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Fractional CTO
SoCal CTO
AUGUST 15, 2019
CTO Related Topics 
Top CTO Challenges for 2019
SoCal CTO
DECEMBER 3, 2018
The LA CTO Forum recently conducted a survey to find out what our Chief Technology Officer (CTO) members saw as their biggest challenges heading into 2019. We received over 250 responses that provides a pretty good insight into the top CTO challenges. Here are the Top CTO Challenges for 2019 sorted based on scaled rating - biggest challenges first
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Startup CTO
SoCal CTO
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
I've posted quite a few things on the topics associated with being a Startup CTO. Here are some resources that come from other sources: Want to Know the Difference Between a CTO and a VP Engineering? Lessons Learned: What does a startup CTO actually do? Startup Advice: When to Use a Consulting CTO Attracting a CTO to your startup Startup CTO: Could It Work? How I Found a Great CTO We have a CTO, and so can you!
The Rise and Rise of the Corporate CTO
deal architect
JANUARY 11, 2015
The CTO role is a critical one in most technology vendors. The CTO is the VP of R&D or. Not so much, if you ask executive recruiters, in the corporate world. To me, it is a case of poor titling. Industry Commentary
How To Hire The Perfect CTO
YFS Magazine
MARCH 22, 2017
Grow Technology CTO HR human capital information technology technologyAs your business grows, so do your technology needs. Here's a look at how to find a good candidate and the qualities you should look for.
Startup CTO Resources
SoCal CTO
SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
I've posted quite a few things on the topics associated with being a Startup CTO. Here are some resources that come from other sources: Want to Know the Difference Between a CTO and a VP Engineering? Lessons Learned: What does a startup CTO actually do? Startup Advice: When to Use a Consulting CTO Attracting a CTO to your startup Startup CTO: Could It Work? How I Found a Great CTO We have a CTO, and so can you!
New Normal: A conversation with Phiroz Darukhanavala, ex-CTO of BP
deal architect
MAY 12, 2020
I have been doing video interviews with a number of CIOs, software executives and practitioners about acrobatics they have been seeing in various vertical sectors during the COVID-19 crisis and the "New normal" they can expect as the economy wakes.
CMO CTO COO Equity and Compensation
SoCal CTO
NOVEMBER 14, 2012
I know a lot more about CTOs specifically CTO Salary and Equity Trends 2009-2011 , Visualization of Startup CTO Equity and Salary Data , Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data , but I've previously written about the issues with Equity for Early Employees in Early Stage Startups. I was just asked about a particular startup situation (seed stage, CMO hire, non-founder) and particularly what compensation and equity is appropriate.
Nominate Someone for CTO of the Year
Austin Startup
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
Nominations are still open for the Austin Information Technologist/CTO of the Year. CTO’s won’t submit a nomination themselves, so we ask a member or team close submit the nomination for this worthy candidate by end of day October 1st. Events CTO of the Year Below is information about the process and award.
What is a CTO?
Austin Startup
SEPTEMBER 18, 2017
As a CTO, I can definitely say without a doubt that few people understand what a CTO does. When I tell someone I’m a CTO, I’m often met with a blank stare. Even when someone is aware of what a CTO does, they often have limited context due to the wide variety of CTO roles. A CTO will guide your product strategy, market validation, architectural decisions, process optimization, recruiting, and hiring. A CTO must be able to build an effective team.
Startup CTO Speaking
SoCal CTO
MAY 21, 2012
So, here goes: Dr. Tony Karrer Over the past 15 years, Tony has been a part-time CTO for more than 30 startups. Most notably, he was the original CTO for eHarmony for its first four years making him partly responsible for more than 4% of the marriages every year. Select Startup CTO Speaking Topics Ten Lessons from Working on 30+ Startups Over the Past 15 Years Tony looks back over his experience working with startups and extracts elements that have led to success or failure.
Startup CTO or Developer
SoCal CTO
JANUARY 26, 2010
I’ve been having discussions with several people recently about the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in very early stage companies. In December 2007, I described how I commonly take on an Acting CTO Role in a Start-up. I used an image from Roger Smith that describes the varying roles of a CTO as the company matures. However, I’ve now begun questioning how and what an early-stage / startup CTO should be. A good Startup CTO will naturally address these.
