Loading...
Loading...
Hire a Fractional CTO to lead your technology. Senior technical leadership, architecture expertise, and engineering strategy—at a fraction of full-time cost.
A Fractional CTO is an experienced Chief Technology Officer who works with your company on a part-time basis—typically 1-3 days per week. You get the technical leadership, architecture expertise, and engineering strategy of a senior CTO without the commitment and cost of a full-time hire.
Unlike technical consultants who advise on specific problems, a fractional CTO becomes your technology leader. They make architecture decisions, lead your engineering team, set technical strategy, and take ownership of your technology—just not five days a week.
"Companies access CTO expertise for £3,500-£6,500 per week instead of £15,000+ monthly for a full-time CTO."
A technical consultant gives advice on specific problems—they might review your architecture, assess technical debt, or recommend a technology stack. But they don't take ongoing ownership or lead your team.
A fractional CTO is an embedded leader. They're accountable for technical outcomes, make decisions (not just recommendations), mentor your engineers, and represent technology to your board and investors. They're part of your leadership team.
Core responsibilities your fractional CTO will own
Define technical vision and roadmap aligned with business goals. Make build vs buy decisions, choose technology stack, and plan for scale.
Design scalable, secure, maintainable architecture. Review technical decisions, address technical debt, and ensure systems can handle growth.
Lead and mentor your engineering team. Set standards, improve processes, conduct code reviews, and build engineering culture.
Hire key engineering roles. Define job specs, conduct technical interviews, assess candidates, and build the team you need.
Ensure systems are secure and compliant. Implement security best practices, manage risks, and prepare for audits.
Represent technology to investors and acquirers. Prepare for technical DD, address concerns, and provide credibility.
Select and manage technology vendors. Evaluate tools, negotiate contracts, and ensure you're getting value from tech spend.
Access CTO-level expertise at 40-60% less than a full-time hire. Pay only for the time you need—typically £85,000-£160,000 per year versus £250,000+ for full-time.
Get a CTO with 15-20+ years of experience who has built and scaled systems before. No learning on the job—they've seen your challenges already.
Investors want to see experienced technical leadership. A fractional CTO provides the credibility and can handle technical due diligence.
Scale up for major releases or architecture work, scale down during steady periods. Engagements flex with your needs.
Fractional CTOs work across multiple companies and tech stacks. They bring diverse experience and modern best practices.
The right time to hire a fractional CTO depends on your technical needs and company stage. Here are the most common scenarios:
You're a non-technical founder building your first product. You need someone to set the technical direction and oversee development.
Before development startsInvestors will want to talk to your technical leader. A fractional CTO provides credibility and handles technical due diligence.
3-6 months before raiseYou're growing from 2-3 developers to 10+. You need senior leadership to structure the team, set processes, and maintain quality.
When team exceeds 5Your system is struggling under its own weight. You need experienced leadership to diagnose problems and plan the path forward.
Before it's too lateYou need to re-architect for scale, migrate to cloud, or modernise legacy systems. These decisions need senior technical leadership.
At project inceptionYou need to achieve SOC 2, ISO 27001, or other certifications. A fractional CTO can lead the security programme.
6 months before auditCompare the cost of fractional vs full-time CTO
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CTO UK average day rate: £1100.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions. Consult with a qualified accountant for accurate financial planning.
Pricing varies based on the CTO's experience, your technology stack, and complexity. Specialist expertise (AI/ML, security, specific languages) may command premium rates.
Choose the right model for your needs
| Feature | Fractional CTO | Interim CTO | Full-Time CTO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment | 1-3 days/week | Full-time (temporary) | Full-time (permanent) |
| Duration | Ongoing (6+ months typical) | 3-12 months | Permanent |
| Cost | £3,000-£6,000/week | £8,000-£12,000/week | £150,000-£250,000/year + benefits |
| Focus | Strategic + operational | Gap-fill or transformation | All responsibilities |
| Flexibility | Scale up/down as needed | Fixed term contract | Limited flexibility |
| Best For | Growing companies, specific expertise needs | Leadership gaps, major transitions | Large orgs with full-time need |
From first conversation to start date in as little as 2 weeks
Tell us about your needs, company stage, and what you're looking for in a fractional executive.
We curate a shortlist of pre-vetted fractional executives who match your specific requirements.
Interview your top candidates. We handle scheduling and provide interview frameworks.
Your fractional executive begins within days. We support onboarding and ongoing success.
Tell us about your needs, company stage, and what you're looking for in a fractional executive.
We curate a shortlist of pre-vetted fractional executives who match your specific requirements.
Interview your top candidates. We handle scheduling and provide interview frameworks.
Your fractional executive begins within days. We support onboarding and ongoing success.
Specialists with deep technical experience
MLOps, model deployment, AI product development, data infrastructure
AWS/GCP/Azure, infrastructure as code, CI/CD, platform engineering
SOC 2, ISO 27001, penetration testing, security architecture
Payment systems, FCA compliance, financial APIs, security requirements
Multi-tenant architecture, API design, integration platforms, enterprise features
HIPAA compliance, NHS integration, clinical systems, health data
Tell us about your technical challenges and we'll match you with pre-vetted fractional CTOs who have solved them before. Start conversations within 48 hours.