Knex is an agent-led marketplace that matches founders with the right expertise they can trust, right when they need it. From startup advisors and consultants to fractional leaders and executives. Knex eliminates leadership hiring risk from early stage through scale up.

We have a three step vetting process for all talent on Knex:

1. Source verified, relevant testimonials from previous clients or employers.
2. Meet with our team, where we screen for experience, professionalism and fit.
3. Complete additional screening for each match to determine the right experience and fit for the role.

Peer-to-peer screening is also available to Knex customers as an add-on service.

Knex offers access to vetted advisors and experienced startup leaders from the director level to c-suite in functions such as:

• Finance, Fundraising, M&A
• Go-to-Market, Demand Gen, Brand Strategy
• Sales, Partnerships, Revenue Ops
• Operations, Scaling, Process Optimization
• Technology, AI Strategy, Product Development
• Customer Success, Retention, Churn Reduction

Getting matched is easy. Simply share what your needs are with our agent, use the traditional filter search, or chat live with our team during a free consultation. Knex provides instant matches based on the information you share. The more information you share, the better the matches. Then, to ensure fit, you book free consultations with as many as you like and kickoff a service with your favorite.

All Knex engagements are low-risk and founder friendly with transparent pricing listed straight from each Knex talent profile. From equity-only advisor options to 30 day sprints and month-to-month engagements.

All advisor agreements follow the FAST standards, where you contract directly with your advisor. Our role at Knex is simply to match you with the best advisor, make contracting with them a breeze, then help you keep track of your cap table using our software.

For cash engagements with an advisor, consultant or fractional leader, Knex acts as the agent in the hiring process. Contracting is really simple - our Tri-Party Agreement ensures everyone is protected throughout the engagement. The Scope of Work details the engagement itself. 30 day sprints can be cancelled at any time while month-to-month engagements can be cancelled with 30 days notice. Click here to access these documents with an additional FAQ on our contracting and payment process.

For cash engagements, Knex handles all invoicing and compliance for you. You will receive an invoice from Knex based on the terms you set with the talent in the Scope of Work. Payments are typically collected via ACH. You pay Knex and we pay the talent. We handle all contractor related compliance, like issuing 1099's or working with international employers of record. It's that easy.

For equity-only advisor matching, we guide you through use of the FAST agreement and standards. This helps you keep a clean cap table from day one and simplifies compliance.

Initial 30-minute consultations with all Knex talent are free. Simply check the profile of the person you're interested in hiring for transparent pricing for each service they offer.

30 day sprints with fractional leaders typically start at $2,500, but the sweet spot is $5,000. Month-to-month engagements are typically $5,000-10,000/month depending on your needs. Knex charges a 10% fee on all cash engagements to cover the cost of talent vetting, onboarding, payments and compliance.

For unlimited advisor matching, monitoring and compliance - Knex charges a one-time $499 activation fee at contract execution using FAST standards. This covers the cost of vetting and onboarding their advisor and ensures contract documentation is compliant. Should they choose to hire that same advisor for a cash engagement, the entire $499 activation fee will be credited towards the 10% fee charged on all cash engagements.

Advisors are experienced leaders who guide you with strategy and perspective. They're typically part-time, informal, and non-operational — meaning they don't own deliverables or manage teams. Think of them as sounding boards who help you make smarter decisions.

Consultants are problem solvers. They come in for a defined project — build a model, audit a funnel, or deliver a report — and then step out. They're paid for deliverables, not ongoing leadership or accountability.

Fractional executives own outcomes. They operate as part of your leadership team — building strategy, managing teams, and executing alongside you. They're typically embedded part-time (1–3 days per week) and help you scale, pivot or rescue critical functions without committing to a full-time hire.

Yes and we encourage you to do so! You can work with as many advisors, consultants and fractional leaders as you want. Simply book any service you need straight from their Knex profile and let us guide you through the hiring/engagement process.

Knex offers a satisfaction guarantee—if someone isn't the right fit, we'll rematch you with someone else you choose at no additional cost.

For unlimited advisor matching, monitoring and compliance - Knex charges a one-time $499 activation fee at contract execution using FAST standards. This covers the cost of vetting and onboarding their advisor and ensures contract documentation is compliant. Should they choose to hire that same advisor for a cash engagement, the entire $499 activation fee will be credited towards the 10% fee charged on all cash engagements.

For any cash engagement, Knex collects a 10% fee for the length of the engagement. This covers the cost of vetting and onboarding the talent and ensures your contract documentation and payments are compliant.

Yes, at any time during the engagement you can hire the fractional leader full-time for a recruitment fee of 25% of their annual salary.