IT

Fractional CTO services

Fractional CTO, in-house CTO, agency or freelancer?

They're four different ways to cover the technical side. None is right every time: what changes is the commitment, the cost, who answers for decisions and what's left when the arrangement ends.

Four ways to cover the technical role in a startup, compared
CommitmentPart-time and ongoing, on an agreed rhythmFull-time, inside the companyA dedicated team for the length of the projectBy the hour or by the project, often split across clients
Relative costMedium: a retainer, without an executive salaryHighest: a salary and, usually, equityVariable: it depends on the project's scopeLowest on paper, but it buys execution, not direction
Technical accountabilityTechnical decisions and their consequences, shared with the founderFull: technology, team and budgetFor what they deliver, on the contract's termsFor the task you hand over
ContinuityHigh, as long as decisions are documented and the arrangement is stableHighest, for as long as they stayTied to the project: when it ends, you start againLow: everything rests on one person
When to choose itBefore product-market fit, or between one CTO and the nextWhen technology is the edge and there's a team to lead every dayWhen you know what to build and need a full team to build itFor a clear, contained task, with someone able to check the work

They combine: a fractional CTO can choose and oversee an agency or freelancers, and pave the way for an in-house CTO.

A typical month

What does a fractional CTO do in a typical month?

They hold the thread of technical decisions on a steady rhythm: some things come round every week, some once a month, some only when needed. The actual rhythm is agreed with you, based on your stage.

  1. Week one

    • The month's priorities with the founder
    • Roadmap revisited against what has changed

  2. Week two

    • Review of the code and of the team's or supplier's choices
    • Open architecture decisions

  3. Week three

    • Security, access and backups
    • Infrastructure and API costs

  4. Week four

    • Product metrics, read together
    • Next month's plan, in writing

Every week

A standing check-in with the founder and whoever is building: what shipped, what's blocked, what needs deciding.

As needed

  • Technical interviews for hiring
  • Technical due diligence with investors
  • Choosing and overseeing suppliers

When should you hire an in-house CTO?

When technology needs someone every day, inside the company. These are the usual signs.

  • The tech team is growing

    With several in-house developers to lead day to day, you need someone present, not a weekly rhythm.

  • Technology is the edge

    If the startup's value lies in its own algorithms, data or patents, the technical vision has to live inside the company.

  • Investors are asking

    In some rounds, a CTO on the team, often with equity, is part of the story that convinces.

  • Decisions can't wait

    When a technical call is needed every day, a part-time arrangement slows you down instead of helping.

At that point the fractional CTO's job is to help you find the right person: the profile, the technical interviews, and a documented handover so the new CTO doesn't start from scratch.

A crystal compass resting on a frosted glass grid, its needle glowing lilac

How do we do it?

By making the same calls we make for our own products. Here are the facts.

A SaaS of our own
We designed, built and keep growing Athleex, our SaaS for personal trainers, with iOS and Android apps. We make a CTO's decisions every day; the case study tells the story.
A stack we run
Next.js, React, TypeScript and PostgreSQL; apps built with Capacitor on the same web codebase; European servers (Hetzner) that we manage, automated CI on GitHub Actions and nightly backups with an off-site copy. Details on our technologies page.
A group behind it
When a decision touches marketing or AI, the people are already in the group: My Web Lab, with more than 120 projects across websites, e-commerce and web apps, and Giallo Studio for AI.
People you can reach
MPN Group is led by Marco, Pietro and Niccolò, from Milan. We work in English and Italian and reply within one business day. The longer version is on our about page.

Prototype to production Pre-seed Services

Questions about fractional CTOs

What is a fractional CTO?

A part-time head of technology, sometimes called CTO as a service. They own the startup's technical decisions, from choosing the stack to leading developers and suppliers, without being a full-time hire.

How much does a fractional CTO cost?

It depends on the commitment you need, your stage and how many people or suppliers there are to lead. It generally costs less than a full-time CTO because it isn't full-time. We don't have a price list; what drives the cost is on our pricing and timelines page.

Fractional CTO vs in-house CTO: what's the difference?

A fractional CTO works part-time, often for several companies, and suits the stages where you don't need someone every day. An in-house CTO is a full-time employee or co-founder who answers for technology, team and budget.

Can I start without a CTO?

Yes, plenty of startups do. You still need someone who answers for technical choices and can check the work of whoever builds, especially if the founder isn't technical. For a first product, a good MVP partner with clear technical leadership can be enough.

Can a fractional CTO help with investors?

Yes: they prepare the technical side of due diligence, document architecture, security and costs, and handle technical questions from investors and advisers. In a round, a clear technical story carries as much weight as the product.

Does a fractional CTO write code?

They can, but their value is in the decisions: what to build, how and with whom. When development is needed, the group's teams can build it; if you already work with a supplier, the CTO leads and checks their work.

Further reading

Need technical leadership?

Tell us where the product stands and who's working on it today.

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