. Image Credits: Alexander Ryabintsev / Getty Images
Dominic-Madori Davis surveyed eight investors about the role venture capital might play in this new era where Americans no longer have the legal right to obtain an abortion.
The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision affected more than healthcare and personal privacy: Will capital and talent flee U.S. states that restrict reproductive rights? Will investors back more startups that expand healthcare?
Given “the tenuous relationship …read more