Fractional CTOs in Houston Making Things Happen in 2025

Houston Interim Chief Technology Officers to Know

Houston has long been a city of scale—oil, energy, healthcare, space, and infrastructure. But in recent years, it’s also become a quietly rising tech hub. With increasing investment in SaaS, cleantech, fintech, and healthtech, companies across the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land metro are innovating fast. And in doing so, they’re facing a familiar question: how do you get executive-level tech leadership without overcommitting headcount?

The answer: fractional CTOs.

These are senior technology operators who provide embedded leadership to growing companies—helping guide digital transformation, scale engineering teams, advise on product and security, or reset tech infrastructure. They’re not consultants in name only. They’re hands-on, strategic partners who jump into real challenges.

At Digital Reference, we’ve curated a group of fractional CTOs in Houston who are helping organizations—from founder-led startups to family-run businesses—build smarter, modern, scalable tech.

Our Selection Process for Houston’s Fractional CTOs

Each leader featured here has been vetted based on Digital Reference’s methodology:

✅ Active presence in the Houston metro area
✅ Clearly working in a fractional, interim, or embedded CTO capacity
✅ Public-facing presence via LinkedIn or a firm website
✅ Experience in growth-stage, transformation, or turnaround contexts
✅ Known for delivering high-trust, referenceable results

Our platform only highlights professionals who have demonstrated leadership in the field, not just on paper.

Houston Fractional CTOs to Know

🔹 Roberto Mejia

Fractional CTO | Founder | Technical Advisor for SMBs and Startups
Roberto brings decades of experience leading technology strategy for both corporate IT and startup environments. As a fractional CTO, he partners with companies that need clarity on architecture, systems integration, and scaling their digital product offerings. He’s especially strong at helping founder-led teams translate vision into an executable roadmap.

🔍 Specialties: Technology transformation, ERP implementation, systems leadership
📍 Based in: Houston, TX

🔹 Mehrab Momin

Founder, AICto | Embedded CTO | AI & Automation Leader
Mehrab leads AICto, a firm focused on bringing fractional CTO services to growth-stage companies and enterprises adopting AI, automation, and smart infrastructure. With deep experience in emerging tech, he’s a trusted advisor for companies seeking to scale their platforms while staying ahead of industry disruption. Mehrab brings both C-level strategy and day-to-day execution to the table.

🔍 Specialties: AI strategy, automation systems, platform scalability
📍 Based in: Houston, TX

🔹 John Shipp

Fractional CTO | Startup Technologist | Digital Product Architect
John is a go-to fractional technology leader for startup founders who need someone who can own the roadmap, build the team, and keep investors confident. With a background in both enterprise IT and early-stage product builds, he offers an invaluable “tech whisperer” perspective—communicating clearly between devs, executives, and business stakeholders.

🔍 Specialties: MVP development, technical team mentorship, cloud-native architecture
📍 Based in: The Woodlands, TX

🔹 Lance Oberlin

Founder, CTO Rescue | Fractional CTO | Tech Due Diligence Expert
Lance founded CTO Rescue to solve a clear problem: companies struggling with legacy tech or engineering debt, often without knowing where to start. As a fractional CTO, Lance helps turn chaos into clarity—leading tech assessments, team audits, and rebuilds that prioritize long-term sustainability. He’s especially valuable to PE-backed and growth-stage companies.

🔍 Specialties: CTO turnaround, software team evaluation, M&A readiness
📍 Based in: Houston, TX

🔹 Fab Ordonez

Fractional CTO | Product-Led Technologist | CTO-as-a-Service Leader
Fab brings a design-thinking approach to technology leadership. Known for bridging the gap between product, design, and engineering, he works as a fractional CTO with startups and mid-size companies that need vision and velocity. He’s also a leader in Houston’s startup ecosystem, helping technical founders refine their product roadmap and build team culture that lasts.

🔍 Specialties: UX-forward dev teams, CTO coaching, product strategy
📍 Based in: Houston, TX

Why Houston Companies Are Embracing the Fractional CTO Model

Houston’s mix of legacy industries and fast-moving innovators creates a perfect environment for fractional leadership. Many companies here are:

• Navigating digital transformation (especially in energy, healthcare, and manufacturing)
  
  
• Replacing outdated IT or software systems
  
  
• Building tech-enabled product lines from scratch
  
  
• Evaluating product-market fit while managing investor expectations
  
  
• Running lean, technical teams in need of experienced oversight
  
  

In these cases, a full-time CTO may be overkill—or unavailable. That’s where fractional CTOs step in with the right balance of vision, hands-on help, and situational judgment.

What Sets These CTOs Apart

At Digital Reference, we look beyond resumes. The Houston-based leaders above stand out for:

✅ Strategic range—tech, product, people
✅ Operational credibility—able to execute, not just architect
✅ Cross-industry experience—startups, SMBs, enterprise
✅ Ability to mentor technical teams while aligning with non-technical leadership
✅ Track record of being called back by repeat clients

They're not just good at tech—they’re trusted to lead in complex, high-stakes moments.

Digital Reference Resources You Might Like

📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive
A practical guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.

📍 The Importance of Professional References
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📍 Find Local Fractional CTOs & Chief Technology Officers Near Me
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📘 Collecting Professional References: The Dos and Don’ts
References are often the make-or-break element of your next opportunity. Yet many professionals still treat the reference process as an afterthought or, worse, scramble to collect them last minute.

📗 The Talent Ecosystem: Why Fractional Operators Are Reshaping the C-Suite
Explore the structural shifts behind the rise of fractional leadership and what it means for your next hire.

Final Word: The Future of Tech Leadership in Houston Is Flexible

Houston companies are innovating in real time—but the smartest among them know that scaling tech requires more than code. It requires technical leadership that adapts to the business. That’s what fractional CTOs offer.

Whether you're modernizing systems, preparing for a product relaunch, or simply trying to stabilize an overstretched engineering team, leaders like Roberto Mejia, Mehrab Momin, John Shipp, Lance Oberlin, and Fab Ordonez are already making that transformation happen across the region.

You don’t need a full-time CTO.
You need the right CTO—at the right time, with the right scope.

And that’s exactly what these Houston leaders deliver.

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