Service

Fractional CTO Services

Senior technical leadership for your startup — without the $300K salary. I embed with your team, make the hard calls, ship product, and implement AI where it actually moves the needle.

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What a Fractional CTO Actually Does

A fractional CTO is a part-time chief technology officer who provides senior technical leadership on a flexible basis. Unlike a consultant who delivers a PDF and disappears, a fractional CTO embeds with your team — sitting in on product meetings, reviewing architecture, mentoring developers, and shipping real code.

As of 2026, the role has expanded significantly to include AI implementation. Most founders know AI matters but aren't sure where to start. A fractional CTO bridges that gap — evaluating which AI tools actually work, identifying the highest-impact opportunities, and building the first implementations.

Here's what I typically handle as a fractional CTO:

  • Product strategy — deciding what to build, what to cut, and in what order
  • Engineering leadership — architecture decisions, code reviews, tech stack choices
  • AI implementation — auditing workflows, building AI features, training teams
  • Team mentoring — helping developers level up and make better decisions
  • Vendor evaluation — cutting through the noise on tools, platforms, and services
  • Roadmap accountability — honest gut-checks on timelines, scope, and priorities

Who Needs a Fractional CTO?

Not every company needs a full-time CTO. In fact, most startups between $0 and $5M ARR are better served by a fractional one. You get the same caliber of technical leadership at a fraction of the cost — and you can scale the engagement up or down as your needs change.

A fractional CTO is the right fit if:

  • - You're a non-technical founder building a tech product
  • - Your dev team is growing and needs senior architectural guidance
  • - You want to implement AI but don't know where to start
  • - You need someone to vet technical decisions and hold the team accountable
  • - You can't justify a $300K+ full-time CTO salary (yet)

Engagement Models

AI Kickstart

1-Week Embed

I embed with your team for a week. Audit your workflows, identify the highest-impact AI opportunities, scope the first quick win, and build it. You walk away with a prioritized roadmap and something already working.

Fractional Co-Founder

~8 Hours / Week

Weekly check-ins, product and engineering meetings, feature scoping, AI integrations, team training, and honest gut-checks on your roadmap. The experienced technical co-founder you can't justify hiring full-time.

Product Sprint

Project-Based

Got something specific? A new feature, an internal tool, a workflow that needs rebuilding. I scope it tight, build it fast, ship it in weeks — not months.

Track Record

15 years building software. 50+ products shipped. $53M+ revenue generated for partners and clients.

I've been CTO at an AI startup, Head of Product at a national sports platform, and founder of my own companies. Before tech, I spent 12 years in retail management — which taught me more about customer psychology and operational efficiency than any CS degree could.

That combination — deep technical skills plus real-world business experience — is what makes a fractional CTO effective. I don't just write code. I understand why we're building it and whether it'll move the needle.

15+
Years
50+
Products
$53M+
Revenue

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a fractional CTO do?

A fractional CTO provides part-time senior technical leadership — including product strategy, engineering decisions, AI implementation, architecture reviews, team mentoring, and technology roadmap planning — at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CTO hire.

How much does a fractional CTO cost?

Fractional CTO costs vary by engagement scope. Typical arrangements range from a 1-week intensive sprint to ongoing weekly partnerships (~8 hours/week). This is significantly less than a full-time CTO salary of $250K-$400K+ per year. Book a free strategy call to discuss pricing for your specific needs.

When should a startup hire a fractional CTO?

Hire a fractional CTO when you need senior technical leadership but can't justify or find a full-time CTO. Common triggers: you're a non-technical founder building a tech product, your team needs architectural guidance, you want to implement AI but don't know where to start, or you need someone to vet technical decisions.

What's the difference between a fractional CTO and a consultant?

A fractional CTO is embedded in your team — attending meetings, making decisions, mentoring developers, and shipping code. A consultant delivers a report and leaves. A fractional CTO is accountable for outcomes, not just recommendations.

Can a fractional CTO help with AI implementation?

Yes. AI implementation is a core part of fractional CTO work in 2026. This includes auditing workflows for AI opportunities, evaluating tools, building AI-powered features, training teams on AI workflows, and creating a prioritized AI roadmap.

Ready to talk?

30-minute call. No pitch. Just figuring out if a fractional CTO is the right move for your company.

Book a Free Strategy Call