How to maximize your budget by using CTO as a Service
For the most part, startups begin with a skeleton idea and then build on it to become an operational company, whose products or services add significant value to the market. In the modern business world, startups have to integrate technology in their business, if they are to thrive and stay ahead of their competitors. As they scale up and grow in size and value, they can then hire a full-time CTO. But what is an interim startup CTO and what benefits can they offer? An Interim startup CTO will help create a framework to make strategic and tactical decisions across technology, people, financials and timeframes.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Startup CTO?
A startup CTO (Chief Technology Officer) is critical to the future success of any growing business. A CTO is not only responsible for the tech-part of a startup, but also is in a big way, accountable for business development. This is because business growth is fueled by technology and the two aspects, hence move in tandem.
Globally, the definition and roles of a startup CTO vary from one company to another. However, any startup CTO is mainly responsible for building a strong technological background and framework for the company that will help solve the company’s challenges.
Most startups acknowledge that they need a CTO. However, the dilemma is if they need a full-time startup CTO or an interim CTO. Being new to the business and working on a strict budget makes most startups wary of increasing their expenses. Startup founders realize that they cannot move forward without a technology adviser. At the same time, they cannot afford to hire a full-time CTO to help them move forward. In comes, CTO as a Service and founders can catch a breath.
CTO as a Service is the go-to option for the startups and SMEs that need to establish a robust technological framework to run on. This is similar to having an interim CTO. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of a CTO service for startups.
Tech-Advantage
CTO as a service ensures that startups embrace the best-fit technology. With all the available technology options out there, it can be confusing to figure them out. With constant evolving and emerging technologies (such as cloud, blockchain, IOT, Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning, etc) the CTO will keep the startups updated with the most relevant choices for their business.
Talent Advantage
For young companies, their people are integral to their success. Being able to know when to hire the correct talent and who is the right fit is extremely important. A CTO should help startups make their technology hiring decisions and ensure an efficient allocation and management of resources.
If using consultants or external resources, a CTO can review their resource expenditures to ensure they are paying the best price for the work product.
And finally a CTO will review the existing culture and engineering process will help implement improved processes which will result in happier engineers, good quality code and less rework later.
Cost Advantage
Startups must save up more cash to push their products and market their services to the world. This means cutting down on recurrent costs, such as salaries. Having a fulltime startup CTO will cost the company more. CTO as a Service not only saves founders money in terms of wages but also helps a startup figure out how much to spend on technology infrastructure and resources. The CTO can advise them on proper cloud computing capabilities that will meet their needs and save money.
Time Advantage
CTO as a Service allows the startup founders to focus on building their products or service. For instance, a founder who has no tech-background may spend too much time trying to understand the continually changing technology. This will be at the cost of working on the product. By the time he/she is up to speed, there is already a similar product in the market. In the cut-throat business-sector, the product that enters the market first has the first mover advantage. An interim CTO will take care of the technology part of your business so that the startup can focus on their product and beat their competitors in the market.
A Service Model
The ‘as a Service’ model vs a project model provides long term continuity to founders by advising them with constant and sound advice through their growing phases. A project approach will have a start and end whereas a service model will be customized to the start-ups’ needs and allowing flexibility and agility as the business’s needs change. The CTO will be that trusted advisor that they can call upon on an ongoing basis, thus creating continuity.