Fractional CTO & AI MVP Builder Ship in 3โ€“6 weeks

I build MVPs that help founders raise and ship fast.
No wasted time or effort.

๐Ÿ“… Start your MVP journey

Trusted by founders backed by

Y Combinator Accelerator Program Y Combinator
Techstars Accelerator Program Techstars
500 Startups Accelerator Program - Alumni Alumni โ€“ 500 Startups
Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator Program - Alumni Alumni โ€“ Berkeley SkyDeck

"We launched fast, got lucky with a NYT mention, and hit 500K signups in a month."

Solo Founder · Pet Tech
500K users post-launch

"Manuel took over after 2 years of zero traction with a dev shop. We piloted schools in 8 weeks."

Founder · EdTech
2 schools in 2 months

"Creative, relentless, and actually loves the grind. Not just an engineer โ€” a real partner."

Founder · Real Estate Tech
Raised from institutional investors

What I Actually Do

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ’ป Build Fundable MVPs

I personally code your MVP with clean architecture and fast iteration. Built to scale, not duct-taped.

๐Ÿง  Ship AI That Works

LLMs, RAG, smart agents, etc. We go from prompts to production-ready features users actually engage with.

๐Ÿ’ธ Help You Build and Raise

I help with product, pitch, and fundraising. I build MVPs that align, demo well, and scale smoothly.

โšก Act as Fractional CTO

From hiring additonal talent to picking the right infra: I bring calm, clarity, and experience to every decision.

Who I Am

Manuel Zamora - Fractional CTO and AI MVP Builder

Most engineers ship code. I help founders ship companies.

I'm Manuel โ€” a lifelong builder who loves to code and build things that matter. I've helped startups raise over $50M through thoughtful code, fast MVPs, and long-term partnerships. My goal is simple: help good people build great things.

Some Wins from the Journey

โ†’ See more on Downshift

How I Build & Partner With Founders

Whether you're bootstrapping or raising, I help non-technical founders build fast, validate, and scale โ€” with clean code and AI support.

1๐ŸŽฏ Diagnose

We unpack your idea, funding plan, and goals. I focus on what actually needs to ship to provide REAL value.

2๐Ÿ“ Design Fast

We architect the MVP with just enough to test, raise, or launch. I use AI tools to accelerate flows, mockups, and key decisions.

3๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Build & Ship

I code it myself, meet weekly, and ship with clean architecture. AI + modular components help us move fast without sacrificing quality.

4๐Ÿค Stay Involved

After MVP, I can stay on as Interim CTO, advisor, or even Co-Founder โ€” supporting hiring, infra, GTM, and your next raise.

Tech I Build With

From core infrastructure to frontend polish โ€” here's what I use regularly.

NestJS - Enterprise Node.js Framework NestJS - Enterprise Node.js Framework
Next.js - React Framework Next.js - React Framework
React - UI Library React - UI Library
Node.js - JavaScript Runtime Node.js - JavaScript Runtime
Laravel - PHP Framework Laravel - PHP Framework
PostgreSQL - Advanced Database PostgreSQL - Advanced Database
MySQL - Relational Database MySQL - Relational Database
AWS - Cloud Platform AWS - Cloud Platform
Heroku - PaaS Platform Heroku - PaaS Platform
Supabase - Open Source Firebase Supabase - Open Source Firebase
Firebase - Backend as a Service Firebase - Backend as a Service
Flutter - Cross-platform UI Flutter - Cross-platform UI
Swift - iOS Development Swift - iOS Development
Vercel - Frontend Platform Vercel - Frontend Platform
Elementor - WordPress Builder Elementor - WordPress Builder
WordPress - CMS Platform WordPress - CMS Platform
Webflow - No-code Platform Webflow - No-code Platform
OpenAI - AI Models OpenAI - AI Models
Claude - AI Assistant Claude - AI Assistant
V0 - AI Design Tool V0 - AI Design Tool
Zapier - Automation Platform Zapier - Automation Platform
Stripe - Payment Platform Stripe - Payment Platform
Mixpanel - Analytics Platform Mixpanel - Analytics Platform

Availability & Timeline

I typically work with 2 founders per quarter, depending on scope and fit. Most MVPs ship in 3โ€“6 weeks and include full code ownership, clean architecture, and ongoing support options.

โœ… Current Status: Accepting 1 new build as of now

๐Ÿ’ฐ What's the typical MVP cost?
Pricing depends on scope and team size. Some guidelines:
  • $15โ€“$25K โ€“ Solo build, single workflow โ†’ demo-ready in ~3โ€“4 weeks
  • $30โ€“$45K โ€“ Multi-feature MVP โ†’ launch + raise ready in ~5โ€“6 weeks
  • $65K+ โ€“ Complex logic, AI agents, or mobile + web combo โ†’ built to scale
  • $100K+ โ€“ Venture-scale product with AI, mobile, team expansion, and ongoing CTO support
๐Ÿ“ฆ What do you actually deliver?
A working, deployable MVP with clean architecture, production-ready infra, and full code ownership. Includes weekly demos, GitHub access, launch support, and documentation.
๐Ÿงช Can you help validate the idea?
Yes โ€” before coding, we define success, scope what matters, and decide what version earns trust, not just ships. I've helped founders pivot early and save months of wasted effort.
๐Ÿค Do you require equity?
Never required. We start cash-only and revisit equity after traction. If it makes sense, I may take a small stake to stay involved long-term.
๐Ÿง  Do you stay on as CTO after the MVP?
I can stay on in one of three ways:
  • Fractional CTO โ€“ Guide hiring, infra, and roadmap
  • Advisor โ€“ Support with fundraising decks, tech due diligence
  • Co-founder track โ€“ If there's long-term alignment (cash + equity)

I work with founders who are serious and ready to build.

Got a startup idea and want to move fast? Let's talk.

๐Ÿ“… Start your MVP journey

No fluff. No handoffs. Just momentum.