Gary McKiernan
CTO/Interim CTO
As an experienced CTO available to help businesses of all sizes navigate their tech journeys. I specialize in designing scalable architectures, building dedicated delivery teams, and streamlining processes for startups and established enterprises alike. I can work with you full time or on a part-time interim basis, bringing a wealth of knowledge to improve your operations and drive efficiency. Let’s connect and explore how I can help you elevate your technology strategy.
Most early-stage companies need a CTO long before they can justify a full-time one. I fill that gap: a fractional or interim CTO who still writes code, has shipped iOS apps from prototype to acquisition, and can talk to founders, investors and engineers in their own language.
Who this is for
- Founders with an app idea who need someone to turn it into an architecture, a team and a launch plan.
- Startups that have raised a round and need technical leadership to spend it well.
- Growing companies whose CTO has left, or whose engineering team has outgrown its founder.
- Non-technical leadership who want an independent view on a team, a codebase or a vendor.
What I do
Product and architecture. I work with you to shape the roadmap, then design the system behind it: native iOS in Swift, backend services in Python, cloud infrastructure on AWS or Google Cloud. I've rebuilt a web prototype as native apps when performance demanded it, and migrated a live platform between cloud providers without downtime for users.
Team building and delivery. I hire, lead and mentor remote engineering teams, set up the delivery process in Jira, and keep the cadence between product and engineering honest. I've led teams from three developers to more than fifty.
Hands-on engineering. I still ship. On a small team that means writing the hard parts of the iOS app myself; on a larger one it means reviewing the work, unblocking people and keeping the quality bar where it should be.
Investor and board support. I join investor calls, prepare technical due diligence, and give the CEO a clear picture of risk, cost and timelines. I've done this for startups that have raised more than US$5M.
How it has worked before
At Dancefight I was contracted to build a prototype that would interest investors. The app launched in 2020, became the home of the street dance community, and I stayed on as CTO until the company was acquired by ARIA Ventures in 2025.
At TopThis I own all development for a video competition platform across iOS, Android and TV: backend architecture on AWS, the iOS app itself, and the roadmap with the product owner.
Before mobile, I led technology programmes with teams at retailers such as LaSenza, LK Bennett, Rapha and TK Maxx, and managed database systems across Aviva's insurance and wealth creation products.
How we'd work together
Engagements are usually one to three days a week, remote, with regular on-site time in the EU or Australia if you need it. I can step up to full time for an interim period, for example to cover a departure or get a launch over the line.
I don't bill by the hour. We agree the outcomes, and the price reflects your stage, location and the time it will take to get there. A short first conversation is free: tell me where you are and I'll tell you honestly whether I'm the right fit.
