For founders and executives without an internal CTO
Every good executive has
a lawyer they trust.
You need the same for IT.
I'm a trusted advisor for IT decisions — the person you call before you sign a contract, commit to a vendor or make a technology bet. Independent, unbiased, no implementation agenda.
15+
Years of pattern recognition
I see the problem fast.
20+
Audits & assessments
Real engagements, real findings.
100%
Written deliverables
Clear verdicts, not slide decks.
30 min
First call to first clarity
You'll know where you stand.
Direct
Always
I say what I see. Even when it's uncomfortable.
Is this you?
You have a lawyer for contracts.
An accountant for taxes.
Who do you call for IT?
You have 20–150 employees and no internal CTO or tech lead.
Nobody on your team can tell you if an IT offer is technically sound.
You're planning a custom software project or evaluating a €20k+ IT investment.
The vendor says it'll take 3 months. You have no way to verify that.
You've been burned before — or you're scared of being burned for the first time.
You want honest answers, not another sales pitch.
That's the gap I fill. I'm your trusted advisor for IT — the person in your corner who tells you the truth, not what you want to hear.
What happens when
nobody checks.
The same pattern plays out across dozens of projects every year.
Month 1
You sign the contract.
The vendor seemed competent. The price felt reasonable. The timeline was 3 months.
Month 2
First delays. Scope discussions start.
"We need a few more weeks." "This wasn't in the spec." Familiar phrases begin.
Month 4
Budget is 40% over. Deadline is gone.
The 3-month project is now 6 months — and still not done. Stakeholders are asking questions.
Month 6
Chaos.
The team is overwhelmed. The vendor is defensive. You're paying to fix problems that were predictable from day one.
Most of this was visible before month one.
Unrealistic timeline. Wrong team setup. Hidden contract risks. Someone with 15+ years of pattern recognition would have spotted it.
Where I come in
Recognise your situation.
Each of these is a specific problem I solve — with a clear process, clear output and no implementation agenda.
"I have an IT offer on my desk. I'm not sure if it's a good deal."
I review the offer independently — technology, timeline, team and contract risks. Written assessment + 60-min call. Clear recommendation: sign, renegotiate or walk away.
2–5 days · 2.500 € – 5.000 €
"Something feels off with our software. I don't know what to believe."
I audit your system across six dimensions — architecture, technical debt, feature waste, security, delivery and costs. Written report with risk levels and an honest overall verdict.
5–10 days · 1.500 € – 4.500 €
"Every release is a gamble. Our pipeline is fragile and the team is scared to ship."
Flaky tests, broken CI/CD, fear of Friday deploys. I identify the root causes and fix the foundation — so your team ships reliably without constant firefighting.
1–3 weeks · 2.000 € – 6.000 €
"Our software has a problem. The vendor says it's not their fault. Nobody's solving it."
I speak both languages — technical and business. I reproduce the issue, own the vendor escalation and get it resolved. Fixed price regardless of how many tickets it takes.
Fixed monthly retainer · 300 € / month
"We ship constantly — but the business isn't moving the way we expected."
I review how you make product decisions — goal alignment, prioritization patterns, tech-product gaps. Written findings on where strategic clarity breaks down, and what to change.
2–4 weeks · 3.000 € – 8.000 €
Ongoing · IT Advisory
Want someone in your corner for every IT decision?
External CTO on retainer. Unlimited offer reviews, strategic IT planning, regular calls — without a full-time hire. From €3,000/month.
The trusted advisor principle
A trusted advisor only works
if they have nothing to sell.
Your lawyer doesn't earn a commission when you sign a contract. Your accountant doesn't profit from your tax bill. That's what makes their advice trustworthy.
I don't sell development. I don't have preferred vendors. I earn nothing from your implementation. That's what makes my advice worth something.
If your offer is overpriced — I'll tell you.
If the timeline is unrealistic — I'll tell you.
If you don't need the project at all — I'll tell you.
15+ years in software — as an engineer and product builder.
I don't just ask if your vendor can deliver. I ask if what they're building is the right thing to build at all.
Vendor
"No problem, we can do it in 3 months."
They want the contract.
Your team
"We don't know — that's not our area."
Not their expertise.
Other consultants
"We can assess it — and then we'd be happy to implement it too."
Conflict of interest.
Me
"Here's what I actually see — and here's what you should do."
No implementation. No agenda.
Who you're talking to
I'm Stephan.
This is just me.
No team. No junior consultants doing the work while a senior signs off. When you reach out, you talk to me. When the audit lands in your inbox, I wrote it.
15+ years building software — across startups, agencies and products. I've been on the vendor side. I know how the pitches are built. That's what makes the advice worth something.
"No panic. Just calm, clear execution. Couldn't have asked for more."
Next step
This is the call
you should have before any IT decision.
Got an offer on your desk? A project going sideways? An IT decision you're not sure about?
30 minutes. No pitch, no slide deck. Just an honest conversation with someone who has no interest in selling you anything. I'll tell you what I see — and what I'd do in your position.
Book a free callTypically responds within one business day.