For founders who need to trust the technology
A senior CTO for your business - without the full-time price tag.
I'm a fractional CTO for founders and business owners who need serious technical leadership, but not a $180k+ full-time hire. I set the technical direction, keep your build honest, and translate the tech into decisions you can actually make - in plain English.
A free 30-minute call. I'll give you my honest read on where your technology stands and what it needs - even if that's not me. No pitch, no obligation.
Chartered Engineer (CEng) · CISSP · 20+ years · Trusted by Camelot, Oden.io & 100+ startups
What a fractional CTO actually does for you
A fractional CTO is a senior technology leader who works with you part-time - a few days a month to a couple of days a week - for a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Set the technical direction.
The roadmap, the architecture decisions, the build-vs-buy calls - made by someone who’s done it before, aligned to where your business is actually going.
Hold your team or agency to account.
Independent, senior eyes on the work - so you know whether what you’re paying for is good, before something breaks.
Translate tech into decisions.
Every recommendation in plain English, with the “so what” attached: what it means for your timeline, your costs, and your risk.
Be there when it matters.
Hiring, investor questions, a launch, a security scare - the senior judgement you’d want in the room, without a full-time salary.
How it works
Every engagement starts the same way - with a conversation, not a contract.
- 1
We talk. A free 30-minute Diagnosis Call. You tell me where things stand; I give you my honest read on what your technology needs and how I’d help. No obligation either way.
- 2
We agree the shape. If it makes sense to work together, we scope it to what you actually need - a one-off review, a few days a month of leadership, or something more hands-on. You’ll know the price before you commit.
- 3
I get to work. I set direction, keep your build on track, and stay reachable for the decisions that matter - reporting to you straight, in language you understand.
Is this you?
I do my best work with founders who need to trust the technology without becoming technical themselves.
This is for you if…
- You’re a founder, CEO or MD leaning on a dev team or agency you can’t fully evaluate.
- You need senior technical direction, but not a full-time CTO salary.
- You’re preparing for investment, a launch or a growth push and can’t afford to get the tech wrong.
- You want straight answers about your technology, in language you understand.
Probably not, if…
- You need a junior developer for a one-off task.
- You want the cheapest option rather than the right one.
- You already have senior technical leadership you fully trust.
Founders and teams I've helped.
“I hired Adam as a consultant for my new startup. He’s very knowledgeable and helped me save myself from many mistakes.”
“It’s been fantastic to work with you Adam - and we’re thrilled to have you on board full time.”
“Adam was responsible for the programming of our website and back-office systems - a six-figure project for which he provided the staff and project management. If I had my time over, I would do the same again. Outstanding and highly recommended.”
“Adam has a very unique blend of security, development and business skills that made him an invaluable resource to Camelot and extremely effective.”
Fractional vs full-time - the honest maths
A full-time CTO in the UK is a total package of $180k+ once you add employer's National Insurance, pension, equity and recruitment fees - and finding the right one takes months. A fractional arrangement gives you the same seniority for the days you actually need it, from $990/month. You get the judgement of someone who's led technical teams for 20 years, without carrying an executive salary before you're ready.
I'm also vendor- and technology-agnostic - my recommendation is the one that's right for you, not the one that's easiest to sell.
Why me
In 2013 I qualified as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), and I hold senior security certifications including CISSP, CISA, OSCE and OSCP.
In plain terms: when I tell you something is safe, risky, or worth doing, it's a judgement you can take to your board. I'm not tied to any product or tech tools, so my recommendation is the one that's right for you.
Twenty years in, and hands-on when it counts.
Questions founders ask
Isn’t a fractional CTO just a consultant?
No - a consultant advises and leaves. I take responsibility for the technical direction and stay accountable for it, as a part-time member of your leadership, not a report on a shelf.
How many days a month would I need?
It varies - some founders need two days a month of direction, others two days a week during a build or raise. We scope it to what’s actually useful, and it can flex as you grow.
I already have developers. Why would I need you?
Developers build; someone senior needs to decide what to build, judge whether it’s being built well, and answer to you for it. That’s the gap I fill - often as your team’s advocate, not their auditor.
What does it cost?
Scoped to the engagement, always agreed before you commit - from $990/month. The free Diagnosis Call is where we work out what you actually need - no pitch.
What if I only need one conversation?
Then take it - genuinely. Some founders get their answer on the call and act on it with their existing team. You’ll leave with my honest read either way.
Next step
Let's find out what your technology needs.
Book a free 30-minute Diagnosis Call. Tell me where things stand, and I'll give you my honest read on what your technology needs and how I'd help - whether or not we end up working together. No pitch. No obligation.