Fractional CTO for teams without a technical lead
A part-time CTO who decides what to build, how and in what order, and writes the code where it matters. You pay for the work each stage needs, not a full-time salary.
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO (also called CTO as a service, outsourced CTO or part-time CTO) is a technical leader who works for your company without being a full-time hire. They own the decisions a digital business cannot get wrong: which product to build first, on what stack, at what cost, with which people.
It is not a consultant who hands over a slide deck. A fractional CTO makes the calls, is accountable for the outcome and, when needed, opens the editor and builds.
When you need an outsourced CTO
You have an idea and nobody to build it
You don't know what to ask for, who to ask, or how to tell if you're being told the truth. A fractional CTO turns the idea into a prototype and tells you honestly whether it is worth pursuing.
You have a quote and can't tell if it's fair
An agency or a freelancer sent you a proposal. You need someone to read it with you: scope, stack, risks, what's missing and what's padding.
You have a team or a product, but nobody owns the direction
Stack, architecture, priorities, hiring. For a small business or an early startup, the fractional CTO is the person who says yes or no, and answers for it.
You want to automate processes with AI
First find the bottlenecks, then decide what is worth automating with agents and integrations, and what is not.
Two steps, with an exit
Free intro call (30 minutes)
You tell me the idea or the problem. I tell you whether I can help and how I would do it. If I'm not the right person, I say so up front.
Clickable prototype
Something you can show partners, investors or first customers. A matter of days, not months. If it doesn't convince, you stop here: you spent little and learned a lot.
Product in production
The prototype becomes a real product: users, database, payments, deployment. Built on an architecture that holds as you grow.
What it costs
I don't have a price list: the price depends on scope, and scope and cost of the prototype are clear before we start. For orientation, here are market rates in 2026 (industry guides, not my own rates). In the US and UK, fractional CTOs typically charge $170-250 an hour, or $5,000-15,000 a month on a retainer of 10-15 hours a week. In Italy, retainers typically run €1,500-8,000 a month depending on whether you need light advisory or 2-3 days a week, with day rates of €800-2,500. A full-time CTO in Italy costs €90,000-160,000 a year in salary, contributions and benefits, even in the months when there is little to do.
Fractional CTO vs full-time CTO vs agency vs freelancer
| Fractional CTO | Full-time CTO | Agency | Freelance developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decides what to build | Yes | Yes | Rarely: executes a spec | No: executes |
| Writes the code | Yes, when needed | Sometimes | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | Only the work you need | Fixed, all year | Per project | Hourly or per project |
| Best when | Idea, prototype, first version, technical direction | A team that needs daily leadership | The spec is already clear | One well-defined task |
Stefano Salvucci
12+ years across software development, architecture and automation. Co-founder of BusinessinCloud, YTILI Fellow 2019 (U.S. Department of State and German Marshall Fund), registered with the Order of Engineers of Rome. I'm based in Rome and work in English and Italian. With AI I now do alone what took a team of four three years ago.
The questions I get asked most
What is a fractional CTO?
A Chief Technology Officer who works for your company part-time, without being an employee. They own technical and product decisions (what to build, on which stack, in what order) and, in my case, also build it.
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
At market rates, a fractional CTO typically costs $170-250 an hour or $5,000-15,000 a month on retainer in the US and UK, and €1,500-8,000 a month in Italy (light advisory up to 2-3 days a week). A full-time CTO in Italy costs €90,000-160,000 a year. These are industry-guide figures, not my own price list: scope and cost of my prototype are clear before we start.
Fractional CTO or full-time CTO?
A full-time CTO makes sense when there is a team to lead every day. Before that point it is a fixed cost that is hard to justify. A fractional CTO covers the stage where decisions are few but heavy.
Fractional CTO or a development agency?
An agency executes a spec. If the spec is right it works well; if it isn't, they will build it anyway. A fractional CTO works earlier: they decide whether and what to build, and can read an agency's quote with you.
What if I'm looking for a technical co-founder?
A technical co-founder joins the company and shares the risk; a fractional CTO is a professional with a defined scope. They are two different decisions. If you're not sure which one you need, we can work it out on the first call.
Do you work with small businesses and companies that already have a product?
Yes: technical direction, AI automation, integrations (including with Italian public administration systems) and help with decisions on stack, architecture and hiring.
How do we start?
With a free 30-minute intro call. You tell me the idea or the problem, and I tell you whether and how I can help.
Let's talk about your project
30 minutes, free. If I'm not the right person, I'll tell you.