Directory
CTO coaches, without
the guesswork.
An independent, curated directory of specialist CTO coaches and coaching communities — grouped by how they actually work, with pricing signals and who each is best for. No referral fees. No pay-to-rank. Every detail comes from public sources.
How to choose a CTO coach
The category blends coaching, mentoring, advisory and fractional execution. Before you talk to anyone, get clear on what you actually need — these seven criteria separate a good fit from a nice chat.
Real operating credibility
CTOs are sceptical of generic leadership advice — you want someone who has actually held the seat.
Stage relevance
Seed / Series A problems differ from post-Series C or enterprise. Match the coach to your stage.
Confidentiality and trust
Many of the hardest issues can’t be discussed internally — the coach is your outside-the-building space.
Structured goals and diagnosis
Prevents “nice conversations” with no measurable change. Ask how progress is defined.
Between-session support
Valuable in a crisis or a board moment, when the calendar won’t wait for the next session.
A community or peer layer
Reduces isolation and tends to improve retention — a network you keep beyond the engagement.
A clear coaching vs consulting vs fractional boundary
The three solve different problems. Know which you’re buying so expectations line up.
The directory, by how they work
CTO coaching is delivered five main ways. Start with the model that fits your situation, then compare the providers inside it.
Solo ex-CTO coach
1:1 coaching or mentoring from a single named operator who has done the job. Best for: You want lived-experience credibility and a personal relationship, and can work around one person’s availability.
Amazing CTO
Pricing not public1:1 CTO coaching from a former CTO.
- Best for
- CTOs, VPEs and engineering leaders at startups and scaleups.
- How it works
- 1:1, weekly or biweekly.
- Pricing
- Not public.
- Stands out
- Clear founder brand, startup-stage focus, 100+ CTOs coached (self-reported).
Community + coaching
1:1 coaching wrapped in peer groups, a members’ Slack, masterminds and events. Best for: Isolation is part of the problem and you value an ongoing peer network as much as the coaching itself.
CTO Craft
Pricing not publicExecutive coaching plus mentoring for tech leaders.
- Best for
- CTOs and engineering leaders, startup to large org.
- How it works
- 1:1 coaching + mentoring circles and community.
- Pricing
- Not public.
- Stands out
- Strong community layer and experienced former-CTO coaches.
7CTOs
Executive coaching plus community for today’s CTOs.
- Best for
- CTOs, VPEs and senior tech leaders.
- How it works
- Tailored 1:1 + peer groups + members’ Slack + events.
- Pricing
- $2,500–$10,000 / month (most clients $2,500–$5,000).
- Stands out
- Explicit cohort/community layer alongside the 1:1 work.
Coaching + fractional / interim
Advice plus hands-on operating support — coaching that can shade into doing. Best for: You’re in transition or crisis and need someone who can both guide you and step in.
madewithlove
Pricing not publicCTO coaching + mentoring + interim CTO for SaaS.
- Best for
- SaaS startups, tech leaders and staff engineers.
- How it works
- Coaching, mentoring and interim operating support.
- Pricing
- Not public.
- Stands out
- Explicit SaaS focus and an interim-execution option.
Boutique advisory firm
Practitioner-led coaching, workshops and crisis support delivered by a small team. Best for: You want team breadth and a B2B-friendly engagement rather than one person’s brand.
Rational Partners
Pricing not publicCoaching from operating CTOs.
- Best for
- First-time CTOs, experienced CTOs in a new context, future CTOs, and crisis situations.
- How it works
- 1:1, peer groups, crisis coaching and workshops.
- Pricing
- Not public — fixed monthly retainer, typically an initial six months.
- Stands out
- B2B / advisory framing with explicit crisis support.
Marketplace
Matchmaking with transparent profiles, prices and trial access. Best for: You want to browse, compare and start quickly, and are comfortable vetting quality yourself.
MentorCruise
Marketplace for fractional-CTO and mentor access.
- Best for
- SMBs and startups needing part-time senior leadership.
- How it works
- Marketplace matching with trial-based starts.
- Pricing
- Fractional CTOs typically $10,000–$20,000 / month; marketplace mentor profiles from ~$300 / month.
- Stands out
- Price transparency and low-friction, trialable access.
How this directory works
This is a curated starter set— the five main ways CTO coaching is delivered, with a representative specialist in each. It is not an exhaustive index; the category is fragmented and founder-led, and we're expanding coverage over time.
Every entry is drawn from the provider's public pages and our market research. Where pricing isn't published, we say so rather than guess. We take no referral fees and no pay-to-rank— inclusion and ordering aren't for sale.
Spotted a specialist we've missed, or a detail that's out of date? research@ctocoach.com.
Not sure you need a coach yet?
Start with the free CTO Readiness Assessment — five leadership dimensions, an instant score, and where to focus first. No coach required.
Take the free assessment