Fractional CTO for Startups - Technical Advisor for Non-Technical Founders

You're building something real. You have budget, momentum, and developers working for you.

But every time you make a technical decision, you're guessing.

Your developers tell you what you want to hear. Your agency quotes you whatever they think you'll pay. And you have no way to verify if any of it is true.

One client was quoted €30K for a "complex" feature. I reviewed the spec, told him it was 2 weeks of work. He renegotiated to €8K. Another founder was about to sign a 9-month contract with an agency. I joined the call, asked 3 questions, and exposed that they'd never built this type of system. He walked away and saved €80K.

That's what I do.

Currently limited to 2-3 clients. 1 spot available.

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What "Fractional CTO" Actually Means

I'm your senior technical advisor on retainer — not a full-time employee, not a consultant you call once. I'm in your corner every month.

I don't write your code. But I protect you from the people who do.

✅ Review technical hires before you make expensive mistakes
✅ Audit contractor and agency code so you know what you're paying for
✅ Advise on architecture decisions (tech stack, scaling, APIs)
✅ Join key meetings with agencies, VCs, or technical partners
✅ Give you a reality check on timelines, estimates, and technical claims

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The Problems This Solves

You're hiring developers but you can't tell who's good

You post a job, get 50 applications, and have no way to evaluate them technically.

Your contractors say things like:

• "We need 6 months to build this."
• "We need microservices from day one."
• "This bug will take 2 weeks to fix."

You don't know if that's true or just how they inflate projects.

I screen candidates, conduct technical interviews, review GitHub profiles, and give you a clear hire/no-hire recommendation. No guessing.

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You're paying an agency but don't know if you're getting value

You're spending €5K–15K/month. They send updates, demo features, and sound confident. But you don't know if:

• The code quality is acceptable
• You're being locked into their stack
• Their timeline is honest or padded
• The technical debt they're creating will cost you later

I review their code and tell you plainly: good, mediocre, or garbage. I check for vendor lock-in. I read the technical parts of contracts and flag the red flags before you sign.

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You're making architectural decisions based on whoever's opinion you heard last

Should you build on Shopify or custom Next.js? Do you need a mobile app now or later? Firebase or your own backend?

Every developer has a bias based on what they know. Ask a React dev — they'll say build custom. Ask a Shopify dev — they'll say use Shopify.

I've built on all of it. I have no agenda except what's right for your business. I tell you the fastest path to MVP, what will scale, and what will break at 10K users.

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You need a technical voice in the room but you don't have one

When you're negotiating with an agency, pitching to VCs, or interviewing a technical co-founder, you need someone who can ask the questions you don't know to ask.

I join those meetings — live or async — and translate what's happening in plain language.

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Who This Is For

✅ Founders with budget but no technical co-founder
✅ Small businesses with outsourced dev teams who need senior oversight
✅ Anyone spending €5K+/month on development without confidence they're getting value
✅ Pre-fundraising founders who need technical due diligence preparation

❌ Early-stage pre-funding founders (you need execution, not advisory)
❌ Technical founders (you don't need me — you are the CTO)
❌ Companies with a full-time CTO already

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Why Me

18 years across domains most CTOs haven't touched:

• Zalando — eCommerce at scale, millions of users, systems built for reliability under pressure
• JUMO.WORLD — Fintech in emerging markets, secure and compliant financial infrastructure
• GROPYUS — Leading Smart Living teams, IoT and smart building systems
• 2 eCom startups co-founded — Built MVPs from zero, experienced fundraising and technical due diligence firsthand

I think like a founder, not just an engineer. I optimize for shipping fast and learning what works — not perfect architecture for its own sake.

I also explain things clearly. If you've ever had an engineer talk at you in jargon and leave you more confused than before, that won't happen here.

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What a Typical Month Looks Like

Async (ongoing):

• Hire reviews, code audits, architecture feedback
• Quick questions answered via Telegram (2-3 hour response during working hours)
• Document and spec reviews

Live calls (2-3 per month):

• Sync on current blockers and upcoming decisions
• Join meetings with agencies, investors, or partners
• Roadmap and priority reviews

Typical time commitment: 4-6 hours per month. More during critical phases (launches, fundraising, major hires) by arrangement.

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Success Stories

View all reviews on ADPList →

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you sign NDAs?

Yes, absolutely. NDAs are standard. Send it before the discovery call.

Can you review our existing code?

Yes. Code audits are a common starting point — architecture, security, technical debt, code quality. I provide a written report with recommendations. Typically included in the first month.

What if we need more than 6 hours in a month?

Some months are heavier — fundraising, major launches, hiring sprints. We adjust scope as needed. We'll figure out what makes sense on the discovery call.

Do you help with fundraising?

Indirectly. I help prepare technical due diligence, review pitch deck technical sections, and join VC calls where technical questions come up. I don't do pitch strategy or investor relations.

What if we need hands-on development?

Then you need a developer, not an advisor. If you want live pairing sessions, check out the Build-With-Me Intensive.

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How to Get Started

The discovery call is 30 minutes. No pitch, no pressure. We'll talk through your situation and I'll tell you honestly if Fractional CTO is the right fit — or what you actually need.

If we're a good match: I'll send you a proposed scope and investment within 24 hours. You decide.

Currently limited to 2-3 clients. Waitlist available if spots are full.