Insights & Research.
Practical perspectives on technology leadership, due diligence, and building engineering organisations that actually deliver
When Should You Hire a Fractional CTO?
The seven signals that indicate it's time to hire a fractional CTO — and the common mistakes companies make instead. From practitioners, not theorists.
From AI Chaos to Strategic Advantage: How Investors Should Evaluate Portfolio Company Readiness
Most investors are drowning in AI noise. Our four-pillar Operator Framework transforms vague AI aspirations into concrete, measurable progress for PE and VC portfolios.
Fractional CTOs: Unlocking Value in UK Midmarket PE
With PE distributions at their lowest since 2009, operational value creation is essential. How fractional CTOs are transforming the UK midmarket investment lifecycle.
The AI Diligence Gap Is Real. Here's How to Close It.
AI diligence sits in an awkward gap between commercial and technical assessment. Here's how we've built a structured programme to give investors a clear, comparable view of AI readiness and vulnerability across their portfolios.
The Non-Technical CEO's Guide to Managing Technology
You don't need to understand code. You need to understand these 5 things about your technology — a practical guide for non-technical CEOs.
Is Your Tech Team Any Good? 10 Signs That Tell You
10 signs that reveal whether your tech team is performing — written for non-technical CEOs by CTOs who've assessed 100+ teams.
What can Intercom's £100M bet teach PE Operators?
Can a PE-backed CEO make 'bet the company' moves like an early stage founder? Intercom's dramatic AI pivot offers a masterclass in strategic transformation—and raises crucial questions about mandate and risk in private equity.
What Does a Fractional CTO Cost in the UK? (2026 Guide)
Understanding UK fractional CTO pricing for 2026: engagement models, what drives cost, and how to evaluate value. From a firm with 20+ active fractional engagements.
Fractional CTO vs Interim CTO vs Full-Time: Which Do You Need?
The real differences between fractional, interim, and full-time CTOs — with a decision framework from operators who've served in all three roles.
How Mid-Market CEOs Can Deploy AI at Lightning Speed (Without Cutting Corners)
An interview with Roja Buck, Founding Partner at Rational Partners, on navigating AI adoption without creating compliance nightmares.
Why Your Tech Team Isn't Delivering (From Someone Who Fixes Them)
The 5 actual reasons tech teams deliver slowly — from operators who've diagnosed and fixed this problem in 100+ companies.
What is a Fractional CTO? The Complete UK Guide
What a fractional CTO actually does, what they cost in the UK, and how to know if you need one. From a firm that's placed 20+ fractional CTOs.
You Failed Tech DD. Now What?
Failed technology due diligence doesn't mean a dead deal. Here's what's fixable, what isn't, and how long remediation takes.
Inside the Real Deals Due Diligence Report 2025: What It Tells Us About Where PE Diligence Is Heading
Rational Partners featured as an expert contributor alongside some of the industry's leading advisory firms. Here's what the report reveals about the evolving diligence landscape — and why technology has moved to the centre of it.
Private Credit is Booming. Technology Due Diligence Hasn't Caught Up.
As private credit expands rapidly across Europe and the UK, credit funds face a growing tail risk of asset ownership they're not yet equipped to evaluate. Here's how we're closing the gap.
The Proactivity Playbook
Proactive technology audits are reshaping deal preparation, helping sellers avoid mid-process surprises, demonstrate operational maturity and protect value when acquirers push hard on risk and execution.
Your CTO Just Left — The 30-Day Survival Plan
Your CTO just resigned. Here's exactly what to do in the next 30 days, from someone who's stepped into this situation 10+ times.
Technology expertise founded in first-hand experience as Founders, CEOs and CTOs for some of the biggest names in technology, private equity, and venture capital.