CTO Salary and Equity Trends 2009-2011
SoCal CTO
APRIL 18, 2012
Todd Gitlin of Safire Partners - a go to resource here in LA for recruiting C-level positions at startups - was nice enough to compile some data again this year (see last year's Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data ). CTO Salary and Equity Comparison My guess is that most people who come here are going to be Founders, CEOs and CTOs who want to compare salary and equity of the CTO Position in their organization vs. their peers. CTO salaries are escalating quickly.
Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data
SoCal CTO
FEBRUARY 22, 2011
Todd Gitlin of Safire Partners was nice enough to compile some data on Start CTO Salary and Equity at Venture Backed Companies for the LA CTO Forum and present last year. The data is a bit tough to deal with via a post, so I've shared it two ways: You can find a PDF with some analysis at: CTO Equity Compensation PDF. You can find a public Google Spreadsheet with the data: CTO Equity Compensation Google Spreadsheet. CTO Founders in India, have a very low equity stake.
Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions
SoCal CTO
MARCH 3, 2011
I talk to roughly 2 or 3 new startups every week who need advice from an experienced CTO. Of course, I provide part-time CTO services. In talking with a colleague who also does Acting CTO work, he said that he also does this kind of free consulting sessions and offered to help me if I didn't have enough time - which sometimes happens. So, I wanted to use this post to make it official - we are offering free startup CTO consulting sessions.
Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions
SoCal CTO
MARCH 3, 2011
I talk to roughly 2 or 3 new startups every week who need advice from an experienced CTO. Of course, I provide part-time CTO services. In talking with a colleague who also does Acting CTO work, he said that he also does this kind of free consulting sessions and offered to help me if I didn't have enough time - which sometimes happens. So, I wanted to use this post to make it official - we are offering free startup CTO consulting sessions.
Los Angeles CTO / VP Engineering Job Searches
SoCal CTO
MARCH 2, 2015
As the organizer of the LA CTO Forum , I get lots of inquiries by job seekers and people looking for CTO / VP Engineering talent. I’ve written quite a bit about aspects of this topic, especially from the perspective of startup founders looking for talent – you can find these in: Startup CTO. What I’ve not written as much about is what to do if you are a CTO looking for your next opportunity – especially in Los Angeles.
A Startup CTO’s Take on Early Technology Choices & Tradeoffs
View from Seed
NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Isaac Cambron is co-founder and CTO of Zensight.co , whose pre-launch product enables sales reps to find and use their best content to close more deals. The post A Startup CTO’s Take on Early Technology Choices & Tradeoffs appeared first on The View From Seed Below, he answers questions about developing products from scratch, as well as the difficult technology choices and tradeoffs CTOs must make.
Hiring a CTO for Your Startup
SoCal CTO
APRIL 27, 2011
Several people have recently come to me to help them source and/or hire full-time CTOs for their startup having found me through my post that looks at: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data. The first thing I do is suggest they explore if they really need to hire a full-time CTO for their startup and if so, what kind of CTO they need. I'd suggest: Startup CTO or Developer , Startup Founder Developer Gap , Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO.
Lead Developer to CTO at a Startup
SoCal CTO
JULY 23, 2012
I seem to encounter a lot of people who want to attach a CTO label to me as I'm the only programmer on the founding team of three. While I do fill that role at the moment, I'm a little hesitant to refer to myself as a CTO as we still haven't launched a product, acquired a single user, or turned or a penny in profit. I've previously addressed the role of a CTO in early-stages in my post Startup CTO or Developer. Result => "We need to bring in a CTO."
Part-Time Startup CTO?
SoCal CTO
FEBRUARY 2, 2010
Based on my posts Startup CTO or Developer and Acting CTO , Chris O’Meara wrote an interesting post Startup CTO: Could It Work? If you think that's person you need, the question becomes "what else do you expect a CTO to contribute?" Chris then tells us: In thinking about this problem I asked around a fair amount and couldn't find any solid answers to the question "where have you seen someone in the role of CTO for a startup do a great job?"
CTO Founders / Cofounders
SoCal CTO
FEBRUARY 25, 2010
I just got done reading a post by Roger Ehrenberg Advice for CTO Founders: Don't Let Business Kill the Business where he suggests that CTO Founders should not move too early in finding a business cofounder: Too often, however, I have found CTO / Founders paired with business people who not only don't add value, but frequently detract from the value of the business.
