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Fractional CTOs in Austin Making Things Happen in 2025
Austin Interim Chief Technology Officers to Know
Austin isn’t just “the next Silicon Valley”—it’s its own ecosystem entirely. With a rich startup culture, top-tier technical talent, a wave of relocations, and a healthy mix of bootstrapped builders and venture-backed scale-ups, the Austin–Round Rock–Georgetown metro is home to thousands of companies building fast and thinking long-term.
But while product momentum is easy to find in Austin, senior technical leadership often lags behind—especially in early- to mid-stage companies where hiring a full-time CTO may be premature or out of budget.
That’s where fractional CTOs are changing the game.
Fractional CTOs are embedded technology leaders—brought in to stabilize platforms, align roadmaps, coach engineering teams, and scale products with confidence. Whether they’re in the seat for 10 hours a week or 6 months during a key transition, they offer clarity, velocity, and trust at exactly the right moment.
At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a set of Austin-area fractional CTOs who are actively reshaping what technical leadership looks like in one of the most energized tech cities in the world.
How We Curate Fractional CTOs
Our vetting process is consistent across regions. Each individual must:
✅ Operate as a fractional, interim, or embedded CTO
✅ Be based in or actively serving the Austin–Round Rock–Georgetown metro area
✅ Have a public professional profile (LinkedIn, website, or advisory business)
✅ Show a track record of success at startups, scale-ups, or in transformation contexts
✅ Align with Digital Reference values: clarity, execution, and referenceable leadership
This is about results, not titles.
Austin Fractional CTOs to Know
Annabel Power
About: Annabel is the founder of Marching Starfish and a fractional CTO who helps mission-driven organizations and early-stage startups build scalable technology. With roots in product development, engineering leadership, and UX strategy, she supports companies looking to grow with purpose and precision.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Expert in building cross-functional alignment between tech and design
- Trusted for turning complex tech visions into clear, scalable products
- Advocates for inclusive teams and ethical innovation
Daniel Maynes
About: Daniel is founder and CTO at Keynetica, where he provides fractional CTO services to SaaS companies and product-led startups. With strong engineering leadership and go-to-market experience, he helps teams scale architecture and align development with growth goals.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Blends business-savvy product strategy with deep technical execution
- Proven ability to coach engineering orgs into high-performance teams
- Deep experience in startup operations and scaling infrastructure
Diego Morales
LinkedIn | Chief Tech Consulting
About: Diego leads Chief Tech Consulting and serves as a fractional CTO for businesses needing transformation across their tech stack. He brings expertise in system modernization, automation, and agile project management—particularly for companies rebuilding legacy infrastructure.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Skilled in digital transformation and lean delivery execution
- Focus on helping SMBs adopt scalable, cloud-native tools
- Combines tech strategy with hands-on delivery experience
Nicholas Walker
About: Nicholas is CTO at Aither Technology and provides fractional CTO support to early-stage tech companies. He specializes in helping founders make the right architectural decisions early, ensuring their systems are secure, scalable, and investor-ready.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Trusted for building resilient systems from MVP to scale
- Strong background in cybersecurity and enterprise integration
- Aligns product vision with long-term technical planning
Daniel Bondurant
About: Daniel is a startup-savvy fractional CTO focused on building sustainable systems and mentoring early-stage teams. With a strong technical foundation and business acumen, he helps organizations move fast without accruing unnecessary tech debt.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Strong focus on engineering process and architectural clarity
- Brings balanced, no-fluff leadership to lean startup teams
- Experienced in technical planning, hiring, and growth frameworks
Marc P. Summers
About: Marc is a technical advisor and fractional CTO with a track record in enterprise software, e-commerce, and SaaS. He provides leadership in building scalable platforms, improving technical operations, and shaping the product roadmap alongside executive teams.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Decades of engineering leadership in diverse sectors
- Practical mindset focused on delivery and team enablement
- Experience aligning engineering outcomes with business goals
James Sowder
About: James is a fractional CTO and product strategist with a background in scaling technology teams and leading digital innovation. He supports early-stage companies through growth challenges, platform upgrades, and team formation.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Excellent at coaching founders on platform and tech priorities
- Experience balancing rapid delivery with code quality
- Strong grasp of B2B SaaS, cloud platforms, and system performance
Riad Hasan
About: Riad is a fractional CTO and engineering leader with a passion for technical excellence and founder success. He partners with tech-enabled startups to help with architecture design, team building, and agile transformation.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Experience in highly-regulated environments and secure systems
- Combines product vision with day-to-day technical leadership
- Emphasizes team health, velocity, and long-term maintainability
Justin Dawson
About: Justin is a seasoned engineering executive and fractional CTO focused on early-stage product development. With a sharp focus on MVP delivery, tech hiring, and roadmap alignment, he helps startups build with clarity and speed.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Specializes in getting MVPs off the ground efficiently
- Great at balancing short-term delivery with scalable architecture
- Trusted by founders for clear, actionable decision-making
Why Austin Is a Prime City for Fractional CTOs
The Austin market is fast, founder-led, capital-rich, and platform-focused—but many companies aren’t ready (or willing) to lock in a $350K+ CTO hire. Instead, they want:
- 🧱 Real product and infrastructure leadership
- ⚙️ Help with engineering velocity and roadmap prioritization
- 🧠 Strategic insight on how to grow without technical debt
- 👥 Coaching for junior engineers or founders without tech backgrounds
- 📈 Technical due diligence support during fundraising
In every scenario, fractional CTOs offer leverage without liability.
What These Austin-based CTOs Have in Common
Each leader featured here brings:
✅ Strategic clarity + operational muscle
✅ A founder-first mindset, especially in ambiguous or evolving orgs
✅ Trust—across investors, engineering teams, and boards
✅ Hands-on experience actually building things that scale
✅ An ability to lead without needing the spotlight
They don’t just plug in—they elevate the entire company.
Related Resources from Digital Reference
📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive
A practical guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.
📍 The Importance of Professional References
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.
📍 Find Local Fractional CTOs & Chief Technology Officers Near Me
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.
📘 Collecting Professional References: The Dos and Don’ts
References are often the make-or-break element of your next opportunity. Yet many professionals still treat the reference process as an afterthought or, worse, scramble to collect them last minute.
📗 The Talent Ecosystem: Why Fractional Operators Are Reshaping the C-Suite
Explore the structural shifts behind the rise of fractional leadership and what it means for your next hire.
Final Word: Austin’s Startup Scene Doesn’t Slow Down—So Why Should Your Tech Leadership?
Austin startups are shipping faster, raising smarter, and growing leaner than ever. But product without leadership? That’s a risk no team can afford.
That’s why are in such high demand. They offer embedded clarity at critical moments—no ego, no fluff, just results.
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If your product is gaining traction and your team is gaining speed, don’t wait.
Hire a CTO who fits your stage—not just your wishlist.
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