Insights

In the world of cleantech scale-ups and scale-ups, few things are more misunderstood, misused or more critical, than board composition.

A well-structured board isn’t just a governance checkbox, not at start-up or scale-up stage. It’s a strategic asset. The right Chair or Non-Executive Director (NED) brings pattern recognition, investor credibility, and the kind of domain expertise that helps founders navigate scale, fundraising, and risk. The wrong board composition, or no board at all, can quietly stall a company’s trajectory, or worse, be a big factor in its demise.

Earlier this year, we partnered with a client to dig deep into this topic. As part of a broader engagement, we produced a detailed benchmarking report on NED and Chair compensation across European cleantech startups, from Seed to Series C. We’ve now released a shorter, public summary of that work, and I wanted to share this with you, with a few highlights and reflections.

There’s No “Standard” Package. And That’s the Point

One of the clearest takeaways: there is no one-size-fits-all model. We saw Chairs working pro bono for equity, and others earning €60–70k retainers with up to 2–3% equity. NEDs ranged from equity-only roles to €50k cash plus matched equity. These aren’t outliers, they’re reflections of different motivations, stages, and negotiation dynamics.

VCs often keep cash low to test alignment. Equity is the primary lever: typically 0.5 -1% for NEDs, 1 - 2% for Chairs, rising to 3% in exceptional cases. UK companies tend to offer higher cash than their continental peers. And committee roles or consulting add-ons can push compensation higher, especially during fundraising or strategic shifts.

Three Archetypes Emerged

We identified three broad NED profiles:

• The Builder – Gaining board experience; lower pay, modest equity.
• The Professional – Portfolio board career; seeks clear value in both cash and equity.
• The Mentor – Purpose-driven; often working pro bono or close to it.

Each brings different strengths, and different expectations. Understanding which profile you’re hiring (or embodying) is key to structuring a fair and effective engagement.

Why This Matters

If you’re building a board: this report can help you benchmark intelligently, not blindly. It’s a directional snapshot, not a blueprint, but it’s grounded in real conversations with Chairs, NEDs, and VCs across the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.

If you’re pursuing a portfolio career: it offers clarity on what’s typical, what’s negotiable, and where your value might sit.

And if you’re an investor or founder thinking about board refreshment, succession, or structure: hopefully this is exactly the kind of insight that can help you build with intent, not inertia.

Our Role at Hyperion

At Hyperion, we work exclusively in climate and cleantech. We’ve placed many Chairs and NEDs and hired across 19 countries, and we’re trusted by founders, investors, and boards to bring clarity and confidence to these decisions. We're advisors, not just recruiters.

Whether it’s compensation benchmarking, board search, structuring advisory support, or hiring at senior and executive level, we’re here to help build boards and businesses that scale with purpose.

If you’d like a copy of the summary report, a link is below, if you want a pdf version drop me a line, or if you want to talk about your own board plans, let's have a call. I'm always happy to share what we’re seeing in the market.

https://interactive.hcgroup.global/hyperion-ned-comp-report-general

Whatever else you do, don't underestimate the value, or cost, of your Board composition.

David Hunt