Hiring a CTO for Your Startup
SoCal CTO
APRIL 27, 2011
Several people have recently come to me to help them source and/or hire full-time CTOs for their startup having found me through my post that looks at: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data. The first thing I do is suggest they explore if they really need to hire a full-time CTO for their startup and if so, what kind of CTO they need. I'd suggest: Startup CTO or Developer , Startup Founder Developer Gap , Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO.
CTO Equity and Compensation at Venture Backed Companies
SoCal CTO
FEBRUARY 22, 2011
Todd Gitlin of Safire Partners was nice enough to compile some data on CTO Equity and Compensation at Venture Backed Companies for the LA CTO Forum and present last year. The data is a bit tough to deal with via a post, so I've shared it two ways: You can find a PDF with some analysis at: CTO Equity Compensation PDF. You can find a public Google Spreadsheet with the data: CTO Equity Compensation Google Spreadsheet. CTO Founders in India, have a very low equity stake.
Hypergiant Industries Hires Mohammed Farooq as its new CTO and GM Products
SiliconHills
SEPTEMBER 23, 2020
The post Hypergiant Industries Hires Mohammed Farooq as its new CTO and GM Products appeared first on SiliconHills.
CTO Equity - Negotiation After Funding
SoCal CTO
JANUARY 18, 2011
I received an inquiry from a reader of my blog and thought I would provide some thoughts, but would definitely welcome input: I am an unpaid CTO of a small startup. Find a lawyer and someone who does CTO searches for VC backed companies in your area. My guess from the way you’ve worded the question is that you’ve done a really good job as the CTO. Are you full-time, part-time, advisory (take a look at Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , Acting CTO for other models)?
Equity-Only CTO and Equity-Only Developers
SoCal CTO
NOVEMBER 1, 2010
I had a recent email dialog with the founder of a company looking for a CTO for their startup. Did they really need a Startup CTO or Developer or both? And do I fit as a Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , CTO Founder , Acting CTO ? He needed some kind of CTO and as well Developers. Likely the effective hourly rate as an equity-only CTO Advisor is pretty low.
CTO Equity - Negotiation After Funding
SoCal CTO
JANUARY 18, 2011
I received an inquiry from a reader of my blog and thought I would provide some thoughts, but would definitely welcome input: I am an unpaid CTO of a small startup. Find a lawyer and someone who does CTO searches for VC backed companies in your area. My guess from the way you’ve worded the question is that you’ve done a really good job as the CTO. Are you full-time, part-time, advisory (take a look at Part-Time CTO , Technology Advisor , Acting CTO for other models)?
Initial Conversation with a CTO or Technical Advisor
SoCal CTO
SEPTEMBER 30, 2013
Are you a non-technical startup founder who’s about to go have a conversation with a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) or Technical advisory type person? Maybe you have questions about the types of developers you need and even whether you need a Startup CTO or Developer or both. Actually, here are two posts with a pretty good list of background items you should plan to cover: Startup Software Development Homework and Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions.
Introducing the Cap Table and Hiring the CTO
Feld Thoughts
SEPTEMBER 2, 2011
This week they set out to create their cap table and hire a CTO. Jane and Dick want to bring in their friend Praveena as CTO, but they don’t know how to structure the compensation. Finance Fridays 83(b) cap table cto finance fridays option poolAs Finance Fridays continues, we are introducing the concept of the Cap Table.
International Student Success in Tech – A CTO’s Journey
The Startup Magazine
JANUARY 8, 2019
When International Technological University’s CTO Kranthi Lammatha was a boy in the Indian farming village of Kasipuram, he would walk nine miles to get to school every day and another nine miles to get back home in the evening. The post International Student Success in Tech – A CTO’s Journey appeared first on The Startup Magazine.
Visualization of Startup CTO Equity and Salary Data
SoCal CTO
MAY 10, 2011
A long-time friend and colleague, Steve Wexler, who is great at visualization took my Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data and produced a really need interactive visualization via Tableau. You can find it here: Interactive Version: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data (US) Explanation: CTO compensation and equity at venture-backed companies Probably the best thing for someone to do is to go to the Interactive Version and look things up using their specific situation.
Why This Startup Teaches Everyone to Code + a Framework to Find a CTO
View from Seed
SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
Or listen on SoundCloud below: The post Why This Startup Teaches Everyone to Code + a Framework to Find a CTO appeared first on The View From Seed. Traction is a biweekly podcast where founders share the creative or unusual things they did during the seed stage to make early progress. Everyone knows startups should do scrappy things that “don’t scale” — this show explores what those things actually are.
