Fractional CTO & AI Consultant — San Francisco Bay Area
YOUR FRACTIONAL CTO.
DEPARTMENT-LEVEL
OUTPUT.
I help companies ship 10x faster without scaling headcount — using AI systems that automate engineering work end-to-end.
Contracted by Apple, Microsoft, PayPal, Intel, YouTube, and X.com.
Scale Without Scaling Headcount
Stop hiring.
Start automating.
Get more done
with the team you have.
Most companies throw headcount at engineering bottlenecks. I eliminate the bottlenecks instead — building AI-powered automation that handles repetitive work so your team focuses on what actually moves the needle.
Proof it works: My autonomous AI agent built this entire website. I direct strategy and make product decisions. The AI executes. That's what I set up for your company — one operator, department-level output.
Faster Time to Market
Prototypes in hours, not quarterly sprints.
Lower Engineering Costs
AI handles testing, deployment, and code generation — simultaneously.
Compounding ROI
Systems that get faster and more capable over time.
Trusted By
“I've worked with Mike for over five years across multiple projects. He's a highly qualified engineer, but what sets him apart is how quickly he learns and understands new domains. As a product manager, when I bring him a feature or tool that needs to be built, the first thing he does is start asking the business questions alongside the engineering questions. That's rare — and it can't be quantified. When you have an engineer who's solid on engineering principles, can build and ship deliverables quickly, and also understands the business context behind every ask, that's what makes someone a unicorn in this field. You'd be an idiot not to hire Mike.”
Ryan Bent — Sr. Product Manager, Signet Corp.
40 Years of Engineering. Now Accelerated by AI.
Deep expertise is what separates AI that works from AI that doesn't.
I've built software through every era — from systems programming to mobile, cloud infrastructure to machine learning. That depth is why the AI automation I build actually works in production, not just in demos.
This is the difference: Most AI consultants know the tools. I know the engineering underneath. That means fewer failed implementations, faster time to value, and systems your team can actually maintain.
Your Entire Engineering Pipeline, Automated
Ship faster than
your competitors thought
was possible
I automate your entire development pipeline — from code generation to testing to deployment. Multiple AI agents working simultaneously across your projects, turning weeks of work into days. This is how you gain a competitive advantage your rivals can't buy off the shelf.
Live Product — AI Automation in Healthcare
ClaimHawk
67% fewer claim denials. 4x faster payments. 99.2% success rate. ClaimHawk automates dental insurance claims end-to-end — from submission to follow-up — across OpenDental, Dentrix, and Eaglesoft. Built to show what AI automation looks like when it's done right.
AI Agent — Autonomous Development
Hello Am
AM is my autonomous AI agent — it built this entire website and writes all my production code. I direct strategy and make product decisions. AM executes. This is the same capability I deploy for clients: one operator, department-level output.
YouTube — AI for Everybody
Software Engineering in the Age of AI
Real engineering, made accessible. I show builders — founders, small business owners, creators — how to build real AI-powered tools for their own businesses. Not demos. Not hype. Working systems, built on camera, from a 40-year engineer.
Start a Conversation
Let's Talk About Your Bottleneck
$150 $99 · 90 minutes
Whether you need a fractional CTO/CAIO or Developer, an AI strategy roadmap, or hands-on automation — it starts with a conversation. Book a consultation and walk away with a concrete plan and working code by the end of the call.
Secure payment via Stripe.
Three Ways to Work Together
Technical leadership, AI strategy, or hands-on engineering
01
Fractional CTO
For Founders & Early-Stage Companies
I become your technical co-founder on a fractional basis. Architecture decisions, team building, investor readiness — at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
Learn more →02
Fractional CAIO
For Executives & Growing Companies
Your Chief AI Integration Officer on a fractional basis. AI roadmap, vendor evaluation, adoption strategy — so your AI investments actually produce ROI.
Learn more →03
AI Consulting
For Engineering Leaders & Scale-ups
Hands-on AI engineering, team training, and custom tool builds. I embed with your team and permanently upgrade how they work.
Learn more →Services & Pricing
How to work with me
Hands-On Execution
Fractional AI Engineering →
$150/hr
Via Zoom
I embed directly in your workflow — building AI automation, setting up development pipelines, and training your team to maintain everything I build. You leave with working systems and a team that knows how to run them.
Executive AI Strategy
Fractional CAIO Advisory →
$150/hr
Via Zoom
AI roadmap, vendor evaluation, buy-vs-build decisions, and team AI readiness. I act as your Chief AI Integration Officer on a fractional basis — translating AI capability into competitive advantage for your leadership team.
