# What is Board of Directors? Definition & Technical Mechanics

> **Source:** [SPIDITS AI Startup & Venture Intelligence Glossary](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary)  
> **Category:** Operations  
> **Canonical Citation:** [https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/board-of-directors](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/board-of-directors)

## Definition
The Board of Directors is an elected body of individuals that represents the interests of shareholders, oversees the executive team, and votes on major corporate decisions.

## Architectural Mechanics & Deep Dive
The Board of Directors is an elected body of individuals that represents the interests of shareholders, oversees the executive team, and votes on major corporate decisions.

## Industry Applications & Real-World Use Cases
Corporate governance and executive oversight

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Who makes up a startup board?
Typically a mix of founders, lead venture capital investors, and independent industry experts.

### What major powers does the board have?
Hiring/firing the CEO, approving option pool increases, and giving consent for fundraising or sale of the company.

## Related Terminology
- [term-sheet](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/term-sheet)
- [option-pool](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/option-pool)
- [dilution](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary/dilution)

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*From the SPIDITS AI Knowledge Base (300+ terms indexed). Explore full technical definitions: [https://spidits.com/startup-glossary](https://spidits.com/startup-glossary)*