Fractional Technical Leadership

Fractional Technical Leadership That Delivers Clarity

VP-level technical judgment without the full-time commitment. Roadmap stewardship, vendor oversight, risk management—when technology decisions matter. Founder-executed.

Senior judgment
Selective capacity
Monthly cadence

What happens next:

  1. 1.15-minute fit call to understand your needs
  2. 2.Summary & recommendation within 1–2 business days
  3. 3.Scoped proposal (if a fit) with clear expectations

15-minute fit call. No commitment required. Kentucky businesses get responses within 1–2 business days.

When It Helps

When You Need Senior Judgment

Fractional leadership works best when you need senior judgment for technology decisions that impact your business.

Good Fit

  • You have technology decisions that matter to your business
  • You need senior judgment but don't need full-time capacity
  • You value experience and judgment over just technical skills
  • You want ongoing guidance, not just one-off consulting
  • You're willing to invest in the right strategic partnership

Not a Fit

  • Looking for hands-on coding or day-to-day development
  • Need someone to manage your team day-to-day
  • Want reactive support for immediate technical problems
  • Expect unlimited availability or on-demand responses
  • Not ready for a strategic, ongoing relationship
What You Get

Guidance That Delivers Results

Ongoing partnership with a VP-level engineer who provides decision support, prioritization, and risk reduction for your technology choices. Battle-tested experience solving real problems.

Roadmap prioritization and technical direction
Vendor oversight and relationship management
Risk identification and mitigation planning
Architecture guardrails and technical standards
Executive translation (tech to business, business to tech)
Team coordination and technical alignment
Technology investment decision support
High-stakes decision guidance

What This Is Not:

Not a full-time CTO or engineering manager replacement
Not hands-on coding or day-to-day development work
Not a consulting team — this is selective personal capacity
Not for every company — we work with a limited number of clients
Not reactive firefighting — this is strategic, ongoing guidance
Not a ticket-based support model
How It Works

Streamlined Partnership

Clear structure, defined expectations, ongoing relationship. If we can't streamline our own processes, who are we to claim we can streamline yours?

1

Initial Fit Call

15-minute conversation to understand your needs, current state, and whether this is the right fit.

We discuss your technology challenges, team structure, and what you need from fractional leadership.

2

Scope & Agreement

Define monthly cadence, key focus areas, and how we'll work together.

Clear expectations on communication, priorities, and what success looks like.

3

Monthly Cadence

Regular check-ins, strategic guidance, and priority support when needed.

Typically 1–2 structured sessions per month plus availability for urgent questions.

4

Ongoing Partnership

Steady guidance as your business evolves, with continuity and context over time.

3–6 month minimum recommended to build context and deliver real value.

Investment That Delivers Value

Clear scope, transparent pricing. Most fractional clients are $1,500–$3,500/month depending on cadence and involvement.

Starts at $1,500/month for 1 structured session + async decision support. Fixed scope—no surprises.

What You'll Receive Monthly

Concrete deliverables you receive each month: summaries, risk registers, and decision memos.

  • Executive summary after each session

    Decisions made + next steps documented

  • Risk register

    Updated monthly with identified risks and mitigation plans

  • Roadmap/priority review

    Strategic direction and priority alignment

  • Vendor and architecture guidance memos

    When needed for key decisions or evaluations

  • Standards/guardrails for the team

    Lightweight documentation to guide technical decisions

About the Leader

Who You're Working With

This is personal capacity from Chase Smith, VP, Data and Integrations with 10+ years of hands-on experience. Battle-tested experience solving real problems—from enterprise systems to local businesses.

Experience

  • VP, Data and Integrations (current role)
  • 10+ years: software engineering, QA automation, DevOps, data platforms
  • Hands-on: C#, JavaScript/TypeScript, SQL, CI/CD, cloud infrastructure
  • Built automation frameworks, data pipelines, platform observability
  • Led SOC 2 compliance in regulated SaaS environments

Approach

  • Focus on clarity, durability, and coordinated execution
  • Judgment honed through success and hard lessons
  • Real-world experience with what works and what doesn't
  • Bridges technical depth with business understanding
  • Selective capacity — only work with right-fit clients
Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from hiring a CTO?

Fractional leadership provides senior judgment and strategic guidance without the full-time commitment or cost. You get VP-level experience on a monthly retainer, focused on high-stakes decisions and strategic direction rather than day-to-day management.

What does "selective capacity" mean?

I work with a limited number of clients to ensure quality and availability. This isn't a consulting team — it's my personal capacity, so I can only take on clients where there's a strong fit and I can deliver real value.

Do you do hands-on coding or development?

No. This is strategic leadership and guidance. I help with architecture decisions, vendor oversight, risk management, and translating between technical and business needs. For hands-on development work, we'd discuss that as a separate engagement.

How much time do you spend per month?

Typically 1–2 structured sessions per month (2–4 hours total), plus availability for urgent questions. The value isn't in hours — it's in having senior judgment available when you need it for decisions that matter.

What if we need more support?

We can discuss increased capacity or specific project work as separate engagements. The fractional relationship provides the foundation; additional work can be scoped as needed.

How do you work with our existing team?

I work alongside your team, providing direction and guardrails without replacing your people. The goal is to elevate your team's effectiveness through clear guidance, not to take over their work.

What industries do you work with?

I work with businesses where technology decisions have real consequences. This includes SaaS companies, service businesses with technical operations, and organizations navigating platform changes or scaling challenges.

Is there a minimum commitment?

Yes. We recommend a 3–6 month minimum to build context and deliver real value. Fractional leadership works best as an ongoing relationship, not a short-term engagement.

Ready to explore fractional leadership?

15-minute fit call. No commitment required. We'll help you find the right solution—whether that's fractional tech leadership, a technology assessment, or something else.

Selective availability. We only work with clients where there's a strong fit.