Fractional CTO services
A fractional CTO is a senior technology leader who works with you part-time. You get strategy, oversight and someone accountable for technology decisions at board level, without the cost of a full-time executive. We set the direction, keep spend and suppliers in check, and build the team and plan you need for the next stage.
When a fractional CTO makes sense
- Technology decisions are being made without anyone senior owning them.
- You rely on an agency or freelancers and need someone on your side to manage them.
- Investors or the board want a technology plan, budget and reporting.
- You are growing towards a full-time CTO but aren't ready to hire one yet.
What a fractional CTO takes on
Strategy and roadmap
A technology plan tied to your business goals, with priorities, budgets and milestones the board can follow.
Budget and spend
Visibility of every technology cost, with waste removed and future spend planned rather than discovered.
Team and hiring
Shaping the team you need, writing role descriptions, interviewing candidates and onboarding new engineers.
Suppliers and agencies
Choosing suppliers, reviewing contracts and holding agencies and vendors to what they promised.
Security and risk
Oversight of security, data protection and resilience, with clear owners and a plan for the gaps.
Board and investor reporting
Plain-English reporting on progress, risk and spend, and support through technology due diligence.
How the engagement runs
- 01
Discover
We review your systems, team, suppliers, spend and risks, and agree what success looks like for the business.
- 02
Plan
A roadmap with priorities, budget and milestones, agreed with leadership before anything changes.
- 03
Lead
Agreed time each month to run the plan: decisions, supplier meetings, hiring, reviews and reporting.
- 04
Hand over
When you are ready for a full-time CTO, we help define the role, hire them and hand over everything we built.
What you receive
- A current-state review of systems, team, suppliers and spend
- A technology roadmap with priorities, budget and milestones
- Regular leadership time on an agreed schedule
- Board-ready reporting on progress, risk and spend
- Help hiring your future permanent technology leadership
Fractional CTO: common questions
When does a business need a fractional CTO?
Usually when technology has become important to growth but there is no senior person owning it: decisions are ad hoc, suppliers are unmanaged, or investors are asking questions nobody can answer.
How much time does a fractional CTO spend with us?
An agreed amount each month, set out in the proposal and adjusted as your needs change, from a few days around a key project to a steady ongoing commitment.
How is it different from hiring a consultant?
A consultant typically delivers a report and leaves. A fractional CTO stays accountable for the plan, makes decisions with you and manages its delivery over time.
Can a fractional CTO manage our existing developers or agency?
Yes. That is often the main reason to have one: someone senior on your side who can set direction, review work and hold suppliers to account.
Will you only recommend your own services?
No. We recommend what suits your business and tell you openly about any supplier relationship that could affect our advice.