Hi, I'm Benedikt Martinez Rodriguez
Fractional CTO & Team Builder
Helping early-stage startups and SMBs build, scale, and lead high-performing engineering teams. Bringing polyglot technical expertise with a collaborative, people-first approach.
About Me
Who I Work With
As a Fractional CTO, I partner with early-stage startups and SMBs (10-100 employees) who need senior technical leadership without the full-time commitment. I've worked across fintech, banking, HR tech, workplace health management, and retail sectors. Whether you're building your first engineering team or scaling to the next level, I bring 10+ years of hands-on leadership experience managing teams of 3-20 engineers.
What I Bring
With an MSc in Information Technology and 13+ years of technical experience, I bring hands-on expertise across Python, C#, TypeScript, React.js, Next.js, PostgreSQL, and Azure. As CTO at DearEmployee (2020-2025), I led Product, Tech, and Support teams through strategic transformations. My true strength lies in building and scaling teams—from recruiting and hiring to fostering collaborative cultures where engineers thrive and deliver exceptional work.
My Approach
I practice hands-on leadership with agile methodologies (PRINCE2 and ISTQB certified). I work alongside your team, contributing code when needed while establishing technical strategy, system design, and scalable processes. My approach combines requirements engineering, architecture decisions, and DevOps practices (Docker, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code) to build systems that work today and scale for tomorrow.
Specialized Expertise
I bring deep domain expertise in fintech/banking (6+ years with major European banks), HR tech and workplace health management (5+ years), data engineering with Power BI and ETL/ELT pipelines, and AI automation (RAG implementations, n8n workflows, ChatGPT integration). I'm also experienced in GDPR compliance, having served as Data Privacy Coordinator, and have achieved measurable results like 60% cost reduction through strategic automation.
Skills & Technologies
Leadership & Team Building
Strategic & Architecture
Development & Databases
DevOps & Cloud Infrastructure
Business & Integration Tools
Services & Engagement
Flexible technical leadership tailored to your stage and needs
What I Offer
Fractional CTO Services
Part-time executive technical leadership for startups and SMBs who need strategic guidance without full-time commitment.
Technical Leadership & Advisory
Strategic advice on technical decisions, team structure, and engineering processes to accelerate your growth.
Team Building & Hiring
Build high-performing engineering teams from scratch or scale existing ones with proven hiring processes.
Architecture & Strategy
System design, technology roadmaps, and architectural decisions that scale with your business.
Code Reviews & Audits
Comprehensive technical assessments to identify risks, improve quality, and establish best practices.
Technology Selection
Vendor evaluation, stack decisions, and build-vs-buy analysis based on your specific needs and constraints.
AI Teams on Demand
Custom AI agent teams for marketing, content, and operations - your team enhanced by AI, not replaced.
How We Can Work Together
Monthly Retainer
Ongoing technical leadership with predictable availability. Ideal for companies needing consistent strategic input.
Typically 2-4 days/monthProject-Based Consulting
Focused engagements with defined scope and deliverables. Perfect for specific initiatives or transformations.
Defined scope & timelineHourly Advisory
Flexible access for ad-hoc questions, quick consultations, and targeted advice when you need it.
Book as neededInterim CTO
Full-time temporary technical leadership during transitions, searches, or critical growth phases.
3-6 month engagementsEvery company is different. Let's discuss your specific situation and find the right engagement model for you.
Proven Results
Measurable impact across industries and team sizes
Leadership & Impact
Digital Wealth Platform for Swiss Major Bank
Led technical delivery of a digital wealth management platform as Solution Architect and PMO, coordinating an 8-person development team. The platform achieved 300M CHF in assets under management within its first year, demonstrating successful market adoption and technical execution.
CTO - Cost Optimization & Strategic Restructuring
Directed company-wide restructuring as CTO, leading organizational redesign across Product, Tech, and Support departments. Implemented automation strategies that reduced operational costs by 60% while maintaining service quality and enabling the company's strategic pivot.
AI-Powered Chatbot with RAG Integration
Architected and deployed a company-wide AI chatbot leveraging Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology. Integrated with knowledge bases from Jira and Confluence, enabling teams to access organizational knowledge through natural language queries, improving productivity and knowledge sharing.
Subscription Management & Billing Automation
Led requirements analysis and system integration for a comprehensive subscription management solution. Architected the integration of Chargebee with existing Salesforce infrastructure, automating the billing process and reducing manual overhead while enabling scalable revenue operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about Fractional CTO services
A Fractional CTO is an experienced Chief Technology Officer who works with multiple companies on a part-time or project basis. You get strategic technical leadership and operational expertise without the cost of a full-time executive hire. Ideal for startups and SMBs with 10-100 employees who need senior technical guidance.
Fractional CTO services are ideal for startups and mid-sized companies (10-100 employees) who need technical leadership but aren't ready for a full-time CTO. Companies particularly benefit during growth phases, technical transformations, or when building their first engineering team.
I bring deep domain expertise in fintech and banking (6+ years with major European banks like PostFinance), HR tech and workplace health management (5+ years at DearEmployee GmbH), and retail sectors. This experience allows me to quickly understand industry-specific challenges and develop effective solutions.
I offer flexible models: Monthly retainers (typically 2-4 days/month) for ongoing support, project-based consulting with defined scope, hourly advisory for ad-hoc questions, or interim CTO engagements (3-6 months) for full-time leadership during transition phases. Each model is tailored to your specific needs.
Get in Touch
Let's Work Together
I'm always open to discussing new projects, creative ideas, or opportunities to be part of your vision. Feel free to reach out through the contact form or via email.