Enlight Lab
Fractional CTO · CTO as a Service

A Senior CTO. Without the Full-Time Salary.

Architecture decisions, engineering accountability, AI strategy, and technical roadmap ownership, without the $200K-$400K+ annual commitment of a full-time hire.

Start Free Scoping Call
  • Architecture decisions made with your 18-month roadmap in mind, not just the next sprint.
  • Direct access to a senior CTO, no account manager, no escalation layer.
  • You own every decision, every roadmap, every system. No vendor lock-in.

Clients include

Emblazer.aiHumaMozilla Foundation

Track Record

22+ MVPs Shipped100% On-Time

Clutch Review

4.8 on Clutch · Jay Joshi, Exar North

“Delivered a working MVP faster than we thought possible.”

Fill in your details below to get started

Start With a Free Scoping Call

Tell us about your project. We respond same business day.

Your enquiry is confidential · NDA on Day 1 · We respond same business day

Or speak with a senior engineer directly:
8 WeeksFrom first scope call to a working product for Emblazer.ai
38%Faster support resolution for Alida, after deploying a custom AI agent
28%Lower cloud and infrastructure cost for Huma, from right-sized architecture
*Representative results from recent engagements. Your numbers will vary.
What You Get

Everything Included. No Hidden Extras.

One engagement, full-stack execution. We own the outcome, not just the deliverables.

01

Fractional CTO Leadership

Senior technical leadership embedded in your company, without the full-time executive salary. Architecture decisions, engineering accountability, and technology roadmap ownership on your schedule.

Fixed-price contractWeekly milestonesLaunch plan
02

Software Architecture

System design, API architecture, and database strategy built for where you are going, not just what ships next sprint. Decisions made with your growth trajectory in mind.

Technology selection docArchitecture diagramCode documentation
03

AI Strategy and Adoption

A practical AI roadmap: which use cases to prioritise, which to avoid, and how to implement AI in ways that actually move the business forward.

Testing suiteProduction deploymentIP transfer
04

Engineering Delivery Oversight

Accountability for your development work, whether in-house, outsourced, or offshore. We manage execution so your roadmap actually gets built.

Demo environmentInvestor deck supportLive data integration

Sometimes we'll tell you not to build.

If AI isn't the right answer for your problem, or an off-the-shelf tool would do the job better and cheaper, we'll say so on the call.

Why Enlight Lab

Specific Commitments. Not Marketing Language.

Every firm claims to be reliable, fast, and senior. Here is what those words actually mean in practice when you engage with us.

Strategy Before Tactics.

Most companies jump to execution before establishing direction. We start with a technical assessment: what the right architecture, AI strategy, and engineering investment looks like for your stage. Tactics without strategy is expensive guesswork.

Architecture Built for Scale.

We design systems that handle your next phase of growth. Database strategy, API design, caching layers, and infrastructure decisions, all made with your 18-month runway in mind.

We Work With Your Existing Team.

You do not need to fire anyone to work with us. We step in as CTO oversight, managing offshore teams, freelance developers, or in-house engineers and bring the accountability they have been missing.

Honest AI Strategy, Not AI Hype.

We will tell you which AI use cases are worth pursuing and which to skip. Too many companies spend six months building AI features their users do not actually want.

You Own Every Decision.

We do not build proprietary platforms or create dependencies. All architecture decisions, roadmaps, and code belong to you. When the engagement ends, you can continue independently.

Engagement Depth That Fits Your Needs.

Some companies need a weekly 30-minute sync. Others need daily embedded CTO presence. We scale the involvement to what your business actually requires, not a fixed package.

Dhananjay Goel, Founder & CEO, Enlight Lab

Dhananjay Goel

Founder & CEO, Enlight Lab

View LinkedIn

I started Enlight Lab because too many founders get sold senior engineers and handed juniors after they sign. That does not happen here.

I stay involved in every engagement, from the first scope call to launch. You work directly with the people who build your product, and the price we agree on is the price you pay.

  • Senior engineers only, assigned from day one
  • Fixed price, confirmed before any code is written
  • Weekly demos and full source-code ownership

Free scoping call. Fixed-price proposal within 24 hours.

Partners & Recognition

Certified Partner Status & Ratings

aws partner
network
Select Tech Partner
Rate on
Clutch 4.8
Microsoft
Silver Partner
Google Cloud
Partner
Teams we've built for
Pasqal
MAERSK
UnitedHealthcare
CNN
Mozilla Foundation
Huma
Alida
q
qPress
Emblazer
Go2ANDAMAN
homeloft
ACCESSTRUTH
Engagement Model

Four Phases. Four Weeks. Every Checkpoint is Working Software.

No status-report theatre. No slide decks. At every phase you receive something you can read, test, or deploy.

01

Discovery and Technical Assessment

We review your current architecture, codebase, team structure, and roadmap. You receive a written assessment: where you are, what the risks are, and what the first 90 days of a fractional CTO engagement would prioritise.

