Work directly with a seasoned technical leader who has helped build and scale SaaS platforms supporting $120M+ in revenue, available without the full-time executive headcount.
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
No Technical Co-Founder
You own the vision, but there's no one accountable for architecture, hiring decisions, and long-term technical direction.
Tech Debt Is Quietly Slowing You Down
Features take longer than they should. Bugs keep resurfacing. The team is busy, but progress feels fragile.
You're Shipping, But You're Not Confident
Decisions pile up. Tradeoffs are unclear. You don't fully trust where the system will be six months from now.
A Full-Time CTO Doesn't Make Sense Yet
You need senior judgment, not a $300K+ executive seat.
What a Fractional CTO Actually Owns
Technical Strategy & Roadmapping
Translate business goals into a clear technical plan that scales without constant rewrites.
Architecture & Code Review
Evaluate your stack, identify structural risks, and design systems that hold up under growth.
Team Building & Hiring
Define roles, screen candidates, run technical interviews, and set engineering standards.
Vendor & Tool Decisions
Choose the right platforms, APIs, and infrastructure without expensive detours.
Engineering Team Leadership
Lead standups, unblock engineers, resolve conflicts, and keep momentum without politics.
Investor & Executive Communication
Turn technical reality into language investors and leadership understand. Join calls when credibility matters.
This Is Leadership, Not Consulting
Been There Under Pressure
This engagement is led directly by Carlos Lizaola, a technical leader who has helped build and scale SaaS platforms earning 3x Inc 5000 recognition and supporting $120M+ in revenue.
Hands-On When It Matters
This is not slide decks and checklists. Expect real involvement: architecture reviews, code reviews, Slack access, and decision ownership.
US-Based, Fully Present
Based in Austin, TX. No offshore handoffs. No timezone delays. You get timely responses and direct access.
How the Engagement Typically Starts
Discovery Call (Free)
We discuss your business, team, and technical challenges. No pitch. Just alignment.
Assessment & Roadmap
A focused review of your current state, followed by a clear roadmap outlining priorities, risks, and next steps.
Ongoing Partnership
Flexible involvement through weekly calls, async support, code reviews, and team leadership—scaled to your needs.
Engagement Models
Advisory
4-8 hours/month
- Weekly strategy calls
- Async Slack access
- Architecture guidance
Best for
Early-stage teams needing direction and clarity
Hands-On
15-20 hours/month
- Everything in Advisory
- Code and PR reviews
- Team leadership and standups
- Technical hiring support
Best for
Growing teams that need active technical leadership
Embedded
30+ hours/month
- Everything in Hands-On
- Act as your CTO
- Investor and board participation
- Full technical ownership
Best for
Companies preparing for funding, audits, or scale
Currently accepting 1-2 new engagements. Month-to-month with 60-day cancellation notice. See full terms.
What This Type of Leadership Enables
SaaS Platform → $120M+ Revenue Supported
Led technical direction from early-stage growth through enterprise scale after multiple periods of rapid change.
Startup → Investor-Ready
Stabilized architecture, reduced technical risk, and prepared technical documentation for due diligence.
Agency → First SaaS Product
Designed architecture, guided execution, and launched a production product in under four months.
E-commerce → 10x Traffic Stability
Re-architected infrastructure to survive peak traffic after repeated Black Friday failures.
This Is a Good Fit If...
Good Fit
- You have users, revenue, or real traction
- You already have (or plan to hire) engineers
- You want accountability, not just advice
Not a Fit
- Idea-stage projects with no budget
- Founders looking for a temporary coder
- Teams seeking validation instead of direction
Looking for development services instead of leadership? See AI Development →
Common Questions
Consultants deliver recommendations. This engagement delivers leadership, accountability, and ongoing involvement.
When needed, yes. The primary value is architecture, decision-making, and making your team more effective.
Engagements scale up or down depending on launches, hiring, or fundraising cycles.
Clients are intentionally limited to ensure meaningful access and same-day async responses.
Most engagements begin within 1-2 weeks of the initial call.
Ready for CTO-Level
Clarity?
Book a free technical triage call. You'll get an honest assessment of your situation and whether this engagement makes sense.
30 minutes. No pitch. If we're not a fit, we'll tell you.