London-Based
Fractional CTO in London
Senior technical leadership for London's startup ecosystem. I work in-person at your office, hybrid, or fully remote - whatever works for your team. Based in London, available for face-to-face collaboration.
Why London Startups Need Fractional CTOs
London is Europe's largest startup hub - over 80,000 startups and scale-ups, more than Paris and Berlin combined. But the competition for senior technical talent is fierce. A full-time CTO in London commands £150,000-250,000+ plus equity.
For Seed to Series B companies, that is often not realistic. You need the expertise without the overhead. That is where fractional leadership comes in.
In-Person When It Matters
Some conversations need to happen face-to-face. I am based in London and available for on-site work - team workshops, board meetings, investor pitches, or just being present with your engineers.
London Network
After years in the London tech scene, I have connections to investors, recruiters, and other founders. When you need an introduction or a recommendation, I can often help.
Same Timezone, Same Culture
No awkward scheduling across timezones. I understand UK employment law, HMRC, and the nuances of building teams in London's competitive market.
Flexible Arrangement
1-3 days per week, on-site or hybrid. Scale up for fundraising rounds or product launches. Scale down when you need less support.
Working Across London
I work with startups across London's tech hubs:
Shoreditch & Tech City
The original startup hub
King's Cross
Google, Meta, and the Knowledge Quarter
Canary Wharf
Fintech and financial services
White City
Imperial and the innovation district
Southwark & Bankside
Growing tech cluster
Remote-First
Distributed teams welcome
What I Help London Startups With
Technical Strategy & Architecture
Technology choices that scale with your business. Build the right thing, the right way, without over-engineering for problems you do not have yet.
Engineering Team Building
Hiring in London's competitive market. Building interview processes that identify great engineers. Creating a culture that retains them.
Fundraising Support
Technical due diligence preparation. Investor presentations that explain your technology credibly. Answering the hard questions VCs ask.
Process & Delivery
Agile that actually works. Shipping regularly without burning out your team. Balancing speed with quality.
About Me
I am Mike Tempest. I have been building technology in London for over 15 years - from agencies to startups to scale-ups.
Most recently I was CTO at Risika, where we went from burning VC cash to profitability in 18 months. Before that, I scaled RefME to 2 million users before acquisition by Chegg. I have worked with Google, Apple, and YouTube through Beyond, and led teams at Critical Mass.
Now I work as a fractional CTO, helping London startups get the technical leadership they need without the full-time overhead.
Let's Meet for Coffee
I am happy to meet in person anywhere in London. Book a call and we will find a time.
Book Discovery Call