A fractional AI CTO is what you hire when you have raised a round on an AI thesis but do not have the senior technical hire to execute it. We own the AI side of the architecture, help hire the team, and ship in parallel.
Who this is for
Series A and Series B startups whose CTO is a strong engineer but new to applied AI. Mid-market companies pivoting hard on AI without a leader to drive it. Founders without a technical co-founder who need senior judgment on architecture and vendor decisions.
What you get
- Weekly working sessions to review progress, unblock decisions, and set direction.
- Architecture documents you can hand to your team or present to the board.
- Hiring support including job description writing, interviewing, and candidate calibration.
- Vendor evaluation and contract review so you do not commit to the wrong infrastructure.
- Hands-on building on the highest-risk technical components.
How we work on this
The standard engagement runs 6 to 12 months at 8 to 16 hours per week, with scope and cadence set during an initial alignment call. We adjust hours as the engagement matures and your internal team grows.
Tech stack
This is advisory plus hands-on coding on the hardest problems. The stack follows your product needs, not a fixed preference.
When this is the wrong choice
If you need a full-time CTO, hire one. We fill gaps and provide oversight; we do not replace an executive who needs to be present daily.
Pricing
$5,000 to $15,000 per month based on hours and scope.
FAQ
Do you sign NDAs and confidentiality agreements? Yes, before any technical review begins.
Do you work with multiple clients simultaneously? Yes. We are transparent about our client roster, and we do not take on clients in direct competition with each other.
Can we discuss equity compensation? We are open to a small equity component alongside a reduced cash retainer on a case-by-case basis.
What does the exit look like? We document everything, run a structured handover session with your incoming technical lead, and make ourselves available for questions for 30 days after the engagement ends.
Can you provide references? Yes, from past clients with a similar stage and technical context.