Your tech stack is holding you back. Fix it.

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Every startup hits the same wall: your scrappy MVP got you to product-market fit, but now it can't handle real traffic. Your code is held together with duct tape and prayers. Your team is drowning. And hiring a full-time CTO? That's a $400K+ commitment you can't afford to get wrong.

Meet fractional CTOs: technical leaders who've built and scaled the systems powering companies you know and love. They'll fix your tech debt, build your team, and set you up for hypergrowth.

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What a Fractional CTO Actually Does

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Our fractional CTOs aren't just senior developers with fancy titles. They're technical leaders who:

• Architect systems that scale beyond your wildest growth dreams
• Build and lead engineering teams that actually ship on time
• Eliminate tech debt before it kills your company
• Choose the right tech stack for your specific needs (not just what's trendy)
• Implement development processes that increase velocity, not bureaucracy
• Manage technical roadmaps aligned with business goals
• Handle infrastructure and DevOps so your site doesn't crash when TechCrunch writes about you
• Navigate technical due diligence during fundraising
• Plan technical hiring and build scalable team structures
• Balance technical excellence with business reality

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When You Actually Need a Fractional CTO

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You're ready if:

• Your current tech is breaking under growth pressure
• You're spending more time fixing bugs than building features
• Your technical co-founder is drowning in management tasks
• You need to scale your engineering team but don't know how
• VCs are asking technical questions that make you nervous
• You're considering a major platform migration or rebuild

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You're not ready if:

• You're still validating your MVP with basic tools
• You have a strong technical co-founder who's not overwhelmed
• Your biggest challenge is product-market fit, not technical scale
• You're pre-revenue and can get by with no-code solutions

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What This Actually Costs

• ‍Typical Engagement: 2-4 days per week, $1,500-$2,500/day depending on experience
• ‍Sweet Spot: $8K-20K monthly vs. $35K+ for a full-time CTO
• ‍ROI Timeline: Technical improvements visible within 60-90 days
• vs FTE: A full-time CTO costs $300K-500K+ plus equity. Do the math. :D

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Real Problems Fractional CTOs Solve

• ‍"Our app crashes every time we get press coverage" A fractional CTO redesigns your architecture to handle 100x traffic spikes without breaking a sweat.‍
• "Our engineering team keeps missing deadlines" They implement agile processes, proper project management, and development workflows that actually work.
• ‍"We need to rebuild everything but can't afford 6 months offline" They architect migration strategies that keep you running while upgrading your foundation.‍
• "Technical due diligence is holding up our Series A" They audit your codebase, document everything, and present a technical strategy that impresses investors.

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Common Engagement Scenarios

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• ‍The Scale Crisis (6-12 months): Your MVP is buckling under growth. They rebuild core systems, implement proper architecture, and set up monitoring that prevents 3 AM emergencies.
• ‍The Team Builder (3-6 months): You need to grow from 2 to 20 engineers. They design hiring processes, technical interviews, and team structures that scale.‍
• The Technical Turnaround (9-18 months): Your tech debt is crushing development velocity. They gradually modernize your stack while keeping the lights on.‍
• The Due Diligence Sprint (1-3 months): You're raising a round and need technical credibility. They audit everything, fix critical issues, and prepare technical presentations.

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Why Shepherd CTOs Are Different

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• ‍They've scaled companies before: Our CTOs have taken startups from prototype to IPO, not just worked at big tech companies.‍
• They're hands-on leaders: They'll architect your systems and review code, not just attend meetings and delegate.‍
• They understand startup constraints: They know how to balance technical perfection with business reality and limited budgets.‍
• They're proven team builders: They've hired hundreds of engineers and know how to spot talent and build culture.

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Typical Engagement Timeline

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Most engagements run 6-18 months, with many continuing as ongoing technical advisors. Here's what a typical engagement looks like:

• ‍Week 1-2: Technical audit and assessment
• ‍Month 1-3: Critical fixes and quick wins
• Month 3-6: Major architecture improvements and team building
• ‍Month 6+: Strategic technical leadership and scale preparation

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