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TOP 20 Fractional CTOs
August 5, 2025 • 15 mins
Discover our curated list of the Top 20 Fractional CTOs. Technology leaders who help startups and growing companies scale faster, innovate smarter, and avoid costly missteps. Each profile highlights proven expertise and the impact these leaders deliver.
Irvine, CA
1- Pouya Nourizadeh
Pouya Nourizadeh blends his first-hand technical expertise with strategic business insight, helping founders transform bold ideas into market-ready products. He has led the design of scalable SaaS platforms, modernized legacy architectures with cloud-native solutions, and guided early-stage startups through fundraising.
His work includes building HIPAA-compliant systems, optimizing platforms for security and scale, and mentoring engineering teams to deliver high-performance products.
Industries: Fintech, SaaS & Software, E-Commerce, HealthTech
Specialties: SaaS platforms, APIs, data security, mobile apps
Certifications: CISSP, CCSP, TOGAF, ML Engineer, AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Years of Experience: 14+ years in software architecture and technology leadership
Des Moines, Iowa
2- Chad Roethler
Chad Roethler specializes as a fractional CTO primarily for media and publishing companies. Chad excels in guiding organizations through migrations, platform modernizations, and security audits with a steady hand.
His background in leading strategy and technology for small to medium-sized businesses has perfected his ability to streamline workflows, align disparate systems with clear business goals, and deliver measurable results in efficiency and cost reduction.
Industries: Publishing, Media, Content-Driven Industries, SMBs
Specialties: SaaS integration, leadership & mentoring, strategic automation
Certifications: MBA (Master of Business Administration)
Years of Experience: 20+ years leading technology teams
Westhoughton, England
3- Steve Holloway
Steve Holloway is an accomplished IT leader known for guiding digital transformations across small to mid-sized enterprises and startups facing IT challenges. He specializes in mentoring IT executives, coordinating hires that fit organizational dynamics, and introducing AI-powered enhancements to boost investment returns.
His offerings include cloud-native architecture design, system performance optimization, and the creation of engineering practices that reduce risk while increasing speed.
Industries: AI-focused companies, Startups, HealthTech, SaaS, Software
Specialties: IT–Business alignment, AI strategy & process optimization, IT operations fixes
Certifications: TOGAF, Microsoft AI, Certified ScrumMaster
Years of Experience: 30+ years in senior technology leadership roles
Szczecin, Poland
4- Greg Navis
Greg Navis draws on years of scaling SaaS platforms across Europe, where he learned to transform small, experimental teams into disciplined engineering organizations. He started programming at a young age, accumulating experience across diverse verticals.
His capabilities as a fractional CTO are broad, encompassing backend development, frontend design, leadership, project management, meticulous prototyping, and full-lifecycle product development.
Industries: Finance, Healthcare, HR, Retail, Media, Market Research, Startups
Specialties: Prototyping, architecture migration, product development
Certifications: PMP, Certified Kubernetes Administrator, CSPO, AWS Certified Database
Years of Experience: 15+ years in software engineering, product design, and leadership
Melbourne, Australia
5- Alan Fitzgerald
Alan Fitzgerald, with over two decades specifically in accounting technology, provides expert IT counsel to businesses in Australia and internationally. His specialty lies in re-architecting outdated infrastructures, integrating new technologies, and enforcing enterprise-grade security standards throughout transformation projects.
Organizations under his guidance achieve sharper judgment calls, superior platform stability, and bespoke approaches that integrate applications with legal standards.
Industries: Tax & Accounting (Small Businesses, National Mid-tiers, Big4 firms, etc)
Specialties: Workflow Efficiency, Audit Technology, International Tax / Transfer Pricing
Certifications: Diploma in International Taxation, CISA, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL
Years of Experience: 33+ years (26 years in tax and accounting software)
Colorado Springs, CO
6- Chris Mutchler
With a foundation in analytics platforms and cloud migrations, Chris Mutchler has guided teams through environments where technical missteps can have legal consequences. His strengths lie in balancing the dual demands of innovation and stability, introducing modern architectures, improving automation, and advancing data governance.
He offers actionable execution, often stepping in to establish monitoring frameworks, optimize pipelines, and shore up compliance gaps.
Industries: Cloud Technology, Digital Transformation
Specialties: Technology frameworks, team leadership, enterprise architecture
Certifications: VCDX 257 (VMware Certified Design Expert), Kubernetes Evangelist
Years of Experience: Nearly 30 years as an IT leader and architect
Hamburg, Germany
7- Philipp Deutscher
Philipp Deutscher has worked extensively across global markets, and this international lens informs the way he approaches technology leadership. With 45,000+ hours of experience in technology and leadership, he helps companies scale globally.
