How I take responsibility when technology matters

Three ways I take responsibility, depending on where your business is and what's at stake.

My role is to remove technical uncertainty so leadership can move faster with confidence. More about my background.

Fractional CTO Retainer

Ongoing fractional CTO leadership for startups and growing companies.

Who it's for

Startups and growing companies who need ongoing technical leadership without a full-time hire.

What you get

Architecture ownership and system design
Weekly or bi-weekly execution cycles
Technical decision-making on your behalf
SEO and traffic monitoring built into the foundation
Developer oversight and delivery control
Direct access when things get urgent

Success looks like

You are no longer the bottleneck for technical decisions. The team executes against a clear direction. Escalations become rare and meaningful. When issues arise, you know who owns them and what happens next. You should feel less involved in technical decisions over time, without losing visibility or control.

What day-to-day usually looks like

I join your existing setup (Slack, Notion, GitHub, analytics)

I take ownership of the technical roadmap and decisions

Weekly or bi-weekly working sessions, plus async access

I step in directly when something is urgent or breaking

This is not staff augmentation or ticket-based work.

You are not pulled into day-to-day technical decisions unless something materially affects the business.

The goal is that over time, the system needs me less, not more.

CTO Advisory & Technical Due Diligence

Technical advisory and due diligence for founders, CEOs, and investors.

Who it's for

Founders preparing for funding, investors doing due diligence, or teams needing a second opinion before a major decision.

This works alongside existing leadership, not around them.

What you get

Technical audit of your current system
Architecture and scalability roadmap
Risk assessment before scaling or funding
Clear execution plan you can hand to any team
Written deliverables, not just conversations

Success looks like

You leave with clear decisions, not just analysis. Risks, constraints, and trade-offs are documented so your leadership team aligns quickly. You can move forward knowing what you are choosing, what you are deferring, and why. The engagement succeeds only when you can make the decision without me.

Most advisory engagements are time-bound and end with clear written outcomes.

How advisory engagements usually run

A focused discovery to understand context and constraints

Clear questions and decisions to be addressed

Written outputs you can use immediately

A defined end, not an open-ended relationship

If there is no clear decision or next step at the end, the engagement has failed.

Project Rescue & Technical Turnaround

Rapid technical intervention when a product or system is failing.

This is usually the moment when something important is already under pressure.

Who it's for

Teams with a product that's failing, unstable, or stuck. When the current path isn't working and time is critical.

What you get

The first priority is stabilizing production and decision-making before anything else.

Rapid diagnosis of architectural failures
Production stabilization
Blueprint rebuild without stopping business
Hands-on execution when needed
Knowledge transfer so it doesn't happen again

Success looks like

Production is stable and predictable again. The team understands what failed, what was changed, and how similar issues are prevented. You stop reacting to incidents and regain the ability to plan forward. The goal is not heroics. The goal is stability that holds after I leave.

What working with me is not

I don't sell packages that don't fit your situation
I don't take on work I can't own properly
I don't step away when responsibility gets uncomfortable.

Common Questions

What's the difference between a fractional CTO and a consultant?

A fractional CTO takes ongoing ownership of technical decisions and outcomes. A consultant gives advice and leaves. I stay accountable until the system is stable.

How quickly can you start?

Most engagements begin within one to two weeks. For urgent situations like project rescue, I prioritize faster onboarding.

How do you work with an existing technical team?

I work alongside your team, not around them. My role is to provide clarity and direction, not to replace people or create parallel structures.

What if we already have a CTO or technical lead?

Advisory engagements are designed to support existing leadership. I provide a second perspective on high-stakes decisions, not competition for authority.

What happens if the engagement isn't working?

I'll tell you directly. If there's no clear path forward, I won't extend an engagement that isn't delivering value.

Have a different question? Get in touch directly.

Not sure which engagement makes sense?

Most work starts with a conversation. Tell me where you are, what's breaking, or what's unclear. I'll tell you honestly what I'd do and if I'm the right fit.

Let's figure it out