Consultation

A free CTO consultation is the first step toward solving your business’s technology challenges. Over 15 years, I’ve conducted hundreds of these sessions, helping 215+ companies across 38 countries — from seed-stage startups to billion-dollar enterprises in the MENA region.

Free CTO Consultation — Book via Calendly

The fastest way to get a CTO consultation is to book through Calendly. Choose a convenient time slot, and I’ll call you at the scheduled time.

What You Get from a CTO Consultation

In our 15-minute CTO consultation, we analyze your situation and map out concrete next steps:

  1. Discuss your challenges — architecture, scaling, security, technology selection, team management
  2. Identify priorities — what delivers maximum ROI with minimum risk and time investment
  3. Outline an action plan — specific steps with timeline, budget, and resource estimates

No obligations. No sales pitch. Just actionable insights from a specialist with 6 patents in information security and Big Data.

What Challenges Does a CTO Consultation Address

Typical questions we cover during a CTO consultation:

  • Strategy & planning — do you need a full strategic IT plan or targeted improvements? How to prioritize tech debt vs. new features?
  • Architecture & scaling — how to scale without rewriting from scratch? My experience with Monolith Plus: a payment platform serving 30,000+ clients with real-time cashback
  • Cybersecurity & risk — which threats are critical for your industry? How to build data protection? IT risk management is one of my core specializations
  • Process automation — where can business automation deliver x3-x5 ROI? Case: eXpresso achieved x5 return on investment in 4 months
  • Data & analytics — how to build a data analytics system for decision-making? From simple dashboards to ML-powered forecasts
  • Budget & finances — how to optimize IT spending? Financial management of tech projects — every dollar counts
  • Team & hiring — how to build a technical team? Developer assessment, process design, onboarding — from experience managing teams of up to 300 people

Why Companies Trust My CTO Consultation

? 215+ projects across 38 countries — fintech (Monolith Plus), pharma (PharmAPI), retail (MStar 2225), blockchain (CryptoMBA)

? 6 patents in information security & Big Data. Not marketing certificates — real inventions registered with patent offices

15 years in IT and technology leadership. Seen every stage: startup → growth → scale → IPO. Managed teams from 3 to 300 people

? Serving as Fractional CTO in Dubai for companies across UAE, Kazakhstan, and MENA. Rate: $250/hour — C-suite expertise at freelancer prices

CTO Consultation — Ilya Arestov, Fractional CTO in Dubai

CTO Consultation FAQ

How much does a CTO consultation cost?

The initial 15-minute CTO consultation is free. We’ll analyze your situation, identify priorities, and outline next steps. If a deeper analysis is needed, we’ll discuss format and pricing on the call. My standard rate is $250/hour.

What format is the CTO consultation?

Online via Zoom or Google Meet — convenient for companies anywhere in the world. If you’re in Dubai or Almaty, in-office meetings are available. In 15 minutes, we identify the key challenge and map out 2-3 concrete steps.

What industries does a CTO consultation cover?

My experience spans fintech and payment systems, retail and e-commerce, pharma and healthcare, real estate and proptech, education and edtech, blockchain and crypto. Over 15 years, I’ve worked with companies in 38 countries — from startups in DIFC to international corporations.

How is a CTO consultation different from IT consulting?

I work as a Fractional CTO in Dubai — I don’t sell vendor solutions, I help you choose the best path for your business. IT consulting is a months-long engagement. A CTO consultation delivers a concrete answer in 15 minutes.

My Offices

?? Dubai, UAE — Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ). Serving companies across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the wider MENA region. CTO consultation available online or in-office. Convenient location near the airport — combine your business trip with an in-person meeting.

?? Almaty, Kazakhstan — Zenkova Street 59. Serving companies across Kazakhstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and the CIS region. CTO consultation works seamlessly online — no difference for remote teams.

Other Ways to Book a CTO Consultation

Prefer to message directly? Telegram is the fastest way to reach me and book a CTO consultation:

Office: Dubai Airport Free Zone (DAFZ), Dubai, UAE. Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, Zenkov St. 59.