Engineering Leadership That Delivers Results Under Pressure
I'm Chris Madison. For 20+ years, I've scaled engineering teams, built mission-critical systems, and solved complex technical problems for startups and Fortune 500 companies. Now I help founders and CTOs do the same—fast.
When your engineering team isn't shipping, deadlines keep getting missed, and cloud costs are spiraling out of control—you need experienced technical leadership that can diagnose problems fast and deliver results immediately.
What Clients Say
The team really thrived under your leadership.
Jaina Maher
Chief Operating Officer, Everyrealm
I've never seen a CTO so actively involved in coding. At times, it felt like you were doing the work of three developers on your own. I learned a lot from how you stayed on top of the latest tech updates while remaining closely connected with every aspect of the project.
Brad Chouhan
Senior Solution Engineer, Gammastack
Problems I Solve
"Our engineering team isn't shipping anymore"
Your team used to ship features in days. Now everything takes weeks. Sprint commitments are constantly missed, and morale is dropping.
→ Fractional CTO services restore velocity and predictability
"Our cloud bill is out of control"
You're spending $50K-500K/month on AWS but have no visibility into what you're paying for or why costs keep growing.
→ Cloud architecture & cost optimization cuts spend 30-50%
"We're drowning in technical complexity"
Every new feature takes longer than the last. Your tech debt is crushing productivity, but you're not sure where to start fixing it.
→ Team turnaround services untangle complexity and restore flow
"We need a CTO but can't afford one full-time"
Investors are asking hard technical questions, and you need strategic tech leadership but can't justify $200K+ for a full-time executive.
→ Part-time CTO services provide executive guidance at 1/3 the cost
Who I Work With
I partner with Series A-C startups, post-acquisition teams, and companies in transition who need experienced technical leadership but aren't ready for (or can't afford) a full-time executive.
You might need me if:
- ✓Your engineering team is stuck shipping features slowly with missed deadlines
- ✓Your cloud bill is out of control and no one knows why
- ✓You're facing layoffs, acquisitions, or leadership transitions and need stability
- ✓You need to raise funding and investors are asking hard technical questions
- ✓You want to build an MVP fast without hiring a full team
Services That Solve These Problems
Fractional CTO
Part-time technical leadership for Series A-C startups. Scale your team, improve delivery, and align tech with business goals.
Team Rescue & Turnaround
Stabilize operations during crisis. Ship critical features fast and restore team confidence.
Cloud Cost Optimization
Cut your AWS/GCP/Azure bill by 30-50% in 60-90 days without sacrificing performance.
Web3 Technical Advisory
Architecture, due diligence, and technical guidance for blockchain and crypto projects.
MVP Development
Take your idea from concept to working prototype in 4-8 weeks. Investor-ready demos.
Technical Due Diligence
Comprehensive technical assessment for VCs and acquirers evaluating engineering organizations.
Not sure what you need?
Schedule Free ConsultationReal Results from Real Engagements
Shipping a Casino Platform Post-Layoffs
Stabilized the team and delivered the first fully QA'd product after company layoffs.
Read Case StudyCutting Cloud Costs Without Sacrificing Performance
Audited infrastructure and rationalized architecture to cut AWS spend by 43%.
Read Case StudyBuilding an AI-Powered Content Discovery Platform
Led technical architecture and implementation for a content discovery platform, delivering a production-ready MVP in 6 weeks
Read Case StudyReady to Scale Your Engineering Team?
Whether you need fractional leadership, technical rescue, or strategic advice, let's talk. Book a free 30-minute consultation—no sales pitch, just an honest conversation about your challenges and whether I can help.
Schedule Free Consultation