Fractional CTO · MVP Development · EU Engineering Teams
Stop losing money on software that never ships.
Most founders spend €30,000 to €80,000 before realizing nobody owned the technical decisions. We step in before that happens. Architecture. Team. Delivery. All on us.
Free call. No pitch. We tell you honestly if we can help.
10+
Years in IT engineering
7
Years hands-on development
30
Max team size managed
6 wks
Typical MVP delivery
The problem
Most software projects fail before a single line of code is written
The developer misunderstood the product. The scope was never defined. The architecture was not built for what the business actually needed.Six months and €40,000 later, you are starting over. Or stuck with something that half-works and cannot be extended.This is not a developer quality problem. It is a technical leadership problem. Without someone who owns the architecture, the team, and the delivery - you are building on sand. That is the problem we solve.
What we offer
Three ways to work together
€750 · 1 week
Technical Audit
Before you hire or sign a contract. Written report on architecture, scope, risks, and red flags.
€4,500 · 30 days
Fractional CTO Sprint
Architecture, roadmap, team structure. Not consulting - delivery responsibility.
From €15,000 · ~6 weeks
MVP Build
Working product via mid-senior EU engineers. Full handoff. Start within 24 hours.
How it works
Four steps from first call to working product
Free 30-min call
We talk through your situation and tell you honestly what you need. No pitch. No pressure.
Clarity and planning
We define architecture, scope, team, and roadmap before anything is built.
Build with ownership
We take responsibility for technical execution. Weekly updates. Decisions in plain English.
Full handoff
Code, infrastructure access, documentation - all yours. No lock-in.
In practice
6 weeks: from Bluetooth-only device to cloud monitoring platform.
A military training safety product ran on a single Android phone. No cloud. No API. Just a local Bluetooth app.We rebuilt the entire architecture: cloud backend, custom time-series database on TimescaleDB, real-time monitoring, scalable API, and a web interface in two languages.
Common questions
We already have developers. Do we still need this?
Having developers is not the same as having technical ownership. If no one is directing the architecture, the product is at risk regardless of developer quality.
What if our idea is not fully defined?
That is exactly what the Technical Audit is for. We define scope, architecture, and priorities before any development money is spent.
Do you work remotely?
Yes, fully remote by default. We have delivered for clients in the Netherlands, Germany, UK, Belgium, the US, and the UAE. Onsite available when needed.
What are your engineers' rates?
Mid-senior EU-based engineers at €25–€50/hour. Western European agencies typically charge €100–€200/hour. Same quality, no overhead.
What is the first step?
Book a free 30-minute call. We tell you honestly if we can help.
Technical Audit · One week · Fixed price
Before you spend €30,000 on the wrong product - get clarity.
A 1-week technical review. Written report on architecture, scope, risks, and the decisions you have not made yet. In plain English. Before any money goes to a developer.
€750 Fixed price · Delivered in 1 week · No retainer
One session. One written report. One follow-up call. Done.
✓
Delivered remotely, worldwide
✓
Works without technical documents
✓
Fixed price, no surprises
✓
Written report you can share with investors
The problem
Founders lose money at the start. Not at the end.
The moment most software projects fail is before the build starts — when nobody asked the right questions.What exactly are we building, and what are we not building? What does the architecture need to handle in 12 months? Who owns the technical decisions once the build starts? What is missing from this developer's quote?These questions are rarely answered before money changes hands. Then, months later, the scope has tripled, the budget is gone, and the product does not work. A Technical Audit answers these questions before you start.
Is this for you?
Three situations where this changes everything
SITUATION 01
About to hire your first developer
You have a product vision and are ready to start. But you are not technical and not sure how to evaluate proposals, scope the build, or write a contract that protects you.
SITUATION 02
Received a quote that feels off
A developer or agency sent a proposal. The price or technical approach feels wrong. You want an honest second opinion before you sign anything.
SITUATION 03
Already spent money and it did not work
A previous build failed. The product is broken or incomplete. Before you start again, you need to understand what went wrong and what you are inheriting.
