Fractional CTO
You already have an engineering team. Yet too many decisions land on your desk or go unanswered. I take responsibility for those decisions with leadership and the team, through to implementation.
When to work with me
Your team is growing. Who owns the decisions that shape what comes next?
Your team has grown but decisions remain too informal
Architecture, prioritization, quality, hiring and tradeoffs rely on a few key people.
Leadership lacks visibility on technical risk
You need someone who can translate engineering reality into business decisions.
You want to structure without slowing down
Put order into delivery, governance and team ownership without adding useless process.
What I stand for
I need to be able to defend a decision and live with its consequences.
A team that outlasts me
If every decision still ends up on my desk, the handover isn’t finished. I prepare people to take over from the start.
Understand the context before choosing a method
The format depends on your size, maturity, pace and risk profile.
Be willing to turn down the elegant solution
An appealing architecture can cost more to maintain than it gives the product. I want to be able to explain why the team should have to live with it.
Convictions
What I cover
Fractional CTO
Technical roadmap & tradeoffs
Prioritize what protects the business, accelerates product or reduces real risk.
Organization & autonomy
Clarify ownership, rituals, responsibilities, standards and knowledge transfer.
Architecture, quality, security
Decide where to invest, where to stabilize and where to avoid expensive rewrites.
Occasional advice
A few meetings a month to review decisions, the roadmap and risks.
Embedded fractional CTO
A regular rhythm with team and leadership: governance, delivery, architecture.
Prepare for the next stage
A short period to lay foundations before hiring, fundraising or accelerating.
lightermore embedded
How much time should we plan for?
From a few days a month to work every week. We define the work first, then agree on the number of days needed.
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
My rate is €550 excl. VAT per day. The budget therefore depends on the pace we agree on, from a few days a month to a weekly rhythm, which we scope during the first 30-minute call, with no commitment. Based in Mauritius, I invoice my services without VAT. If you prefer to start with a fixed amount, the Tech & Organization Diagnosis takes 5 days for €3,000 excl. VAT.
Does this work with an existing team?
Yes, that is usually where it creates the most value. The goal is to strengthen the team, clarify responsibilities and reduce the load on key people.
Is an outsourced CTO the same as an IT services firm or a freelance developer?
The role covers technical leadership. I work with company leaders on the technical roadmap, architecture decisions and team organisation. I write code when needed and pass on knowledge so the team can carry on without me.
What if we need to hire a CTO?
I can help prepare the ground: clarify the role, secure the transition, challenge candidates and avoid premature or poorly framed hiring.
How do you work from Mauritius?
My time zone fully overlaps European office hours. I travel regularly to Paris and across Europe, and my clients have my direct number.
What mandate should be agreed at the start?
List expected decisions, priority risks, stakeholders and who resolves disagreements. Decision scope, required access, cadence and availability limits should be agreed with leadership before starting.
How does this work with the existing lead developer?
We agree on responsibilities with the lead developer: implementation, reviews and developer support for them; leadership decisions, risks and priorities for me. For shared areas such as architecture and hiring, we agree on who decides and who needs to be consulted.
How is progress tracked and handover prepared?
Progress reviews should show the decisions made, risks still open and who is responsible for the next steps. The roadmap, architecture decisions and knowledge transfer also support handover. We agree on review meetings and completion criteria for the engagement, so the team can carry on without depending on my presence.
We discuss whether you need a diagnosis, a focused project or fractional CTO support.
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