CTO for a Startup? Please Read.
Austin Startup
FEBRUARY 9, 2016
For eight years I was BP3’s CTO, before becoming CEO in January, succeeding my co-founder and partner in BP3, Lance Gibbs. This feels like… Continue reading on Austin Startups
Visualization of Startup CTO Equity and Salary Data
SoCal CTO
MAY 10, 2011
A long-time friend and colleague, Steve Wexler, who is great at visualization took my Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data and produced a really need interactive visualization via Tableau. You can find it here: Interactive Version: Startup CTO Salary and Equity Data (US) Explanation: CTO compensation and equity at venture-backed companies Probably the best thing for someone to do is to go to the Interactive Version and look things up using their specific situation.
Want to Know the Difference Between a CTO and a VP Engineering?
Both Sides of the Table
APRIL 20, 2010
The terms “CTO&# and “VP Engineering&# have such stigmas associated with what they are that I’m sure some people will feel uncomfortable with the definitions I’ve put forward. I hope many will read this and have an answer for the question, “what’s the different between a CTO and a VP of Engineering?&#. The CTO / Lead Architect - If you want to build a great technology company, you’ll need a “rockstar&# engineering lead.
Acting CTO Role in a Start-up
SoCal CTO
DECEMBER 1, 2007
I generally am working as an acting CTO for about 3-4 start-ups or other companies at any one time. I also found this interesting graphic of the changing needs around the CTO role in different size/type companies that somewhat echoes my experience. During Stabilization, often the focus is transitioning to a full-time CTO. So, what is my role as an acting CTO? Many people ask how the acting-CTO gig can work out.
Veteran CTO on How the Tech Side of Startups Has Evolved [Traction #25: Yoav Shapira, Operator.VC]
View from Seed
JULY 5, 2016
Yoav was first employee at CarGurus, a founding executive of HubSpot, CTO at Happier, CTO at Jana, and more. Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts: The post Veteran CTO on How the Tech Side of Startups Has Evolved [Traction #25: Yoav Shapira, Operator.VC] appeared first on NextView Ventures. In this episode, NextView’s Rob Go talks with Yoav Shapira, a longtime tech leader in the Boston startup community.
CTO of the Year Marcus Whitney
The Entrepreneurial Mind
NOVEMBER 14, 2013
Tweet Facebook LinkedIn Tumblr Stumble Digg Delicious The post CTO of the Year Marcus Whitney appeared first on Dr Jeff Cornwall The Entrepreneurial Mind : Marcus Whitney.
TechStars Company OkDidIt Looking For A CTO
Feld Thoughts
JUNE 4, 2012
If you are in Boulder, are a CTO, are into changing the way email works, and are looking for a hot young TechStars company to join, take a look at OkDidIt. They are looking to add a CTO to their team to augment one of the technical founders (who is the CEO) – the job description is up at Careers 2.0. The skills and requirements follow: REQUIRED: - CS degree from a top school (or equivalent experience). minimum 7 years experience building real-world systems software.
Starting a startup as CTO / Head of Product
Gust
NOVEMBER 30, 2015
The post Starting a startup as CTO / Head of Product appeared first on The Gust Blog. After less than a year, Glassbreakers is now a team of 10, we have thousands of active users on our free product, we’ve expanded into enterprises with paying customers and raised over a million in seed funding. After a few of my Glassbreaker matches inquired, I started to reflect on what it’s like to build a startup. Read more >.
4 Ways Early Stage CTOs Can Learn to Roll With the Punches
ReadWriteStart
APRIL 18, 2019
There’s always a tinge of “TBD” that accompanies the role of an early stage startup CTO. Lead Startups coding cto Devops Engineering Management startupsThere’s a reason the position comes with that “up in the air” feeling. Early stage companies can’t immediately hire someone with the tech and executive know-how needed to handle the job. Most startups appoint a lead developer or some other tech go-to […].
A Tech Company without a CTO is like a Bakery without a Chef
Business Plan Blog
AUGUST 20, 2013
In order to be a successful tech startup, the team must consist of a Chief Technical Officer (CTO) level member to help with the technology plan. This is generally achieved in one of the following ways: CTO Level Co-Founder (Equity). CTO Level Board Member or dedicated Adviser (Free or Equity). CTO Employee (Salary). CTO Part Time Consultant (Paid hourly or by project). Why is a CTO so Important? Every Tech Startup Needs a Chief Technical Officer.
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