What is Boardsi, and is it a scam or legit?

What is Boardsi?

Boardsi is a platform that connects executives with organizations looking for board members. Traditionally, building these relationships requires extensive networking on both sides. Boardsi claims to simplify this process using both AI-powered and manual matching services.

How does Boardsi work?

Executives who work with Boardsi start by submitting information about their work experience, skill set, and long-term goals. The Boardsi team reviews this information before adding members to the database. If they’re approved as members, executives must pay an onboarding fee and a monthly membership fee.

Corporate organizations and venture capital firms can also sign up for Boardsi to find executives and expand their boards. Like executives, companies on Boardsi are charged service fees, although they are charged quarterly or annually rather than monthly.

After signing up, companies can work with in-house recruiters from Boardsi to connect with potential board members. Boardsi also offers services like board assessments and development programs.

Some users have claimed that Boardsi reaches out to potential executive clients directly through platforms like LinkedIn. In this case, the executive still needs to go through the same initial vetting process and pay onboarding and membership fees.

What makes Boardsi so popular?

For successful executives, serving as a board member can be an exciting professional step forward. Working as a board member is an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills in a different way than a full-time management role. Serving as a board member also helps executives expand their influence in the corporate sphere and shape the future of their industries.

On top of that, serving on a board is an effective way for executives to network, boost their credibility, and achieve long-term career goals. Finally, some boards offer financial compensation for members, so joining a board can be a way for executives to increase their earning potential beyond what they’re already making.

Given the numerous benefits of board service, it’s no surprise that executives are attracted to Boardsi for opportunities. Boardsi claims to help members find opportunities they wouldn’t get on their own and streamline the process.

Boardsi is also appealing to growing businesses that need to select a board. The process can be time-consuming, particularly for startups and small-to-midsize businesses with limited resources.

Common Boardsi reviews

Reading reviews effectively determines what to expect from a platform and whether or not it is legitimate. Let’s review some of the company’s positive and negative aspects that are commonly discussed in Boardsi reviews.

Positive reviews

Most online reviews of Boardsi focus on the negatives of this company and discuss whether or not the platform is a scam. However, some testimonials highlight the positives of this platform. These include:

• Professional bios: Boardsi recruiters work with executives to create biographies highlighting their experience and professional skill set. These bios are intended to attract possible board opportunities.
• Database of executives in many industries: Companies interested in recruiting board members have mentioned finding a wide range of experienced executives from various niches and industries.

Negative reviews

Given the scarcity of positive reviews, you may be questioning whether Boardsi is legitimate. Numerous former Boardsi clients have posted negative reviews online regarding their experiences with the platform. Some have even left complaints directly with the Better Business Bureau. Below are some of the most frequent complaints about Boardsi found online.

• Misleading recruitment techniques: One common complaint about Boardsi is the platform’s techniques for recruiting new executives. While executives can sign up directly through the website, Boardsi also recruits by sending messages on platforms like LinkedIn. Many former clients complain that these messages are misleading, implying that Boardsi currently has positions ready for members when that isn’t the case.
• High fees: Members must pay significant fees to join Boardsi. Many reviews note that they paid a $200 initiation fee in addition to $195 monthly fees.
• Minimal results: Many reviews note that despite the high upfront costs, they haven’t seen any results from the platform. Members spend time creating a profile hoping to land a board seat but don’t receive any messages from organizations or progress updates from Boardsi.

Boardsi’s red flags

While Boardsi’s offerings may be enticing for professionals, they also present some red flags that are too big to ignore.

• Boardsi claims to use AI-powered technology to match executives and companies, but the descriptions of this technology on the company’s website are vague and don’t provide a clear overview of the process.
• Boardsi doesn’t provide clients with detailed updates about the status of their profiles, so they can’t check where they are in the recruitment process.
• Boardsi reaches out to prospective clients on LinkedIn with vague or misleading messages, which gives executives false expectations about what to expect from the platform.

So, is Boardsi legit or a scam?

After reviewing Boardsi’s business model and online reviews, you’re likely wondering: Is Boardsi a scam? It’s difficult to say whether Boardsi is fraudulent or just a poorly run business. However, with so many negative reviews online, ambitious executives are likely better off using other avenues to find opportunities.

Boardsi has a history of issuing refunds to unhappy clients, which implies that the company tries to deliver what it has promised, unlike typical scam websites that often refuse to offer any compensation. On the other hand, some executives have reported finding valuable board opportunities through the platform, suggesting that for certain users, Boardsi may still provide benefits.

Alternatives to Boardsi

If you want to find executive board positions, you can also consider various alternatives to Boardsi.

• Attend local networking events: Look for events in your area where you can meet high-ranking professionals and entrepreneurs in your industry.
• Join virtual conferences: Virtual events are also an excellent way to network with other professionals and learn about upcoming board membership opportunities.
• Review opportunities through the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Private Directors Association: These organizations can help you identify open board opportunities with for-profit companies.
• Review opportunities on BoardSource: If you’re specifically interested in nonprofit board roles, BoardSource offers a variety of resources that can help.