
After working with 253 companies over 16 years
What I've learned about why software projects go wrong
Before and after
What changes when you have me on your side as Fractional CTO
Most businesses don't need a full-time CTO. They need the right decisions made at the right time, by someone who's on their side.
Without a technical leader
Decisions wait until something breaks
Developers set the priorities
Quotes get approved without anyone checking them
Costs grow without a clear reason
Security risks go unnoticed
With me as your Fractional CTO
Decisions made early, with you
Priorities set by what your business needs
Every quote and contract checked before you sign
Regular reports on what was built and what it cost
Risks explained so you can decide what to act on
Available throughout the month, and you only pay for the time you use
“Sam took the time to understand our business and knew all the tech we needed. It was a pleasure to work with him and his team as they acted as an extension of our team.”

Luke Schwigtenberg
Head of R&D, Banktech
“In a short period of time, Sam demonstrated an exceptional ability to align the right technical expertise with our specific needs.”

Tim Buric
CTO, Agilyx
FREE GUIDE
NEVER AGAIN
Need quick advice for your project? Never Again is my free guide to judging software projects, written from 16 years of fixing ones that went wrong.
How I work
I only work with a dozen clients at a time. You get me as your Fractional CTO, and my engineering team when you need them.
After the audit, what happens next is up to you. If you'd like to work together, I become your technical leader. If you need software built or fixed, my team of 26 engineers does the work, with me leading it. Here's what that looks like.

Before we build
We agree on what the software needs to achieve
More customers, fewer support calls, lower running costs. We set the goals first and fix the most urgent problems straight away.

Leadership
I make the technical decisions for you
Build or buy, which developers to trust, what to fix first, whether AI belongs in it. I decide these before any code is written and explain why, so you're never confused.

During the build
Some businesses need me for a few hours a month, others need more time. We agree on what suits yours, and we adjust as your needs change. We work together over video calls and messages, during hours that suit New Zealand.
AI in 2026
Where AI fits in your business
It's 2026. AI can write and test code, answer customers and handle admin. Some of it will save you money. Some of it is hype.
I'll help you work out where AI is worth using in your business, and where it isn't.



Where it's worth it
A short list of places AI would save your business time or money, with rough costs for each.
Faster development
If you have developers, I'll help them use AI agents to build faster. A person still reviews every change.
Honest advice
If AI isn't the right answer for a problem, I'll tell you. You won't pay for features nobody uses.

Launch
I make sure it's ready before it goes live
Before anything launches, I check it's tested, secure and ready for real customers. If it isn't, I'll tell you, even if your developers are keen to ship.

After launch
I keep it heading in the right direction
Once it's live, I track what's working, what it costs to run and what to improve next. You get a short report each month, and my team can step in if something needs building or fixing.
Security
The right level of security for your business
Not every product needs bank-level security. Some do. I'll work out what yours needs, and keep it in proportion to your risks and your budget.
You get the risks explained without jargon, so you can decide. If you want the technical detail, I'm happy to go as deep as you like.


The basics in place
I check your software has encrypted data, two-factor sign-in and tested releases, and tell you what's missing.
Risks you can understand
A short list of risks, what each could cost you, and what it takes to fix. You decide what to act on.
As technical as you want
If you or your team want the detail, I'll walk you through it. If you don't, I'll stick to the non-technical overview.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to everything you're thinking
What do I get from the free audit?
Do I need to know anything technical?
What does a fractional CTO do?
When does a business need a fractional CTO?
How is this different from hiring a full-time CTO?
How much of your time do I get?
Can you work with our current developers or agency?
Why work with a CTO in Sydney rather than one in New Zealand?
Fractional CTO and engineering team for founders and business leaders. Sydney, Australia.
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