Fractional CTO Services
Part-time executive leadership with full-spectrum impact
I bring 20+ years executive tech leadership, offering fractional CTO for strategic direction, architectural clarity, engineering acceleration - without full-time cost/commitment
Whether you are a private equity portfolio company navigating post-acquisition modernization, a founder-led startup scaling toward Series B, or a growth-stage SaaS firm embracing AI, I provide senior technology leadership that moves the business forward with speed, focus, and measurable results.
My approach blends high-level vision with hands-on execution:
- Strategy: Align technology investments with business outcomes, reduce technical debt, and accelerate delivery of the roadmap
- Leadership: Mentor engineering teams, implement high-velocity development practices, and build a product-driven culture
- AI Integration: Identify and embed generative AI across the SDLC, internal developer workflows, and customer-facing experiences
- Architecture: Evaluate and evolve platforms for scalability, resilience, and AI readiness
I have helped private equity-backed companies modernize legacy platforms, reduce technical debt, and scale engineering teams to support growth. My leadership has driven transformations that delivered more than 400 thousand dollars in monthly recurring revenue, operationalized AI within engineering workflows, and built globally distributed, high-performing teams.
If you need a seasoned CTO without the overhead, let's talk.
The bridge between strategic leadership and hands-on technical execution.
Even when the title is Fractional CTO, the function often mirrors a Chief Architect. I bring the vocabulary to design entire ecosystems - how the modern frontend, the legacy backend, and the new AI agent layer communicate with each other - and then guide the specialists who build it. No part of your stack will be a black box in our engagement.
What a Fractional CTO Engagement Includes
Strategy and Architecture
- ✓ Technology strategy aligned to business outcomes
- ✓ Architecture review and platform scalability assessment
- ✓ AI readiness evaluation and integration roadmap
- ✓ Legacy modernization planning with phased execution
- ✓ CI/CD optimization and engineering velocity measurement
- ✓ Infrastructure cost analysis and cloud migration guidance
Leadership and Operations
- ✓ Weekly executive reporting to boards and operating partners
- ✓ Engineering team mentoring and leadership development
- ✓ Vendor evaluation and technical contract negotiation
- ✓ Hiring support: role definitions, interview process, assessments
- ✓ M&A technical due diligence support
- ✓ Security posture review and compliance gap analysis
Who This Is For
PE-Backed Portfolio Companies
Operating partners who need technology leadership that understands the PE model. I speak the language of value creation, deliver board-ready reporting, and execute against the exit timeline.
Private Equity Services →Growth-Stage SaaS Companies
Companies with 50+ engineers approaching Series B or enterprise contracts, where technology architecture and delivery process must scale before the org does. I establish the foundation - platform, process, and people - that supports the next phase of growth.
Founder-Led Companies
Technical founders whose engineering organization has grown beyond their capacity to lead it directly. I fill the CTO function, enabling the founder to refocus on product and market while the team gets the leadership structure it needs.
Fractional vs Full-Time CTO
| Fractional CTO | Full-Time CTO | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fraction of full comp | $300K-$500K+ total |
| Time to Value | Immediate | 90-day ramp |
| Commitment | Flexible, adjustable | Full organizational commitment |
| Experience Breadth | Cross-industry patterns | Deep org context over time |
| Ideal For | PE, growth-stage, interim, M&A | Mature, stable scaling orgs |
Common Questions
How many hours per week does a fractional engagement require?
It depends on the phase and the need. Early in an engagement during assessment and roadmap development, the investment is higher - typically 15-20 hours per week. Ongoing strategic guidance can run 8-12 hours per week. I structure each engagement around what the company actually needs, not a fixed retainer model.
Can a fractional CTO lead a full engineering organization?
Yes. I have led full engineering organizations on a fractional basis - running team meetings, making architectural decisions, managing hiring, and reporting directly to boards. The fractional model is about time commitment, not scope of responsibility.
Do you work alongside an existing CTO or replace them?
Both. Sometimes I partner with an existing CTO to provide specific expertise they need - AI strategy, PE board experience, platform architecture. Sometimes I fill the CTO role on an interim basis while the company conducts a full-time search. The model is defined by the company's actual situation.
What does the first 30 days look like?
The first 30 days are always assessment-focused: platform architecture review, team structure and capability analysis, technical debt quantification, security posture evaluation, and delivery process assessment. The output is a prioritized roadmap with cost estimates and a clear recommendation on where to focus first for maximum business impact.
Ready for Executive Tech Leadership Without the Overhead?
Let's talk about your situation. First conversation is free and focused on understanding what you actually need.