Fractional CTO | 20+ Years Building & Leading Engineering Teams
Fractional CTO for Growing Companies Who Need Technology Leadership, Not More Consultants
I’m Ken Peluso. I help $1M-50M companies make strategic technology decisions, fix broken integrations, and scale engineering teams—for $3K-12K/month instead of $400K/year.
20+ years
Delivering Results
My fractional CTO services help growing companies make strategic technology decisions, eliminate tech debt, and scale systems and teams with hands-on implementation, not just advice.
- Why I'm Different
Most fractional CTOs are retired executives or consultants playing CTO. I’m different: currently serving as a Fractional CTO, still writing code, and delivering both strategy and implementation—not just advice.
You're in the Right Place If...
- Your systems don't talk to each other (costing 20+ hours weekly in manual work)
- You're about to make a $100K+ technology decision and need expert guidance
- Your development team is talented but lacks senior technical leadership
- You're preparing for investment or acquisition and need technology due diligence
- You've been burned by consultants who give advice but can't implement
- You need CTO-level strategic thinking without $400K executive commitment
- Your technology costs keep growing but capabilities aren't improving
- Your technical debt is accumulating faster than new feature shipping
Average ROI
0
%
Weeks to First Strategic win
<
0
Reduced Tech Debt
0
m+
What to Expect
01
Strategic Technology Leadership
Make million-dollar decisions with confidence.
You’re about to make technology choices that will define your business for the next 5 years. Should you build or buy? Monolith or microservices? Which tech stack? These aren’t just technical questions—they’re business-critical decisions that determine your burn rate, time to market, and competitive advantage.
I provide the strategic framework to make these decisions with confidence, backed by 20+ years of seeing what works (and what fails) across dozens of companies.
What You Get:
- Technology Strategy Documents aligned with business objectives
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) for major technical choices
- Risk assessments for proposed technology investments
- Monthly technology steering meetings
- Strategic roadmap development and quarterly updates
Avoid $100K-500K mistakes and make technology your competitive advantage instead of a cost center.
02
Integration Excellence
I actually fix the systems that don’t talk (hands-on).
Your CRM doesn’t sync with your marketing automation. Your payment processor is manually reconciled. Your inventory system requires three people and five spreadsheets to update. These aren’t “technical challenges”—they’re profit killers costing you 20-40 hours of manual work weekly.
Unlike consultants who document problems and leave, I design and implement custom API integrations that make your systems work together seamlessly. This is hands-on technical work, not just strategy documents.
What You Get:
- Integration architecture design
- Custom API development and implementation
- System audit and integration opportunity identification
- Data flow mapping and optimization
- Ongoing integration maintenance and enhancement
Reclaim 20+ hours weekly, eliminate manual errors, and make your systems actually support your growth instead of limiting it.
03
Team Scaling
Build engineering teams that deliver, not just dream.
Your engineering team is your most expensive investment. Are they structured for success or struggle? Do you have the right roles, clear accountability, and effective processes? Or are you hoping it all works out?
I’ve built, scaled, and led engineering teams from 3 to 80+ people. I know what “good” looks like at every stage—and more importantly, I know the early warning signs of dysfunction before they become expensive disasters.
What You Get:
- Team structure design and role definition
- Hiring strategy and technical interview frameworks
- Development process optimization (Agile/Scrum implementation)
- Engineering metrics and KPI tracking systems
- Performance management frameworks
- 1-on-1 coaching for technical leads
Engineering teams that consistently deliver, with clear accountability and predictable outcomes—not drama and delays.
Your First 7 Days With a Fractional CTO
Most consultants spend your first week billing hours and scheduling meetings. I spend it identifying your biggest technology risks, mapping quick wins, and building your 90-day roadmap—so you have clarity and direction by day 7, not another PowerPoint deck.
No high-pressure sales. Just honest assessment of your technology needs.
The $400K Question
You need CTO-level technology leadership. You have three options:
Hire a Full-Time CTO
Use a Consulting Firm
Fractional CTO
Hire a Full-Time CTO
- Cost: $350K-$800K annually (salary + equity + benefits)
- Reality: Takes 4-9 months to hire, 3-6 months to ramp up
- Risk: Single perspective, limited recent experience across industries
- Best For: Companies with $50M+ revenue and complex technical organizations
Use a Consulting Firm
- Cost: $200K-500K per project
- Reality: Junior consultants do the work, strategy documents collect dust
- Risk: No ongoing support, recommendations without implementation capability
- Best For: Specific one-time projects with clear deliverables
Fractional CTO
- Cost: $48K-$216K annually (on average, depending on tier)
- Reality: Immediate start, strategy + implementation, ongoing support
- Value: Multi-company insights, hands-on technical capability, business-focused
- Best For: Growing companies ($1M-50M revenue) that need strategic technology leadership without full-time commitment
Get enterprise-level expertise for a fraction of the cost with the hands-on technical capability to actually implement the strategy.
