Sean V. Baker · Fractional CTO & Technical Partner

Your first technical partner. Not your next vendor.

I work with early-stage software startups as a hands-on technical co-founder — bringing executive-level experience, equity-aligned incentives, and a genuine stake in your success.

Who I Work With

I work best with non-technical founders who have strong domain expertise and a validated idea, and who need a trusted technical voice from day one.

"You shouldn't have to find investors just to cover the cost of building your product. I'd rather be the resource — investing my skill, time, and enthusiasm alongside you."

If you're pre-seed or early-seed and the biggest blocker between you and your product is finding the right technical person, let's talk.

Experience

I've built software teams, shipped products, navigated VC funding, and held executive technical roles across enterprise and startup environments.

3 Years

CTO & Co-Founder

VC-funded e-commerce startup — built the product and engineering org from the ground up

4 Years

Director of Software Services

Publicly traded utility company — enterprise-scale technical leadership and team management

5 years

CTO, Global SaaS Platform

Led architecture for a complex and data intense platform that continues to operate and scale internationally

Across All Roles

Team Builder

Hired and grown multiple high-performing software development teams

What I Bring

Depending on where you are, I can step into any or all of these:

Technology strategy, architecture, and platform decisions
MVP scoping — figuring out what to build first, and why
Hiring, vetting, and managing your first engineering hires
Representing the technical story to investors and boards
Vendor and tooling selection that won't trap you later
Translating your vision into a roadmap the team can execute

How We Work Together

I'm not looking for a traditional consulting engagement. I'm looking for a genuine partnership.

Equity, or equity + a reduced monthly retainer. My goal is to align my incentives with yours — the better your company does, the better we both do.

This means I'm selective. I take on a small number of partners at a time so I can give each one the attention it deserves. I'm looking for founders with a real problem, a real market, and the drive to build something that lasts.

No fundraising required just to afford development. That's the point.

Let's Talk

If you're building something and need a technical partner who will show up like a co-founder — reach out. A short conversation is all it takes to know if there's a fit.

sean@seanvbaker.com