His offerings include cloud architecture design, infrastructure optimization, and performance engineering. He also provides technical due diligence for investors, guidance on system reliability and monitoring, and coaching for engineering leaders.
Industries: Technology, E-commerce, Gaming, Video Meetings, Tech & Business Advisory
Specialties: Coaching, strategic advisory, MVP implementation, infrastructure-as-code
Certifications: Diploma in Computer Sciences, PCC, AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Years of Experience: 17+ years in leadership and technology
London, England
8- Giles Lindsay
Giles Lindsay infuses his recognized expertise into building enterprise resilience during turbulent periods. He develops customized mentoring modules, leads comprehensive digital transformation initiatives, and facilitates advanced agile workshops.
His work focuses on developing product-oriented engineering teams, introducing scalable agile practices, and creating governance systems that support sustainable growth. He aligns technology delivery with business outcomes to keep the progress impactful.
Industries: Fintech, Enterprise Technology, SaaS & Software Platforms
Specialties: Coaching, technology leadership, organizational transformation
Certifications: TOGAF, Agile Leadership Certifications, CGEIT
Years of Experience: 25+ years driving technology innovation and business growth
Charlotte, NC
9- Bryan Dennstedt
Bryan Dennstedt is known for guiding startups through rapid expansion, helping engineering practices scale without losing innovation. He focuses on SaaS environments and healthtech projects that require robust, regulation-compliant frameworks. Bryan emphasizes pragmatic technology choices, building resilient systems.
He leads major platform transformations, implements HIPAA-compliant integrations, and deploys AI-augmented methods to enhance workflows and productivity.
Industries: Healthcare, Telemedicine, Entertainment
Specialties: Mobile app development, healthcare integrations, managing IT operations
Certifications: CCTO, Health IT Certification, CPHIMS, Certified Mobile Application Developer
Years of Experience: 20+ years in technology leadership and SaaS/healthtech innovation
Silicon Valley, CA
10- Steve Mushero
Steve Mushero carries decades of global leadership experience, having built large-scale technology platforms in Asia and beyond, where uptime, performance, and scale were non-negotiable. His strengths lie in cloud architecture, infrastructure automation, and operational resilience, particularly in environments that demand 24/7 uptime.
He excels at optimizing cloud configurations, executing in-depth safety reviews, and leading development teams using systems such as Docker, AWS, and Google Cloud.
Industries: Cloud Computing, Video Platforms, Logistics, Healthcare, Banking
Specialties: Technical advisory, security reviews, building products, processes, and teams
Certifications: ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, SAFe Program Consultant
Years of Experience: 25+ years leading technology and cloud initiatives
New York City, NY
11- Arunansu Pattanayak
Arunansu Pattanayak comes from a background rooted in large-scale software development and enterprise delivery, aiming to harness AI and cloud technologies for competitive advantage. His expertise spans cloud infrastructure, agile program management, and the cultivation of high-performing engineering teams.
He guides organizations through digital transformation, aligns technology initiatives with business priorities, and establishes practices that ensure lasting business impact.
Industries: Financial Services, Fintech, Technology Consulting
Specialties: AI-driven innovation, data-driven strategies, building enterprise applications
Certifications: Nano degrees in machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence
Years of Experience: 20+ years in software engineering, cloud, and enterprise technology
Vancouver, CA
12- Shawn Mayzes
Shawn Mayzes is widely recognized as a technical leader, startup mentor, and innovator, with a special focus on Laravel and other modern technologies. He optimizes development processes, drives innovation, and applies growth-oriented frameworks that help startups expand efficiently.
Drawing on his background as a founder and organizer, he provides practical leadership that solves complex challenges and helps teams deliver high-impact products.
Industries: Technology, Startups, Enterprises
Specialties: Software development, DevOps, cloud computing, mentorship
Certifications: AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, DCA, ICP-ACC, Azure Developer Associate
Years of Experience: 15+ years in software development and technology leadership
Fort Collins, CO
13- Matthew Cicanese
With expertise in both technology and business strategy, Matthew Cicanese helps organizations update their systems without losing sight of key objectives.
He has worked across software development, IT operations, and product delivery, building systems that are both scalable and reliable. He emphasizes team development, clear processes, and practical innovation, giving leaders the confidence to use technology as a true driver of value.
Industries: Healthcare, Consumer Tech, Robotics, Government/Public Sector
Specialties: AI literacy and adoption, cloud computing and DevOps, software development
Certifications: TOGAF 9 Certified, AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Certified ScrumMaster
Years of Experience: 12+ years in software development, IT operations, and leadership
London, England
14- Jason Margolin
Jason Margolin has led software engineering and teams at companies like Facebook and BP. He now serves as a fractional CTO for London-based startups, advising on system architecture, cloud deployment, and strategic talent scaling.
