🧩 Fractional CTO
You need someone making the hard technical calls, but you're not ready to hire a full-time CTO - or don't need one yet. A fractional CTO gives you that leadership at the level you actually need, for as long as you need it.
Who do we work with?
The founder without a technical co-founder
You can sell the vision, but you can't vet a pull request. You've got developers doing the work, but nobody senior enough to catch bad decisions before they become expensive. You need someone technical you trust to have your back.
The founder who wants a second opinion
Nothing's on fire, but you've got a nagging feeling things could be tighter - faster delivery, clearer priorities, better decisions. You want a second opinion from someone who's seen enough engineering teams to spot what's actually holding yours back.
The founder scaling from product-market fit
Growth found you faster than your engineering org was ready for. Hiring's picking up, coordination is getting harder, and the decisions that used to be easy now need real judgment. You want someone who's navigated this stage before, not someone learning it on your dime.
How we work together
Technical advisory
A senior technical perspective available when you need it. We work with you on the decisions that matter, without the overhead of a full-time hire or an operational commitment.
- Weekly 60 min strategic call
- Async access via Slack or email
- Technical input on key decisions
- CV and hiring reviews on request
Fractional CTO
We run your engineering function on a part-time basis. Team leadership, technical direction, hiring, and delivery. Everything a full-time engineering leader does, without the full-time cost.
- 2–3 days per week, embedded in your team
- Async availability on working days
- A voice in leadership discussions, not just engineering ones
- Engineering process and delivery improvement
Scoped Engagement
A defined piece of work with a clear start, end, and deliverable. For founders who need focused help on a specific problem rather than an ongoing arrangement.
- Engineering team auditIndependent assessment of your team, processes, and delivery, with a clear set of recommendations
- First engineering hireRole definition, technical assessment design, interviews, and hire or no-hire recommendations
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a fractional CTO and a consultant?
A consultant diagnoses and recommends. A fractional CTO owns. We sit inside your leadership team, make decisions, lead your engineering function, and am accountable for outcomes - not a report that lands in your inbox and gets filed away. The engagement ends when the problem is solved or when you're ready for a permanent hire, not when the project scope runs out.
Do you work with multiple clients at once?
Yes, and we understand why you're asking. Working across a small number of clients means we bring pattern recognition and broader perspective to each engagement.
What does the first month look like?
The first month is primarily diagnostic. We meet your team, reviewing your codebase and architecture, understanding your roadmap, and identifying where the highest leverage interventions are. You'll get a clear picture of where things stand technically and a prioritised view of what to address first. Most clients find this valuable in itself.
How long do engagements typically last?
It varies by engagement type. Technical advisory relationships tend to run ongoing, and are most valuable as a standing arrangement. Fractional CTO engagements typically run three to six months minimum before meaningful progress is visible. Critical engagements are defined upfront with a clear scope and exit. I'll always let you know when I think an engagement has run its course.
What if we need more time than the engagement covers?
We adjust the scope. If you need more time in a given month, additional days are billed at the agreed day rate. If the engagement needs to expand permanently, we restructure the retainer. Nothing happens without agreement from both sides - there are no surprise invoices.
Contact us
Have a project in mind - or need someone senior to help steer your tech decisions? Let us know and we'll be in touch.
Message sent
Thanks for reaching out - we'll read your message and get back to you in the next few days.
What happens next?
We'll read your message in the next few days
We schedule a 30 min intro call, no strings attached
We'll send a proposal and any NDAs as required
If we're the right fit for each other, we can get started