Lead 05

Fractional Leadership

Not every company needs a full-time CTO. But every company making technology decisions needs someone who's done it before. We provide senior technical leadership on a fractional basis.

When you need this

01

Scaling Without a CTO

Your company is growing, technical decisions are getting complex, but you're not ready for a CTO's full-time hire. A fractional CTO bridges the gap. Before a Big Build.

02

Before a Big Build

You're about to invest significantly in software. You need someone to validate the technical approach, challenge the vendor, and ensure the architecture will hold.

03

Second Opinion

Your existing technical direction feels wrong but you can't articulate why. An experienced outside perspective often reveals the real issue in days, not months.

What we offer

Fractional CTO

Embedded technical leadership — architecture decisions, team management, vendor evaluation, technology strategy. 1–3 days per week.

Architecture Audits

Deep review of your existing system — scalability, security, maintainability, technical debt. Honest assessment with actionable recommendations.

Technical Advisory

Ongoing access to senior technical expertise — on-demand guidance for specific decisions, without the embedded commitment.

How engagements work

OngoingAdvisory Retainer

Monthly access to senior technical leadership. Regular check-ins, architecture reviews, and strategic guidance.

2–8 weeksProject-Based

Scoped engagement for a specific challenge — architecture audit, vendor evaluation, build vs. buy analysis.

1–12 monthsEmbedded Leadership

Fractional CTO embedded in your team. Attending standups, driving decisions, mentoring engineers.

Who this is for

01

Startups without technical co-founders who need experienced leadership.

02

Growing companies where tech decisions are outpacing the team's experience.

03

Enterprises needing an external perspective to challenge internal assumptions.

04

Boards or investors who want independent technical due diligence.

Common questions

A consultant gives advice and leaves. A fractional CTO is embedded — attending your standups, reviewing your architecture, mentoring your team. We own outcomes, not just recommendations.

Typically 1–3 days per week, depending on the engagement. Enough to drive decisions, not so much that it replaces a full-time hire.

When you've validated your product-market fit, have 10+ engineers, and need someone full-time. Until then, fractional makes more sense financially and strategically.

Yes. We often help define the role, interview candidates, and ensure a smooth transition. We'd rather help you outgrow us than create dependency.

We can do both. Some engagements are advisory only. Others combine leadership with hands-on delivery through our team.

Need a technical sounding board?
Let's talk