Fractional CTO for Early-Stage Startups
I help non-technical founders make the right technical decisions, vet their engineering teams, and build systems that scale, without the cost of a full-time hire.
When founders usually call me
- You vibecoded a PoC or MVP and need a real expert to make it production-ready — security, architecture, and the right tech stack.
- Your developers are building, but you cannot tell if the architecture is solid or the team is on track.
- Your product is slow, unstable, or too expensive to run — and you need someone to rethink the stack and unit economics.
- You want to add AI features or use AI code agents, but need an expert foundation so the AI builds the right thing.
- You are preparing for fundraising, scaling, or hiring your first engineering team and need CTO-level guidance.
- You need senior technical leadership without hiring a full-time CTO.
How I Can Help
Choose the engagement that fits where you are right now.
Fractional CTO Retainer
Ongoing technical leadership for startups that need a senior technology partner.
Includes:
- Technical roadmap and architecture decisions
- Engineering team and vendor review
- Hiring support and interview process
- Weekly founder sync and delivery risk management
Best for: Seed-stage startups or non-technical founders building a serious product.
🔍Architecture & Codebase Review
One-time deep audit of your product, architecture, infrastructure, and team delivery.
Deliverables:
- Written technical report with risk map
- Architecture recommendations and scaling bottlenecks
- 30/60/90-day technical action plan
Best for: Startups before fundraising, scaling, rebuilding, or changing development teams.
🤖AI Product Consulting
For startups that want to add AI features safely and practically.
Includes:
- LLM feature design and RAG/agent workflow review
- API integration and cost estimation
- Prototype architecture and implementation roadmap
Best for: Founders who want AI in the product but need clear technical direction before spending money.
Transparent pricing
Senior CTO-level leadership at a fraction of the cost.
At $186/hour on a typical 5-10 hr/week retainer, you get senior CTO-level leadership for $4,000-$8,000/month — compared to $250,000-$350,000/year for a full-time hire.
CTO Advisory Call
One-off consultation
Architecture Review
Fixed-scope project
Fractional CTO
Monthly retainer, typically 10-20 hours/week
AI MVP / Prototype
Fixed-scope build or technical leadership
How it works
Discovery Call
We discuss your product, challenges, and goals. No pitch, just clarity.
Diagnosis
I review your current technical state and identify risks and opportunities.
Roadmap
You get a clear action plan: what to build, what to fix, what to skip.
Execution
I lead or advise on implementation — architecture, team, and delivery.
What clients say
Real messages from people I've worked with.
Currently accepting 2-3 new engagements this quarter.
Technical notes and founder guides
View all →
Why Early-Stage Startups Need a Hands-On CTO, Not Only a Strategy Leader
Early startups need hands-on CTO leadership to make architecture, product, and engineering decisions before technical mistakes become expensive.
How Non-Technical Founders Can Choose the Right Tech Stack
Learn how non-technical founders can choose the right tech stack, avoid costly mistakes, and build scalable products with confidence.
Why Non-Technical Founders Should Start With a Technical Advisor Before Building With AI
AI can help founders build faster, but without technical leadership it can create costly mistakes. Learn when to involve a CTO advisor.