Service Overview

Fractional CTO —
what it is and how it works.

Senior technical leadership, commercially structured, delivered without the full-time overhead. Built for scale-ups who need more than a developer but aren't ready for a full C-suite hire.

Schedule a Scope Call Read on ↓
The role defined

What is a Fractional CTO?


A Fractional CTO is a senior technology executive who works with your company on a part-time or project basis — providing the same strategic leadership, decision-making authority, and technical accountability as a full-time Chief Technology Officer, without the cost or long-term commitment of a permanent hire.

The word "fractional" refers to the engagement model, not the level of involvement. When your Fractional CTO is in your corner, they are fully accountable for outcomes — not a consultant who advises from the sideline.

This model was designed for companies at the growth stage: past the founding phase, generating revenue, building product, but not yet at the scale where a $250,000-per-year CTO makes financial sense. That gap is exactly where a Fractional CTO delivers the most value.

I personally lead every Fractional CTO engagement at Source Software. My experience spans product development, engineering management, AI strategy, and commercial operations.

The model — what sets this apart
01 One senior point of accountability across product, engineering, design, and QA
02 Scope locked before development begins — protecting your budget and timeline
03 Executive oversight at every sprint, not just at delivery
04 Architecture defined before code is written — faster velocity from day one
05 Commercial discipline — retainers, invoicing, and scope managed proactively
Who this is built for

Is this the right fit for your company?


A Fractional CTO engagement works best for companies in a specific stage of growth — where technical leadership gaps are creating real business risk.

Scale-ups building product
You have engineers and a product roadmap but no senior technical leader making architecture decisions and keeping scope in check.
Non-technical founders
You run the business but can't evaluate engineering output, vendor proposals, or technical hiring decisions with confidence.
Companies with tech debt risk
Accumulated shortcuts are threatening your product stability, and you need a senior hand to audit, prioritize, and remediate.
Teams between CTOs
Your last CTO left, you're in the middle of a search, and engineering is running without executive oversight. I bridge that gap.
Pre-fundraise or due diligence
You're approaching a funding round and need your technical architecture and team to hold up under investor scrutiny.
AI strategy laggards
Your competitors are integrating AI and you don't have the internal expertise to evaluate what's real versus hype for your specific business.
Comparison

Fractional CTO vs. full-time hire


Understanding the trade-offs helps you make the right decision for your company's stage and budget.

Full-time CTO
— $200,000–$350,000 salary + equity + benefits
— 3–6 month executive search and onboarding
— Risk of wrong hire at critical growth stage
— Fixed commitment regardless of project phase
+ Full-time presence and availability
+ Deeper long-term institutional knowledge
Fractional CTO (my model)
+ Fraction of full-time cost — engagement-based pricing
+ Engaged within days, not months
+ Proven senior leadership with immediate ramp
+ Scales up or down with your actual needs
+ Manages the team directly — not advisory only
+ Outcome accountability built into the engagement
Six-phase process

How an engagement actually works


Every engagement follows a structured sequence. Nothing starts until scope is defined. Nothing is delivered without executive review.

PHASE 01
Opportunity Qualification & Scope Control

I lead the initial client conversation to identify business objectives, validate feasibility, and define technical architecture direction before any resources are committed.

  • Functional requirements defined
  • Milestones and timeline set
  • Commercial structure agreed
PHASE 02
Structured Discovery Before Development

I do not begin coding immediately. Every project enters a controlled discovery phase where the product is designed before engineering begins — eliminating rework.

  • Product flows and system logic designed
  • Wireframes validate functionality
  • Client input incorporated early
PHASE 03
Centralized Technical Leadership

All engineering execution flows through one senior leader. Your Fractional CTO manages engineering, UX/UI, and QA — translating business requirements into technical direction.

  • One voice between business and engineering
  • Controlled backlog prioritization
  • Consistent quality standards enforced
PHASE 04
Sprint-Based Delivery

Development operates in structured cycles. Every sprint is outcome-based, not activity-based. Progress is measured against defined deliverables, not hours logged.

  • Feature definition & sprint planning
  • Internal review & QA validation
  • Client demonstration per sprint
PHASE 05
Financial Discipline & Retention Control

The commercial side is managed with the same rigor as the technical side. Monthly invoicing, retainer alignment, and scope adjustments handled proactively.

  • No invoice surprises
  • No ambiguous scope expansions
  • Revenue continuity tracked
PHASE 06
Full Lifecycle Ownership

The engagement does not end at delivery. I manage the client relationship end-to-end, control product direction, and oversee long-term technical integrity.

  • One leader knows your product and goals
  • Ongoing infrastructure oversight
  • Long-term growth alignment
Engagement options

How I structure the relationship


I offer three engagement structures depending on where you are and what you need. Pricing is discussed during the scope call based on team size, complexity, and timeline.

Common questions

Things founders ask me first

A consultant advises. A Fractional CTO is accountable. I don't write a report and leave — I manage your engineering team, make architecture decisions, run sprints, and own outcomes. The difference is authority and accountability, not just seniority.
No. I can work with an existing team, build one for you, or bring in my own engineers through Source Software. I assess your current setup during the discovery phase and recommend the right structure before development begins.
It depends on the engagement model. Retainer engagements typically run 10–20 hours per week. Project engagements scale with sprint cadence. Advisory relationships are typically 4–8 hours per month. I define this clearly before the engagement begins — no ambiguity.
I help you get there. Part of my mandate is building the systems, documentation, and engineering culture that a permanent CTO can walk into with full context. I can also participate in your executive search to ensure the hire is technically qualified for what you've built.
Yes — this is a core competency. I help companies evaluate where AI creates real ROI versus where it's a distraction, design AI-augmented workflows, select vendors and tools, and implement integrations that actually move the business forward. I've seen the hype and I cut through it.
Once scope is agreed, I typically begin within one to two weeks. The first phase is always discovery — which can start immediately. I don't rush onboarding because a solid foundation in week one saves months downstream.
Let's talk about your build.
The first step is a no-commitment scope conversation. Come with:
  • What you're building or trying to fix
  • Your current team structure and any technical setup
  • Timeline expectations and commercial context
Schedule a Scope Call