Fractional CTO
Your part-time CTO – who speaks both business and technology.
Fractional CTO for startups and growing companies. I help CEOs, founders and owners make technology decisions that pay off.
Sound familiar?
Most people who get in touch are CEOs, founders or owners of companies where technology has become a leadership issue, but nobody on the leadership team owns it.
Technology is slowing growth
New customers, markets or products are waiting for the systems to catch up. Every change takes longer than it should.
Leadership and developers talk past each other
You get answers you cannot evaluate, and the team gets requirements it does not understand the reasons for. Decisions are made on gut feeling instead of evidence.
Nobody owns the technology decisions
Platform choices, security, hiring and priorities fall between the cracks, or land on the CEO's desk without the time or the facts to decide.
Expensive vendors without control
Agencies and consultants deliver, but you have nobody on your side who can judge whether it is the right work at the right price.
Startup without a technical co-founder
You have the idea, the first customers and maybe remote developers, but nobody who owns the technology, builds the team and can answer the investors.
The development team is remote
The team, or the vendor, is in another country or time zone. You lack someone who leads them day to day and keeps quality, pace and cost together.
How I can help
Four ways of working together. The scope adapts to where you are and where you are going.
- Ongoing
Fractional CTO
Ongoing responsibility for technology and team, from a few hours a month to a few days a week.
- Startups
Remote CTO for startups
Your remote CTO who builds and leads a remote development team, sets the architecture and takes technical responsibility towards founders and investors.
- Fixed term
Interim CTO
Takes over the role during a recruitment or a transition, until you have a permanent solution in place.
- As needed
Advisory and due diligence
Sounding board for the CEO, selection of platforms and vendors, technical due diligence ahead of an investment or acquisition.
What is included, depending on the setup
- Technology strategy and roadmap tied to the business plan
- Leading development teams, in-house or at vendors
- Building and day-to-day leadership of remote development teams
- Selection of platforms, systems and vendors
- Procurement and follow-up of agencies and consultants
- Hiring developers and technical leadership
- Architecture, security and operations at a level that fits the company
- Budget, cost control and prioritisation
- Technical due diligence ahead of investment, acquisition or exit
- Reporting to management and the board
Business and technology, in both directions
Most CTOs are experts in technology. My strength is that I understand the business just as well and can translate in both directions. For the CEO and the board I explain what the technology means for the business: costs, risks and opportunities. For the developers I explain what the business requires from the technology, and why.
Management and board
- Goals and budget
- Risks and opportunities
- Decision material
Fredrik
translates in both directions
Developers and vendors
- Priorities
- Requirements and why
- A clear mandate
Background
From 2012 to 2020 I was CTO at Hungrig.se. We started with a tech team of one and built a team of ten and a platform used every day by thousands of restaurants and couriers. We became number one in southern Sweden on the Gasell list of fastest-growing companies. The company was then acquired by Delivery Hero, and I led the technology through the entire acquisition process and due diligence.
2012
Start
Joins Hungrig.se as CTO. The tech team is one person.
2012–2020
The team grows
From one to ten in the team. The platform is used daily by thousands of restaurants and couriers.
Gasell
Number one in southern Sweden
Hungrig.se tops the Gasell list in southern Sweden.
Acquisition
Delivery Hero
The company is acquired by Delivery Hero. I lead the technology through the whole due diligence process.
- people in the tech team
- 1 → 10
- as CTO at Hungrig.se
- 8 years
- on the Gasell list, southern Sweden
- No. 1
- acquired by Delivery Hero
- Exit
How it works
No long sales process. We find out whether it is the right match in a short call, then move forward step by step.
1. Intro call, 30 minutes
We go through where you are and what is holding you back. Free and without obligation.
2. Current-state review
I look at technology, team, vendors and costs and summarise what works and what needs to change.
3. Proposed setup
A concrete proposal on scope, in hours per month or days per week, with clear priorities.
4. Start
We get going. You get someone on the leadership team who owns the technology and reports in a way you understand.
About Fredrik
I am Fredrik Willers and I have worked in technology and technology leadership in growing companies. The best-known chapter is Hungrig.se, from a tech team of one to the acquisition by Delivery Hero.
Today I work as a fractional CTO for startups and growing companies in e-commerce, SaaS and services, and as a remote CTO for startups with distributed development teams. I write for the CEO, not the developer, and I measure my work in decisions that turn out right and costs that become understandable.
Fredrik on LinkedInFrequently asked questions
What does it cost?
It depends on the scope. After the intro call and the current-state review you get a concrete proposal with clear pricing per month or per day, so the cost is predictable.
How many hours do we need?
The most common setup is ongoing, from a few hours a month to a few days a week. We start where the need is greatest and adjust as we go.
Remote or on site?
Most of the work is done remotely. I lead remote development teams on an ongoing basis and I am on site when it makes a difference, for example at kick-off, workshops and important meetings with management or vendors.
Do you work with startups?
Yes. For startups I am often the remote CTO: I set the architecture, build and lead the development team, often remote, and take technical responsibility towards founders and investors until the company is ready for a full-time CTO.
What about contract length and notice?
Ongoing agreements without long lock-in. The notice period is short and stated in the proposal, so you are never stuck in a setup that no longer fits.
What technology do we need to have?
Nothing in particular. I have worked with both custom-built platforms and standard systems, and with in-house teams as well as agencies. The engagement starts from your situation, not from a specific technology.
Book an intro call
30 minutes, free of charge. Pick a time that suits you and you will get a calendar invitation with a meeting link right away.
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