How to Get Started
Once we determine fractional CTO services are the right fit, you'll choose the engagement level that matches your needs. Most clients start with Tier 1 or 2 and scale up as needs evolve.
Not sure which tier fits your needs? Let's start with a free discovery call. I'll recommend the right approach based on your situation, not my sales targets.
Strategic Technology Advisor
$
3-5k
Month
-
Monthly strategic technology consultation
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Technology strategy document development
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Architecture decision reviews
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Vendor and technology evaluation
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Quarterly technology roadmap reviews
Learn More
Perfect for companies with stable technology that need str.ategic guidance for major decisions.
Active Technology Leadership
$
6-8k
Month
-
Bi-weekly strategy sessions
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Direct team leadership and mentoring
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Active participation in sprint planning
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Hiring support and technical interviews
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Integration design and implementation oversight
Learn More
Perfect for companies actively building or scaling technology who need ongoing CTO-level oversight.
Comprehensive Technical Executive
$
10k+
Month
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Weekly strategic sessions
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Direct project management of critical initiatives
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Hands-on integration development
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Board-level reporting and presentations
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Crisis response and escalation management
Learn More
Perfect for companies undergoing major technology transformation or rapid scaling.
Investment Range: $3K-10K+/month
Why clients choose this investment over a $400K full-time CTO:
✓ Immediate start (no 6-month hiring process)
✓ Multi-company insights and best practices
✓ Flexible engagement (scale up or down as needed)
✓ Hands-on implementation capability
- Client Testimonials
Strategic technology leadership that delivers results
Ready to Transform Your Technology from Cost Center to Growth Engine?
Need more but not ready to commit?
Learn about a Paid Assessment →
You have two options:
- Keep making technology decisions without strategic leadership (and hope for the best)
- Get proven CTO expertise for a fraction of the cost
The companies that win aren’t the ones with the most engineers or the biggest technology budgets. They’re the ones who make smart strategic decisions, execute well, and build technology that scales with their business.
Let’s Start With a Free Discovery Call. In 30 minutes, we’ll discuss:
✓ Your biggest technology challenges
✓ Your growth plans and technology needs
✓ Whether fractional CTO services are the right fit
✓ Next steps (if we’re aligned)
No obligations. No high-pressure sales. Just honest assessment of where you are and what makes sense for your business.
Questions? I've Got Answers.
How is this different from hiring a consulting firm?
Consulting firms send teams of junior consultants who document your problems and leave. I’m a single, experienced technology executive who both develops strategy AND implements solutions. You get ongoing partnership, not a project that ends when the PowerPoint is delivered.
Plus, I cost 60-80% less than typical consulting firm engagements.
Why not just hire a full-time CTO?
Three reasons:
- Cost: Full-time CTO costs $350K-800K annually. Fractional CTO costs $36K-216K depending on your needs.
- Speed: It takes 4-9 months to hire a full-time CTO, then 3-6 months for them to ramp up. I start immediately.
- Perspective: I bring insights from working across multiple companies and industries. A full-time CTO brings experience from their last 1-2 companies.
That said, if you’re at $50M+ revenue with 100+ engineers, you probably DO need a full-time CTO. I can help you hire them.
Do you actually write code, or just give advice?
I actually write code. When I design an integration, I can implement it. When I review your architecture, I understand the code-level implications. When an emergency happens, I can roll up my sleeves and fix it.
This is what separates me from consultants who advise from 30,000 feet.
How much time will you actually spend with my company?
It depends on your tier and what you need:
- Tier 1 (Strategic Advisor): Monthly strategic sessions focused on major decisions and guidance
- Tier 2 (Active Leadership): Bi-weekly sessions with active participation in your development process
- Tier 3 (Comprehensive Executive): Weekly engagement, functioning as your full-time CTO
All tiers include unlimited async communication via messaging/email, and I’m flexible during critical periods like launches or migrations.
How do I get started?
Book a Discovery Call, a 30-minute working session where we’ll analyze your technology landscape and identify challenges and opportunities. You’ll leave with actionable insights regardless of whether we work together.
No high-pressure sales. Just honest assessment of your needs.
Can I get a comprehensive assessment before committing to ongoing services?
Yes! We offer a paid Strategic Technology Assessment ($1,500-3,500) that includes complete technology analysis, risk assessment, and 90-day roadmap. The full amount is credited toward your first 3 months if you engage in our tiered services.
- Insights on Technology Leadership & Data Science
Practical advice on integrations, data & AI, team scaling, and technical strategy
