Put a career's worth of experience into the next generation.
Unlocked is a curated network of operators, founders, NEDs and specialists. We turn what you already know into paid, meaningful work — on your terms, through a platform that respects your time.
- 15+ years of operating, founding or board experience.
- One or more meaningful exits, scales or turnarounds.
- Looking for flexible, paid, structured ways to give back.
- Comfortable in a one-to-one conversation with a real decision in the room.
What makes Unlocked different to give your time to.
We have spent ten years building the network and the standards. They show up in how the platform treats you.
Curated, not crowd-sourced
Every mentor is verified before joining. Profiles surface lived experience — what you built, sold, scaled, hired, restructured — not job titles.Paid properly
Hour-based rates that respect the seniority you bring. UE handles the invoicing, VAT and payouts. You see your earnings in one place.Flexible on your terms
You set availability, take only the briefs you want, and can pause when life requires it. No quotas, no streaks, no growth-hacked nudges.Real work, real conversations
You meet operators with live decisions in front of them. Sessions are short, focused and respectful of your time and theirs.
From application to your first session — typically a fortnight.
We are deliberate at the gate so we can be light-touch afterwards. The hard work happens in the matching, not in the form-filling.
- 01
Apply with a real profile
Share what you have done, the businesses you have built or operated in, and the patterns you can recognise. We read every one.
- 02
Verification & onboarding
A short conversation, references where relevant, and we set up your profile, rates and self-billing agreement so payments are clean from day one.
- 03
Your first briefs land
You see briefs that match your experience. You accept the ones that fit. The platform handles diary, joining links and payout.
- 04
Build the practice
Most active mentors run 1 — 4 sessions a week. Some build it into a full second act; others use it as a thoughtful sideline. Your call.
Finding the right fit is genuinely game-changing, particularly for a start-up where you're often navigating so much without a roadmap.
A short application gets the conversation started.
Write to hello@unlockedexpertise.com or use the contact form below. We read every application and reply in person.
Relevant experience, unlocked at the moment it matters.
Start with a brief. Meet the people who have done this before. Move the decision forward this week.
Or write to hello@unlockedexpertise.com