Engineering Professionals: Insights & Resources

Best Fractional CTO & Outsourced CTO Services in India

Ryan Stevens

January 27, 2026

Best Fractional CTO & Outsourced CTO Services in India

Best Fractional CTO Services & Outsourced CTO in India

India has long been a global hub for technology innovation, engineering talent, and cost-effective digital services. As companies worldwide continue to embrace lean, agile, and global-first models, many are turning to fractional CTOs based in India to lead their digital transformation journeys. These tech leaders offer strategic guidance, technology leadership, and product innovation—all without the cost of a full-time executive.

Whether you're a startup building an MVP, a SaaS company expanding your platform, or an enterprise navigating digital transformation, these outsourced CTO services in India can help you scale faster, smarter, and more affordably.

At Digital Reference, we believe in amplifying transparency, efficiency, and radical authenticity across the talent ecosystem. That’s why we’ve compiled this curated list of the top fractional and outsourced CTO service providers in India.

Our Methodology - Fractional CTO, Interim CTO, & Outsourced CTO Services in India

Our selection process considered:

Proven success working with domestic and international clients
Access to highly skilled tech leadership with startup and enterprise experience
Breadth of services (strategy, architecture, engineering, product development)
Affordability compared to similar providers in the U.S. and Europe
Focus on AI integration, automation, and cloud-native strategy

These firms represent India’s leading CTO-as-a-Service providers, offering a combination of technical vision, strategic execution, and AI fluency.

Meet the Best Outsourced CTO & Fractional CTO Services in India

Synoptek

What they do:
Synoptek is a global systems integrator and managed IT services firm with a strong presence in India, offering IT leadership services including fractional and virtual CTO support. Their strength lies in enterprise-scale modernization and operational excellence.

Who they work with:
Mid-market and enterprise organizations undergoing digital transformation.

Operating model:
Fractional and virtual CTO engagements embedded within broader consulting and managed services programs.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ End-to-end digital transformation consulting
⚡ Deep expertise in enterprise systems, infrastructure, and application modernization
🎯 Integrates AI and machine learning into enterprise workflows
💬 Ideal for organizations needing scalable leadership plus execution muscle

Salil Godika, CEO of Synoptek

Salil Godika is the CEO of Synoptek, bringing 30 years of global experience in enterprise software, IT services, and startup growth. With expertise spanning sales, marketing, product management, delivery, and corporate strategy, he partners with organisations to drive operational excellence, scale businesses, and create measurable value across technology and business functions.

Daffodil Software

What they do:
Daffodil Software is an India-headquartered global technology partner offering CTO-as-a-Service to startups and enterprises. Their model blends strategy, architecture, and delivery support.

Who they work with:
Startups, scale-ups, and enterprises building SaaS platforms, AI-driven products, and cloud-native solutions.

Operating model:
CTO-as-a-Service supported by delivery teams across engineering, AI, cloud, and DevOps.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Strong focus on AI-driven software and SaaS platforms
⚡ Expertise in tech stack selection, DevOps, and team setup
🎯 Offers AI consulting alongside strategic CTO guidance
💬 Great fit for startups seeking both affordability and execution depth

Yogesh Agarwal, CEO of Daffodil Software Ltd.

Yogesh Agarwal is the CEO of Daffodil Software, leading the company in building cutting-edge mobile and web solutions on cloud platforms. With over 26 years of experience, he helps organisations turn ideas into functional, scalable software through structured engineering practices, driving innovation, operational excellence, and rapid product delivery.

Vgosh Info

What they do:
Vgosh Info provides tailored CTO-as-a-Service to startups and SMEs that need strategic leadership without the cost of a full-time executive hire.

Who they work with:
Early-stage startups and growing SMEs across fintech, e-commerce, and mobile-first products.

Operating model:
Flexible short-term and long-term CTO consulting engagements.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Affordable pricing for early-stage founders
⚡ Experience across e-commerce, fintech, and mobile ecosystems
🎯 Helps startups build strong foundations from day one
💬 Strong value for budget-conscious founders needing real guidance

Bernard G, Advisor & Former Director/CTO at Vgosh Info

Bernard G is a seasoned technology and digital transformation leader with over 20 years of experience across six countries, specialising in AI, cloud, automation, and emerging technologies. He helps organisations modernize and scale by bridging technology, people, and strategy—driving measurable impact in healthcare, finance, SaaS, and media sectors through digital transformation, AI adoption, and operational efficiency initiatives.

