For startups
Technical leadership for the stage you’re at
Founders rarely need “a CTO” in the abstract. They need the right kind of leadership for the stage - and a straight answer on whether that means hiring, going fractional, or waiting.
Stage 1
Pre-seed / idea
Get something real in front of users without betting the company on the wrong foundation.
Usually fits
Stage 2
Seed / MVP
Turn early traction into a system that survives its first real users.
Usually fits
Stage 3
Series A / scale-up
Support growth without the platform becoming the bottleneck.
Usually fits
Stage 4
Growth
Run technology as a function, not a collection of decisions one person remembers.
Usually fits
Guidance, not a rule. The full stage map is in the startup CTO guide.Open the stage map
How Comtau supports founders
Once you know what you need, here is where to go
- Need ongoing senior leadershipArchitecture, strategy and delivery, owned part-time.Fractional CTO
- Covering a leadership gapFull-time, time-boxed leadership that ends in a clean handover.Interim CTO
- Hiring your first CTOWhat to look for, and how to evaluate candidates you can’t fully judge yourself.Hire a Fractional CTO
- One architecture decisionA scoped consulting engagement - no ongoing commitment.CTO consulting
Building an AI product?
Hands-on fractional leadership for AI and LLM product startups.
Not sure which kind of CTO you need?
Start with a conversation. We’ll look at your stage and options, and give you a plan - or an honest “not yet”.
Direct conversation with a senior CTO/architect. We’ll review your situation and determine the useful next step.
What happens next
- 01Founder call
- 02Stage and options reviewed
- 03A plan, or an honest “not yet”
Talk to a senior CTO/architect
Book a call