Strategic Insight
Advisory Board Selection
One of the biggest challenges early-stage startups face is attracting Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to join their advisory boards, especially when their products are still in early development with limited clinical/commercial traction. At this stage, promising innovations will still struggle to convince high-profile experts to come on board right away.
That’s why we recommend a progressive approach:
Startups should start their engagements with practising clinicians, early adopters, and mid-career experts first, to obtain practical, constructive feedback. As they grow and obtain more traction, they can then approach more prominent KOLs with a compelling story and proof points.
This approach allows you to:
Gain early clinical insights with suitable advisors
Build your credibility and momentum while growing your scientific board
Ultimately attract top-tier KOLs who see value in what you’ve already accomplished
At VB Discovery, we support this journey by helping you identify, engage, and gradually scale up the level of expert involvement through tools like Easy Insights and Expert 1-on-1 Calls.
Case Study
Identifying a Strategic Advisor via Easy Insights
The Challenge
A healthtech startup in the oncology space was seeking to expand its clinical expertise and industry connections by appointing a scientific advisory board member. Rather than relying on cold outreach or costly executive search firms, they wanted a faster, more targeted approach to identify the right doctor – someone with deep domain expertise and alignment with their mission.Our Approach
We recommended leveraging Easy Insights to identify potential advisors using a low-risk, high-impact approach. The client used the platform to:- Run a targeted screener to find oncology experts with relevant clinical and commercial backgrounds
- Review responses to evaluate interest, alignment, and communication style
- Shortlist candidates based on experience and overall fit
- Conduct 1-on-1 video calls with selected respondents for further discussions (i.e. interviews).
Prior to the call, shortlisted experts were given access to the startup’s product collaterals and briefing materials, allowing them to review the solution in context. This led to more productive discussions focused on expectations, strategic discussions, and advisory styles.
The Outcome
Through Easy Insights, the startup identified and engaged several qualified experts, with one standing out as a potential advisor.The startup proceeded to engage this candidate for an Expert 1-on-1 Call session, which served as the first step towards building a meaningful relationship. Some time later, this healthcare expert joined the company’s advisory board.
The process fostered a win-win experience:
- Experts were fairly compensated for their time
- The startup benefited from informed, pressure-free discussions
- Both sides could evaluate their mutual fit
VentureBlick is the Go Global partner for healthcare innovation. We connect key players worldwide to foster impactful collaborations, helping startups scale, SMEs with global expansion, and corporations in discovering new technologies on a global scale.
Let
the
venture
begin...
