Fractional CTO

Your fractional CTO —from boardroom strategy to shipping code

CTO-level technical leadership for founders who need senior judgment now — not a nine-month executive search. Advisory when you want a sounding board, hands-on when you need delivery, accelerated by Scale Data's AI-native engineering bench.

Is a fractional CTO right for you?

Three situations where senior technical leadership pays for itself fast.

Founder without a technical co-founder

You're making architecture, hiring, and build-vs-buy calls that shape the next two years — and you want someone senior in the room before you commit.

A team that needs direction, not another exec

Your engineers are capable but unled. You need someone to set technical priorities and raise the bar — without the cost or commitment of a full-time CTO.

A specific inflection point

A rebuild, a scaling wall, fundraising due diligence, or your first AI initiative — a moment where getting the technical call right matters more than usual.

What a fractional CTO actually does

One role across the full range — from strategy to hands-on delivery.

Technical strategy & roadmap

Translate business goals into a technical plan with clear priorities, sequencing, and the trade-offs named out loud.

  • • Roadmap and sequencing
  • • Build-vs-buy decisions
  • • Tech-debt strategy

Architecture & due diligence

Assess what you have and design what you need — including the technical diligence investors and acquirers ask for.

  • • Architecture and scalability review
  • • Security and reliability audit
  • • Fundraising / M&A diligence

Team building & engineering leadership

Hire the right engineers and lead them well, so the team keeps shipping after the engagement ends.

  • • Hiring and interview design
  • • Team structure and process
  • • Mentoring and code standards

AI-accelerated delivery

Bring Scale Data's AI-native engineering to your team — the speed edge the rest of this site is built on.

  • • AI pair-programming workflows
  • • Multi-agent delivery
  • • Automated review and testing

Data & cloud infrastructure

Stand up modern, scalable foundations across AWS, GCP, and Azure — without lock-in or runaway cost.

  • • Multi-cloud architecture
  • • Data pipelines
  • • Cost and performance tuning

Hands-on build when it counts

Not just advice — delivery. Prototype the hard part, ship the critical path, unblock the team.

  • • Prototypes and spikes
  • • Critical-path features
  • • Unblocking the team

How we work together

Pick the depth that fits your stage and budget. Start light, scale up when it's working.

Advisory

For founders who need a sounding board.

from $[X]/mo

A few hours a month

  • • Strategy and architecture reviews
  • • Hiring guidance
  • • Build-vs-buy decisions
  • • Async access between sessions
Book a call
Most common

Fractional

For teams that need ongoing senior leadership.

Let's scope it

~1–2 days a week

  • • Owns the technical roadmap
  • • Leads and mentors the team
  • • Drives delivery cadence
  • • AI-accelerated workflows
Book a call

Embedded

For a critical build or turnaround.

Custom

Deep, multiple days a week

  • • Leads and ships with the team
  • • Stands up platform and infrastructure
  • • Hands-on the critical path
  • • AI-accelerated delivery
Book a call

Every engagement starts with a 30-minute call — no commitment.

You-led, firm-backed

You work directly with a hands-on operator who has built and led engineering teams — not an account manager. Behind that: Scale Data's engineers and AI-native delivery, so the work keeps moving between sessions.

Daniel Franks

Founder & Principal, Scale Data

[Bio — FILL IN: e.g. “Daniel has spent 15+ years building data platforms and leading engineering teams, from seed-stage startups to systems serving millions of users.”]

Track record

Real engagements, real outcomes

[15]+
Years leading engineering
[X]
Teams built & led
[X]
Production systems shipped
[X]
Companies advised

Trusted by teams at

Client logo
Client logo
Client logo
Client logo

How an engagement runs

From first call to shipped outcomes.

1

Intro call & scope

A 30-minute call on your goals, stage, and constraints — and an honest read on whether a fractional CTO is even the right move.

2

Assessment

A focused audit of your architecture, team, and roadmap. You get a clear read on risks, gaps, and quick wins.

3

Plan & priorities

A concrete technical plan: what to do, in what order, and why. Yours to keep, whether or not we continue.

4

Execute & iterate

Advisory or hands-on, at the cadence your tier sets. We adjust as the work and the business move.

Let's talk about where your technology needs to go

Book a 30-minute intro call, or send a note and I'll get back to you.

Fractional CTO - Scale Data