What The Influence Board does

The Influence Board, Inc. is a privately held, Colorado-based B2B platform founded in 2017 by CEO Jay Allen that operates a two-sided marketplace connecting "Business Influencers" (C-suite and senior executives) with "Meeting Requesters" (sales professionals, vendors, and consultants). The platform is built around a philanthropy-anchored access model: Meeting Requesters submit conversation requests alongside an offer to donate to a charity of the executive's choosing; executives review, accept, or decline through a dashboard; and payments only flow when a meeting is accepted. The underlying technology consists of a self-service web application (app.influenceboard.com) with automated request management, donation collection and distribution, calendar coordination, executive filtering controls, a Meeting Value Calculator, a 45-day Meeting Request Timeline, a Business Influencer Leaderboard, and a Vendor Deflection Tool that routes cold emails (forwarded to [email protected]) through the platform process. Add-on modules include a fully managed Concierge Service and tiered Onboarding Support packages.

The company monetizes through three streams: (1) a 30% platform transaction fee on the donation value of each accepted meeting, charged to the Meeting Requester on top of the requested donation; (2) tiered Onboarding Support packages for sales teams of 3+ users ($5,000 for 3–8 users guaranteeing 5 conversations in 90 days; $10,000 for 9–15 users guaranteeing 10; custom for 16+); and (3) a Concierge Service providing done-for-you enterprise outreach. Business Influencers join for free and set their own meeting values and causes. Go-to-market is multi-channel: self-serve signup, direct enterprise sales, and a network of 16+ executive association partners (including IAOIP, Rockies Venture Club, Sandler, SIG, CFO 100, HR 100, SMEI, HIMSS Colorado, Florida Technology Council, and others) through which 10% of raised funds flow back to nonprofit associations.

The company reports 50,000+ Business Influencers on the platform, 10,000+ companies trusting it, and $100,000+ raised for charity year-to-date, with claimed 20–40% meeting acceptance rates versus sub-1% for traditional cold outreach. The platform is patent-pending, was featured in USA Today in January 2025, and is led by a founder/CEO with 25 years of experience and an executive board including former Fortune Media COO Lisa Cline (joined July 2024), Sandler Training Denver President Brian McDevitt, StarTek/Results Companies CEO Chad Carlson, and serial entrepreneur Charles Smith. No external venture capital or private equity investment is disclosed.

Name

The Influence Board

Legal name

The Influence Board, Inc.

Website

https://influenceboard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Influence Board is a B2B platform connecting business executives ("Business Influencers") with sales professionals and vendors ("Meeting Requesters") through a philanthropy-based meeting request system, where accepted meetings trigger a charitable donation to causes chosen by the executive.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Sales Engagement Platform

NAICS

Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B Demand Generation & Lead Nurture Agencies (BPAFAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Influencer Operations & Payments (Workflow/Invoicing/Payouts) (MPAAAHAO), Influencer Sourcing & Casting (Discovery/Shortlisting) (MPAAAHAC)

Keywords

• Executive networking platform
• B2B sales meetings
• Philanthropic sales platform
• Charitable meeting access
• Vendor outreach platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Littleton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Platform Transaction Fees: 30% platform fee charged on the donation value when a conversation is secured. Meeting Requesters pay the Business Influencer's requested donation value plus the 30% platform fee only when the executive accepts the request.
2. Onboarding Support Services: Premium onboarding packages for companies with 3+ salespeople. 3-8 users: $5,000 one-time fee with $2,500 as charitable allocation for first 5 conversations, guaranteeing 5 conversations in 90 days. 9-15 users: $10,000 one-time fee with $5,000 as charitable allocation, guaranteeing 10 conversations.
3. Concierge Services: Fully managed outreach service handling targeting, recruitment of executives, pitch creation, request submission, scheduling coordination, and charitable payment management for enterprise clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Influence Board is a B2B platform that connects executives ("Business Influencers") with sales professionals ("Meeting Requesters") by pairing each meeting request with a charitable donation to a cause chosen by the executive. Meetings are secured only when the Business Influencer accepts the request, giving executives full control over unsolicited outreach while giving sales teams 20-40% acceptance rates versus sub-1% for traditional cold outreach. The platform monetizes via a 30% transaction fee on the donation value, a Concierge managed outreach service, and premium onboarding packages for enterprise sales teams.

