FINTECH Circle

Startups & Scaleups · Pop-Up Boards

The board you don’t have yet - for one afternoon.

A Pop-Up Board gives fast-growing fintechs generating annual revenues of £1m+ direct access to the calibre of Non-Executive Directors, Chairs and investors that most companies only meet once they’ve raised a Series A, or hired their first Chair.

Apply for a Pop-Up Board →

The problem this solves

Governance gaps get expensive when you want to raise more or exit

Scaling from £1m towards your next funding round or exit is where governance gaps get expensive: unclear reporting lines, an untested growth strategy, blind spots your management team is too close to see. A Pop-Up Board puts your real strategic challenge in front of a curated panel of experienced Chairs, NEDs and investors from the FINTECH Circle network, in a single, structured session run exactly like a genuine board meeting.

How it works

Book your 90min Online Board Meeting

  1. 1

    30 min Scoping call

    We work with your CEO to define 3 strategic questions the board should address: a fundraising strategy, a market-entry decision, governance readiness ahead of institutional investment, a leadership or investor dispute. 

  2. 2

    Board pack

    Our team prepares a concise board paper, circulated to panel members in advance, exactly as it would be for a real board. No fees need to be paid by fintech startups & scaleups.

  3. 3

    The session

    A 90-minute live board meeting chaired by an experienced Chair. Your leadership team presents for 15min; our Board panel questions, challenges and advises as NEDs would.

  4. 4

    Confidential outcomes

    A summary of the panel’s key questions, risks flagged and recommended next steps, for your management team and any existing board or investors, under Chatham House rules.

Who it’s for

Fintech scaleups at an inflection point.

  • Fintech and financial services scaleups with £1m+ annual revenue
  • Pop-up Boards are a free service for Fintech scaleups
  • Development or testing of a Go To Market Strategy
  • A governance upgrade ahead of institutional investment
  • A leadership transition
  • A decision too big for the management team to resolve alone

Why FINTECH Circle

Panels drawn from the Board Programme network.

Every panel is drawn from the same Board Programme network — Chairs, NEDs and senior financial services professionals from across fintech and regulated financial services. A group of experts who can open doors for you and share their independent advice, wanting the best for your company.

“That was incredible! I am looking forward to connecting with everyone after this board session.”
Savannah Price, CEO, Serene

Investment

Complimentary for fintech scaleups generating £1m+ in revenue.

FINTECH Circle does not charge fintech companies for Pop-Up Board meetings, or for introductions to potential board candidates. Startup Membership is not a prerequisite.
What happens to our board pack afterwards?+

FINTECH Circle prepares your board pack from public information and what you share with us, to highlight your key areas of focus. Both the pack and the Pop-Up Board meeting are confidential and follow strict Chatham House rules.

Can I hire a FINTECH Circle member when I set up my own board?+

Yes. If both the panel member and the company’s CEO agree, a Pop-Up Board can lead to an ongoing partnership as a board advisor or NED.

What are the fees?+

FINTECH Circle does not charge fintech companies for Pop-Up Board meetings, or for introductions to potential board candidates. This is a complimentary service for fintech scaleups — Startup Membership is not a prerequisite.

How much do I need to prepare?+

You only need a 30min call with FINTECH Circle to share your top 3 priorities. We will prepare the board papers, invite all board members and host the board meeting chaired by an experienced Chair. We will connect you to all board members in person for any private follow-ups.

Apply for a Pop-Up Board

A short first step. We’ll follow up to arrange your scoping call.