Fractional CTOs in Sacramento Making Things Happen in 2025

Sacramento Interim Chief Technology Officers to Know

Sacramento is often seen as California’s policy capital—but in recent years, it’s become something else entirely: a growing innovation corridor. The Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom region is now home to a surge of startups, clean energy firms, govtech initiatives, and remote-first SaaS companies that are choosing the capital region as their base.

But here’s the thing—many of these businesses are scaling without traditional resources. They’re lean. They’re fast. And they’re increasingly turning to fractional CTOs to drive technology forward without waiting on a full-time hire.

At Digital Reference, we’ve begun spotlighting the Sacramento-area fractional CTOs who are already embedded in growth-stage companies—guiding product strategy, re-architecting platforms, coaching technical teams, and helping founders build with confidence.

Our Selection Criteria for Sacramento-based Fractional CTOs

Each technology leader featured here meets the following standards:

✅ Actively positioned as a fractional, interim, or embedded CTO
✅ Based in or supporting the Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom metro
✅ Public professional presence (LinkedIn, website, firm, or partner network)
✅ Demonstrated impact in technical leadership, product delivery, or scale-up advisory
✅ Strong alignment with Digital Reference’s values of trust, clarity, and referenceability

This list will expand as more local leaders are identified.

Sacramento Fractional CTOs to Know

Marc Lewis

LinkedIn | Caffeinated Softworks
 

About: Marc is the founder of Caffeinated Softworks and a fractional CTO with a strong focus on helping startups build scalable, maintainable software products. He combines software craftsmanship with agile leadership to guide founders from ideation to launch and beyond.
 

Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:

• Brings end-to-end product guidance with in-house and client team experience
  
  
• Deep focus on modern development workflows and team coaching
  
  
• Strong advocate for quality-first, testable code in fast-paced builds
  
  

Dave Brody

LinkedIn
 

About: Dave is a seasoned fractional CTO and innovation consultant known for aligning engineering execution with real-world customer impact. He works with product-driven startups to streamline operations, boost team performance, and ensure tech stacks are future-proof.
 

Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:

• Strong track record modernizing engineering processes for scale
  
  
• Trusted advisor to startup CEOs and non-technical founders
  
  
• Combines technical depth with growth-stage product intuition
  
  

Michel Floyd

LinkedIn
 

About: Michel is an experienced CTO and fractional technology leader with a background in enterprise platforms, connected devices, and SaaS infrastructure. Known for his calm and collaborative style, he helps teams align architecture with user needs and long-term vision.

Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:

• Cross-sector experience from cloud to IoT and enterprise tech
  
  
• Strategic thinker with a founder-first mindset
  
  
• Skilled in team culture, hiring, and scalable systems
  
  

Brandon Ruiz

LinkedIn

About: Brandon is a systems architect and fractional CTO with a focus on transforming product roadmaps into technical execution plans. With experience in edtech, civic platforms, and B2B systems, he supports growing teams with practical, budget-conscious solutions.

Why they stand out as a Fractional CTO:

• Helps teams navigate early architecture and tooling decisions
  
  
• Experienced in both public sector and startup delivery cycles
  
  
• Combines technical accuracy with clear, transparent communication

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Why Sacramento Companies Are Leaning Into Fractional CTOs

Sacramento-area companies aren’t scaling like Silicon Valley—and that’s a good thing. They’re focusing on efficiency, real-world problem-solving, and mission-aligned innovation. For many of these organizations, the right answer isn't a rushed executive hire—it’s a right-sized, stage-appropriate leader who can support the journey without slowing it down.

Top reasons we’re seeing Sacramento companies hire fractional CTOs:

• 🧱 Their MVP is live, but their roadmap is murky
  
  
• 🧠 Founders lack technical backgrounds and need guidance they can trust
  
  
• 📈 Teams are prepping for investment and need product/tech alignment
  
  
• 🔄 Engineering teams are transitioning from outsourced to internal
  
  
• 💼 Platforms must meet strict regulatory or procurement standards (govtech, climate, health)
  
  

Fractional CTOs solve for all of this—on a timeline that fits the business, not the job market.

The Value Fractional CTO Service Providers Bring

While our Sacramento CTO roster is still growing, the characteristics of effective fractional CTOs remain consistent:

✅ Experience with early-stage product development and platform architecture
✅ Operational maturity—they’ve seen scale, pivots, and rebuilds
✅ Ability to mentor engineers and recruit first internal hires
✅ Deep empathy for founders, especially those outside of technical backgrounds
✅ Alignment with industries that matter in the region—climate, public sector, health, and education

These are not "hands-off" advisors—they're embedded problem-solvers.

Related Reading on 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: Sacramento’s Innovation Economy Needs Tech Leadership That Moves

Whether you’re building climate solutions, modernizing a government platform, or launching a remote-first SaaS tool, the stakes are high—and the timelines are tight.

You don’t have time for a 6-month CTO search.
You need someone who can step in now, earn trust fast, and move the product forward.

If you’re a startup, PE-backed team, or founder navigating your next chapter, a fractional CTO may be your smartest move.

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

Nashville - Virtual CTOs & Outsourced CTO Services
Fractional CTOs in Nashville 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

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

And if you're a fractional CTO serving the Sacramento region? Let’s connect.
Digital Reference is building a national database of referenceable, proven leaders—and Sacramento deserves to be on the map.

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