What We Offer
Most founder-led businesses and growing SMEs don't need a full-time CTO — they need someone senior enough to make the right technology decisions, without the £120k–£200k annual salary that comes with it. That's where a Fractional CTO engagement works.
Michael Jakobsen works directly with founders and leadership teams as a Fractional CTO — setting technology strategy, reviewing architecture, managing dev teams and vendors, leading AI and automation initiatives, and translating technical complexity into decisions your board and investors can understand.
Engagements are structured as a fixed number of days per month — typically two to five. You get continuity, strategic depth, and a technical partner who is invested in your outcomes rather than billing hours against a project.
Key Benefits
Senior technology leadership without a full-time CTO salary
Architecture oversight — ensure what gets built is built right
AI and automation strategy tied to real business outcomes
Independent oversight of dev teams, agencies and vendors
Build-vs-buy decisions made from experience, not speculation
Clear technical communication for investors, boards and leadership
Technology roadmap aligned to your business strategy
Honest assessment of your current technical debt and risk
Our Process
Technology & Business Discovery
Understand your current stack, team, processes and where technology is creating friction or risk.
Strategy & Roadmap
Produce a prioritised technology roadmap — what to build, what to buy, what to fix and in what order.
Ongoing Oversight
Regular working sessions, architecture reviews, technical hiring input and leadership team support.
Team & Vendor Management
Work alongside or manage your internal developers, offshore teams or external agencies.
AI & Automation Initiative
Identify and deliver AI and automation opportunities that reduce manual work and improve delivery speed.
Transition & Handover
If and when you hire a full-time CTO, ensure a smooth handover with full documentation of decisions made.
Case Studies
See how we've helped our clients achieve their goals with this service.
Fractional COO — Mitco
Hyrdle acted as Fractional COO for Mitco, taking ownership of operations, account management and HR — providing senior operational leadership without a full-time hire.
Results:
[MICHAEL/ABBIE: confirm specifics — duration, team size, 2–3 concrete outcomes]
What Our Clients Say
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Fractional CTO?
A Fractional CTO is an experienced technology leader who works with your business part-time — typically a fixed number of days per month — providing the strategy, architecture oversight and technical decision-making of a full-time CTO without the associated full-time cost and commitment. It is particularly common in founder-led businesses, scaling SMEs and companies between full-time hires.
How is a Fractional CTO different from a technical co-founder?
A technical co-founder typically takes equity and is deeply embedded in the business from day one. A Fractional CTO is a professional engagement — fee-based, with a defined scope and clear boundaries. You retain full control of the business. A Fractional CTO is usually the right choice when the product already exists or when you need senior leadership rather than a founding team member.
How is a Fractional CTO different from an interim CTO?
An interim CTO is typically a full-time temporary hire, often brought in to cover a gap while a permanent hire is found. A Fractional CTO works part-time on a retainer basis, often for an extended period. Fractional works better when you have ongoing technology leadership needs but do not have the workload or budget for a full-time hire.
How many days per month does a typical engagement involve?
Most Fractional CTO engagements run at two to five days per month. The right number depends on your team size, the complexity of your technology and how much strategic input you need. We scope this clearly at the start and can scale up or down as the business changes.
What does a Fractional CTO cost?
UK Fractional CTO day rates typically range from £600 to £1,500 per day depending on experience and the nature of the engagement. A two-day-per-month retainer is therefore significantly less than a full-time senior hire. We are transparent about pricing from the first conversation — contact us for a clear quote based on your situation.
Do you work remotely or do you need to be on-site?
Most Fractional CTO work is done remotely, with periodic on-site visits for workshops, strategy sessions or team meetings. We work with businesses across the UK, Denmark and Europe. Travel can be arranged where needed.
Can you help if we already have a development team?
Yes — this is one of the most common situations. Many founders have a development team in place but lack the technical leadership to direct it effectively. A Fractional CTO provides architecture guidance, code review oversight, technical hiring input and strategic direction so your existing team works on the right things, in the right way.
Related Services
Technology & AI Consultancy
AI workflows, automation, systems integration and practical technology strategy.
Technology Audit
Fixed-scope audit of your current stack — risk register, integration map and prioritised roadmap.
Software & Web Development
When the Fractional CTO engagement points to things that need building, we can build them.