You have the vision. I bring the technical leadership.
You've got the idea, the market or the licence. I help you turn it into a product that works, scales and stands up to investor scrutiny: as your fractional CTO, technical co-founder, or for a focused piece of work.
The short version, in a few minutes.
What a fractional CTO does in month one, what you should expect, and when it's time to hire full-time.
Big vision, technical blind spots.
- I'm not technical, and I can't tell if my developers are building the right thing.
- Investors keep asking technical questions I can't answer.
- We need an MVP that won't have to be rewritten in a year.
- I can't justify a full-time CTO yet, but I need one.
- An agency quoted a fortune and I don't know if it's fair.
Pick what your venture needs now.
Fractional CTO
Senior technical leadership for a fraction of a full-time salary. Time is flexible and shaped around your stage, from a few days a month to more during a build or a raise.
- Technical strategy and architecture
- Hiring and leading developers or agencies
- Build-vs-buy and vendor choices
- Security, data protection and compliance
- Answering investors' technical questions
Technical co-founder
For the right venture, I'll join as a technical co-founder for equity. I take on very few of these, so here's what makes a good fit:
- You bring something that can't simply be hired: a licence, deep domain authority, distribution or capital
- The architecture is core to the venture, not an afterthought
- Roles, ownership and IP are agreed up front, not “sorted out later”
MVP & product architecture
Build your first version so it's fast to market and doesn't need rewriting when you grow: the right stack, sensible security, and costs that scale with you.
- Scope the smallest product that proves the idea
- Architecture and stack decisions you won't regret
- Hands-on build, or guiding your developers
Technical due diligence
An independent, plain-English assessment of a venture's technology, for founders getting ready to raise and for investors deciding whether to back one.
- Architecture, code and infrastructure review
- Security and data-protection risks
- Scalability, cost and team capability
- A clear report with red flags and fixes
I've built the things startups need to build.
Built from scratch, many times
Bespoke ERPs, CRMs, e-commerce platforms and order-routing systems: designed, built, rolled out and supported, end to end.
Commercial results
Platforms I've authored have moved billions of pounds of goods and services, and multi-billion-pound companies rely on them for every order. I architect for revenue, not just for elegance.
Security and scale built in
Infrastructure and cyber security are my day job, so the questions investors ask about them won't catch you out.
I run my own company
I've launched my own products through my own limited company. I know what it's like to be the founder.
How much time does a fractional CTO give?
It's flexible. Early on it might be a few days a month. During a build or a fundraise, more. We agree a rhythm that fits your stage and budget, and adjust as you grow.
When should we hire a full-time CTO instead?
Usually when you have a team of several engineers who need daily leadership, and the funding to pay for it. I'll help you recognise that point, and help you hire for it.
Do you work for equity?
For technical co-founding, yes, selectively, when the fit is right and roles and IP are agreed up front. Fractional CTO and project work is paid, sometimes with an equity element by agreement.
Is the due diligence for founders or investors?
Both. Founders use it to fix weaknesses before investors find them. Investors use it for an independent view before they commit.
I'm non-technical. Will I understand what you tell me?
Yes. Explaining technology in plain English is a big part of what I do. You'll always know what's being built, why, and what it costs.
How do we protect my idea?
We agree confidentiality and IP terms before any details are shared. Protecting what each side brings is the first step, not an afterthought.
Let's talk about your venture.
Tell me what you're building, where you are, and what's in the way. I'll tell you honestly how I can help, or who could help better.