Founding CTO Jobs UK
Startup and founding CTO opportunities
Find Your Perfect Match
Answer 3 questions in 30 seconds
What type of CTO do you need?
Key Takeaways
- 1Fractional CTOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
- 2UK day rates range from £900 to £1600, depending on experience and sector
- 3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
- 4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
- 5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods
Founding CTO Roles
Quick Definition
Founding CTOs build technology and engineering from scratch. These roles combine significant equity with competitive salary for technical leaders who can architect and scale.
UK Founding CTO Market
UK founding CTO demand is strong across all tech sectors. Pre-seed through Series B companies seek technical co-founders and founding CTOs.
Typical Profile
| Area | Expectation |
|---|---|
| Experience | 10+ years with startup experience |
| Track Record | Previous startup or scale-up CTO |
| Skills | Architecture, team building, hands-on |
| Equity | 2-8% typical founding CTO stake |
Cost Comparison
Fractional vs Full-Time Executive
Your Potential Savings
£197k+
Time Allocation
How fractional executives spend their time
UK Fractional Executive Day Rates
Compare day rates across C-suite roles
Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time
Choose the right engagement model
| Aspect | Fractional | Interim | Full-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Commitment | 1-3 days/week | 4-5 days/week | 5 days/week |
| Duration | Ongoing/flexible | 3-12 months | Permanent |
| Annual Cost | £50-150k | £150-300k | £200-400k+ |
| Best For | SMEs, startups, scale-ups | Crisis, transitions | Large enterprises |
| Flexibility | ★★★ High | ★★☆ Medium | ★☆☆ Low |
Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.
Calculate Your Day Rate
Calculate Your Potential Income
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CTO UK average day rate: £1050.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.
Related Executive Roles
Complementary leadership for your organisation
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
A founding CTO builds technology including architecture, team, and engineering culture.
Related Pages
The Fractional Executive Trend
Industry data on the rise of fractional leadership
of executives who moved to fractional work report higher job satisfaction
Source: Harvard Business Review ↗Platform Stats
Founder's background
📊 CTO Market Snapshot
💰 CTO Day Rates
Based on 2026 market data for UK CTO roles.
