Fractional CTO Services
Access top-tier technology leadership without the full-time cost
We help startups and scaleups accelerate software development through a focus on strategic alignment, empowered people, and optimised processes.
“My mission is to bring experienced and cost-effective technical leadership to startups and scaleups.”
Trusted by
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Realforce
MarTech scaleup
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Tabeo
FinTech startup
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DB24
DBA startup
(Gothenburg, Sweden)
Adam Horner - Fractional CTO
Fractional CTO services
Startups and scaleups often face strategy misalignment and process inefficiency, slowing development and wasting resources. Misaligned strategies create chaos, while inefficient processes drain budgets and delay projects.
Our fractional CTO services refine your technology strategy, aligns your team’s skills with key challenges, and implements effective processes. Having a CTO on-demand to provide technology leadership consulting can be your lifeline to remove roadblocks and overcome challenges. Partner with us to streamline operations, drive innovation, and complete projects faster and more efficiently.
Leverage our expertise to accelerate software development safely and innovate effectively.
Why choose Adam Horner as your Fractional CTO?
Accessing top-tier technology leadership is challenging and expensive for startups and scaleups. Without experienced guidance, poor tech decisions, wasted resources, and stalled growth become common. An experienced, full-time CTO may not fit your budget or needs.
With Adam Horner as your Fractional CTO, you gain over 30 years of industry knowledge and experience on demand. As your part-time CTO, Adam provides tailored solutions, scalable support, and proven success without the full-time cost. Benefit from precise problem-solving and strategic planning to avoid pitfalls and make informed decisions, driving technological excellence and business growth.
Cost efficiency
Startups and scaleups often overspend on recruitment, salaries, and benefits for experienced, full-time CTOs, straining financial resources. This strain limits investment in other critical areas, leading to slow growth and missed opportunities.
Our fractional CTO services offer cost efficiency by allowing you to pay only for the expertise you need. Avoid overheads while gaining high-level skills, maximizing your budget, and ensuring sustainable growth. Free up resources to reinvest in vital areas of your business, maintaining flexibility and control over expenses. Augment your technology leadership with Adam’s knowledge and experience.
Why choose a Fractional CTO?
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Expertise on demand
Access top-tier technology leadership without the full-time cost. Our Fractional CTO, Adam Horner, brings years of experience and industry knowledge to your team.
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Tailored solutions
We understand that every business is unique. Our services are customized to meet your specific challenges and goals.
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Scalable support
Whether you need part-time guidance or a comprehensive tech strategy, our services scale with your needs.
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Proven success
Companies like RealForce, Tabeo, and DB24 have transformed their tech operations with our help, achieving remarkable growth and efficiency.
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Cost efficiency
Optimise your budget by paying only for the expertise you need, without the overhead of a full-time CTO. Save on recruitment, salaries, and benefits while gaining access to high-level skills.
Testimonials
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"When my startup faced almost impossible odds caused by a need to rebuild both engineering teams and the technology platform, I found Adam. Adam took charge and managed to find the balance between people needs, technology roadmap and business strategy to succeed where I believe very few could have.… Adam is a world class CTO and any business and/or founder is lucky to get a chance to work with him.”
André Hegge, CEO at Realforce
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“Adam is an exceptionally skilled and seasoned CTO with a comprehensive understanding of technology's role within the broader business landscape. My collaboration with Adam across various projects—from conducting due diligence for VC funding to guiding founders of startups and scale-ups in enhancing their product and engineering strategies—has been immensely rewarding.”
Thorgeir Einarsson, CEO Elevera Advisors
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“Adam was my co-founder at Satago. Technically brilliant whilst leading the development of our software, he was also a very gifted mentor to the team he led.… As an expert on the technical side of building advanced fintech companies, you are unlikely to find many people who can go toe-to-toe with Adam. It was an honour to spend nearly 5 years working with him.”
Steven Renwick, Founder & CEO at Satago
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“Adam...is someone I highly recommend. He is an exceptional leader with a wealth of knowledge and experience in running and scaling a startup across both technology and product development.... Adam is a great communicator, always willing to listen to feedback and provide valuable insights. His leadership style is fair, supportive, and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for the team and the company.”
Daniel Kamcevski, VP Eng. at Adfenix
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“[Adam has] a fairly rare combination of skills that makes him extremely efficient in what he does. He's excellent both at leading, and at engineering software, which makes him perfectly suited for the CTO role. This means that he's easily able to bridge the gap between product development and company goals, which a lot of companies struggle with.”
