Technical Leadership Comparison Guide
Agency? Full-time CTO? Freelancers? Each has a place. Here's how to choose the right technical leadership for your stage, budget, and needs.
Quick Answers by Scenario
Non-technical founder, pre-seed, building MVP
Fractional CTO
You need strategic guidance + execution. Agencies are too expensive, freelancers lack oversight.
Have working MVP, $2M raised, growing team
Part-Time CTO (for now)
Not ready for $250K full-time hire. Part-time provides strategic oversight while you scale.
Need to add specific feature, have tech leadership
Freelancers
Well-defined task + existing oversight = freelancers can work well.
Series A, 15+ engineers, scaling infrastructure
Full-Time CTO
Team size demands daily leadership. Budget supports $250-300K hire.
Detailed Comparisons
Decision Framework
Ask yourself these questions to narrow down the right choice:
Do you have product-market fit and are scaling?
Consider Full-Time CTO if you have $250K+ budget and 15+ team
Continue with Part-Time CTO until you scale
Do you need someone to build AND provide strategy?
Choose Fractional CTO (builds team, provides oversight)
Freelancers can work if you have clear specs
Is this a fixed-scope project or ongoing product development?
Agency might work for fixed scope (if truly fixed)
Fractional CTO for ongoing strategic guidance
Do you have technical leadership in place?
Freelancers can execute under oversight
You need a Fractional CTO to provide that leadership
Still Not Sure Which Is Right for You?
Every startup is different. Let's talk through your specific situation and figure out the best approach.