Question 1

What does a fractional CTO do?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CTO provides part-time senior technical leadership — architecture decisions, AI strategy, vendor evaluation, team hiring, and engineering process — without the $300k+ salary of a full-time executive. Mike works with early-stage startups and growing companies in the Bay Area and remotely, typically 10-20 hours per week.

Question 2

How much does an AI consultant cost in 2026?

Accepted Answer

AI consulting rates vary from $100/hr for generalists to $500+/hr for specialized firms. Mike ONeal's rate is $150/hr for both hands-on AI engineering and executive advisory. Most engagements start with a 90-minute paid discovery call to scope the work.

Question 3

How can AI reduce software development costs?

Accepted Answer

AI automation can handle code generation, testing, deployment, and documentation — tasks that consume 60-70% of engineering time. AI-powered pipelines let existing teams produce 5-10x more output without adding headcount, meaning faster time to market for startups and more output from existing teams at scale-ups.

Question 4

Do I need a full-time CTO or is fractional enough?

Accepted Answer

If you're pre-Series A or have fewer than 10 engineers, a fractional CTO is almost always the right call. You get strategic thinking, architecture decisions, and technical credibility for investor conversations without burning $25k+/month on a full-time hire.

Question 5

Can I build custom AI tools for my business without a technical team?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mike builds custom AI tools for businesses — document processing, automated workflows, intelligent knowledge bases, custom CRMs powered by AI. You own the source code, there's no vendor lock-in, and your team is trained to maintain it.

Question 6

How is hiring an AI consultant different from hiring a development agency?

Accepted Answer

Agencies give you a team of juniors with 3-5x markup and months of back-and-forth. A senior AI consultant offers direct communication, 25+ years of hands-on experience, and AI automation that matches agency speed at a fraction of the cost.

Question 7

How do I train my engineering team to use AI effectively?

Accepted Answer

Mike offers AI workshops ranging from half-day intensives to multi-week cohorts. Programs cover AI-powered development pipelines, automated testing and deployment, and system architecture — with custom curriculum built around your stack, codebase, and team skill level.

Question 8

What is a CAIO and does my company need one?

Accepted Answer

A CAIO (Chief AI Integration Officer) drives AI adoption across your organization — evaluating tools, setting strategy, managing vendors, and ensuring ROI from AI investments. Mike serves as a fractional CAIO for companies that need strategic AI direction without a full-time executive hire.

Question 9

Are you available for on-site AI consulting?

Accepted Answer

Mike is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and available for on-site work and workshops. Most ongoing engagements are remote via Zoom, but in-person workshops and on-site intensive sprints are available anywhere in the US.

Blog

I Built an AI Agent That Writes All My Production Code →

AI Automation for Small Business: What Works and What's a Waste →

How Much Does a Fractional CTO Cost in 2026? →

What Does a Chief AI Officer (CAIO) Actually Do? →

When Does Your Startup Actually Need a CTO? →