Sector experience / Startups & innovation

Startups & innovation. Move fast, keep your footing.

My experience includes startups and innovation work, where the brief changes weekly and the budget does not. The job is to learn quickly, build only what matters and avoid the technical shortcuts that become expensive later.

Prototypes, technical direction and hands-on delivery

Discuss your project Engagements & pricing

RichardStartups & innovation

Startups and innovation, at a glance.

Startups and innovation

I have worked with startups and on innovation, where speed and learning matter more than polish.

Learn before building

Prototypes, demos and quick technical proofs answer the risky questions before money goes into a full build.

Technical direction

A fractional CTO gives you experienced technical judgement without a full-time hire, from someone who still writes code.

Small releases

Working software early, improved through real feedback. Plans change, and the codebase should be able to change with them.

What matters when everything is new.

Speed with judgement

Moving fast is the point. The skill is knowing which shortcuts are harmless and which ones you will pay for later.

Evidence over enthusiasm

Talk to users, test a prototype, check the risky dependency. Learning early is far cheaper than rebuilding later.

Something to show

A clickable demo or working proof helps investors, partners and early customers picture the idea.

Foundations that grow

Version control, testing and documentation from the start, so a growing team can pick up the work.

Where this comes from.

I have worked with startups and on innovation projects, where the brief changes quickly and the first version has to earn its place.

Today I work as an external / fractional CTO, leading the technical work and developing the application myself, from planning and new features to testing, releases and documentation.

Fractional CTOA technical partner for the decisions and the delivery.Prototypes & clickable demosAnswer the risky question before the full build.User researchInterviews, observation and testing, so decisions rest on evidence, not guesswork.Mobile appsPhone apps built for one clear job, tested on real devices and easy to hand over.

A sensible first step.

Focused discovery suits a new idea: one defined question, up to four of my working days, and a clickable demo or technical proof when that helps.

For ongoing technical direction, the fractional CTO retainer reserves 30 hours a month. Current prices are under Engagements & pricing.

Engagements & pricing

A useful next step

What are you trying to prove?

Tell me about the idea, the stage you are at and the question that worries you most. The first 30-minute conversation is free.

You’ll speak directly with me about the problem, the fit and a sensible next step.

Email Richard

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hello@richardzoltantoth.com

Online meetings worldwide.
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View the full engagement terms.