Fractional CTO / Advisory Retainer
What This Looks Like in Practice
An advisory retainer is not a weekly status call. It’s a standing relationship with a senior technical resource who knows your business well enough to give useful input when the decisions actually matter.
That might mean reviewing an architecture proposal before your team builds it, pressure-testing a vendor shortlist, thinking through a hiring decision at the principal engineer level, or helping you articulate the technical narrative for a fundraising round.
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Strategic Technical Access
~8–12 hours per month of focused advisory time. Architecture reviews, roadmap input, vendor evaluations, technical hiring feedback, and investment narrative support.
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Async-First Communication
Most value is delivered through structured written responses — detailed enough to act on without scheduling overhead. Monthly sync call included.
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Domain Depth on Demand
OTT streaming, Web3 infrastructure, content rights, DRM, platform scaling, and cross-functional technical leadership.
Who This Is For
- Startups pre-Series B that need senior technical input but aren’t ready to hire a full-time CTO
- Growth-stage firms in streaming, media-tech, or Web3 that have a strong engineering team but lack a principal-level architecture voice
- Non-technical founders who want a trusted technical partner for investor conversations and board reporting
- Investors who want ongoing technical oversight of a portfolio company
Engagement Details
- Structure: Monthly retainer, rolling 90-day commitment
- Hours: ~8–12 hours per month
- Format: Async-first with one monthly video sync; additional sessions available at hourly rate
- Fee: $3,500–$4,500 per month (effective rate ~$300–$390/hour for senior strategic access)