Fractional CTO for Series C FinTech Startups
Navigate the unique challenges of building a FinTech company at Series C. Expert technical leadership that understands both ipo readiness and FinTech-specific requirements.
Typical Funding
$50M - $100M+
Team Size
200-500 people
Revenue
$50M - $150M ARR
Runway
48+ months or path to profitability
What FinTech Companies Need at Series C
Technical Priorities
- Navigate FinTech-specific technical challenges at Series C
- Implement industry-standard FinTech architecture
- Meet Series C investor expectations for FinTech companies
- Balance feature velocity with FinTech compliance requirements
- Build technical foundation for next funding stage
Industry-Specific Focus
- PCI-DSS compliance and payment security
- Banking integration and API partnerships
- Financial regulations (FinCEN, SEC, FCA)
- Fraud detection and prevention
- Real-time transaction processing at scale
Why FinTech at Series C is Different
FinTech companies at Series C face a unique combination of challenges. While Series C companies focus on ipo readiness, FinTech adds complexity through PCI-DSS requirements, PCI-DSS compliance and payment security technical needs, and industry-specific competitive dynamics. Our fractional CTOs understand both dimensions and help you navigate this intersection efficiently.
Challenges We Solve for Series C FinTech Companies
Series C Challenge
IPO readiness requiring new financial controls, audit trails, and governance
Series C Challenge
Engineering organization too large for one CTO to manage effectively
FinTech Challenge
PCI-DSS compliance and payment security at Series C scale
FinTech Challenge
Banking integration and API partnerships at Series C scale
Technical Leadership Gap
Finding CTO-level expertise who understands both Series C dynamics and FinTech regulations/requirements
Resource Constraints
Balancing FinTech compliance requirements with Series C budget and timeline constraints
FinTech Compliance at Series C
FinTech compliance is critical at Series C. We help you achieve and maintain necessary certifications while scaling your engineering organization.
Stage-Specific Compliance Priority
Maintain and expand compliance certifications. Consider additional frameworks like SOC 2 for global expansion.
FinTech Benchmarks for Series C
Tech Budget
$3.5M-$10M+/month
Typical monthly tech spend at Series C
Team Size
200-500 people
Engineering team size for Series C
Time to Market
6-12 months
Typical development cycle at Series C
What Investors Expect from Series C FinTech Companies
Technical Requirements
- FinTech-appropriate architecture and security measures
- Compliance roadmap for PCI-DSS
- Scalable tech stack proven in FinTech companies
- Clear technical roadmap aligned with Series C milestones
- Strong engineering team or hiring plan
Key Metrics
- Product velocity: Consistent feature releases
- FinTech user engagement and retention metrics
- System reliability: 99%+ uptime for production systems
- Security posture: Zero critical vulnerabilities
- Technical efficiency: Cost per user or transaction
Our Approach for Series C FinTech Startups
Stage Expertise
Deep understanding of Series C dynamics: IPO Readiness, M&A Strategy.
Industry Knowledge
Proven experience with FinTech compliance, tech stacks, and best practices.
Network Access
Connect with vetted FinTech engineers, advisors, and technical partners.
Success Story
Series C enterprise SaaS platform, 380 people, $180M raised, $95M ARR, preparing for IPO in 18-24 months
Challenge
CTO focused on engineering execution but board needed strategic technology leadership for IPO. Considering 2 acquisitions but no M&A experience. SOX compliance readiness unclear. Infrastructure costs at $420K/month with declining gross margins concerning CFO. Platform architecture limiting ability to move upmarket to Fortune 500. Board asked for fractional CTO to assess readiness and guide IPO prep.
Solution
Fractional CTO engaged as board technical advisor and strategic counselor to CTO. Led 90-day IPO readiness assessment identifying gaps in controls, documentation, and processes. Key initiatives over 18 months: 1) Designed SOX control framework for engineering and infrastructure, 2) Led technical due diligence for 2 acquisitions ($15M and $32M), successfully integrated both, 3) Coached CTO on board communication and strategic thinking, 4) Launched FinOps program reducing infrastructure costs to $310K/month while supporting 2.2x revenue growth, 5) Defined enterprise architecture for Fortune 100 customers, 6) Built technical content for S-1 filing and investor presentations, 7) Recruited VP of Security and VP of Infrastructure from network, 8) Established technology advisory board with CTOs from public companies.
Result
Successfully IPO'd at $2.1B valuation with clean technical diligence from underwriters. Engineering and infrastructure controls praised by auditors. Two acquisitions integrated smoothly, contributing $12M ARR. Infrastructure unit costs improved 55% through FinOps. Gross margins improved from 72% to 78%. CTO effectively presented technology vision to investors during roadshow. Platform supporting Fortune 100 customers at $1M+ ACV. Engineering organization of 285 scaling efficiently. Stock up 35% in first year as public company.
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