Startup CTO Retainer
Strategic tech leadership for startups—without the cost of a full-time hire.
Most startup teams hit a stage where they need more than developers. You're shipping product, juggling feedback, and trying to make smart decisions—but technical leadership is missing.
You don't need someone writing code. You need someone who sees the big picture and helps you make better choices.
That's where this retainer comes in: structured, high-impact access to a seasoned CTO who helps you stay on track.
Without strategic tech leadership, founders often make costly architectural mistakes, accumulate technical debt that slows them down, or miss critical security and scaling considerations that become expensive to fix later.
Who This Is For
This service is ideal if:
- You're a founder leading a technical or outsourced team
- You don't have a CTO but need one at your side
- You've hit complexity and want outside perspective
- You want to build confidently without bloating headcount
- You're preparing for a raise, scale-up, or major relaunch
What You'll Get
Structured Strategy Sessions
Monthly or bi-weekly check-ins where we look at team output, product direction, risks, and blockers.
Tech Oversight
High-level review of your architecture, delivery process, and infrastructure—not in the weeds, but enough to catch issues early.
Monthly Recommendations Report
A practical, founder-focused summary with what's working, what needs attention, and what to do next.
Asynchronous Support
WhatsApp or email access for advice on decisions, questions, or gut checks. You'll never wait long to get a smart second opinion.
Why This Matters
This isn't about hours or delivery—it's about leadership. While developers execute, a CTO translates business goals into technical strategy and keeps everyone aligned to what matters most.
As your strategic partner, I'll help you:
- Spot risks before they become problems
- Make better technology decisions
- Keep your dev team focused and accountable
- Guide your team to follow best practices
- Build technical foundations that scale
- Align technology with business goals
I've helped startups, solo founders, and small teams avoid costly detours—providing the strategic tech leadership needed without a full-time hire.
Success Story
dotzedw
Deal aggregation platform
1The Challenge
dotzedw needed strategic guidance to build a subscriber-requested feature that would increase user engagement and establish them as a market leader. They faced complex technical decisions without having a dedicated CTO.
2Our Approach
- Conducted strategic planning sessions to define business goals and technical requirements
- Developed a content strategy that positioned them as industry experts
- Provided specific technical guidance on RSS feed integration and architecture
- Delivered a working proof-of-concept that their team could build upon
3The Results
With just the Advisor retainer plan and a small code execution add-on, dotzedw achieved:
- 50% faster feature implementation compared to previous development cycles
- Increased user engagement with interactive deal-finding components
- Established their brand as the go-to resource for SADC market insights
- Created a scalable technical foundation that supports their long-term growth
"Having a technical advisor who could both strategize and implement was invaluable. We got expert guidance on our technical direction plus a working proof-of-concept—all without the expense of hiring a full-time CTO. The ROI was immediate."
Valentine, Founder of dotzedw
Simple, Transparent Pricing
Advisor
$300/month
Strategic guidance for startups who need expert input but have limited ongoing needs.
- 1 strategy session per month
- Light-touch architecture & delivery oversight
- Monthly summary report
- Email support only
Best for: Lean startups or solo founders who want regular expert feedback and peace of mind.
Start With Free ConsultationPartner
$600/month
Comprehensive tech leadership for growing teams that need regular guidance and oversight.
- 2 strategy sessions per month
- Standard architecture & delivery oversight
- Developer team check-ins
- Monthly summary report
- WhatsApp support (24-48h response)
- Optional roadmap/hiring/vendor support
Best for: Startups with small dev teams needing ongoing oversight and a more active tech partner.
Start With Free ConsultationExecutive CTO
$1000/month
Full strategic technical leadership with hands-on executive involvement in your business.
- Weekly strategy sessions
- Full visibility on architecture & delivery
- Developer check-ins + coaching
- Monthly summary report
- WhatsApp support (same-day response)
- Investor & stakeholder communications
Best for: High-growth teams preparing to scale, raise, or make major product bets.
Start With Free ConsultationWhat's the Difference Between Plans?
| Feature | Advisor ($300) | Partner ($600) | Executive CTO ($1000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategy Sessions | 1/month | 2/month | Weekly |
| Architecture & Delivery Oversight | Light-touch (monthly review) | Standard (bi-weekly reviews) | Full visibility (weekly check-ins) |
| Developer or Team Check-ins | No | Yes | Yes + Coaching |
| Monthly Summary Report | Included | Included | Included |
| WhatsApp/Email Access | Email only | WhatsApp (24–48h) | WhatsApp (same-day) |
| Roadmap / Hiring / Vendor Support | No | Optional add-on (+$150/month) | Included quarterly |
| Emergency Escalation Support | No | Limited (business hours only) | Priority (within same day) |
Common Questions
Still Wondering About Time?
This isn't a "1-day-a-month" consultant gig or a fractional employee agreement. You're buying outcomes, not hours. That said, to give you clarity:
- Advisor: I typically spend ~1 focused day per month on your business
- Partner: Around 1.5–2 days/month split across strategy and follow-ups
- Executive CTO: Up to 4 days/month with priority access
The value is in what we achieve together—not the minutes we track.
What Happens If There's a Fire?
I don't do hands-on coding as part of this service, but I'll help diagnose issues, recommend action plans, and support your team through resolution. The Executive CTO plan includes same-day escalation support if something urgent arises.
If you need deeper involvement for a sprint or project, I can scope that separately.
Next Steps
Ready to add strategic tech leadership to your startup? The process is simple:
- 1
Book Your Free Consultation
We'll discuss your goals, challenges, and how I can help.
- 2
Select Your Plan
Choose the tier that fits your current needs and budget.
- 3
Get Started
We'll kick off with a strategic planning session to set priorities and goals.
Ready to Start the Process?
First, book a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your challenges. We'll share payment details after confirming your CTO Retainer package.
Book Your Free ConsultationFAQs
Want to learn more about how a fractional CTO can help your specific situation?
Discuss My Tech Leadership Needs