Jack Altman: Selecting the Right Board Members is Crucial for Early-Stage Startups

Jack Altman, founder of Alt Capital, emphasizes the importance of selecting the right board members for early-stage startups. In a recent “Sourcery” podcast episode, Altman shared that choosing board members is crucial as they will be involved in high-stakes decisions and long-term company impact. He noted that board members often stay with the company longer than most employees and are privy to sensitive discussions. Altman, who previously founded and led Lattice, a $3 billion human-resources software startup, now focuses on investing in AI and nuclear energy companies through Alt Capital. He highlighted that while investor preferences may not matter much in the seed stage, they become significant once a board of directors is formed. Altman’s insights reflect the growing emphasis in Silicon Valley on “founder friendliness” and the balance of technical expertise within board compositions.