Simon Ignes Ilrot, Team Lead at Adfenix
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“I had the pleasure of working under the leadership of Adam at Adfenix. His impact was very visible from the start which resulted in improved process, collaboration, transparency, and migration to cutting-edge technologies…. He is a game changer and can be a great asset to any organisation.”
Danyal Siddiqui, Software Eng. at Adfenix
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“[Adam] has been constantly demonstrating his broad knowledge & understanding of modern system architectures with great attention to details and excellent low level skills from linux scripting, administration, and security practices to database design & implementation techniques. Can't help but mention that Adam has always been kind, supportive, and very polite to myself and other team members.”
Dmitry Gusev, Sr. Software Eng. at Satago
Meet our Fractional CTO - Adam Horner
Adam Horner brings over 30 years of software development experience, with the last decade dedicated to leading teams as a Chief Technology Officer. He has driven innovation and growth across diverse industries, including FinTech, GovTech, RegTech, MarTech, big data, and information security.
Adam transitioned from full-time CTO roles to become a fractional CTO, motivated by a desire to make a broader impact. This shift allows him to help multiple companies concurrently, driving innovation and growth. Adam enjoys making a positive impact on both companies and their people.
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Adam's technical background, strategic leadership, and clear communication make him a trusted Fractional CTO and advisor. Companies rely on him for his strategic leadership, and his ability to use technology for a competitive edge, aligning tech projects with business goals to deliver practical and effective solutions.
As a fractional CTO, Adam focuses on three core pillars:
Aligned Strategies: Ensuring technology strategies align with business goals, helping companies achieve objectives and gain a competitive edge.
Empowered People: Coaching team members to reach their potential, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
Optimized Processes: Streamlining workflows through risk assessment, effective communication, and an optimized product development lifecycle to boost productivity and reduce errors.
Whether developing software solutions or guiding tech strategy, Adam’s dedication to excellence helps clients accelerate software development and attain their goals.
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CTO at Synova Technology
As the CTO Adam focuses on helping CTOs, startups, and scaleups accelerate through CTO coaching and fractional CTO services.
CTO at Realforce
Restructured the engineering teams and overhauled the marketing technology platform, aligning the technology strategy with business objectives, financial sustainability, and market dynamics through turbulent times.
Co-founder & CTO of Satago
At the VC-funded fintech company, he delivered a disruptive solution in single invoice finance and accounts receivable management, now a leading product within TruFin PLC.
Palantir Technologies
Embraced multiple roles in technical sales, big data management, information security, and technical recruitment during its hypergrowth phase. Contributions were instrumental in escalating European sales from minimal to tens of millions of US dollars annually.
Frequently asked questions
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I can be available from just one hour per week up to the equivalent of two days, distributed across the week. Estimating how much time is required is part of the discovery process that I guide every potential company through before starting to work together.
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I can supplement and coach an existing CTO or lead the team directly. For maximum effectiveness, it's essential to have a team leader or senior engineer as my main point of contact. They handle day-to-day leadership while I provide strategic advice and guidance.
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Yes. I can help recruit anybody from a full time CTO to specific engineering positions. When considering multiple roles, I will first guide you through a team-needs analysis to build a target team plan and a recruiting strategy.
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I offer several models, including retainer, on-demand, ad-hoc workshops, and red-teaming projects. Other models can be discussed when I guide you through a discovery process tailored to your precise situation and needs.
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Yes, I work with any company that needs to accelerate software delivery regardless of which industry it is in. My strengths are in fintech, govtech, regtech, information security, and big data environments.
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I have experience working with companies of all sizes, from the earliest startups through to mature publicly listed enterprises. However, I focus on funded startups and scaleups.
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I will start with an assessment of your current technology strategy, business objectives, and team capabilities as part of my discovery process. This helps to ensure that my guidance increases the alignment between your technology strategy, business goals and team productivity.
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While the timeline for results can vary depending on the specific needs, challenges, and goals of your company, most clients see significant improvements within the first month of engagement.
Book your discovery meeting
Learn how our Fractional CTO, Adam Horner, can help your startup or scaleup accelerate your software development.
Other services
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CTO Coaching
Accelerate your tech leadership journey with personalised CTO coaching.
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Strategy Workshops
Drive strategic alignment to grow your startup or scaleup
