<b>Follow the board seat</b>

<b>Follow the board seat</b>

Word is a growth-equity firm just took a board seat at a managed host that still markets itself as founder-led and independent. The press release won't mention it, but the cap table tells the story.

Here's why it matters: a board seat usually precedes the operational playbook by a year or two. First come the 'efficiency' consultants, then the pricing study, then the support restructure. The founder stays as the friendly face while the levers move elsewhere.

Unconfirmed the firm's exact stake, but the filing exists for those who look.

Watch this: when a host you rely on takes outside growth money, start your contingency research early. The good time to plan an exit is before you need one.