A fractional CTO for the decisions you cannot afford to get wrong.
Many UK businesses and early-stage start-ups need a CTO's judgement long before they can justify a CTO's salary. Advertised pay for a software engineer in London has a median of around £100,000 (ITJobsWatch, October 2026), employer National Insurance adds 15 per cent above £5,000 a year (HMRC), and 35 per cent of organisations say AI roles are hard to fill (DSIT, January 2026).
- Free 30-minute call
- Fixed quote in writing
- Code you own
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is a senior technology leader who works for a business part-time, often a few days a month, taking responsibility for the technology strategy, architecture, suppliers and engineering hiring, without the cost of a full-time executive.
A fractional CTO gives you that judgement a few days a month: someone senior who owns the technology roadmap, makes the architecture calls, keeps suppliers honest, hires your first engineers and gets you ready for investors' technical due diligence.
What a fractional CTO does.
Not sure it is the right fit? Ask an engineer first.
Thirty minutes with a senior engineer, free and with no obligation. Bring the problem, not a brief.
How it works.
Often built alongside it.
Frequently asked questions.
When does a business need a fractional CTO?
Typically when technology decisions start to carry real risk: choosing a platform, managing an agency, preparing for investment, hiring the first engineers or adding AI to products. If those decisions are being made without senior technical input, a fractional CTO usually pays for itself.
Can our fractional CTO also manage your developers?
Yes, and they can manage other suppliers too. If we also build for you, the arrangement is set out openly in writing, and you can always ask for an independent second opinion. Many clients use a fractional CTO precisely to hold any development partner, including us, to account.
Can you prepare us for technical due diligence?
Yes. We check that IP has been assigned to your company in writing by everyone who wrote code, review open-source licences, fix basic security and documentation gaps, and prepare a clear account of your architecture. Investors' lawyers ask about all of these.
How is a fractional CTO priced?
As a monthly arrangement in pounds, based on the number of days and the level of availability you need. You get a written proposal after an initial conversation, and it runs month to month, so it can grow, shrink or stop as your needs change.
Still have a question? Ring 07723 431000 and speak to an engineer.