02

Engagement Kickoff

We establish working cadences, decision-making frameworks, and communication channels. The technical roadmap is formalised with clear milestones and accountability.

03

Embedded CTO Leadership

We operate as your interim CTO: architecture reviews, engineering oversight, hiring decisions, vendor management, AI strategy, and investor support. You set the depth of involvement.

04

Transition When Ready

When you are ready to hire a full-time CTO or build in-house engineering leadership, we handle the transition. Full documentation, handover, and knowledge transfer included.

Testimonials

What Engineering & Product Leaders Say

Real feedback from our clients, from startups to large organisations.

4.8
Clutch · Verified Review
Fixed
Price guaranteed
10+
Industry verticals
NDA
Day one

“Enlight Lab delivered exactly what we needed, faster than we expected. Clear communication, strong technical judgment, and they understood our requirements without needing things repeated.”

Jay Joshi
Jay Joshi
CEO · Exar North

“Enlight Lab were excellent at execution, but what set them apart was their thinking on the product itself and the strategy around it. Real partners, not just developers.”

Sophia V. Prater
Sophia V. Prater
Founder, Rewired

“Enlight Lab took on a genuinely complex platform and delivered without the drama. They worked through every technical hurdle and suggested better ways to build along the way.”

Ben Christine
Ben Christine
Product Designer & Mentor

“Enlight Lab brings real breadth across product, engineering, and DevOps. They get everyone aligned and ship high quality work that holds up in production.”

Daniel Gallagher
Daniel Gallagher
Data Analytics & Engineering

From verified Clutch reviews and LinkedIn recommendations

Technology Stack

Enterprise-Grade Tools.
Battle-Tested in Production.

Product & Architecture
System DesignAPI ArchitectureDatabase DesignMicroservicesEvent-Driven
Engineering Stack
ReactNext.jsNode.jsPythonTypeScriptGoPostgreSQL
Cloud & Infrastructure
AWSGCPTerraformDockerKubernetesCI/CD
AI & Growth
OpenAILangChainRAG PipelinesAnalyticsA/B TestingObservability

Stack selection is driven by project requirements. We advise against over-engineering.

Free · No Obligation · NDA on Request

Tell Us About Your Project

30 minutes. We review your concept and send a fixed-price proposal within 24 hours of the call.

<24hr
Proposal After Discovery Call
Flexible
Engagement Depth
4.8★
Clutch Rating

What to expect on your scoping call:

  • Direct Engineering Scoping: Speak directly to a senior engineer. No salespeople, no scripted pitches.
  • Fixed-Price Quote: Receive a detailed written scope and a fixed-price quote within 24–48 hours.
  • Guaranteed Confidentiality: We sign a mutual NDA before we discuss any proprietary architecture or system logic.

Start With a Free Scoping Call

Tell us about your project and we’ll prepare a tailored scope and fixed-price proposal.

Your enquiry is confidential · NDA on Day 1 · We respond same business day

Or speak with a senior engineer directly:
Got Questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before booking a call.

What is a fractional CTO?
A fractional CTO is a senior technology executive engaged on a part-time or retainer basis. They provide the same strategic technical leadership as a full-time CTO: architecture decisions, engineering accountability, technology roadmapping, AI strategy at a fraction of the cost. Full-time CTOs typically command $200K-$400K+ in total compensation.
How is a fractional CTO different from a technical advisor?
Advisors offer high-level guidance and leave execution to your team. A fractional CTO is operationally embedded. They make decisions, manage engineering work, attend leadership meetings, and are accountable for technical outcomes. An advisor attends a board meeting once a quarter. A fractional CTO is in your Slack every day.
How many hours per week does the engagement require?
Most engagements start at 10–20 hours per week, scaling up or down based on your needs. Some companies use a fractional CTO for a focused 3-month sprint, architecture overhaul, AI adoption planning, or a specific crisis. Others maintain an ongoing retainer. We structure the engagement around what your business actually needs.
What does a fractional CTO cost?
Costs vary by scope and duration. Most engagements start between $5,000–$15,000 per month for part-time involvement. We discuss budget and structure during the discovery call and propose what fits your stage and goals.
Who do you work with?
Founders building their first product, companies modernising existing software, and teams going through a technical transformation. The common thread is needing senior technical leadership without the commitment of a full-time executive hire.
Can you work with our existing development team?
Yes. Most engagements involve managing and levelling up an existing team rather than replacing it. We assess the team during discovery, identify gaps, and build a plan to raise the overall quality of output.
What if we eventually hire a full-time CTO?
We support the transition. We document the technical landscape, establish engineering standards, and assist with the hiring process. We can also remain involved in an advisory capacity after you bring someone on full-time.
How do I get started?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. We will discuss your current situation, biggest challenges, and goals. If we are a good fit, we will outline a proposed engagement structure within 24 hours. No obligation.

Ready to Start Your Project?

30 minutes. No pitch deck. We review your concept, define the scope, and send a fixed-price proposal within 24 hours of the call.