A good CTO has the ability to translate a customer’s problems into the architecture of a technical solution. They can explain to development what it is that marketing wants, and tell marketing what development can deliver. They help design solutions that are customer-appropriate; that meet the customer’s needs, their processes, and their culture.
A good CTO understands the importance of process, tools, architecture and documentation. They know that even when reality dictates that you abandon process, it is still important to know what steps you skipped, what features you didn't implement, and what tasks you need to revisit later.
A good CTO is a generalist who can write code, create a press release, author a specification, whip up a web site, give a day long presentation, or pitch a company to a VC. They soak in information for fun, just because it might be useful someday.
Sometimes you need a temporary CTO to handle a spurt in growth, a change in direction, or a specific project. You need someone who can quickly integrate into your team and learn your product, yet who won't leave a gaping hole afterwards. Someone who can be on call to follow-up, but who will also make sure you have processes, documentation and clear buy-in and ownership of the results.
Sometimes you need a way to get from here, to somewhere.
Somewhere is Kee Hinckley.
I founded or cofounded seven of the ten startups I’ve been involved in. I have dealt with everything from financing (VC pitches, finding private investors, cutting deals with corporate investors, and by-the-bootstraps) to marketing and sales, public presentations, tutorials, panels and standards committees. On the technical side I have ranged from pure development, to managing development and IT groups, to providing architecture and technology solutions for developers. I believe in flat hierarchies, well-defined processes, and building fun corporate cultures. If I don't have all the skills you need, I have an extensive network of consultants who may be able to help you as well. For more details on my experience, see my LinkedIn profile and then drop me a line.
Kee Hinckley