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I unblock and ship to production stuck software projects.

Fractional CTO for startups and SMBs. I turn stuck ideas or systems into working, scalable products.

30 minutes · No commitment · Reply guaranteed within 24 hours

Fractional CTO · Forward Deployed AI Engineer · Senior Backend Engineer · Tech Lead

Let's work together if

Any of this sounds like you?

  • You've already invested time or money, but the product still isn't ready.
  • Your developer isn't delivering — and you don't know how to take back control.
  • You're not sure if the code is sound or whether it will scale.
  • You have an idea you can't get off the ground. You don't know where to start.
  • The product works, but it isn't growing. There's no one making technical decisions.
What I do

I don't just write code. I make technical decisions.

Architecture and stack decisions

I pick the right technologies for your stage. No over-engineering, no resume-driven choices.

Audit and rescue existing projects

I dive into inherited codebases, figure out what works and what doesn't, and tell you exactly how to move forward.

Lead developers

If you have a team or freelancers, I take the technical helm. You don't need to translate anything.

Ship MVPs fast

In 2-4 weeks you have a working version in production, ready for real users.

Make systems stable and scalable

When the product grows, the infrastructure shouldn't slow you down. We plan ahead, not after.

Hire and vet developers

Technical vetting of candidates, freelancers and vendors. Avoid hiring the wrong person and losing months of work and thousands of euros.

How I work today

I orchestrate AI agents on your codebase. Faster, without lowering the bar.

I use AI agents (Claude Code and the like) as a multiplier: they do the grunt work across whole codebases, I keep the decisions, the control and the quality. The result is faster — not sloppier.

Mass refactors and migrations

Consistent changes across thousands of files in a fraction of the time. I decide architecture and strategy, the AI executes, every step goes through my review.

Deeper audits, faster

I analyze entire inherited codebases in hours instead of days: the AI maps and flags, I draw the conclusions and tell you what actually matters.

Paying down tech debt and tests

Missing test coverage, dead code, outdated dependencies: I tackle them quickly with AI agents, with human validation on anything that touches production.

AI speeds up execution. The technical decisions stay human — mine.

Let's be clear

I'm not the right fit if…

I work with a few projects at a time, and it only works when we're aligned. Better to say it up front:

  • you're after the lowest quote, not the result.
  • you want lots of cheap hands instead of one sound technical decision.
  • you need someone to write code without ever questioning the choices.
  • you're looking for an agency with account managers, tickets and junior collaborators.
  • you want to delegate and disappear: I work with people who stay involved in the decisions.

If none of this sounds like you, chances are we're a good fit to work together.

How I can help

Audit, rescue or ongoing support.

Clear scope, defined timelines. We align on the financial details in the call, based on your specific case.

To get started

Technical audit

I analyze your project and tell you, in writing, what isn't working and how to fix it.

one-off · 2-3 days
  • Full code review
  • Architecture and infrastructure diagnosis
  • Written report with intervention priorities
  • Final alignment call
I want an auditSaperne di più
Most popular

Project rescue

I step in directly. Fix, complete, ship what's stuck. Concrete results in a few weeks.

defined scope · 2-4 weeks
  • Direct development in autonomy
  • Coordination with your team if any
  • MVP or critical feature live in production
  • Documentation and final handover
Let's unblock itSaperne di più
To grow well

Fractional CTO

Ongoing support. I'm your technical reference for the decisions that matter. Monthly, flexible, focused.

monthly retainer · quarterly contract
  • Technical and architectural decisions
  • Coordination of internal or external developers
  • Technical roadmap aligned to business
  • Direct Slack + weekly call
Let's talkSaperne di più

Looking for something different? Reach out and we'll find the right format.

How it works

Four steps. No surprises.

01

You book a call

30 free minutes. I reply within 24 hours of booking, always.

02

I analyze your case

I figure out where you are, what you really need and what you don't. No fluff.

03

I propose a clear plan

What I do, in how much time, at what price. All written down.

04

If it makes sense, we start

We work together. Constant updates. Results visible from the first week.

