Hire a fractional CTO
Fractional CTO
A fractional CTO is a senior technology leader who works for you part of the week. To hire a fractional CTO, tell us what you need. We send you a shortlist of people who fit, and you choose. One agreement and one invoice.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
The role
What a fractional CTO does
A fractional CTO makes the technology decisions a full-time chief technology officer would. What to build on. How the system fits together. Who to hire, and when to say no. They do it for part of the week, on work you agree up front, and they often lead technology at other companies too.
The work is leadership, not writing tickets. A good fractional CTO spends their time where it matters most. They review the architecture, set engineering standards, run technical interviews, manage an outside development agency and explain things between the founders and the engineers.
Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
Common reasons to hire a fractional CTO
-
Founders without a technical co-founder Someone to own the technical plan, choose the tools and make sure an agency or freelancers build what you need. -
A growing engineering group with no head Engineering standards, a hiring process and one owner for the plan while you decide whether to hire a full-time CTO. -
Fundraising and due diligence A clear technical story for investors, and someone to answer their technical questions. - AI decisions Deciding where AI belongs in the product, whether to build or buy, and how to add it without breaking what you have.
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A rescue A product that is late, unstable or stuck. Someone senior works out why and fixes the plan.
When it works, and when it does not
Works well when
- You need direction and judgement more than daily coding
- Someone else, in-house or an agency, does the building
- The founders give the CTO real power to decide, not just a title
Struggles when
- The real need is a full-time engineer writing most of the code
- Nobody has the authority to act on the CTO's decisions
- The work keeps growing but the agreed time does not
What to look for
Look for someone who has held the CTO or head of engineering seat at a company like yours. Being a strong engineer is not enough. Ask them about a technical decision they reversed, and why. Ask how they would spend their time in the early weeks with you.
For an early product, choose a CTO who has taken something from nothing to paying users. For a growing company, choose someone who has built an engineering group and hired into it. If AI is central to your plans, ask what they have shipped with it, not what they have read about it.
Tell us the role and the hours. We send you a shortlist of people who fit.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
How to hire a fractional CTO through us
- 01
Send your requirement
Tell us the technical situation, what you need the CTO to own and how much of the week you expect it to take. There is no deposit.
- 02
Get a shortlist
We read every requirement ourselves. If something is unclear, we ask. Then we send a shortlist of CTOs who fit your stage and tools, with each person's CV and a short note on why they fit.
- 03
Talk and choose
You talk to whoever you like and choose. You do not have to hire anyone. You agree the work and the decision rights with the CTO you pick.
- 04
One agreement and one invoice
You sign one agreement with us and get one invoice, on terms agreed in writing before anything starts. You pay our fee only when someone starts.
Send your fractional CTO requirement
Describe the technical situation and what you need someone to own.
- No deposit to get started
- Every requirement read by us
- A best-fit shortlist, not a pile of CVs
- One agreement, one invoice
FAQ
Fractional CTO questions
What is the difference between a fractional CTO and an interim CTO?
An interim CTO usually works full time for a fixed period, often to cover someone who has left. A fractional CTO works part of the week, often for longer, because you need the leadership but not a full-time seat.
Should a startup hire a fractional CTO or find a technical co-founder?
A co-founder brings ownership and a long-term commitment. If technology is the heart of the business, it is worth holding out for one. A fractional CTO gives you senior technical judgement now, while you build the product or look for that co-founder.
What should I look for when hiring a fractional CTO?
Someone who has done the job at your stage, has built or rescued a product like yours, and can explain technical choices in plain words. Agree what they own before they start.
How do I vet a fractional CTO before hiring?
Talk through real decisions they have made. Ask for a plan for your situation. Speak to founders they have worked with. Check they have done the job at your stage, not only at a much larger company.
When should you hire a fractional CTO for AI work?
When you need someone to decide where AI fits in the product and how to build it, but you do not yet need a full-time leader for it. If the work is mostly building, a hands-on AI engineer may suit you better. You can hire one as a forward deployed engineer.
When does a fractional CTO fail?
Usually because the company needed a full-time builder rather than a leader, or because the CTO was given a title but no authority. Agreeing the work and the decision rights at the start avoids most of this.
Explore more
- How it works
What happens after you send your requirement, step by step.
- Fees
No deposit. One agreement and one invoice when someone starts.
- What is fractional
Senior leaders for part of the week, and when that makes sense.
- Locations
Talent based across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.
How it works