Question 1 of 6

How many engineers are on the team today, including you?

Counts anyone writing production code at least 20 hours per week.

Just me, no other engineersPre-team 1 to 2 engineers including meFounder + maybe one more 3 to 5 engineersSmall team forming 6 to 7 engineersApproaching the tipping point 8 or more engineersPast the fractional fit

Question 2 of 6

Do you have a working product with paying users?

A paid pilot or two paying customers count as yes.

YesWorking product, real revenue or paid pilots NoPre-product or pre-revenue

Question 3 of 6

In the last 60 days, have you made the same kind of architectural decision badly twice and can you name the cost in engineer-weeks?

Examples: switched queueing systems twice, replatformed without writing down why, hired the wrong senior twice in a row. The cost should be specific.

Yes, and I can name the engineer-week costReal pattern with measurable damage Maybe, but I can't quantify itVague feeling, no specific cost No, things have been steadyNo recurring decision pattern

Question 4 of 6

How many architectural or hiring decisions per week genuinely need a senior brain in the room?

Decisions where getting it wrong costs more than the cost of having a senior present.

0 to 1 per weekMostly execution, decisions are clear 2 to 3 per weekSome decisions, manageable without help 4 to 5 per weekSteady stream of decisions 6 or more per weekYou are reactive, not strategic

Question 5 of 6

When is your next funding milestone?

Series-A pitch, bridge round, or extended seed close.

0 to 3 monthsAlready raising or about to start 3 to 6 monthsPitch deck and technical narrative starting to matter 6 to 12 monthsOn the horizon More than 12 months out, or no planNot a near-term forcing function

Question 6 of 6

What is your monthly engineering and senior-leadership budget?

Total for engineering salaries plus any external advisors or fractional roles.

Under €5K per monthTight; bootstrap or pre-seed €5K to €15K per monthSeed range, room for one fractional €15K to €30K per monthSeries-A range More than €30K per monthMultiple seats budgetable

Should you hire a fractional CTO?