Startup Chapter: From Founder-Led to Board-Led: Building Effective Startup Boards

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Startup Chapter: From Founder-Led to Board-Led: Building Effective Startup Boards

When does a startup need a “real” board of directors?

We explore the distinction between advisory and formal boards, and how to build effective boards when scaling up and preparing to go public. Join us, as we review board composition, dynamics between founders, investors and directors, governance versus bureaucracy, compensation, incentives and accountability. Real-world scenarios, such as managing cash runway pressures and supporting rapid regional expansion, will be presented. Networking opportunities with startup ecosystem players not to be missed.

Highlights:

Board composition: Skills, networks and independence
Board dynamics: Control vs accountability
Board roles: Strategy and crisis management
Board evaluation: Remuneration, accountability, succession
Growth stages: Scaling up, pre-listing expectations

The programme will end with a Q&A session followed by networking

Programme

3.00pm: Registration

3.20pm: Welcome address: Chieh Suang, Startup Chapter Chair, SID

3.35pm: Panel Session: When Does a Startup Need a "Real" Board?

4.05pm: Q & A

4.15pm: Refreshment and Networking

5:00pm: End

CPD Hours : NA.

SID members: S$50.00 (incl. of 9% GST)

Non-members: S$100.00 (incl. of 9% GST)

Speakers

Chieh Suang Khor
Chair, SID Startups Chapter

Ms Chieh Suang Khor is an investment director at Lyra Ventures, a global venture capital firm focused on the intersection of retail, technology and design. Prior to this she was the Venture Capital and Private Equity Lead at Oracle NetSuite and investment principal at Cento Ventures. She started her career in public service building startup ecosystem at the Economic Development Board and Infocomm Investments (now SGInnovate).

Li Meng Lee
Executive Chairman, Fiuu

Mr Li Meng Lee is the Executive Chairman of Fiuu, independent director of The Assembly Place and Chief Strategy Officer at Razer. He started his career at JP Morgan and has over 15 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, mergers and acquisition, and fundraising advisory before taking on operating role at Razer and now Fiuu. He enjoys mentoring and sharing his personal learnings and observations over the years to help companies through their growth journey.

Koichi Saito
Managing Partner, JIF Capital

Mr Koichi Saito is the Managing Partner at JIF Capital (previously known as JAFCO Asia) and founder and General Partner of KK Fund. He was a director at IMJ Investment Partners (now known as Spiral Ventures), with responsibility for its investments throughout Southeast Asia. Prior to that, he worked at a private equity fund founded by George Soros and was engaged in corporate and hotel acquisitions. He has also worked at Mitsubishi Morgan Stanley Security and Orix Corporation.

Andrew Yeo
Adviser, Phaos Technology

Mr Andrew Yeo is an Adviser at Phaos Technology, where he was formerly Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. He led the company from early-stage deep-tech venture through to a successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Having navigated the “zero-to-IPO” journey, he brings a practitioner’s lens on what effective startup governance truly demands. He is an Adjunct Lecturer at NTU’s Enterprise Academy, where he previously served as Associated Director. An SID accredited director, he is a founding member of the NUS Graduate Research Innovation Programme.