What is a Fractional CTO?
The Fractional CTO Model
A Fractional CTO is an experienced technology leader who works with your company on a part-time basis, providing executive-level guidance without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Fractional CTO vs Full-Time CTO
A full-time CTO can cost hundreds of thousands per year. A Fractional CTO provides senior leadership, strategy, and accountability at a cost aligned with your actual business needs.
When a Fractional CTO Makes Sense
A Fractional CTO is ideal when you’re scaling a product, preparing for growth or funding, modernizing infrastructure, or need experienced technical leadership without building a full executive team.
How Engagements Typically Work
Engagements are tailored to your business and may include strategic planning, architecture oversight, vendor and platform decisions, team leadership, and hands-on problem solving as needed.
A Typical Engagement
While every engagement is customized, most Fractional CTO relationships follow a set of common patterns. These areas represent where I most often provides value — from strategy through execution.
Technology Strategy & Roadmapping
Defining a clear technology direction aligned to business goals. Creating realistic roadmaps that teams can execute.
Architecture & Systems Design
Designing systems that scale and stay maintainable. Making pragmatic choices around platforms, cloud, and integration.
Engineering Leadership & Enablement
Providing senior technical leadership for your team. Improving decision-making, delivery habits, and execution confidence.
Delivery Oversight & Execution Support
Keeping critical initiatives moving with visibility and accountability. Removing blockers and reducing delivery risk.
Security, Reliability & Operational Readiness
Strengthening reliability and security without unnecessary complexity. Improving monitoring, backups, and incident readiness.
Advisory, Evaluations & Special Projects
Focused help on high-impact questions and initiatives. Independent assessments, vendor selection, and second opinions.
