AboveBoard
AboveBoard is a B2B2C executive hiring marketplace connecting underrepresented senior executives (Black, Latinx, women) with companies seeking diverse leadership. The platform serves 50,000+ executives and 2,400+ companies through tiered subscriptions and a sister-company integration with True Search.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What AboveBoard does
AboveBoard is an executive hiring platform and community founded in October 2020 by Lucinda Duncalfe and headquartered in New York City. The company operates a B2B2C marketplace that provides open access to senior leadership and board opportunities, specifically focused on connecting underrepresented executives (Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and women) with companies seeking diverse leadership. The platform has grown to support 50,000+ executives and 2,400+ companies, with enterprise customers spanning private equity (Audax Group, LLR Partners, Summit Partners, Francisco Partners, Warburg Pincus), consumer/enterprise technology (HubSpot, Zapier, Okta, Pinterest, Spotify, Lyft, Amazon), financial services (Vanguard, American Express), and other sectors (KraftHeinz, Philips, Cooley LLP).
The core product is a web-based marketplace where executives VP-level and above can confidentially browse and express interest in opportunities directly, bypassing the closed-network referral model that dominates traditional retained executive search. Companies access the platform through tiered subscription packages (Startup, Growth, Enterprise) sized to company stage and hiring needs. A notable product extension, SearchEssentials, integrates AboveBoard's executive community with True Search (the 6th largest executive search firm and a sister company) and Thrive TRM leadership hiring software to deliver an end-to-end research-to-introduction workflow.
Revenue is generated primarily through company-side recurring subscriptions, supplemented by the SearchEssentials channel integration. The executive side is free. Total disclosed funding is $9 million across two seed rounds ($3M in July 2021, $6M in May 2022 led by True). Distribution is community-led via a network of 15+ partner organizations (DevColor, LCDA, HBS African-American Alumni Association, Athena Alliance, Women Tech Council, ABPA, Princeton Latinos/ALPA, among others), direct enterprise sales, and the True Search channel. The team is approximately 27 people and fully remote.
AboveBoard firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AboveBoard
- Legal name
- AboveBoard Solutions, Inc.
- Website
- https://aboveboard.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AboveBoard is a B2B2C executive hiring marketplace connecting underrepresented senior executives (Black, Latinx, women) with companies seeking diverse leadership. The platform serves 50,000+ executives and 2,400+ companies through tiered subscriptions and a sister-company integration with True Search.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AboveBoard industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Hiring Platform
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)
Keywords
Where AboveBoard is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
AboveBoard business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans for Companies: Companies pay for subscription packages (Startup, Growth, Enterprise) to access the platform and hire diverse executive talent. Packages include user accounts, job postings, and premium services.
- Free Executive Membership: Free membership for executives VP-level and above to access board and executive opportunities. Revenue generated from companies/hiring side.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free membership for executives VP-level and above |
| Subscription | Monthly | Startup Package - VC-funded early-stage companies building leadership teams and boards |
| Subscription | Monthly | Growth Package - Fast-growing mid-market companies scaling department leads and board seats |
| Subscription | Monthly | Enterprise Package - Large companies and funds driving leadership diversity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
AboveBoard product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AboveBoard operates an online executive hiring platform and community that gives senior executives confidential, open access to leadership and board opportunities, while giving companies a subscription-based channel to source diverse executive talent. Companies pay tiered subscription fees (Startup, Growth, Enterprise packages) to post opportunities and access the community, while executive membership remains free. The platform also offers an integrated executive search service (SearchEssentials) through a partnership with True Search.
Product overview
AboveBoard is an executive hiring platform and community that provides open access to senior leadership opportunities, connecting companies with underrepresented executives (Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and women). The core AboveBoard Platform serves as the marketplace connecting executives with companies listing full-time and board opportunities. The platform offers tiered subscription packages (Startups, Growth, and Enterprise) for companies based on their stage and hiring needs. An integrated offering called SearchEssentials combines True Search expertise with AboveBoard's inclusive executive community for a comprehensive hiring solution. Membership for executives is free and confidential.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AboveBoard Platform Executive hiring platform and community that provides open access to senior leadership opportunities, connecting companies with underrepresented executives (Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and women) for full-time and board positions. Executive membership is free and confidential; companies subscribe to post opportunities.
- SearchEssentials Executive search solution combining True Search's executive search expertise and Thrive TRM leadership hiring software with AboveBoard's inclusive community of executives, providing an inclusive and equitable hiring process from research to introduction for companies seeking senior leaders and board members.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50,000+ executives on platform
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use AboveBoard
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
AboveBoard technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
AboveBoard partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SearchEssentialscorePartnership combining True Search's executive search expertise with Thrive TRM leadership hiring software and AboveBoard's inclusive community of 50,000+ executives to provide comprehensive, equitable executive search from research to introduction.