Agicent

What they do:
Agicent is a mobile app and software development firm offering fractional CTO services tailored for startups and product companies. Their model focuses on lean execution and fast validation.

Who they work with:
Startup founders, early-stage product teams, and entrepreneurs building MVPs.

Operating model:
Fractional CTO supported by delivery teams for product build and iteration.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Specializes in MVPs, startup tech strategy, and iterative scaling
⚡ CTOs experienced in apps, cloud, and AI-enabled features
🎯 Deep understanding of startup constraints and priorities
💬 Ideal for lean teams building fast without overengineering

Meet the Founder: Sudeep Bhatnaga‍

Sudeep Bhatnagar is the Founder and CEO of Agicent. With experience leading software projects across global markets, Sudeep combines technical execution with strategic business insight. His leadership approach is hands-on, collaborative, and deeply aligned with startup needs.

6 Degrees IT

What they do:
6 Degrees IT is a full-stack digital solutions company offering CTO-level guidance alongside development, marketing, and digital execution services.

Who they work with:
Businesses that want both strategic tech leadership and delivery under one partner.

Operating model:
CTO advisory layered into broader product, architecture, and delivery engagements.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Combines leadership with full delivery capability
⚡ Experience in product planning and architecture design
🎯 Strong bridge between business goals and technical execution
💬 Good fit for companies wanting one partner across strategy and build

Vinay Deshmukh, Co-Founder & CEO of 6Degrees IT

Vinay Deshmukh is the Co-Founder and CEO of 6Degrees IT, leading the company in delivering web and mobile applications, IT consulting, and software solutions across multiple industries, including FMCG, telecom, healthcare, and power. With over 20 years of entrepreneurial and technology experience, he drives operations, project delivery, and product strategy, helping SMBs and larger corporates leverage technology for scalable growth and operational efficiency.

GrowExx

What they do:
Growexx is a digital transformation partner offering CTO-as-a-Service to startups and growth-stage companies, with a strong focus on AI-powered and data-driven products.

Who they work with:
Scaling startups, SaaS founders, and innovation-led businesses.

Operating model:
Fractional CTO engagements supported by dedicated product, engineering, and data teams.

💡 Why they stand out:
✨ Strong orientation toward AI-powered and analytics-driven products
⚡ CTOs with experience across product, data, and agile delivery
🎯 Offers strategic leadership plus execution teams
💬 Ideal for companies building modern, intelligent, user-centric platforms

Vikas Agarwaal, Founder & CEO of Growexx

Vikas Agarwaal is the Founder and CEO of Growexx, a technology-driven growth consultancy that helps businesses dominate the digital future. With over 22 years of experience in tech-led startups, Vikas leads a team of 200+ experts across AI, AR, IoT, and digital transformation, empowering companies to scale efficiently and achieve measurable results. He is also a mentor, investor, and active member of the entrepreneurial community, supporting startups globally while fostering high-performing agile teams.

Why India’s Outsourced CTO Services Are a Global Competitive Advantage

India's CTO-as-a-Service providers offer a unique mix of:

Affordability: A fraction of the cost of hiring in the U.S., UK, or EU
Access to talent: Deep bench of engineering, product, and data science expertise
Startup fluency: Strong alignment with lean, agile, and iterative development models
AI-readiness: Increasing integration of machine learning, NLP, and predictive analytics

Whether you're based in North America, Europe, or the Middle East, working with an Indian fractional CTO can reduce risk, speed up execution, and improve product outcomes.

When Should You Consider a Fractional CTO in India?

A part-time or outsourced CTO might be right if you:

Are a non-technical founder building your first product
Need help choosing or evaluating your tech stack and vendors
Are preparing for a funding round or technical due diligence
Need leadership during a technical co-founder transition
Are scaling and want guidance on DevOps, team hiring, or compliance

Fractional CTOs also help manage AI implementation, roadmap clarity, and platform architecture in a scalable, on-demand way.

Final Thoughts from Digital Reference

India continues to be a global leader in technology services, and its CTO-as-a-Service landscape is no exception. From AI-infused digital platforms to scalable cloud-native architectures, the firms listed above offer world-class strategic tech leadership at a fraction of the cost seen in more mature markets.

At Digital Reference, we exist to make the talent ecosystem more efficient and transparent, and we’re proud to spotlight firms and individuals reshaping how businesses grow through fractional leadership.