Would startups give 2% equity to access a “fractional board” of expert operators | Hacker News

I'm exploring a new model and want brutal feedback.The idea:Founders give up 2% equity to join a collective that provides them with a custom advisory board — think ex-CMO, CFO, GTM, growth experts — who meet quarterly, support strategy, open doors, and are available for on-demand calls.In return, the startup gets:- A handpicked board of 3–5 top-tier operators- 4 structured board meetings per year- Ad hoc expert support when needed- Help with capital, hiring, GTM, etc.- Zero cash cost, just the 2% equity.We’d also run founder meetups, shared learning sessions, and provide add-on services (like talent acquisition, marketing support, etc.) to help companies grow faster.Board members are incentivised by owning a small piece of the collective’s pooled equity across all participating startups. We (the operator company) hold the equity and distribute exit proceeds over time.It’s basically a "fractional co-founder board" model — designed to give founders experienced support, without the dilution of a full-time co-founder or the pressure of early-stage funding.The question:Would you (or any founder you know) actually go for this?What’s broken? What needs changing? Or is it just a bad idea wrapped in startup theatre?Rip it apart.