Fractional CTO
CTO-level leadership.
Without the C-suite salary.
You don't need a $250K/year CTO to make the right technical decisions. You need an experienced engineer who's been CTO before — available when you need them, gone when you don't.
Advice is half the job. The other half is shipped code. See how a live engagement is architected →
The problem
Most startups don't need a full-time CTO.
You need someone who can make architecture decisions that won't haunt you in 18 months. Someone who can evaluate developers, choose the right stack, and keep your technical roadmap honest. But you don't need that person 40 hours a week — and you definitely can't afford $200-350K in salary plus equity.
"A bad technical decision at the start costs 10x to fix later."
That's where a fractional CTO comes in. You get the experience and judgment of someone who's built and scaled products before — without the full-time overhead.
What you get
Everything a CTO does — on your schedule
Technical Strategy
Architecture decisions, technology selection, and roadmap planning that align with your goals and your budget.
Team Building
Hire the right engineers, set up code review processes, and establish engineering culture — even if you're starting from zero.
Hands-On Development
Not just advice — I write code, build prototypes, and ship features alongside your team when needed.
Investor Readiness
Technical due diligence prep, architecture documentation, and the confidence to answer hard technical questions from investors.
Vendor & Tool Evaluation
Cut through the noise. I evaluate APIs, platforms, and tools based on what actually works at your stage and scale.
Code & Security Audits
Review existing codebases for quality, scalability, and security risks. Get a clear picture of your technical debt.
By industry
Fractional CTO for your vertical
Every industry has its own architectural gravity. Pick yours.
SBIR-funded
Turn a Phase I prototype into something Phase II reviewers and customers both believe.
See SBIR-funded fractional CTO →
Healthtech
Build HIPAA-compliant products without the architectural debt that strangles your roadmap.
See Healthtech fractional CTO →
HIPAA
Where PHI lives, who can touch it, and what your logs can prove — worked out in the architecture, not in a security review.
See HIPAA fractional CTO →
B2B SaaS
From first paying team to enterprise readiness without rebuilding the foundation.
See B2B SaaS fractional CTO →
AI Startups
Build AI products that survive contact with real users — not just demos that wow investors.
See AI Startups fractional CTO →
Based in Boston. On-site availability, and what geography changes →
Who it's for
Startups that need technical leadership now
Compare
Fractional CTO vs. the alternatives
| Fractional CTO | Full-Time CTO | Technical Advisor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $5-12K/mo | $200-350K + equity | $500-2K/mo |
| Writes Code | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Availability | Flexible hours | Full-time | 1-2 calls/month |
| Commitment | Month-to-month | Long-term hire | Equity + advisory |
| Experience | CTO since 2019 | Varies | Varies |
| Equity Required | Optional | Usually 2-5% | Usually 0.5-1% |
Your fractional CTO
Eric P. Hassey
Founder · Fractional CTO
15+ years building production software. CTO of a preventive-health platform since 2019. R&D at MIT and NSF SBIR-funded work. Built government systems, consumer apps, and health platforms like Preventa Wellness.
Based in Boston, MA — serving clients nationwide
FAQ
Common questions
How many hours per week? +
Completely flexible. Some clients need 5 hours a week, others need 20. I scale up or down based on what your startup needs right now — no minimums, no long-term contracts.
Do you replace a full-time CTO? +
For early-stage startups, yes — I handle everything a CTO would. As you grow and are ready to hire a full-time CTO, I help you find them, onboard them, and transition out cleanly.
Can you also build the product? +
Absolutely. Unlike most fractional CTOs who only advise, I also write code and ship features. Strategy and execution from the same person means nothing gets lost in translation.
What if we already have developers? +
Great. I work alongside your existing team — setting architecture standards, doing code reviews, unblocking technical decisions, and mentoring junior engineers.
Request a triage
Pick a time that works.
Free 30 minutes. No pitch deck. I'll tell you whether a fractional CTO is the right move — even if the answer is no. I confirm every request within 24 hours.