Decisions requiring board input/approval
List every item that needs a vote or formal input, with a recommendation already attached, so the meeting spends time debating, not discovering.
First Round's board-meeting piece argues decisions should be pre-wired before the meeting; this slide is the written record of what's being decided, not where the debate starts cold.
- Each decision stated as a specific question, with the founder's recommendation
- The option pool, comp, or resolution size if a formal vote is needed
- A note on which directors were already consulted before the meeting
- Decisions framed as open-ended brainstorms with no recommendation
- Approvals slipped in without being labeled as a vote item on the agenda
- A major decision (option pool increase, new debt, exec comp) shows up with no advance warning
- No recommendation given, only a menu of options
- Asking the board to 'weigh in' on something that was actually already decided, which reads as insincere
- Waiting until the live meeting to raise a decision that needed two weeks of pre-wiring
- · Has the board lead already heard about this decision before the pre-read went out?
- · Does this slide state a clear recommendation, or just present options?
Decision: [question]. Recommendation: [founder's position]. Ask: [approve/vote/input] by [date].
"We'd love the board's thoughts on a few strategic items this quarter."
"Decision: approve a $196K bridge note to extend runway past the Aug 2026 cash-out. Recommendation: approve at existing valuation cap, terms attached in Appendix B. Already discussed with lead investor."
Nimbus names the exact instrument, ties it to the cash-out date, and shows the recommendation was pre-wired, so the vote is a formality, not a debate from scratch.
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