Fractional CTO Leadership That Starts With Your Business
I work remotely with founders and leadership teams across the UK and worldwide, which avoids unnecessary travel costs. I can also work on site when it helps, especially in an interim CTO role. First I understand how the business actually works, then make sure the technology decisions support where it is going. That makes them matter commercially, not just what to build.
25+ years scaling technology teams Seed to Series A sweet spot UK and worldwide, remote-first
Trusted by teams at See the work →
Same board-level judgement. A fraction of the cost. See the full UK 2026 pricing guide → Raising soon? Get DD-ready →
Where to start
Four Ways to Work Together, One Way to Start
Pick the route that fits where you are. Every one begins with a real conversation, not a form and a follow-up sequence.
For funded founders & boards
Fractional or Interim CTO
Senior technology leadership without the full-time hire. 2 to 4 days a week embedded with your leadership team, or a full interim seat to cover a gap.
- Post-funding tech leadership
- Scale-up friction, delivery slowing
- Preparing for a raise or exit
- Interim cover after a CTO departure
For founders installing AI properly
The AI Brain
A working AI system installed into how your business actually runs, in two to four weeks. Not another workshop. Built by a CTO, not an AI consultant.
- £700 audit or £6,500 four-week Sprint
- Context flows in from Notion, Drive, Obsidian
- Tuned workspaces for the jobs you do weekly
- Capability transfer: you run it after I leave
For non-technical founders
The Founder Course
A six-week cohort course that installs a working AI system on your business. Weekly live calls, one 1:1, and a repo you own at the end.
- Scored AI-readiness baseline
- Written role archetypes for your team
- Tuned workflows for your recurring work
- Weekly cohort calls & one 1:1
For teams installing AI roles
AI Role Factory
Generate a role-specific AI workspace for your team. Chief of Staff, CMO, CTO, Head of Ops. Configured for your business, ready in minutes.
- Six defined executive AI roles
- Role-specific prompts and routines
- 12 module packs to choose from
- Free to generate, paid to install
Not ready to talk yet?
Start with a free tool. Answers in your browser, in minutes.
The Partner CTO Method
Four phases that turn business understanding into technical outcomes. A relationship founders treat as a partnership, not a vendor engagement.
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Listen
Understand how the business actually works
The first 30 days are a business audit as much as a tech audit. I sit down with founders, sales, product, and finance. The picture that comes out of those conversations is usually one nobody has written down.
- Written business + tech audit
- Risk map, prioritised
- 90-day roadmap
-
Translate
Move information cleanly in both directions
Founders and boards need technical decisions in commercial language. Engineers need commercial context in language they can act on. That translation is where a lot of fractional engagements break down, and nobody notices until it costs something.
- Board-ready technical narrative
- Framed trade-off calls
- Aligned leadership + engineering
-
Build
Anchored in business context, not technical purity
Now the technical work begins, but it starts from a real picture of where the business is going. That covers platform, hiring, delivery pipeline, and security posture: what actually needs to be built, in what order, at what depth.
- Architecture + platform plan
- Engineering hiring plan
- Delivery pipeline installed
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Compound
Set up the team to keep getting better after I leave
The point of every engagement is that you can run the system without me. That means documentation, a proper handover, and a delivery culture the team can sustain on its own. If you decide you want ongoing care, the retainer continues. It is your call, not a lock-in.
- Handover documentation
- Sustained delivery culture
- Optional ongoing retainer
In their own words
What People Say
Nick led with empathy, logic, and quiet confidence. He gave the engineering team room to think and took the time to understand the nuances of our work before suggesting changes. He tackled difficult conversations head-on with clarity and kindness, and brought out the best in people. Having Nick as a CTO is genuinely transformative for a team.
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A Partner at the Table, Not Just a Technical Hire
What my clients tell me sets me apart isn't the technology, it's that I take the time to understand their business first. How it operates, what's driving the numbers, where the real pressure points are, what the team is genuinely trying to achieve.
Twenty-five years across funded startups, scale-ups, and established businesses, with a particular focus on technology for good. Co-founder and CTO at Unmind (Series B). VP Technology at Vault Platform (acquired by Diligent in 2025).
Frequently asked
Common Questions
What is a Fractional CTO?
A Fractional CTO is an experienced technology leader who works with your company on a part-time basis, typically 2 to 4 days per week. You get senior CTO-level thinking, strategy, and execution without the cost of a full-time hire. Ideal for funded startups and scale-ups at Seed to Series A who need real technical leadership but aren't ready for a permanent C-suite hire.
How much does a Fractional CTO cost in the UK?
A Fractional CTO in the UK typically costs between £4,000 and £16,000 per month on a retainer, depending on days committed and the complexity of the engagement. Day rates range from £1,000 to £1,600. Experienced operators serving funded startups from Seed to Series A sit toward the top of the range: 2 to 4 days per week, £8,000 to £16,000 per month. That compares favourably to a full-time CTO salary of £120,000 to £180,000 plus oncosts.
What is the difference between a Fractional CTO and an Interim CTO?
A Fractional CTO works part-time across your leadership team on an ongoing basis, typically 2 to 4 days per week. An Interim CTO is a temporary full-time appointment, usually to cover a gap (departure, illness, or extended leave) or to lead a specific transformation. Both provide senior technology leadership without a permanent hire.
Can a Fractional CTO work remotely?
Yes. A well-run fractional CTO engagement is built around a clear meeting cadence, written context between calls, and decision rights that do not depend on someone being in the office. Remote delivery avoids unnecessary travel costs. I can also work on site when it helps, especially in an interim CTO engagement.
Got a technology decision that needs a conversation?
Book a 30-minute discovery call. We'll talk through your situation and I'll be honest about whether and how I can help.