Is post-round execution stalling?
Funding closed, but priorities blur, the roadmap slips, and weeks go by without real shipping.
Get a clear product and tech plan so the team ships what matters — not everything.
Avoid expensive mistakes. Let's build your startup together.
Hi, I'm Christian Varisco, Fractional CTO 🇮🇹.
I help founders build team, product, and architecture on solid foundations.
After the round: is execution still moving as fast as it should?
Turn obstacles into opportunities with an expert who understands your journey. Team up with me!
Is your tech slowing development — not users?
The product is live, but the codebase and ways of working make every feature slower and riskier than it should be.
Fix what blocks delivery: architecture, process, and engineering practices that scale how you build.
Missing a strong CTO — or is the one you have stretched thin?
Leadership gaps show up as slow decisions, weak hiring, and a team that can’t keep the pace the business needs.
I step in on product, tech, and team — leading, and hands-on when it unlocks speed.
Work with me to achieve results
+16 Startups I worked with
Talentware is the talent management platform designed to help businesses effectively engage, develop, and retain talent through a skill-based approach.
- Assembled a robust team, ensuring agility and innovation.
- In just three months, we've already got customers signing up and managed to bag €800k in pre-seed funds.
- Formulated a strategic product and technical roadmap, targeting short-to-medium-term goals.
Pausetiv is a platform that helps women discover and manage menopause with a structured medical approach, connecting patients and healthcare professionals.
- From zero to live in just 4 months with a freelance team built from scratch.
- A medical-grade platform with polished interface from day zero.
- First B2B partnerships with companies for welfare benefits.
3-6 months Average time to results
Lexroom.ai is an AI-powered legal research tool that quickly provides relevant legal sources and drafts opinions based on user queries.
- Assembled a talented team quickly, setting the stage for rapid progress.
- Significant early achievements, including a successful €500k pre-seed funding round in January 2024.
- Led the development of the MVP, preparing for future growth.
€13M+ Raised by the startups I worked with
Testimonials
I've worked with Christian in the past and particularly appreciated his clarity and ability to bridge business needs with technical topics. He consistently works efficiently to find effective solutions.
Christian helped us a lot to draw up an initial product development roadmap and to understand how to build the tech team, identifying the necessary figures to start with limited resources.
Christian is not just a technical partner, but a truly strategic one. In addition to delivering impeccable quality and on time, he combines technology and business aspects with great transparency and exemplary team management. He knows how to build teams with technical excellence and strong shared values, bringing that "something extra" to the project.
The project is still ongoing and so far Christian has been very supportive! He is driving the entire Tech team towards the milestones we have and he is making sure we deliver a zero-defect product to our customers.
We started working with Chris at a very delicate stage of our business, where precision and speed were critical. He exceeded our expectations, automating in days processes that had been draining our time for months, and identifying technical bottlenecks we hadn't even been able to clearly see, always bringing practical solutions. Most importantly, he consistently showed a strong human side, being understanding, responsive, and genuinely easy to work with throughout.
Quality, Reliability, Speed, Professionalism. As a fractional CTO, Christian quickly integrated into the dynamics of our team. Thanks to his impeccable management of complex projects and his support beyond single initiatives, Christian has contributed to a significant leap in the quality of our digital solutions, consistently maintaining high standards of precision and timeliness. His presence has truly made a difference, and we are extremely pleased with the work we are doing together.
From where you are to where you want to be
Whether you need an advisor, a hands-on CTO, or strategic consulting — I adapt to your stage and needs.
Week 1
Discovery
Deep dive into your challenges, team, and goals
- Technical and organizational assessment
- Priority mapping
- Report with recommendations
Week 2-3
Strategy
Define the roadmap and strategic priorities together
- Technical roadmap
- Reference architecture
- Prioritized action plan
Month 1-3
Execution
Build on solid foundations, side by side
- Guided implementation
- Processes and best practices
- Aligned and trained team
Month 3+
Scale
Consolidate foundations and prepare for growth
- Solid foundations to scale
- Autonomous team
- Ongoing support
FAQs
Got questions? Here are the most common answers about how I work and what I can do for you.
Book a FREE consultationWhat does "Fractional" mean?
"Fractional" means you don't work with me full-time, but only for the part you need. It's a flexible model: instead of hiring a full-time CTO, you get C-level expertise without the costs and commitment of a permanent hire.
Why work with a Fractional CTO?
After a round you need senior ownership of product, tech, and team — without hiring a full-time CTO yet. I come in for execution: priorities, architecture that can evolve, and a team that delivers.
What are your services?
Product (what to build, what to cut, in what order), Tech (leadership and, when useful, hands-on/IC — including with AI), Team (hiring, structure, making delivery stick). Focus: startups already live, typically seed or pre-seed.
What type of clients do you work with?
Mostly funded early-stage startups that are already in market — seed or pre-seed — where execution after the round is the bottleneck. Clients I have worked with include Lexroom and Talentware. Often there’s no strong CTO, or the current tech doesn’t scale for development. Clients usually have real tech budget in play (roughly €30–50k+ for the broader team, not for me alone).
How many startups do you work with in parallel?
I work with a maximum of five startups in parallel. This allows me to focus on delivering quality results for each project.
What is the typical duration of a collaboration?
Generally, my engagements last from a minimum of 3 months up to 18 months, to build a solid foundation in terms of product, technology, and team. If you need lighter support, I can also work as an advisor for just one hour a week.
Do you write code too?
Yes, when it unblocks — emergencies, critical paths, or speed with AI-assisted delivery. Default is leadership of product/tech/team; IC is a tool, not the offer.
Do you have a team?
Yes, I have a trusted network of freelancers I've selected over the years. I usually work alongside developers, designers, product managers, and other professionals. They can join from the start of the project, or be activated later based on needs.
Can you help me build my tech team?
Yes. Whether you're starting from scratch or already have someone on board, I help you build the right team. We can use my network of professionals or search together for external people to bring in.
Does it make sense to collaborate if I already have a full-time CTO?
Yes. I’m not here to replace them. I complement when you need more execution capacity, sharper prioritization, or help making the stack and team shippable again.
Do you also interface with investors if needed?
Yes, it's part of my job. I can join calls with investors or advisors, clearly explain the tech side and answer their questions. The goal is to give credibility to the project and show there's solid technical leadership behind it.
Can you evaluate my vendors or help me find new ones?
Yes. I can help you choose the right partners (or evaluate existing ones), whether it's a cloud provider, an external agency, or a tech vendor, assessing costs, reliability, and scalability. The goal is to save you time and money by bringing field-tested solutions.
What happens if the startup grows and needs a full-time CTO?
If that happens, it's because we're doing a good job: it means the startup is growing. In that case, I help with the transition: I participate in selecting the new CTO, train them, and hand over effectively. If needed, I can also stay on as an advisor, so you don't lose continuity.
How do you handle confidentiality and data security?
We define everything in the collaboration agreement. If needed, I can sign an NDA to ensure your confidentiality and data security.