Team Training
AI Workshops for Teams →
Inquiry
Remote or On-Site
Half-day to multi-week programs for technical and non-technical teams. AI productivity tools, prompt engineering, workflow automation. Custom curriculum built around your industry and roles.
Custom Build
Custom AI Tool Development →
Inquiry
You Own the Code
End-to-end delivery of custom AI tools for your business. Automated content pipelines, intelligent document processing, internal knowledge bases, AI-powered workflows. No vendor lock-in — source code is yours.
Solopreneurs & Small Teams
Fractional Engineer →
$150/hr
Via Zoom
Custom software that used to require a full dev team — built fast, built right, built in the USA. Don't pay the price of the offshore experience. Choose American, at a fraction of the previous cost.
Insights
From the blog
Pricing Guide
How Much Does a Fractional CTO Cost in 2026? →
The real range — $100 to $500/hr — and what drives the price. Plus the math on fractional vs. full-time.
AI Leadership
What Does a Chief AI Officer Actually Do? →
The CAIO role explained — what it looks like day-to-day, how it differs from a CTO, and when you need one.
Startup Guide
When Does Your Startup Actually Need a CTO? →
Pre-seed to Series B — what kind of technical leadership you need at each stage, and when fractional makes sense.
Small Business
AI Automation for Small Business: What Works and What's a Waste →
What's actually working, what's overhyped, how to figure out what to automate, and what it costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions founders and leaders ask before hiring an AI consultant
What does a fractional CTO do?
A fractional CTO provides part-time senior technical leadership — architecture decisions, AI strategy, vendor evaluation, team hiring, and engineering process — without the $300k+ salary of a full-time executive. I work with early-stage startups and growing companies in the Bay Area and remotely, typically 10-20 hours per week, giving you seasoned CTO-level guidance at a fraction of the cost.
How much does an AI consultant cost in 2026?
AI consulting rates vary widely — from $100/hr for generalists to $500+/hr for specialized firms. My rate is $150/hr for both hands-on AI engineering and executive advisory, which reflects senior-level expertise without agency overhead. I also offer custom-priced AI workshops and bespoke tool builds. Most engagements start with a 90-minute paid discovery call to scope the work.
How can AI reduce software development costs?
AI automation can handle code generation, testing, deployment, and documentation — tasks that typically consume 60-70% of engineering time. I build AI-powered pipelines that let your existing team produce 5-10x more output without adding headcount. For startups, this means getting to market faster. For scale-ups, it means doing more with the team you already have instead of hiring another 5 engineers.
Do I need a full-time CTO, or is fractional enough?
If you're pre-Series A or have fewer than 10 engineers, a fractional CTO is almost always the right call. You get the strategic thinking, architecture decisions, and technical credibility for investor conversations — without burning $25k+/month on a full-time hire. Most of my clients start fractional and only hire full-time once they've found product-market fit and need daily technical leadership.
Can I build custom AI tools for my business without a technical team?
Yes — and that's a big part of what I do. I build custom AI tools for businesses that are tired of paying for SaaS that doesn't fit. Document processing, automated workflows, intelligent knowledge bases, custom CRMs powered by AI. You own the source code, there's no vendor lock-in, and I train your team to maintain it. I also teach this process on my YouTube channel — real engineering for builders, not hype.
How is hiring an AI consultant different from hiring a development agency?
Agencies give you a team of juniors managed by an account rep, with 3-5x markup and months of back-and-forth. I give you a senior architect with 25+ years of hands-on experience, backed by AI automation that lets me move at the speed of an agency team. Direct communication, faster delivery, lower cost, higher quality. No layers of project management in between.
How do I train my engineering team to use AI effectively?
Most AI training is surface-level — prompt engineering tips and tool demos. My workshops go deeper: I teach your engineers how to build AI-powered development pipelines, automate testing and deployment, and architect systems that leverage AI at every layer. Programs range from half-day intensives to multi-week cohorts, with custom curriculum built around your stack, your codebase, and your team's skill level.
What is a CAIO and does my company need one?
A CAIO (Chief AI Integration Officer) is an executive who drives AI adoption across your organization — evaluating tools, setting strategy, managing vendors, and ensuring your team actually captures value from AI investments. If you're spending money on AI tools but not seeing results, you likely need one. I serve as a fractional CAIO for companies that aren't ready for a full-time AI executive but need the strategic direction.
Are you available for on-site work in the Bay Area?
I'm based in San Francisco Bay Area and available for on-site work, workshops, and consulting in the Bay Area. Most of my ongoing engagements are remote via Zoom, but I do in-person workshops and can embed on-site for intensive sprints. I also work with companies across the US remotely.