Fractional CTO

Get the Senior Technical Leadership You Need, Without the Full-Time Cost.

I provide the strategic guidance and hands-on leadership to help you build an efficient, AI-ready engineering team that delivers results.

As your Fractional CTO, I join your leadership team to provide the technical vision, team mentorship, and architectural oversight you need to scale with confidence. You get the benefit of a seasoned, pragmatic CTO for a fraction of the cost and commitment of a full-time executive.

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Meet Your Fractional CTO: Dave Cassel

I’m Dave Cassel, and I provide Fractional CTO services based on more than three decades of work as an enterprise architect, engineering leader, and technology strategist. I’ve guided teams through complex transformations, built scalable data ecosystems, and aligned technology with real business goals. As your Fractional CTO, I apply that experience to help you grow with clarity and confidence.

Does This Sound Familiar?

You have a clear vision, but you’re facing growing pains. If you’re experiencing any of the following, a Fractional CTO could be the right solution.

Your founding team is non-technical and you need a trusted partner to translate your business goals into a technical roadmap.
Your engineering team is growing, but lacks senior leadership and direction, leading to inconsistent quality and missed deadlines.
You’re preparing to raise your next funding round and need to present a credible, scalable technology strategy to investors.
You want to leverage AI to improve productivity, but you’re unsure how to do it responsibly and effectively without sacrificing quality.
Your current data architecture is struggling to keep up with user growth, and you need an expert to design a system that can scale.

What I Do as Your Fractional CTO

My role is to provide comprehensive technical leadership tailored to your specific needs. My areas of focus include:

Technology Strategy & Roadmap

I work with your leadership to create a pragmatic technical strategy that aligns with your business objectives. This includes technology selection, architectural planning, and building a roadmap that your team can execute against.

Team Leadership & Development

I believe great systems are built by great teams. I provide hands-on mentorship to your engineers, establish best practices for code quality and documentation, and foster a collaborative culture where the best ideas are elicited from the team, not imposed from the top.

AI & Data Architecture

Leveraging my deep expertise as an Enterprise Data Architect, I guide your team in building a robust, scalable data foundation. This includes designing multi-model database solutions and implementing a responsible AI strategy that boosts productivity while ensuring human accountability.

Process & Execution

I help your team implement and refine agile workflows to ensure they are shipping high-quality code efficiently and predictably. I’m a hands-on leader who will join your team meetings, participate in code reviews, and help solve problems alongside your developers.

My Approach: A Collaborative & Pragmatic Partnership

I Listen First

Every engagement begins with a deep dive into your business, your team, and your goals. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. My approach is to understand your unique context and work with you to develop a strategy that fits.

I Focus on Pragmatic Results

I prioritize practical, results-driven solutions over chasing the latest trends. We will use proven technologies and adopt AI as a tool to make your team more effective, always with a clear eye on the business impact.

I’m a Hands-On Leader

I am not just an advisor who delivers a report and walks away. I become a part of your team, providing consistent leadership, participating in the day-to-day process, and remaining accountable for the results.

Is a Fractional CTO Right for You?

This partnership model is most successful when there is a strong alignment of needs and working style.

You’re likely a great fit if:

You have a clear product vision and are looking for an expert to help you execute it.
Your company has up to 50 employees and is facing the challenges of growth.
You value a collaborative, pragmatic, and results-focused approach to technology.
Your core challenges involve data architecture, team performance, or AI adoption.

This might not be the right fit if:

You are still in the idea phase and trying to find product-market fit.
You require a full-time, on-site CTO to manage a large, established department.
You are a large enterprise looking for a massive, multi-year digital transformation.

A Partnership That Fits Your Needs

I offer flexible and transparent engagement models designed to provide the right level of support for your business.

Time Commitment: Engagements can range from a few hours per month for high-level strategic advisory to two days per week for deep, hands-on involvement with your team.
Duration: To ensure we have time to make a meaningful impact, I typically engage with clients for a minimum of three months, with many partnerships lasting for a year or more.
Location: I work remotely, providing consistent support to your team regardless of location. I am also available for on-site meetings and workshops for clients in the Philadelphia area and beyond.

Let’s Discuss Your Technical Strategy

If you’re ready for senior technical leadership that can help you scale with confidence, let’s connect. I offer a free, no-obligation consultation to learn about your business and explore whether a fractional CTO engagement is the right fit.

Schedule a Free Consultation