Startup Consulting
Expert Technical Consulting for Startups
You have funding and momentum. Now you need experienced technical guidance to ship faster, scale smarter, and avoid costly mistakes.
How we help funded startups
Architecture Review
Independent assessment of your technical foundation. We identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities before they become expensive problems.
Hands-On Development
We don't just advise - we build. Complex features, performance optimization, and the hard problems your team is stuck on.
Team Augmentation
Senior engineering capacity when you need it. Embedded in your team, shipping features, and mentoring junior developers.
Technical Due Diligence
Preparing for a funding round? We help you present your technical story to investors with confidence.
Performance Optimization
Slow queries, scaling bottlenecks, and infrastructure costs eating your runway. We find and fix the problems.
Security Assessment
Code review, vulnerability assessment, and security architecture. Protect your users and your reputation.
Flexible engagement options
Sprint Engagement
Focused 2-4 week sprints tackling specific challenges. Architecture redesign, feature buildout, or performance optimization.
Ideal for:
- Well-defined technical challenges
- Pre-launch or pre-funding preparation
- One-off architecture reviews
Retained Advisory
Ongoing relationship with guaranteed availability. Regular strategy sessions, code reviews, and on-call expertise.
Ideal for:
- Growing teams needing senior guidance
- Continuous technical decision support
- Long-term scaling challenges
Embedded Team
Full integration with your engineering team. Daily standups, code commits, and acting as a senior team member.
Ideal for:
- Major product builds
- Teams with gaps in senior expertise
- Time-critical delivery deadlines
Our expertise
Technology-agnostic, with deep experience across the stack. We choose the right tools for your specific needs.
Backend
PHP, Python, Node.js, Go, Ruby. RESTful APIs, GraphQL, microservices, event-driven architectures.
Frontend
React, Vue, Angular, TypeScript. SPAs, SSR, progressive web apps.
Data
PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch. Data pipelines, analytics, real-time processing.
Infrastructure
AWS, GCP, Azure. Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform. CI/CD, monitoring, cost optimization.
Mobile
iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter. Native performance where it matters, cross-platform efficiency where it doesn't.
Real-Time
WebSockets, pub/sub, message queues. High-throughput systems handling millions of events.
Let's discuss your technical challenges
No obligation, no sales pitch. Just a conversation about your project and how we might help.
Technical Insights
What Does a CTO Actually Cost? Real Startup Salary Data for 2026
Real startup CTO salary data across stages. UK market rates, equity splits, and when fractional CTOs make sense.
MVP Development for Startups: Build Fast, Learn Faster
Learn what a real MVP is and how to build one that tests your core hypothesis. Practical guide covering scope, budget, timeline, and build options.
The Non-Technical Founder's Guide to Building a Startup
How non-technical founders can manage technology, hire developers, and build successful startups without coding skills.
The Technology Roadmap Your Startup Actually Needs
Learn how to build a technology roadmap that actually works for startups—balancing detail, flexibility, and investor expectations.
Managing Technical Debt: A Startup Survival Guide
Technical debt is inevitable. Learn how to measure it, pay it down strategically, and avoid £500k rebuilds.
Build vs Buy Software: A Framework That Actually Works
Real framework for deciding what to build and what to buy. Hidden costs, vendor lock-in, and when the 'build it later' trap kills growth.
How to Hire a Fractional CTO: A Complete Guide
Learn how to hire a fractional CTO. Expert tips on where to find candidates, what to look for, red flags, and structuring the engagement.
When Your Company Needs an Interim CTO
When you need a CTO now but not forever. What interim CTO services actually do and when they're the right call.
What is a Virtual CTO? Remote Tech Leadership That Actually Works
What is a virtual CTO? Learn how remote CTOs work, daily operations, and when distributed tech leadership works best for startups.
Startup Consulting Guide: What You Actually Need (And What You Don't)
What startup consulting really means and when you need an equity co-founder instead. A practical guide from technical founders.
Outsourced CTO Services: What They Actually Include and What to Watch Out For
Learn what outsourced CTO services actually include, different engagement models, and red flags to avoid. A practical guide from experienced technical founders.
How to Choose a Tech Stack for Your Startup (Without Overthinking It)
Learn how to choose a tech stack without overthinking it. Real advice from 25+ years building platforms serving millions of users.
Technical Due Diligence for Startups: What Investors Actually Look At
What investors really look at during technical due diligence. Our checklist covers code quality, architecture, security, and team—drawn from 25+ exits.
Technical Co-Founder Equity Split: A Practical Guide for Startup Founders
How to split equity with technical co-founders. Practical ranges, vesting schedules, and common mistakes from 25+ years of startup experience.
How to Find a Technical Co-Founder (Without Getting Burned)
Guide to finding the right technical co-founder. What to look for, red flags, where to search, and how non-technical founders can evaluate technical skills.
When Should a Startup Hire a CTO? (And When You Shouldn't)
Learn when you actually need a full-time CTO—and the common hiring mistakes that sink early-stage startups. Real advice from 25+ years in the trenches.
Fractional CTO vs Full-Time CTO: Which Does Your Startup Need?
Should you hire a fractional CTO or full-time? We compare costs, benefits, and when each makes sense—plus when you actually need a technical co-founder instead.
CTO as a Service: What It Actually Means and Whether Your Startup Needs It
CTO as a Service gives startups experienced tech leadership without the full-time hire. Here's how it works, what it costs, and when a deeper partnership might be the better move.
How Much Does a Fractional CTO Cost? UK Rates, Pricing Models, and the Numbers Nobody Talks About
Fractional CTO costs in the UK range from £800-£1,600/day or £3k-£8k/month. Full breakdown of pricing, the real cost of a full-time hire, and why equity-aligned models are changing the game.
What is a Fractional CTO? A Guide From People Who've Done It Both Ways
A fractional CTO gives your startup senior tech leadership without the £200k salary. Here's what they actually do, what it costs, and how to tell if you need one — or something else entirely.
Why We Stopped Being an Agency
After 15 years of building products for clients, we made a fundamental shift. Here's what we learned and why we now only partner with founders on an equity or hybrid basis.
Scaling to 100 Million Users: What We Learned
When you're handling billions of messages for millions of users, you learn things that tutorials don't teach. Here are the lessons that cost us sleep so they don't have to cost you.
Equity vs Consultancy: How We Structure Startup Partnerships
Should you pay for development or trade equity? After dozens of partnerships, here's how we think about it - and what works best in different situations.