What you get
One fixed price. Four clear deliverables. Seven days.
60-minute technical discovery session
We meet remotely. Our lead asks structured questions about your product, your goals, your constraints, and anything you already have. No technical background required on your side. Send ahead whatever you have: specs, quotes, wireframes, pitch decks.
Written audit report - delivered in 3 to 5 business days
A real document, not a template with your answers typed in. It covers:
Architecture and technology stack recommendation with rationale
Scope gaps and unclear requirements in your current plan
Red flags in any existing developer proposals or contracts
Decisions that must be made before the build starts
Risk assessment - what breaks if the wrong choice is made here
Priority order for what to build first and why
30-minute follow-up call
We go through the report together. Every recommendation is explained. You leave with a clear understanding of what to do next — whether that is finding the right developer, adjusting scope, or renegotiating a contract.
Action summary - one page, plain English
The three to five most important actions to take immediately. Something you can share with a co-founder, investor, or board member today.
How it works
Four steps. Seven days. Complete clarity.
STEP 01
Book
Use the link below. You will receive a short pre-session questionnaire - around 10 minutes. It helps us use the session time well.
STEP 02
Discovery session
60-minute video call. Structured questions about your product, your goals, and your constraints. Send documents beforehand if you have them.
STEP 03
We review and write
3 to 5 business days of real analysis. We review everything and produce the written report. This is not a form with your answers typed in.
STEP 04
Follow-up and clarity
30-minute video call to walk through the report. Every recommendation explained. You leave with a clear action list.
The numbers
What does skipping this actually cost?
A typical 6-week MVP build costs €30,000 to €50,000. Rebuilding the same product because the architecture was wrong from the start costs roughly the same again - plus the months of delay, the runway burned, and the team momentum lost.If it prevents a single wrong architectural decision, this audit pays for itself many times over.
Cost of the audit
€750
One week. Written report. Follow-up call.
Typical cost of rebuilding
€40,000+
Plus 3 to 6 months of lost time and runway.
Investment
One price. No surprises.
Technical Audit
€750
Fixed price · Delivered in 7 business days
60-minute technical discovery session
Written audit report - architecture, scope, risks, red flags
Decision log: what must be decided before the build starts
Priority recommendations: what to build first and why
30-minute follow-up call to review the report together
One-page action summary you can share with your team
Not included: development work, full technical specification, legal or contractual advice.
Common questions
What founders ask before booking.
What if I do not have any technical documents yet?
That is very common and completely fine. We work from whatever you have - a voice note, a pitch deck, a napkin sketch, a business plan, or just your idea explained out loud. The audit is specifically designed for this stage.
Is this useful if I already have a developer or a proposal?
It is especially useful then. Reviewing an existing proposal is one of the most valuable parts of this audit. We tell you what is missing, what is overpriced, what the architecture will not support, and what you should get in writing before signing.
What if I decide not to build after the audit?
That can still be a good outcome. Knowing not to build right now, or not with the current approach - saves significantly more than €750. The audit pays for itself either way.
How quickly can we start?
Usually within 2 to 3 business days of booking. The full audit is complete within 7 business days from that first session.
What happens next if we want to keep working together?
The natural next step is either the Fractional CTO Sprint - 30 days of technical ownership - or an MVP Build via topdevsourcing.com. Neither is required. You take the report and use it however makes sense.
Do you offer this in person?
The audit is delivered remotely by default. If your situation calls for an in-person session - a complex product, multiple stakeholders, a board presentation - we can arrange it. Contact us to discuss.
Fractional CTO Sprint · 30 days · Full technical ownership
Your startup needs a CTO. You need one this week.
We step in as your technical owner for 30 days. Architecture decisions, delivery roadmap, team structure, and every major decision documented. Not consulting. Not advice. We own the technical outcome.
€4,500
30-day sprint
€3,500
per month after
1 week
typical start time
45 minutes. Free. No commitment. We tell you honestly if this is a fit.
The problem
Building without a CTO is expensive in ways you notice too late.