Product overview

Influence Board is a single unified platform for B2B networking that connects Business Influencers (executives who offer their time for meetings) with Meeting Requesters (sales professionals and vendors seeking access to decision-makers). The core platform facilitates conversation requests where Meeting Requesters make charitable donations to causes chosen by the Business Influencer in exchange for meeting time. The platform includes two primary user roles (Business Influencer Program and Meeting Requester Program), a Concierge Service add-on for fully managed outreach, and Onboarding Support for enterprise sales teams. Supporting features include a Meeting Request Timeline (45-day process), Time Value Calculator, and Business Influencer Leaderboard.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Influence Board Platform Core B2B platform that connects Business Influencers (executives offering their time) with Meeting Requesters (sales professionals seeking meetings). Every conversation request includes a charitable donation to the executive's chosen cause; only accepted requests are billed, with a 30% platform fee on the donation value.
• Business Influencer Program Free membership role for executives (C-suite, CIOs, CTOs, CFOs, senior business leaders from top-tier corporations) who want to monetize their meeting time for charity, control unsolicited outreach, and pre-screen meeting requests for relevance before accepting.
• Meeting Requester Program Paying role for sales professionals, vendors, consultants, and business development professionals who discover Business Influencers and submit conversation requests bundled with charitable donations to the influencer's chosen cause. Meetings are billed only when accepted by the influencer.
• Concierge Service Fully managed outreach add-on service where The Influence Board team handles targeting, executive matchmaking, pitch creation, request submission, scheduling coordination, and charitable payment coordination on behalf of vendors and startups seeking meetings with decision-makers.
• Onboarding Support Premium onboarding service for companies with 3+ salespeople. Includes personalized training, prospecting support, coaching sessions, advice on automated outreach tools, and a guarantee of minimum conversations (5 for 3-8 users at $5,000; 10 for 9-15 users at $10,000; custom for 16+) within 90 days. Requires minimum 50 requests submitted in the first 2 months.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20-40% meeting acceptance rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Association of Innovation Professionals (IAOIP)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership providing free platform access to IAOIP members. Association promotes relevant member collaboration while fulfilling social impact commitments through the platform.
• Rockies Venture Club (RVC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership to foster automated and relevant collaboration among RVC members while raising funding for RVC initiatives. Executive Director Peter Adams endorses the platform.
• Sandler Sales Training and Professional DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2021Strategic partnership where Sandler promotes the platform to members as a modern sales approach. Sandler training incorporates Influence Board methodology into sales evolution strategies.
• Sourcing Interests Group (SIG)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership with SIG providing free access to members. CEO Dawn Tiura describes it as a creative approach to promoting member collaboration while funding worthy causes.
• SIM Women ColoradominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership providing free platform access to SIM Women Colorado members to facilitate professional collaboration.
• SIM ColoradominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership with SIM Colorado providing free access to members. President Judy Batenburg leads member engagement on the platform.
• The CFO 100, A Private Network of Senior Finance ExecscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021CFO 100 members have been exploring and testing Influence Board concepts for 10 years. Chairman/CEO Jay Allen (also TIB founder) facilitates the partnership. Members gain social impact and filtered innovation access.
• The HR 100, A Private Network of Chief HR OfficerscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021HR 100 members have tested Influence Board concepts for 10 years. Partnership enables members to increase social impact while gaining access to filtered innovation through the platform.
• SMEI, Advancing Sales & MarketingcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership with SMEI CEO Willis Turner promoting philanthropy while driving sales success. Platform facilitates appropriate high-level sales conversations with meaningful philanthropic engagement.
• The Institute of Financial OperationsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership facilitating member collaboration and empowering members to achieve philanthropic goals. Senior Operations Manager Shelby Ray leads IFO engagement.
• Florida Technology Council (FTC)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021FTC partnership creates meaningful collaboration between executives and potential business partners. CEO James Taylor endorses the platform for member engagement.
• CXOcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021CXO network members have tested Influence Board concepts for 10 years. Partnership enables members to increase social impact and access filtered innovation.
• Arizona Technology CouncilminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership allowing Arizona Tech Council executives to create timely collaboration and open doors for economic recovery. President/CEO Steven Zylstra leads the partnership.
• IHRIM (Human Resources Information Management)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership empowering IHRIM members to connect meaningfully, save time, and advance philanthropic goals. Chairman/President/CEO Dennis Hill, PhD leads the partnership.
• Emerging Markets Coalition (EMC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021Partnership facilitating collaboration and empowering members to increase social impact. CEO Kirsten Trusko leads EMC engagement on the platform.
• HIMSS Colorado ChaptercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 December 2021First association partner to work with Influence Board. Board President Sarah Sample-Reif leads the partnership, creating virtual meetings and raising funds for the association while supporting healthcare IT executives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• LinkedIn Sales Navigator: LinkedIn's flagship sales intelligence and lead-generation product, used by B2B sales teams to identify and reach decision-makers. It competes with Influence Board for the same Meeting Requester budget, though it lacks the donation-tipped access mechanism.
• ZoomInfo: Leading B2B contact and company intelligence platform that sales and marketing teams use to source decision-makers and contact data. It is a broad incumbent against which Influence Board's curated executive access must justify premium economics.
• Outreach: Enterprise sales execution platform covering sequencing, workflow automation, and pipeline management. It shapes how Meeting Requesters operate their daily outreach motion, making it a complement-or-substitute versus Influence Board's curated meeting model.
• Salesloft: Sales engagement platform for cadencing, dialing, and meeting management used by enterprise sales orgs. Competes for the same SDR/AE workflow tooling budget that Influence Board would tap for its Concierge and Onboarding offerings.

Direct peers

• Apollo.io: All-in-one sales intelligence and engagement platform combining a B2B contact database, email/phone outreach, and workflow automation. Targets the same sales development and BDR buyer that Influence Board serves with curated executive meetings.
• Lusha: B2B contact and company data platform used by sales reps to find direct emails and phone numbers for decision-makers. Competes head-to-head with Influence Board for sales-team prospecting budgets, though it sells data access rather than curated meetings.
• Seamless.AI: Real-time B2B contact and company search engine for sales professionals, focused on verified emails, phone numbers, and buyer-intent data. A direct competitor for sales rep attention and tooling spend versus Influence Board.

Emerging players

• Pavilion: Private membership community of sales, marketing, and revenue leaders that facilitates peer introductions and benchmarking. Overlaps with Influence Board's executive-networking thesis and shares a similar audience of senior GTM professionals.
• Grin: Influencer marketing platform handling creator sourcing, relationship management, and payment/fulfillment workflows. Relevant analog for Influence Board's "influencer operations and payments" mechanics, though Grin operates in creator marketing rather than executive access.
• Chief Outsiders: Fractional CMO and executive consultancy with a curated network of senior executives available on a part-time basis. Comparable in that it monetizes executive time through a curated marketplace, though it sells advisory engagements rather than facilitated meetings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/InfluenceBoard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/influenceboard
• Instagraminstagram.com/theinfluenceboard

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Influence Board