# Board Actions

Last updated

Mar 5, 2026

Board actions are how your board formally approves key decisions that affect your cap table: issuing stock, granting options, adopting plans, approving 409A valuations, and more. Treat this page as your “board approvals 101” plus a checklist for keeping Mantle aligned with your legal record.​

## Board actions 101 for founders

A **board action** is usually captured in board minutes or a written consent. It documents that the directors reviewed and approved a decision (for example, a new option grant, SAFE financing, or equity plan).

Investors, auditors, and acquirers will expect to see these approvals linked to your cap table—missing board approvals are a common due diligence red flag.​

Mantle helps you link each equity event to the underlying board action so your cap table is both numerically correct and legally supported.

### What typically requires a board action

Common decisions that should have clear board approval include:

- **Equity plans and pools**  
  - Adopting a new equity incentive plan  
  - Increasing the size of an existing option pool  
- **Grants and issuances**  
  - Approving batches of option grants (new hires, refresh grants)  
  - Issuing founder or employee shares  
  - Issuing SAFEs, convertible notes, or new preferred stock  
- **409A and pricing decisions**  
  - Approving a new 409A valuation and adopting the FMV for option pricing  
  - Approving the exercise/strike prices for batches of options based on that FMV

Your counsel should guide exactly what your board needs to approve, but Mantle gives you a place to store and connect these records.

### Why capturing board actions in Mantle matters

#### Clean due diligence

Investors and acquirers often ask to see that every grant or financing was properly approved; linking grants and transactions to board actions makes this easy.

#### Compliance & governance

If equity is issued without proper approval, you may need expensive corrective work later; having approvals attached to each event reduces this risk.

#### Single source of truth

Instead of digging through email and folders, you can see “what did the board approve, and when?” alongside your cap table.

### Adding board members

1. ##### Navigate to Board Actions  
   - In the left-hand sidebar, click on **Board** → **Members**.

2. ##### Add board members  
   - Click **Add Board Member.**  
   - Fill out board member details, including their name and email.

### Recoding written consent

1. ##### Navigate to Board Actions  
   - In the left-hand sidebar, click on **Board** → **Actions**.  
2. ##### Record past approval  
   - Click **New Action** → **Written Consent**.  
   - Complete the board action details, including the name, description, board resolution attachment, and effective date.

### Recording past approval

1. ##### Navigate to Board Actions  
   - In the left-hand sidebar, click on **Board** → **Actions**.

2. ##### Record past approval  
   - Click **New Action** → **Record Past Approval**.  
   - Complete the board action details, including the name, description, board resolution attachment, and effective date.

### Attaching board actions with specific workflows

Whenever the board approves something that touches your cap table, attach that board consent to the exact records it affects in Mantle. This creates a clean paper trail for every material equity decision.

### Best practices for founders

- **Name board actions clearly:** Include the date and key decisions so you can recognize them at a glance later (e.g. "2026-03-15 Board – Series A & Pool Increase")
- **Attach, don't just reference:** Upload the actual signed consents rather than just noting an approval.
- **Keep legal in the loop:** Work with your counsel to ensure that every equity-affecting action in Mantle has a corresponding board record and that the language in the approvals matches what you are doing in the system.

If you're unsure whether a specific decision belongs in a board action, ask your law firm and then mirror whatever they document in Mantle so your cap table and governance trail stay tightly aligned.