Your developers make architecture decisions based on what they know — not what your business needs. Scope expands. Choices made in week one become impossible to undo in month four. The product launches late. The budget runs over.Hiring a full-time senior CTO in Western Europe costs €120,000 to €180,000 per year plus equity. It takes 3 to 4 months to find the right person. During that time, your product drifts without direction.The Fractional CTO Sprint gives you CTO-level ownership starting within one week, at a fraction of that cost.
What this actually means
Delivery ownership vs consulting
What we do
Own the architecture decisions from day one
Define the team structure and how it operates
Take responsibility for scope and timeline
Give developers specific weekly direction
Flag risks before they cost money
Document every decision for handoff
What consultants do
Write reports with no follow-through
Join monthly calls and send meeting notes
Advise without accountability for the outcome
Tell you what you want to hear
Protect developers from hard feedback
Leave when the engagement ends, no handoff
How it works
Four weeks. Four clear outcomes.
Technical discovery
We review your product, goals, existing code, contracts, infrastructure, and team. Map what you have, what you need, and where the biggest risks are.
● Risk map ● Gap analysis ● Team review
Architecture and technical direction
We make the core technical decisions: technology stack, system architecture, data model, API structure. Every decision explained in plain English.
● Architecture doc ● Stack decision ● System design
Team structure and delivery roadmap
We define the team you need and build the delivery roadmap. What gets built first, in what order, with what milestones. Developers get this roadmap directly.
● Team brief ● Delivery roadmap ● Sprint plan
Handoff and continuation planning
Architecture document, roadmap, team brief, and decision log — all yours to keep. Nothing is locked to us. The sprint is complete as a standalone engagement.
● Full handoff ● Decision log ● Next steps
What is included
Full technical ownership. Not a part-time opinion.
2–3 calls per week
Not monthly check-ins. Regular structured sessions with a documented output every time.
Async access throughout
Available via Slack between calls. Technical questions answered the same day.
Architecture document
Stack with rationale, system design, data model. Something your future CTO can build on.
Delivery roadmap
Prioritised, realistic, scoped milestones with clear acceptance criteria. Not a wishlist.
Team structure and brief
Who you need, at what seniority, how to evaluate them, and what to pay.
Developer review
We review existing proposals and tell developers directly what needs to change.
Investment
Clear pricing. No surprises.
Fractional CTO Sprint
€4,500
30 days · Everything below included
2 to 3 structured calls per week
Full async Slack access throughout
Written architecture document with rationale
Delivery roadmap with milestones and acceptance criteria
Team structure and hiring brief
Developer review and direct feedback (where applicable)
Full handoff documentation
Not included: development work, full technical specification, legal or contractual advice.
Full-time senior CTO: €10,000–€15,000/month plus equity. Takes 3–4 months to hire.Fractional CTO Sprint: €4,500 for 30 days. Starts in one week.Monthly retainer available after: €3,500/month
Common questions
What is the difference vs. a consultant?
Consultants deliver reports. We take delivery responsibility. Architecture, team, roadmap, and outcome are our problem to solve, not yours to manage.
We already have developers. Still useful?
Often this is where the sprint has the most impact. The problem is usually not developer quality — it is missing direction from above.
Our product is broken or behind. Can you help?
Yes, and this is common. We start with an honest assessment of what exists and the fastest realistic path forward.
Can we continue after 30 days?
Yes. Monthly retainer at €3,500/month after the sprint.
Remote or in person?
Fully remote by default. Onsite available with advance notice.
MVP Build · via topdevsourcing.com · EU engineers
From idea to working product. Built right, delivered fast.c
We build your MVP with mid-senior European engineers. Defined scope, fast start, full-stack delivery. You get a deployed product with a full handoff. Not a prototype. Not a Figma file.
~6 wks
typical delivery
€15k+
starting price
€25–50
per hour
24h
typical start
45 minutes. We scope your build and tell you what it costs and how long it takes.
Why most MVPs fail
The problem is almost never the idea. It is how the build was managed.
