Executive technology leadership - without the full-time CTO cost
Add a seasoned, independent technology leader to your executive table to set strategy, lead delivery, and make the calls that move the business - at a fraction of a full-time CTO’s cost and commitment.
Independent · No vendor conflicts · Advisory leadership since 1996
Seasoned executive leadership
Real, experienced technology leaders - not juniors.
What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is an experienced technology executive who leads your technology strategy and decisions part-time - embedded in your leadership team without the salary, equity, and commitment of a full-time hire. It’s the right fit when you need senior technology judgment and direction, but not a full-time executive’s cost.
When do you need a fractional CTO?
You likely need a fractional CTO when technology decisions are outpacing your in-house leadership: stalled or over-budget projects, an AI or security strategy with no clear owner, a board asking hard technology questions, or growth that’s outrunning your tech org - but not enough scope (or budget) for a full-time CTO.
What an STG fractional CTO handles
An STG fractional CTO functions as a member of your team - owning technology strategy and helping your executives make decisions that move the business in the right direction, across six areas:
Strategic Planning + Innovation
A technology strategy tied to where the business is going - not just the next project.
Team Leadership
Direction, mentorship, and structure for your existing technology team.
Resource Planning
The right people, budget, and tools matched to priorities and outcomes.
Delivery Leadership
Projects that ship on time and on budget, with accountability for outcomes.
Collaboration + Communication
A bridge between technology and the rest of the business, in plain language.
A Technology Decision Framework
A repeatable way to make and defend technology decisions across the org.
Where an STG fractional CTO adds the most value
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Where AI pays off - and where it doesn’t.
Cyber Security + Compliance
Defensible risk posture across your environment.
Product Development
From roadmap to shipped, with the right priorities.
Strategic Technology Leadership
The executive judgment that ties it all together.
How your fractional CTO aligns technology to the business
Using the STG Strategic Technology Framework®, your fractional CTO helps your executive team see and optimize the whole technology landscape - across nine domains - for efficiency and growth, with a common language for Growth, Cost, and Risk.
You + Your
Executive Team
Your STG
Fractional CTO
Growth · Cost
· Risk aligned
How an engagement works - and what the first 90 days look like
Engagements are flexible - a set number of hours or days per month, scaled to what you need, integrated into your leadership rhythm. The first 90 days typically move from discovery to a prioritized technology roadmap to active delivery leadership, so you see direction and momentum quickly, not months later.
DAYS 1–30
Discovery & assessment
Understand the business, the team, and the current technology landscape.
DAYS 31–60
Prioritized roadmap
A clear, ranked plan tied to Growth, Cost, and Risk.
DAYS 61–90
Delivery leadership & quick wins
Active leadership on the priorities that show momentum fast.
What does a fractional CTO cost?
A fractional CTO costs a fraction of a full-time CTO’s total package (salary, bonus, equity, benefits) because you pay only for the time you need. For most mid-market companies, that means executive-level technology leadership for the cost of a senior hire or less - with no long-term commitment.
| STG Fractional CTO | Full-time CTO | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fraction of a full package - pay for time used | Full salary + bonus + equity + benefits |
| Commitment | Flexible, no long-term lock-in | Permanent executive hire |
| Ramp time | Productive in weeks | Months to recruit and onboard |
| Flexibility | Scale hours up or down | Fixed role and cost |
| Independence | No vendor conflicts - fiduciary stance | Internal, single perspective |
Engagement packages (confirm details)
Advisory
Executive guidance and strategy on a regular cadence - the outside perspective at your table.
[terms TBD]Embedded
A fractional CTO integrated into your leadership team, owning strategy and delivery.
[terms TBD]Project-led
Executive leadership focused on a specific initiative - an AI rollout, a turnaround, a build.
[terms TBD]Our proven approach
You talk, we listen
We start with your business goals, not a template.
Custom-tailored technology plan
A roadmap built for your business, not a generic playbook.
Engage, deliver, and grow
Active leadership that turns the plan into measurable progress.
Strength in independence
STG puts clients’ interests first, like a fiduciary - advising and managing your technology landscape with your benefit before its own. No vendor partnerships means no conflicts of interest. A truly independent Strategic Technology Company.
What executives say
Fractional CTO FAQs
An experienced technology executive who leads your strategy and technology decisions part-time - embedded in your leadership team without the salary, equity, and commitment of a full-time hire.
Far less than a full-time CTO’s total package, because you pay only for the time you need - typically executive-level leadership for the cost of a senior hire or less, with no long-term commitment. Cost scales with hours and scope.
Choose full-time when technology is your core product and needs daily executive ownership. Choose fractional when you need senior technology judgment, strategy, and delivery leadership - but not a full-time salary or the scope to justify it.
Sets technology strategy, leads teams and delivery, plans resources, builds a decision framework, and bridges technology with the rest of the business - functioning as a member of your executive team.
When projects are slipping, AI or security strategy has no senior owner, the board is asking technology questions you can’t answer quickly, or growth is outrunning your tech leadership.
Typically discovery and assessment, then a prioritized technology roadmap, then active delivery leadership - so you see direction and momentum within the first quarter.
Yes - no vendor partnerships and no conflicts of interest. STG advises like a fiduciary, always placing your interests first.