- DevColorcoreDevColor is a network of Black professionals in tech and business. Partnership brings access to Black executives for AboveBoard's diverse talent pool and provides career resources for DevColor members.
- Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA)coreLCDA focuses on increasing Latinx representation on corporate boards. Partnership expands access to Latinx executives for board and executive opportunities on AboveBoard.
- HBS African-American Alumni AssociationcoreHarvard Business School alumni network providing access to Black executives. Partnership supports career advancement and board placement for HBS Black alumni.
- Associate for Black Princeton Alumni (ABPA)corePrinceton alumni network for Black graduates. Partnership connects ABPA members with AboveBoard's executive opportunities.
- Strides.aiminorAI-powered platform partnership to enhance executive matching and career opportunity discovery for diverse executives.
- Women Tech CouncilcoreNetwork supporting women in technology careers. Partnership provides access to women tech executives for AboveBoard's diverse candidate pool.
- SEO USAminorSponsors of Education Opportunity organization providing career development programs. Partnership expands reach to diverse executive talent.
- Athena AlliancecoreWomen's executive network and board placement organization. Partnership connects women executives with board and executive opportunities.
- Athena on BoardsminorBoard placement program for women. Partnership supports women seeking board positions through AboveBoard.
- UpwardminorWomen's leadership organization. Partnership provides career resources and executive opportunities for Upward members.
- WELFloridaminorWomen's leadership organization in Florida. Partnership expands access to executive opportunities for women leaders.
- Women in Tech SummitminorRegional women's tech leadership network. Partnership connects women tech executives with AboveBoard opportunities.
- Princeton Latinos (ALPA)minorPrinceton alumni network for Latino/Latina graduates. Partnership connects Latinx alumni with executive opportunities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AboveBoard competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- True (True Search): AboveBoard's sister company and lead investor; 6th largest executive search firm globally. Offers retained executive search services and is the direct counterparty integrated via SearchEssentials, competing for the same enterprise hiring budgets while also distributing AboveBoard's diverse candidate pool.
- DHR Global: Mid-sized executive search firm competing for the same growth-stage and PE-backed executive mandates as AboveBoard's Growth tier, with similar mid-market positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Heidrick & Struggles: One of the largest global executive search and leadership advisory firms, with deep board and C-suite placement relationships across Fortune 500 enterprises — the same buyer segment AboveBoard targets through its Enterprise tier.
- Spencer Stuart: Premier board and CEO search firm with decades-long relationships with Fortune 500 board chairs. A direct competitor for AboveBoard's board-placement value proposition and the standard incumbent Against which DEI-focused platforms benchmark.
- Egon Zehnder: Global leadership advisory and executive search firm with strong board practice. Competes for executive hiring mandates from large enterprises and PE portfolio companies.
- Korn Ferry: The world's largest executive search firm with full board services, leadership development, and talent consulting. Represents the scale benchmark AboveBoard must displace or complement to win enterprise accounts.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a dedicated board and CEO practice; competes for AboveBoard's PE and enterprise segments and has its own DEI initiatives.
Emerging players
- Valence (formerly known as Valence Community): Community-driven platform focused on connecting and empowering Black professionals, including executive and board opportunities. Directly comparable as a community-led alternative to AboveBoard's executive marketplace.
- Athena Alliance: Women's executive network and board-placement organization that AboveBoard already partners with; a potential competitive threat if it expands into a direct marketplace similar to AboveBoard's platform.
- Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA): Organization focused on increasing Latinx board representation. AboveBoard is a partner, but LCDA also runs its own executive/board matching programs and could evolve into a direct competitor in the Latinx segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AboveBoard social profiles
Digital presenceAboveBoard financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AboveBoard leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
AboveBoard funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AboveBoard M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AboveBoard
What does AboveBoard do?
AboveBoard operates an online executive hiring platform and community that gives senior executives confidential, open access to leadership and board opportunities, while giving companies a subscription-based channel to source diverse executive talent. Companies pay tiered subscription fees (Startup, Growth, Enterprise packages) to post opportunities and access the community, while executive membership remains free. The platform also offers an integrated executive search service (SearchEssentials) through a partnership with True Search.
Is AboveBoard a public or private company?
AboveBoard is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AboveBoard founded?
AboveBoard was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AboveBoard based?
AboveBoard is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does AboveBoard make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans for Companies are the primary driver. The others are free Executive Membership.
Who are AboveBoard's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are True (True Search) and DHR Global. Broad incumbents are Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Korn Ferry and Russell Reynolds Associates. Emerging players are Valence (formerly known as Valence Community), Athena Alliance and Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA).
Does AboveBoard have an API?
No public API is recorded for AboveBoard.
What industry is AboveBoard in?
AboveBoard's product category is Executive Hiring Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAI, Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 561312.