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.

Marco Salatin.Fractional CTO · Software project unblocker

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Fractional CTO: technical leadership without hiring a C-level.

For startups and SMBs that need senior-level technical decisions — but can't or won't hire a full-time CTO.

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Monthly retainer · Quarterly contract · Slack + weekly call

When you need it

The five typical moments companies call a fractional CTO.

You're a solo founder with a dev team (internal or external) but no technical reference.
Your company has 10-50 people, development has gotten disorganized, strategy is missing.
You're about to close a round and investors want to talk with someone technical.
Your CTO is leaving, you need a 6-12 month bridge while searching for the replacement.
You have a live product but growth decisions require seniority you don't have in-house.

Definition

What a fractional CTO does.

A fractional CTO is a Chief Technology Officer who works part-time for multiple companies at once. Typically 8-25 hours per week per client, with a monthly retainer.

Same responsibilities as a full-time CTO — technical strategy, architecture, team coordination, hiring, board reporting — with the advantage of flexible, less expensive engagement.

Doesn't write code continuously: the value is in the decisions, not the features.

What I do as fractional CTO

Six areas of responsibility.

Strategy & architecture

Quarterly technical roadmap aligned to business. Build vs buy decisions, stack choices, architectural evolution.

Developer coordination

Internal, freelance, vendors or agencies. Quality standards, code review, prioritization. You don't need to translate anything.

Technical hiring

Candidate vetting, technical interviews, support in offer negotiation. Avoid €10-30k mistakes.

Board & investor reporting

Technical pitch deck, response to due diligence, development KPIs. Language suited to people who don't write code.

Risk management

Security, compliance (GDPR), redundancy, technical exit strategy. The things you don't want to discover in an incident.

Senior dev mentoring

If you have a promising senior dev, I accompany their growth toward in-house CTO. My goal: make myself replaceable.

Work model

How it works in practice.

Monthly retainer

From 8 to 25 hours per week, based on your needs. Unused hours don't roll over (forces real prioritization).

Quarterly contract

No annual lock-in. Renewable as long as needed. If the collaboration doesn't work, we part ways.

Mix remote + in-person

Mainly remote from Italy. 1-2 days per month in-person possible (Veneto, Lombardy, Emilia covered).

Direct Slack + weekly call

Fast replies on Slack, structured weekly call, monthly report for founders and investors.

Real examples

The questions my clients ask most often.

"My dev doesn't know what to do next week." → written technical roadmap with priorities.
"We want to launch in 3 months, is it realistic?" → honest analysis + alternative plan if not.
"Which stack to choose for the new module?" → decision with written criteria, not opinion.
"How much should feature X cost?" → credible estimate based on real scope + complexity.
"When do we hire the second dev?" → capacity vs cost vs revenue impact analysis.

What I don't do

Three clear boundaries.

I don't write code as a full-time dev (for that, hire devs or use project rescue).
I don't replace your team — I lead it.
I don't manage daily operations (deploys, routine bug fixes, night-time incident response).

Frequently asked questions

The questions I get most often about fractional CTO.

How long does a fractional CTO typically last?

Depends on company maturity. For pre-seed/seed startups: 6-18 months typical, until you hire an in-house CTO. For SMBs with ongoing development: even multi-year as a stable external reference.

Can I move from fractional to full-time if we grow?

No, I stay fractional. The value of fractional is precisely the independence and ability to work with multiple companies. If you want a full-time CTO, I help you find them and walk you through the transition.

How does it compare to an in-house CTO in cost?

An in-house CTO costs €80-150k/year gross plus equity. A fractional CTO costs a fraction and you pay only for actual hours. It makes sense until the technical volume justifies a dedicated person.

What if we want to terminate before 3 months?

The quarterly contract is the baseline, but there's an exit clause with notice. If the collaboration doesn't work, we both notice and part ways. No year-long lock-ins.

Can I see you in person or only remote?

Mainly remote, but 1-2 days a month in person are possible if you're in Veneto, Lombardy or Emilia. Other regions with travel expense reimbursement.

Let's meet on a call.

First 30 free minutes to figure out if fractional CTO is the right format for you. If it isn't, I tell you what you really need.

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