About Mike
Business-first engineering leadership, from startups to scale-ups
Experience at
Fractional CPTO
Technology should serve the business, not the other way round
I have spent 15 years building products and teams across startups, agencies, and some of the largest tech companies in the world. The common thread: every technical decision starts with the business problem it solves.
At RefME we scaled a citation tool from zero to two million users before the company was acquired by Chegg. At Risika we took a Danish fintech from VC-funded to profitable in 18 months, now serving over 2,500 business clients. In between, I built products for Google, YouTube, and Apple, and led technical delivery for enterprise clients at Critical Mass.
That experience taught me something most engineering leaders learn too late: the hardest problems are rarely technical. They are about hiring the right people, saying no to the wrong features, and making sure every sprint moves the needle on revenue, retention, or risk.
As a Fractional CPTO I bring that business-first engineering philosophy to startups and scale-ups that need senior technical leadership without the full-time overhead. I embed with your team, get my hands dirty in the codebase when needed, and make sure your engineering investment is pointed at the things that actually matter.
Career
Experience highlights
CTO
Risika
Took a Danish fintech from VC-funded to profitable in 18 months, now serving 2,500+ business clients.
VC-funded to profitable in 18 months
Venture Studio Founder
Self-founded
Built and launched multiple products from concept to market across consumer and B2B verticals.
Multiple products shipped across consumer and B2B
Technology Director
Critical Mass
Led technical delivery for enterprise clients at one of the world's largest digital experience agencies.
Enterprise delivery for Fortune 500 clients
Head of Engineering
RefME
Scaled a citation tool from zero to two million users before acquisition by Chegg.
0 to 2M users, acquired by Chegg
Senior Front End Developer
Google / YouTube (via Beyond)
Built front-end experiences for Google and YouTube properties through agency partner Beyond.
Built products used by millions
Senior Front End Developer
Apple (via Beyond)
Delivered front-end development for Apple through agency partner Beyond.
Delivered for one of the world's most demanding brands
Expertise
What I bring to your team
- Technical Leadership
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Architecture decisions, stack selection, and scalability planning grounded in real outcomes. I have taken startups from VC-funded to profitable, and know when to build for scale versus when to ship fast.
- Engineering Hiring
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From your first engineering hire to building teams of 10+. I design interview processes that non-technical founders can run with confidence, and help you avoid costly mis-hires.
- Product Strategy
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Roadmaps that align engineering investment with commercial goals. I help you prioritise ruthlessly, say no to the wrong features, and make sure every sprint moves the needle on revenue or retention.
- Technical Due Diligence
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For investors and founders pre or post-funding. I audit codebases, assess technical risk, evaluate team capability, and deliver clear reports that inform investment decisions.
- AI & Automation Strategy
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Cutting through the hype to identify genuine automation wins. I evaluate AI claims critically, help you avoid expensive mistakes, and find the practical applications that deliver real ROI.
- Fractional Leadership Model
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Not just advisory: I embed with your team, join standups, review PRs, and make decisions alongside you. Senior technical leadership at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.