Technology Advisory & Fractional CTO in NYC & Northern NJ
We provide written, plain-English counsel on the technology decisions that owners and executives don't want to delegate. Vendor selection, build-vs-buy, software purchases, M&A technology diligence, and the 'is this consultant telling me the truth?' second opinion. Engagements are typically a few hours to a few weeks — bounded, fixed-fee, and aimed at a specific decision.
What we actually build.
Vendor & Software Selection
ERPs, CRMs, AI platforms, MSPs, custom software firms. Independent shortlist, structured evaluation, and a written recommendation with the reasoning, not a slide deck.
Fractional CTO Engagements
For founders and owners who need senior technical leadership on a part-time basis. Hiring, architecture review, vendor management, board reporting. Typically 4-10 hours per week on retainer.
M&A Technology Diligence
Buy-side or sell-side diligence on the target's technology, security, and engineering organization. Written report sized to the deal — same week turnaround when the timeline demands it.
Second-Opinion Reviews
Your existing vendor or in-house team has proposed something significant — a rewrite, a platform migration, an AI initiative. Independent written review of whether it's the right call.
The process.
- 01
Scope
Single conversation to define the question. We commit in writing to what we'll deliver, by when, for how much. If the question isn't right for an advisory engagement, we'll say so.
- 02
Investigate
Document review, vendor calls, technical deep-dives, conversations with your team. We talk to the people who actually use the systems, not just the executives.
- 03
Write
A written report — typically 5-15 pages — with the recommendation, the reasoning, the alternatives we considered, and the assumptions. Not a slide deck.
- 04
Defend
We present the report to your team, defend the recommendation, and answer hard questions. Available afterward by email for follow-up at no additional charge for a defined window.
NYC & Northern NJ in person.
Advisory engagements work well partially in person. The early scoping and the final defense conversations are sharper at a conference table than over video — we're NYC-headquartered and routinely in Northern New Jersey, and we'll come to your office for both. The investigation phase is mostly remote, with onsite vendor visits or team interviews when the question demands it. M&A diligence in particular is often the kind of work where being able to be in your office (or your target's) on short notice is the difference between a confident answer and a hedged one.
The stack.
We're vendor-agnostic and tool-agnostic. Our advisory practice doesn't accept referral fees, kickbacks, or 'partner' relationships from the vendors we evaluate — that's the entire point. Recommendations are based on what fits your business, written down with the reasoning so you can challenge them.
Who we work with.
Owners and CEOs
Technology decisions you don't want to delegate to a vendor's salesperson or a consultant on commission. Independent counsel in writing.
Founders without a CTO
Pre-seed and seed-stage founders who need senior technical judgment but don't yet need a full-time hire. Fractional engagements that scale with the company.
Investors and acquirers
Technology and security diligence for transactions in the lower middle market. Written reports your IC can read.
Common questions.
- Do you take referral fees from the vendors you recommend?
- No. That's the entire point of the practice. We disclose any prior working relationship with vendors in writing in every engagement.
- How fast can you deliver an M&A diligence report?
- Same week for a focused deal; 1-2 weeks for a more complex target. We've turned around shorter reads in 48 hours when the timeline demanded it. We'll tell you upfront whether your timeline is realistic for the depth you want.
- What does a fractional CTO engagement look like?
- Typically 4-10 hours per week on retainer. Standing weekly call, ad-hoc availability for hiring and architecture decisions, monthly written report. Specifics depend on company stage and what's actually needed.
- Will you do a second-opinion review of a vendor we already chose?
- Yes. We'll be honest about whether the right answer is to proceed, renegotiate, or walk away. Sometimes the right answer is 'this was a fine choice and you're overthinking it' — and we'll say so.
- Can you meet with our board?
- Yes — we present advisory findings to boards, ICs, and ELTs regularly. In person across NYC same-week, in Northern New Jersey on scheduled days; remote elsewhere.
The other eight.
Start a conversation.
Direct reply from the founder. NYC & Northern NJ in person; U.S. clients remotely.
Get in touch →