Got a stuck project or one to build?

Book a free 30-minute call — or drop me a line on WhatsApp or email. I reply within 24 hours.

30 minutes · Slots available this week · Italy & remote

Selected projects

Things I shipped to production recently.

Screenshot Psicologo Espresso
Logo Psicologo Espresso

Psicologo Espresso

Problem

An Italian network of psychologists wanted a personalized matching system between patient and therapist — not a generic marketplace.

Result

Platform with intake questionnaire, founder-curated matching, free first consultation and full session management. Built to put the quality of the patient–therapist relationship first, not a generic marketplace.

Visit site
Screenshot LifeVault
Logo LifeVault

LifeVault

Problem

Turn scattered documents (contracts, deadlines, policies) into an active system for personal admin life.

Result

Production-ready zero-knowledge architecture. Decoupled frontend and backend, automated deploy, scalable from day one.

Visit site
Frequently asked questions

What you ask me most often.

What does it cost to work with you?

It depends. I know "it depends" isn't satisfying, but it's honest: audit, project rescue and fractional CTO have different sizes and timelines. I give you the price in our first call, after I understand what you actually need. What's certain: it's written down before we start, and it's fixed. No quotes that keep growing, no surprises halfway through.

How quickly will I see real results?

Audit: written report in your hands in 2-3 days. Project rescue: first changes live within 1-2 weeks, completion in 2-4 weeks. Fractional CTO: from the first week you have a written technical roadmap and the first decisions made — you don't wait a month to see what's changing.

Do you only work remote or also in person?

Remote, mostly. I come on-site when it actually matters — kick-off, strategic workshops, on-site audits. Veneto, Lombardia and Emilia covered easily; other regions with travel expenses. No theater of mandatory presence.

Do you also work full-time somewhere else?

Yes — I'm a Tech Lead at an enterprise company, and that's exactly where the technical level I bring to your project comes from. That's why I work with very few clients at a time, with clear scope: audit, time-boxed rescue, light monthly retainer. My availability is limited by design, not despite everything. If you need someone full-time every day, you need an in-house dev — and I'll be the first to tell you.

What happens if after the audit we decide not to continue?

Nothing bad. The report is yours, take it home — it contains everything another dev or team needs to act. The initial 30-minute call is free, the audit has a fixed price agreed up front. Zero ambiguity, no hidden clauses.

Do you only work with startups or also with SMBs?

Both. Founders validating an idea, CTOs inheriting a codebase, SMBs with stuck internal software or a developer who stopped replying to emails. I bring value in all these cases — it's not the company size that matters, it's whether you actually need a senior technical reference.

Can I have a fractional CTO while I already have internal developers?

Yes, and it's one of the most common cases. You have devs (internal or external) but no one makes technical decisions or coordinates. That's the role I play: I don't replace the team, I lead it. Direct Slack, weekly call, no disappearances. If there's a promising senior dev, my goal is also to help them grow until they can replace me.

What stacks are you specialized in?

Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, Python, FastAPI, PostgreSQL, AWS, Vercel — that's where I'm fastest. But fractional CTO isn't about the stack: it's about picking the right one for your stage and executing. I also work with inherited codebases on other stacks — actually, that happens often. If I think the stack choice is wrong, I'll tell you.

How does invoicing work?

Italian invoice with VAT. Audit and project rescue: 50% upfront, 50% on delivery. Fractional CTO: monthly invoice, renewable quarterly contract (no annual lock-ins). Payment by bank transfer. Clean, invoiced, traceable.

About me
Marco Salatin

Marco Salatin.

Fractional CTO · Software project unblocker

I've been building software for over ten years. The last five I've focused on one thing: taking stuck projects or founders' ideas and shipping them live — fast, well, without the overhead of an agency.

I work with a limited number of projects at a time, to guarantee quality and attention. I'm not an agency that hands you off to a junior collaborator after the contract: it's me, directly, from start to finish.

I also collaborate with internal teams and structured corporate contexts, as a technical consultant or project lead.