Founders hire the first developer they find. Or go to an agency that quotes low and delivers late. Or go offshore and spend three months in miscommunication. Or hire a full team before scope is clear and watch the budget disappear.The result is always the same: money spent, time lost, a product that does not work the way the business needed it to.In every case, the core problem is the same. Nobody owned the delivery. The developer had no product context. The scope was never precise enough to hold anyone accountable.We solve this differently. Define first. Right team. Delivery responsibility throughout. Full handoff at the end.
What we build
A working, deployed product. Not a demo.
Scope is defined together in the scoping session. We build what lets you test your main assumption, show investors, or start selling.
Typical MVP includes
Backend API and database
Web frontend (React or Next.js)
Mobile app (React Native, iOS and Android)
Cloud infrastructure and deployment
Authentication and user management
Payment integration (Stripe or Mollie)
DevOps and CI/CD setup
IoT device configuration (where applicable)
Full handoff: code, access, documentation
AI workflow automation
Technology stack
PostgreSQL · TimescaleDB · Redis
Node.js · Express · REST APIs
React · Next.js
React Native (iOS and Android)
AWS · Azure · Vercel · VPS
Stripe · Mollie · Directus CMS
Real-time and high-volume data systems
Stack adapts to your product
The team
Mid-senior EU engineers. Not the cheapest. Deliberately.
The engineers who build your product through topdevsourcing.com are mid-senior professionals based in Europe. They have shipped products in production environments. Every project has a named technical lead reporting to the CTO. One point of contact — not a rotating account team.
| Option | Rate per hour |
|---|---|
| Western EU agencies | €100–€200/h + overhead |
| Offshore teams | €10–€20/h + communication cost |
| topdevsourcing.com | €25–€50/h, mid-senior EU |
How it works
Four steps. Idea to deployed product.
Discovery call - 45 min, free
We talk through your idea, goals, timeline, and budget. We tell you honestly if we are the right fit and what the build will realistically involve. No commitment.
Scoping - 1 to 2 sessions
We define exactly what is in the MVP and what is not. Stack, team, timeline, and price agreed. You get a written project brief before anything starts. No surprises after this.
Build
We start within 24 to 48 hours of agreement. Weekly updates and milestone check-ins. Every major decision documented and explained.
Delivery and handoff
Deployed to your infrastructure. Full codebase, credentials, and documentation handed off to you. We walk you through everything.
In practice
6 weeks from hardware-only to cloud platform.
Military training safety product - ran on a single Android phone via Bluetooth. No cloud. No API. Just a local app.
What we built
Cloud backend and scalable API
Custom time-series data layer (TimescaleDB)
Real-time monitoring
Web interface in two languages
4 wks
Backend and database
2 wks
Frontend in 2 languages
6 wks
Total, fully deployed
Investment
Transparent pricing. No hidden costs.
Custom MVP build
From €15k
Custom quote based on scope · Engineers at €25–€50/hour
Free scoping call to define exactly what is included
Written project brief before any work starts
Full-stack delivery: backend, frontend, mobile, DevOps
Weekly updates and milestone check-ins throughout
You own the code from day one
Full handoff: code, infrastructure access, documentation
Start within 24 hours of agreement
How pricing works: Engineers work at €25–€50/hour depending on seniority and stack. Typical 6-week projects land at €30,000–€40,000 depending on scope. We offer fixed-price or time-and-materials - agreed in the scoping session. Every invoice matches what was agreed.
Common questions
What if my idea is not fully defined?
The Technical Audit is the right first step. It gets you to a defined scope before any development money is spent.
What is actually in a 6-week MVP?
The core features that let you test your main assumption — defined together in scoping. We are direct about what fits in six weeks and what does not.
Do we own the code?
Yes. All code, all infrastructure access, all documentation. From day one. No lock-in.
Can you start this week?
In most cases yes. Book the scoping call and we confirm immediately. We can start within 24 hours of the signed project brief.
What if scope changes during the build?
We flag changes early - not at the invoice stage. Any adjustment to budget or timeline is discussed and agreed before it happens.
Remote or can you join onsite?
Fully remote by default. Onsite available for kickoffs or workshops - contact us to discuss.