How do you I get advisers to work with me?

الاستشاري advisor لا يكون مستثمرا، بالضرورة، لأن الاستشارات إحدى القيم المضافة التي يقدمها المستثمر. ويفضل، حين تبحث عن التمويل، أن تبحث عن المستثمرين الذين يمكنهم مساعدة مشروعك باستشاراتهم.

كيف تختار استشاريا لمشروعك؟ الأمر مرتبط بشكل أساسي بالعلاقات. كلما كانت قائمة معارفك من الريادين وأصحاب المشاريع كبيرة، كلما سهل عليك إيجاد الاستشاريين المناسبين لإستشارتهم.

أحيانا يمكنك إضافة مستثمر كاستشاري دون أن يستمر فعليا في المشروع.

يمكنك أحيانا الحصول على خدمات الاستشاري دون أن تدفع له ثمنا. لكن، لاحظ أنك لست الريادي الوحيد الذي يبحث عن مستشارين ولو أن كل صاحب خبرة قبل بدور مستشار مجانا من كل من يطلب منه فلن يبقى لديه وقت لأعماله الخاصة. لذلك يفضل أن تتفق مع الاستشاري على مقابل معين.

يمكن أن تتفق معه على راتب مقابل الاستشارة، لكن هذا عير مستحب لأنه سيكلفك كثيرا عن كل استشارة. أما الخيار المريح فهو التعاقد معه مقابل حصة من الشركة، يمكن ان تترواح بين 0.5% و1%,

Hello Bana,

Advisors are usually not paid and are not necessarily investors (even though investors do advise the companies they invest in, they usually have a more official role, such as sitting on the board).

They are often people who have the experience, field expertise or connections to help an entrepreneur through his/her venture. An entrepreneur should always seek advisors that will challenge them and guide them.

The best approach to recruit advisors is to identify people (whether you know them or not) that you believe will have valuable input and to reach out to them by presenting your idea and asking for their help (in an intellectual capacity). You will be surprised at how responsive and willing people are to share their opinions and knowledge.

Good luck. Khaled

A lot depends on the individual advisor. Companies with revenues and/or funding might pay some people who sit on their advisory board. Startups can frequently find advisors who will work with them for free or in exchange for some equity in the company. I am currently working with one person who is very well connected in the industry my company is targeting. He is also enthusiastic about the product and the digital media field in general. This person is operating as our Chairman and has a share in the company in return for his advice.

I would look at people who operate in or around the area which your business is focused on - find someone who is like minded and entrepreneurial and happy to share information, contacts and introductions with you, and then work from there. Not everyone will want equity or eventual payment - many people will just help.

Get the experienced people who are just in for the thrill of the ride. They had their own success stories, they are retired and they are well connected. Put them on the advisory board and give them a very small equity. They are not in for the money, they like to help and they want to enjoy the ride.