The CTO Journal

Field notes on technology leadership.

Practical, hard-won writing on tech strategy, AI, due diligence, and scaling engineering teams — from 27 years in the CTO chair. No theory, no fluff.

Tech Strategy

The Privacy Act Reforms: What Australian SaaS Businesses Must Do Now (2026)

Australia’s privacy law has changed in ways that matter for every SaaS business — including a new right to sue…

2 Jul 2026 · 2 min
Tech Strategy

Measuring Technical Debt: How to Turn ‘It’s Messy’ Into Dollars

“The code’s a bit messy” is not a business case. To get technical debt taken seriously — by a board,…

29 Jun 2026 · 2 min
CTO Insights

How VCs and PE Firms Actually Run Technical Due Diligence (The 2026 Playbook)

When a VC or PE firm runs technical due diligence on a target, they follow a repeatable playbook. Knowing it…

25 Jun 2026 · 2 min
Startup & Scale-Up

Pre-Acquisition Tech Readiness: Getting Your SaaS Investment-Ready in 90 Days

If a raise or sale is on your horizon, the work to become “investment-ready” starts long before the term sheet.…

22 Jun 2026 · 2 min
CTO Insights

Fractional CTO vs CTO-as-a-Service vs IT Consultant: Which Does Your Business Actually Need?

Short answer: a fractional CTO gives you senior, accountable technology leadership part-time; CTO-as-a-Service is a productised version of that, often…

18 Jun 2026 · 2 min
Tech Strategy

7 Signs Your SaaS Platform Needs an Independent Technical Audit

Most platforms don’t fail overnight — they show warning signs first. If any of these seven sound familiar, it’s time…

16 Jun 2026 · 3 min
CTO Insights

Fractional CTO Cost in Australia (2026): Rates, Models and What’s Worth Paying For

“How much does a fractional CTO cost?” is the question every founder asks first. Here are the real 2026 Australian…

12 Jun 2026 · 4 min
Tech Strategy

What a Technical Due Diligence Report Should Contain (and the Red Flags Buyers Look For)

Whether you’re an investor evaluating a target or a founder preparing to be evaluated, knowing what a technical due diligence…

9 Jun 2026 · 2 min
CTO Insights

How to Choose an Independent Technical Auditor for Your SaaS (2026 Buyer’s Guide)

Choosing the right firm to audit your SaaS platform is a high-stakes decision. Pick well and you get an honest,…

5 Jun 2026 · 3 min
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