Honest Comparison
Kompella vs Cerius Executives: Which Fractional CTO Firm Is Right for You?
Vertical-specialist fractional CTO/CPO (Kompella) vs. broad interim executive placement across functions (Cerius) — pick by what you actually need.
| Kompella Technologies | Cerius Executives | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $8K Advisory / $15K Fractional / $25K Embedded — published monthly | Project-based or interim placement; quoted per engagement |
| Ideal client stage | Pre-seed to Series B startups | Mid-market through enterprise; PE portfolios; turnaround situations |
| Vertical specialization | Healthcare · Fintech · SaaS (deep vertical depth) | Broad — manufacturing, supply chain, operations, plus tech |
| Engagement model | Embedded fractional CTO/CPO retainer (month-to-month) | Interim placement, project-based, turnaround |
| Function coverage | CTO and CPO only | CEO, COO, CFO, CTO, supply chain, sales, HR, etc. |
| Geographic coverage | US · India · Singapore · Australia · UAE · Israel | Primarily US |
| Founded | 2024 (current entity); 15+ years founder track record | Established interim/fractional firm with multi-year history |
| Team size | Boutique, founder-led | Network of interim executives across many functions |
| Typical engagement length | 6–18 months | 3–12 months for interim/turnaround engagements |
When to Choose Kompella
Three specific scenarios where we're the right fit.
- 01
You're a startup needing embedded fractional CTO or CPO
Pre-seed through Series B product-led companies in healthcare, fintech, or SaaS. We embed for the long arc (6–18 months) rather than parachute in for a project, and we build the team to make us replaceable.
- 02
You need vertical-specialist depth
HIPAA, SOC 2, FDA SaMD, multi-tenant SaaS architecture — patterns we've shipped 75+ times. A generalist interim executive will need months to ramp up where we can make calls in week one.
- 03
You want a CTO+CPO offering under one engagement
Our dual CTO+CPO model is uncommon and often the right shape for product-led startups whose product and engineering decisions are too coupled to staff separately. Cerius doesn't position around this combined offering.
When to Choose Cerius Executives
Three specific scenarios where Cerius Executives is the better fit.
- 01
You're in a turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis interim
Cerius's strength is interim executive placement during turnarounds, PE post-close transitions, and crisis management. If your situation is "executive just left, need someone competent in 5 days" with broad operational scope, their interim model is purpose-built for that.
- 02
You need a non-tech executive (COO, supply chain, ops)
Cerius covers a much broader range of executive functions than we do. If you actually need an interim COO or supply chain leader rather than a CTO/CPO, we're not the firm — Cerius is.
- 03
You're mid-market through enterprise rather than startup-stage
Cerius's typical engagement profile skews larger and more operationally complex than our pre-seed-to-Series-B sweet spot. For mid-market companies needing broad interim executive coverage, their bench is deeper.
Evaluation Call
Five questions to ask either firm.
Use these on your evaluation call with us, with Cerius Executives, or with anyone else you're shortlisting. The answers tell you more than any pitch deck.
- Q1
“Are you positioned for embedded leadership or interim/turnaround placement? Walk me through how that shapes the engagement.”
- Q2
“What's your function coverage — and which functions do you decline to cover?”
- Q3
“Tell me about an engagement that ran longer than 12 months — how did the work evolve?”
- Q4
“What's the longest you've stayed with a client, and why didn't they transition to a full-time hire?”
- Q5
“How do you bill — fixed monthly retainer, daily rate, or project-based — and what drives that choice?”
Talk to Kompella.
We'll be honest if Cerius Executives is a better fit for your situation. 30 minutes, three specific recommendations, no deck.