Ellis Taylor
Ellis is the co-founder of Glyde, a platform helping SMEs automate and take control of cross-border payments. With experience in currency broking, he’s focused on removing friction and inefficiencies for growing businesses.
Non-Executive
Director Services
Find a Non-Executive Director
50,000 connections facilitated
Finding your Expert
Discover how an experienced non-executive director can strengthen governance and accelerate growth. We match you with vetted NEDs providing strategic insight, independent oversight and boardroom experience.
Share your growth goals
Share your goals and key challenges. We’ll connect you with non-executive directors whose experience and strategic insight align with your growth roadmap.
Match with experts
Explore curated matches, book intros and start engaging with the best-fit non-executive directors who can deliver an immediate impact and long-term value.
Scale risk free
Work with non-executive directors from our network of vetted experts. Choose from pro bono or paid placements, tailored to your stage, requirements and long-term objectives.
Why hire a non-executive director?
What does a non-executive director do?
A non-executive director brings independent oversight, strategic leadership, and governance expertise to your board. They help shape policy, strengthen decision-making, influence strategic planning, and support long-term business health by using deep operational experience and leveraging trusted networks.
What are the benefits of hiring a non-executive director?
NEDs provide impartial, experienced perspective and strengthen strategic planning. Providing affordable board-level expertise, robust networks, and credibility with investors and wider stakeholders, NEDs also help improve performance, manage risk, and support sustainable growth.
When should you consider hiring a non-executive director?
Non-executive directors can be particularly valuable when preparing to scale, refine governance, or pursue funding. Their mentorship, strategic perspective, and credibility can help you navigate challenges, enhance board effectiveness, and build confidence with investors.
Startups we've Connectd
Xuna Li
Xuna is the founder of HZ Power, a green energy startup helping accelerate the transition to net zero through engineering support and data-driven strategy. With a background in engineering, she’s focused on reducing electricity costs and building a more sustainable future.
Dan Rosenberg
LinkyThinks empowers children by linking different ways of thinking to foster creativity, academic success, and emotional expression. Through engaging online classes and resources, LinkyThinks equips the next generation with essential skills that many adults struggle with, ensuring they have a strong foundation to carry them into adulthood.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between an executive and a non-executive director?
An executive director is employed by a company full-time and typically specialises in an area of operations such as marketing or human resources.
A non-executive director, on the other hand, is not an employee. They won’t be involved in the everyday management of your startup, but will focus on governance, strategic oversight and constructive challenge at board level, bringing an impartial and balanced viewpoint to board discussions.
Read our guide to learn more about executive vs non-executive directors.
Will a non-executive director be exclusive to your startup?
This depends on the workload and personal preference of the non-executive director you choose. They may sit on multiple boards, provided they can meet their commitments and declare any potential conflicts of interest to maintain impartiality.
How many hours does a non-executive director work?
There is no fixed time commitment. In practice, it often ranges from a few hours per week to one or two days per month, depending on your needs and the agreed scope.
What costs are associated with joining the platform?
Connectd is free to join for startups. The only requirement is to complete an onboarding call with a member of our team to get full access to the platform.
After creating an account during your onboarding call, you’ll have instant access to our network of experts. You can filter talent by role, industry, skill set, location, and compensation expectations to help you find the best people for your business.
How do I find experts on the platform?
There are three core on-platform features which enable you to connect with talent: job postings, expert search and AI recommendations. Our global events also provide opportunities to build relationships with experts.
Where do you operate geographically?
Our members are located across 40+ countries, with strong representation in the UK and US. This enables you to access global expertise and cross-border collaboration, working with experts remotely if required.
Your contact details
Curious to discover how Connectd can help you grow?