.jpeg)
Fractional CTOs in Nashville Making Things Happen in 2025
Nashville Interim Chief Technology Officers to Know
Nashville is no longer just the home of country music—it’s a thriving hub of entrepreneurship. With fast-growing activity across healthtech, fintech, edtech, logistics, and B2B SaaS, the Nashville metro is scaling fast and smart. More founders, more venture capital, and more digital-first businesses are calling the region home.
But with all this velocity comes a question that many growing companies are wrestling with: When should we hire a full-time CTO—and what do we do until then?
The answer for many? Hire a fractional CTO.
Fractional CTOs offer senior-level technology leadership on a part-time or embedded basis. Whether you need help scaling a product, hiring engineers, reviewing architecture, or preparing for fundraising, fractional leaders can guide the work without requiring the commitment (or overhead) of a full-time executive.
At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a list of Nashville-area fractional CTOs who are already shaping the city’s startup and scale-up future—working behind the scenes to support technical execution, product strategy, and growth-stage clarity.
Our Selection Methodology - Nashville Fractional CTO Services
Each professional featured below meets our core vetting criteria:
✅ Clearly operates as a fractional, interim, or embedded CTO
✅ Based in or actively working with companies in the Nashville metro area
✅ Demonstrated experience leading product, platform, or engineering scale
✅ A visible public profile (LinkedIn, website, or business affiliation)
✅ Strong alignment with Digital Reference values: trust, execution, and founder alignment
These are the operators who actually make the roadmap real.
Nashville Fractional CTOs to Know
John Kellar
About: John is the founder of Anvil Systems and a seasoned fractional CTO who helps startups and mid-sized companies build resilient, scalable platforms. With experience in cloud infrastructure, agile development, and team transformation, John partners with leaders to bring technical vision to life.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Blends startup scrappiness with enterprise structure
- Known for building durable, scalable systems from scratch
- Brings hands-on leadership to agile and product teams
Dan Prestegaard
About: Dan leads Vegvisir Advisors, a tech strategy and fractional CTO firm focused on venture-backed and growth-stage companies. With a track record in system modernization, vendor selection, and founder advising, he delivers enterprise-quality planning at startup speed.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Strong focus on founder alignment and GTM execution
- Broad experience in vendor strategy and system selection
- Empowers teams to scale tech ops without burnout
Joshua Davis
About: Joshua is a hands-on fractional CTO with deep experience in e-commerce, marketplace platforms, and infrastructure modernization. He helps startups transition from founder-led dev to structured engineering orgs.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Specializes in team scaling and delivery pipelines
- Effective at rebuilding legacy codebases for growth
- Pragmatic, tech-first leader who partners closely with founders
Matt Dixon
LinkedIn | Front Range Systems
About: Matt is a technical advisor and founder of Front Range Systems, providing fractional CTO services across healthcare, logistics, and B2B platforms. He helps companies rethink architecture while improving engineering culture and product delivery.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Strong foundation in enterprise software and agile coaching
- Prioritizes healthy team structures and continuous delivery
- Trusted partner for CTO transition planning and org leadership
Paul Benson
About: Paul is a fractional CTO and senior technology leader with experience guiding digital product companies through hypergrowth, MVP launches, and technical debt cleanup. He brings structure to fast-moving environments.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Helps founders avoid common tech scaling pitfalls
- Focuses on early system decisions with long-term viability
- Deep experience in cross-functional team leadership
Reed Tomlinson
LinkedIn | R. Tomlinson Consulting
About: Reed is the founder of R. Tomlinson Consulting and provides fractional CTO support to B2B SaaS companies. His specialties include platform refactoring, developer mentoring, and team realignment.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Combines legacy system know-how with modern best practices
- Practical and personable advisor for growing technical teams
- Strong focus on code quality and dev process optimization
Phil Hunt
LinkedIn | Creekside Consultants
About: Phil leads Creekside Consultants and brings extensive CTO and CIO experience to startups and nonprofits alike. He focuses on aligning IT operations, cybersecurity, and product strategy with business outcomes.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Strong blend of technical and compliance leadership
- Empowers organizations with future-ready IT systems
- Experience in healthcare, nonprofit, and public sector tech
Jonathan Graham
About: Jonathan is co-founder of TechQBD and a fractional CTO who specializes in technical due diligence, software architecture, and post-MVP optimization. He partners with founders to turn technical ambiguity into clear plans.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Experienced in audits, investor due diligence, and roadmap planning
- Practical strategist for refining messy or inherited systems
- Great partner for teams entering scale or second-stage funding
Veer Hossain
About: Veer is the founder of Elci Corp and a fractional CTO helping SMBs and startups modernize operations, adopt automation, and implement cloud infrastructure. He brings a product-led approach to internal systems innovation.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Deep expertise in automation and workflow optimization
- Strong focus on operational efficiency and digital tooling
- Great fit for early-stage or systems-heavy businesses
Andrew Grady
About: Andrew is a fractional CTO and technical advisor to healthtech and B2B software companies. With a background in clinical systems and compliance-heavy platforms, he helps organizations plan, build, and maintain technology with trust and precision.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Skilled in regulated environments and medical systems
- Trusted for long-term architectural and technical planning
- Strong operator in both startup and enterprise-scale tech
Peter Clifton
About: Peter is a fractional CTO with experience building platform products, leading distributed teams, and aligning technology with business outcomes. He excels at helping early-stage founders get from MVP to monetization.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Technical operator with strong financial and product fluency
- Advocates for lean execution and structured team processes
- Great fit for first-time founders needing cross-functional clarity
Matt Rider
About: Matt is a hands-on CTO who helps companies evolve their digital products, streamline technical ops, and build resilient engineering cultures. He works with startups and scaleups in SaaS, media, and consumer tech.
Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:
- Combines product vision with implementation know-how
- Known for team-building and leadership development
- Delivers strategic tech plans grounded in execution realities
Why Nashville Is a Hot Market for Fractional CTOs
Nashville startups are scaling quickly, but they’re doing it with care. Many are founder-funded or recently post-seed. Most are moving beyond MVP but not yet ready for a full-time exec. That’s why fractional leadership is the perfect fit—offering trusted experience without the full-time price tag or hiring risk.
Common reasons companies in Nashville bring on a fractional CTO:
- 🚀 MVPs are live but need architectural review
- 🧠 Founders need product/tech partnership
- 📈 Fundraising efforts require tech due diligence
- 🔧 Engineering teams need process and performance structure
- 👥 Internal hires need mentorship or recruiting help
Fractional CTOs make all of this easier—and they do it at startup speed.
What These CTOs Have in Common
Across this cohort, you’ll see consistent strengths:
✅ Strategic thinkers who can also ship product
✅ Deep empathy for non-technical founders
✅ A focus on roadmap realism—not just feature requests
✅ Team building experience that goes beyond hiring
✅ Calm leadership in high-growth, high-stakes moments
They aren’t “part-timers.” They’re force multipliers.
Digital Reference Articles You Might Like
📘 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: Nashville’s Startup Future Is Fractional, Focused, and Founder-Led
From SaaS to healthtech to logistics innovation, Nashville’s startup scene is hitting its stride. And behind the scenes, fractional CTOs like Hannah Lange, April Murray, Jeremy Smith, and Christopher Zweibel are powering that momentum—guiding platforms, mentoring teams, and helping founders scale with clarity.
If your team is growing faster than your code can keep up, or if your vision needs a technical partner to make it real—this is your moment.
City Spotlights of of Part-time & Fractional CTOs in the USA
Ann Arbor - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Ann Arbor Making Things Happen
Atlanta - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Atlanta Making Things Happen
Austin - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Austin Making Things Happen
Boston - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Boston Making Things Happen
Charlotte - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Charlotte Making Things Happen
Chicago - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Chicago Making Things Happen
Dallas–Fort Worth - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Dallas–Fort Worth Making Things Happen
Denver - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Denver Making Things Happen
Detroit - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Detroit Making Things Happen
Houston - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Houston Making Things Happen
Jacksonville - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Jacksonville Making Things Happen
Las Vegas - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Las Vegas Making Things Happen
Los Angeles - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Los Angeles Making Things Happen
Miami - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Miami Making Things Happen
Minneapolis - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Minneapolis Making Things Happen
Naples - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Naples Making Things Happen
New York City- Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in New York City Making Things Happen
Orlando - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Orlando Making Things Happen
Phoenix - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Phoenix Making Things Happen
Pittsburgh - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Pittsburgh Making Things Happen
Portland - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Portland Making Things Happen
Raleigh–Durham - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Raleigh–Durham Making Things Happen
Sacramento - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Sacramento Making Things Happen
Salt Lake City - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Salt Lake City Making Things Happen
San Antonio - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in San Antonio Making Things Happen
San Diego - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in San Diego Making Things Happen
San Francisco- Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in San Francisco Making Things Happen
Seattle - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Seattle Making Things Happen
St. Louis - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in St. Louis Making Things Happen
Tampa - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Tampa Making Things Happen
Washington DC - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Washington DC Making Things Happen
Don’t wait for a unicorn hire. Start with a fractional leader who can scale with you today.
Subscribe to our newsletter
We'd love to have you follow our journey, learn about to new features and functionality, and get access to talent ecosystem news.
.png)
