Why Most Startups Don't Need a CTO
A hacker-turned-CTO on why most startups don't need a full-time CTO — and what to do instead.
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Fractional CTOStartupsHiringEngineering leadership
On Software Without Borders (Episode 30), Oshri Cohen makes a deliberately provocative case: most startups don't need a full-time CTO. Drawing on a career spent rescuing struggling tech teams across industries, he explains what founders actually need at each stage — and how to buy it efficiently.
The conversation covers the difference between a builder and an executive, the real cost of hiring the wrong leader too early, and how a fractional model gives small companies access to senior judgment without the senior salary.
Equal parts contrarian and practical — a good listen for any founder about to post a "CTO wanted" ad.
What's covered
- Why a full-time CTO is often the wrong first hire
- Builder vs. executive — and which one you need now
- The cost of hiring senior leadership too early
- How fractional leadership closes the gap