He builds strong engineering foundations that support rapid iteration and market responsiveness without unnecessary costs. His advisory approach helps startups tackle technical challenges tailored to their stage of growth.
Industries: Tech, Retail, News, Finance, Oil & Gas, Healthcare
Specialties: Product development, architecture & roadmap, hiring, scaling products
Certifications: Google Professional Cloud Architect, PMC, ICAgile Certified Professional, CKA
Years of Experience: 15+ years building software and leading engineering teams
Melbourne, Australia
15- Tomas Varsavsky
Tomas Varsavsky is a seasoned technology executive and independent consultant with a professional background that includes significant leadership roles. His has built software platforms in competitive industries where both speed and resilience are equally important, giving him the ability to advise on trade-offs that matter.
His offerings focus on rapid prototyping, modern architecture design, and scaling engineering teams through well-structured processes and mentoring.
Industries: Marketplaces, Real Estate & PropTech, Advertising & AdTech, Data
Specialties: Software & product development, cloud computing, risk & compliance, AI
Certifications: Google Professional Cloud Architect, PMC, ICAgile Certified Professional, CKA
Years of Experience: 25+ years in building product, technology, and data businesses
Faro, Portugal
16- Hugo Hamel
Hugo Hamel’s background is a blend of hands-on technical skills and strategic business roles, including web development, web design, server management, digital performance analysis, and growth hacking for a major Canadian corporation.
As a fractional CTO and COO, his core offering is to transform business chaos into simple solutions. He is known for creatively integrating various software tools and AI to build micro-solutions like spreadsheets, automations, and micro-SaaS apps.
Industries: Digital Marketing, Startups, Growth Hacking
Specialties: Building solutions, digital performance analysis, marketing direction
Certifications: Open CA, Certified Enterprise Architect, Pragmatic Marketing Certified, CDMP
Years of Experience: 15+ years in digital analytics, optimization, and growth strategy
Sammamish, WA
17- Chris Maconi
Chris Maconi, a B2B SaaS specialist, positions himself as an AI-native fractional CTO for seed and Series A startups. He mentors on advanced tools, facilitates MVP launches via proven AI methodologies, and dismantles obstacles to scalable growth.
Chris is particularly skilled at technical due diligence, vendor management, and building product roadmaps that align with evolving customer needs. He helps organizations evaluate options quickly, make sound tradeoffs, and maintain forward momentum.
Industries: B2B SaaS
Specialties: SaaS advising, MVP development, executive leadership, product leadership
Certifications: Pragmatic Institute Certifications (PMC, PDS, PDT), AWS ML Specialty
Years of Experience: 22+ years in B2B SaaS experience
Austin, TX
18- Daniel Maynes
Daniel Maynes provides fractional CTO services specifically for SaaS companies and product-led startups. His background is built upon engineering leadership and go-to-market experience, which he developed through roles in startup operations and scaling complex technical infrastructure.
His expertise includes agile transformation, cloud optimization, and the creation of engineering practices that scale alongside the business.
Industries: Healthcare, Government, Business Innovation
Specialties: Software project management, AI implementation, custom software builds
Certifications: Microsoft AI Engineer Associate, TOGAF, CAIPA
Years of Experience: 25+ years in IT, systems architecture, and business leadership
Carmel, IN
19- Mack Earnhardt
Mack Earnhardt is recognized for his ability to lead organizations through high-growth phases where hiring, process, and architecture all need to evolve simultaneously.
His capabilities are precisely tailored for Seed–Series B SaaS founders. He offers highly practical services including rapid assumption testing, clarifying problem/solution statements, lean experiment planning, and building extensible codebases to prevent future technical debt and costly rewrites.
Industries: Software Products, Medtech, Enterprise IT, Fintech
Specialties: Agile methodology implementation, technical due diligence, roadmap strategy
Certifications: Certified ScrumMaster, ITIL Foundation, Lean Six Sigma, PMP
Years of Experience: 26+ years in technology and product leadership
Vienna, Austria
20- Armin Reiter
Armin Reiter, whose IT path encompasses software building and solution design, has advised companies on technology strategy across industries.
As a fractional CTO for Web3 projects and founder of a31 Labs, his capabilities are particularly strong in defining technology roadmaps and strategies for applications, designing secure and scalable blockchain architectures, and leveraging AI-accelerated workflows to speed up project delivery.
Industries: Financial Industry, Blockchain, AI
Specialties: Technology roadmaps & strategy, designing blockchain architectures
Certifications: Avalanche T1 member, Member of the Digital Asset Association Austria
Years of Experience: 10+ years in software architecture and product strategy