For portfolio companies.
Technology leadership that operates within investor governance, not despite it.
Running technology in a portfolio company is not the same as running technology anywhere else. There is a value creation plan with milestones that tie to exit. There is an operating partner who needs visibility without micromanagement. There is a board that expects technology progress translated into commercial language, not sprint metrics.
We work exclusively with PE and VC-backed businesses, and our partners have operated inside these structures — reporting to boards, aligning roadmaps to hold periods, and building technology functions that withstand buyer scrutiny when the time comes. With over 25 experienced CTOs and CPOs on our bench, we have the capacity and sector breadth to match the right leader to your specific challenge. For a detailed look at how technology creates and protects value through the hold period, see our article on unlocking technology value in private equity.
Your CTO just left?
Partner operational within a week
We maintain a bench of 25+ experienced CTOs across the UK and Europe. When a CTO departs, we mobilise fast.
Team stabilised within 30 days
Our Rational Start methodology assesses the real state of things, addresses flight risk, and delivers a clear roadmap — all in the first month.
Permanent hire or structured handover
We build capability and design ourselves out. Whether that means recruiting your next CTO or extending, the goal is always independence.
What makes working with us different in a PE context
Dual Reporting Model
We report operationally to the CEO and strategically to the operating partner. Both get honest, independent updates — no surprises at the next board meeting.
Value Creation Alignment
Every technology decision traces back to the value creation plan. We prioritise what drives measurable value within the hold period, not what is technically interesting.
IC-Ready Reporting
Board packs that connect engineering progress to EBITDA impact. Written for investors, not engineers.
Operating Partner Cadence
We slot into existing governance — quarterly reviews, annual planning, ad hoc calls. No new frameworks to learn.
Our services for portfolio companies
Fractional CTO
Experienced technology leadership embedded two to four days per week. Strategy, team management, and board-level communication — with dual reporting built in.
Technology Audit
Independent assessment across the Five Pillars. Identifies what a buyer's DD would find and quantifies remediation costs for the value creation plan.
Exit Preparation
We assess your technology the way a buyer would, then build the remediation plan that protects valuation. Start eighteen months before sale.
CTO Recruitment
When the time is right for a permanent hire, we define the role, screen candidates against PE-specific criteria, and manage the transition through our Rational Closedown.
We help portfolio companies build the technology capabilities that drive growth and valuation
Technology Strategy
Align the technology roadmap with the value creation plan and investor expectations — not a wish list, a prioritised programme.
Team Development
Build, structure, and professionalise the engineering function. Address key-person dependencies before they become buyer leverage.
Operational Excellence
Put in place the processes and practices that improve delivery cadence and reduce risk. Automated deployment, clear architecture, measurable output.
Exit Preparation
Ensure technology withstands buyer scrutiny. Documentation, architecture narrative, team structure, and remediation of the issues DD will find.
Client Testimonials
"Rational Partners has established itself as a vital technical advisor to H.I.G. European Capital Partners. Their unique blend of agility and engineering heritage sets them apart. They move beyond standard 'red flag' reporting to deliver commercially focused, actionable strategies."
"Rob & Roja have been great partners for us. They know what they are doing, get stuck in quickly and have great ownership. The biggest impact has come from the investment they have made in upskilling our senior team."
"Rational Partners have been fantastic in giving us insight into the portfolio, as well as stepping in to a number of fractional roles to add a lot of value and stability."
Frequently Asked Questions
For a detailed look at how our services work across all company types, see our page for business leaders. If you are a PE or VC firm looking for technology advisory across your portfolio, see our investor services.
CONTACT US
Need technology leadership now?
If your CTO has just left, your technology team needs stability, or your board needs a technology strategy that connects to the value creation plan — we can have a partner embedded within a week. Book a call with us today.