Board & Advisory
Board-level work for growing software companies.
Non-executive director, chair, and advisory engagements with software companies as they scale - in the UK and internationally.
Mat takes a small number of concurrent board appointments where he can be genuinely additive: an active board member who reads the management pack properly, challenges product and engineering strategy with first-hand knowledge, and supports founders through the specific pressures of scaling a software company.
The typical client is a founder-led B2B software business somewhere on the journey from startup to scale-up - often venture- or growth-backed - at the stage where the board needs to step up, both in governance and in the quality of challenge it offers the CEO.
Roles available
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Non-Executive Director
Standard non-executive director appointments. Eight to twelve days per year, board meetings, committee work, and between-meeting founder and CEO support.
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Independent Chair
For companies that need an experienced chair to manage shareholder dynamics, run an effective board, and act as a sounding board for the CEO. Most relevant for scale-ups where governance needs to mature alongside the company.
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Senior Independent Director
Where a credible independent voice is needed between executive and investor directors, particularly in businesses with mixed founder and investor shareholder bases.
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Operating Partner / Venture Partner
Engagements with venture and growth investors, working across multiple portfolio companies on technical due diligence, value-creation planning, AI transformation roadmaps, and selective interim executive support.
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Board Advisor
For earlier-stage businesses that do not yet need a formal NED but want regular, structured access to senior operator perspective.
What Mat brings
A board contribution grounded in having actually built and scaled software businesses - not observed them.
- A 25-year career as founder, CEO and CTO of software businesses.
- Direct experience of investor dynamics, funding rounds, and complex shareholder dynamics.
- A £20m OEM licence transaction with a global cloud provider.
- Built a UK software business and launched it successfully in the US and Asia-Pacific.
- Material M&A experience across four companies.
- Current operator-level depth in agentic AI and modern software architecture.
Common questions
How many concurrent board roles do you take?
Deliberately few. The practice is capped so that every client receives genuine operator-level attention - this is not a portfolio career built on volume.
Do you charge a standard NED fee?
Fees are agreed per engagement and reflect the scope, stage, and demands of the business. They are discussed openly at first contact.
Will you do international roles?
Yes - actively. Mat has built and launched software businesses in the UK, United States and Asia-Pacific, and welcomes international board and advisory roles.
Do you take equity in lieu of fees?
This can be discussed where it sensibly aligns the relationship - particularly with founder-led businesses. It is considered case by case.
Discuss a board role
If you are an investor or founder considering a non-executive or chair appointment, get in touch to start a conversation.