You Need Senior Technical Leadership With Authority
Growing companies reach a point where technology decisions become too important to delegate to junior engineers and too complex for non-technical founders to navigate alone.
You need someone who can own the technology strategy. Someone who can hire and lead engineers. Someone who can evaluate vendors, make infrastructure decisions, and represent technology at the board level.
But you're not ready for a full-time CTO. You don't have enough technical complexity to justify the cost, or you can't attract the calibre you need at the salary you can offer.
A Fractional CTO provides senior technical leadership scaled to your needs—one to three days weekly—with full ownership and accountability.
Is This Right For You?
This service is designed for:
Seed to Series B startups who need senior technical leadership but can't justify or afford a full-time CTO
Non-technical founders who need a technical partner they can trust to own technology decisions
Companies between technical leaders who need experienced coverage during a transition
Growing companies whose technical complexity has outgrown their current leadership
Boards and investors who want experienced technical oversight of portfolio companies
Part-time employment-level commitment and accountability. Part of your leadership team with decision-making authority.
What's Included
Strategic Technology Leadership
- •Technology strategy development aligned with business objectives
- •Build vs. buy decisions across your entire stack
- •Technical due diligence for partnerships, acquisitions, and vendor selection
- •Board-level technology reporting and investor communications
Team Leadership & Development
- •Engineering team hiring: role definition, sourcing, interviewing, offer negotiation
- •Performance management and career development for technical staff
- •Team structure and process design as you scale
- •Culture development and retention strategy
Operational Technology Management
- •Architecture decisions and technical direction across all systems
- •Infrastructure and platform choices (not just AI)
- •Security posture and compliance oversight
- •Vendor management and contract negotiation
AI & Data Strategy
- •AI opportunity identification and prioritisation
- •AI project oversight and technical quality assurance
- •Data strategy and infrastructure
- •ML/AI team development and capability building
How We Work
Engagements typically range from 1-3 days per week, running 6-12 months minimum
Onboarding
Weeks 1-2
Deep immersion in your business, technology, team, and challenges. I meet key stakeholders, review systems and code, understand your roadmap, and identify immediate priorities.
Stabilisation
Weeks 3-8
Address urgent issues, establish regular rhythms (team meetings, 1:1s, board reporting), and begin strategic initiatives. Quick wins to build momentum while laying groundwork for longer-term improvements.
Strategic Execution
Ongoing
Drive technology strategy execution: hiring, architecture decisions, vendor negotiations, team development. Regular leadership team participation and board reporting.
Transition Planning
When Ready
When you're ready to hire a full-time CTO, I help define the role, source candidates, conduct interviews, and ensure smooth handover. My goal is to leave you in a stronger position than I found you.
What I Actually Do
Weekly
- •Engineering team leadership meeting
- •1:1s with senior engineers and key technical staff
- •Architecture and technical decision-making sessions
- •Hiring: sourcing review, interviews, offer decisions
- •Leadership/exec team meeting participation
- •Stakeholder communication on technical matters
Monthly
- •Board meeting participation and reporting
- •Technology roadmap review and adjustment
- •Vendor relationship management
- •Budget review and planning
- •Team performance reviews
- •Strategic initiative progress assessment
Ad-Hoc
- •Incident response and crisis management
- •Due diligence (for fundraising, partnerships, acquisitions)
- •Major architectural decisions
- •Key hire interviews (beyond just technical roles)
- •Investor and customer technical discussions
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Fractional CTO different from a technical advisor?
Advisors advise. I own. A Fractional CTO has decision-making authority, manages people, and is accountable for outcomes — not just recommendations. I'm part of your leadership team, not someone you occasionally consult.
How much time do you commit?
Typically 1-3 days per week, depending on your needs and complexity. This is genuine time commitment, not "available for calls." I block this time for your company and treat it as employment, not consulting.
What's the minimum engagement length?
Six months minimum. Real technical leadership impact requires continuity. Short engagements don't allow for meaningful strategic change, hiring, or team development.
Can you work with our existing technical team?
Absolutely. Most engagements involve leading an existing team rather than building from scratch. I'll assess your current team, identify gaps, and help everyone level up while we hire to fill gaps.
What happens when we're ready to hire a full-time CTO?
This is the goal. I help define the role based on what I've learned about your needs, participate in the search, conduct interviews, and ensure a smooth transition. Success means you don't need me anymore.
Do you work with multiple companies simultaneously?
Yes, typically 2-3 Fractional CTO clients at once. This is what makes fractional economics work for both sides. I'm transparent about my commitments and ensure no conflicts of interest.
What about confidentiality with competitors?
I won't take on clients who are direct competitors. Before any engagement, we'll discuss your competitive landscape and ensure there are no conflicts.
Get in Touch
Ready to discuss your technical leadership needs? Send us a message.
Start a Conversation
Tell us about your technical leadership needs and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.