Fractional CTO for EdTech and educational platforms

Building engaging, scalable educational technologies that transform learning. Expert guidance on LMS architecture, content delivery, adaptive learning, and learner analytics.

Challenge

EdTech challenges

Content delivery at scale: video streaming, interactive content, large files for millions of learners
Real-time collaboration: live classes, collaborative editing, breakout rooms, screen sharing
Learner analytics: tracking progress, identifying at-risk learners, measuring learning outcomes
Adaptive learning: personalizing content based on learner performance and pace

Assessment and grading: auto-grading, plagiarism detection, rubric-based assessment
Data privacy: COPPA, FERPA, GDPR for educational data
Accessibility: WCAG compliance, screen readers, accommodations for disabilities

Integration ecosystem: LTI, SIS, Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle
Mobile and offline: learning on any device, offline content access
Engagement and gamification: keeping learners motivated and engaged

How I help

Educational platform architecture

Designing LMS and platforms for effective learning

LMS/LXP design: course structure, progress tracking, certification
Content management: video hosting, document storage, SCORM/xAPI compliance
Real-time features: live video (WebRTC, Zoom SDK, Agora), collaborative whiteboards
Adaptive learning: personalized learning paths, skills gap analysis
Mobile-first design: responsive web, native apps, offline mode support
Scalable infrastructure: handling millions of learners, concurrent live sessions

Content delivery and media

Reliable delivery of educational content

Video streaming: adaptive bitrate, CDN optimization, low-latency streaming
Interactive content: simulations, labs, coding environments, 3D models
Content encoding: video transcoding, multiple formats, preview generation
Offline access: progressive web apps, content downloads, sync on reconnect
Large file handling: course materials, assignments, student work
Content protection: DRM, watermarks, access control

Assessment and learning analytics

Assessment systems and performance analytics

Assessment engine: quiz builder, question banks, multiple question types
Auto-grading: multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, code checking
Plagiarism detection: Turnitin integration, originality checking
Learning analytics: learner progress, engagement metrics, completion rates
Predictive analytics: identifying at-risk learners, intervention recommendations
Reporting dashboards: for learners, instructors, administrators, parents

Engagement and personalization

Keeping learners motivated and engaged

Gamification: points, badges, leaderboards, achievements, challenges
Recommendation system: suggesting relevant content based on interests and performance
Adaptive learning algorithms: adjusting difficulty based on learner mastery
Social learning: discussion forums, peer review, study groups
Push notifications: reminders, encouragement, new content notifications
AI tutoring: chatbots for Q&A, hints, explanations

Compliance and accessibility

Protecting learner data and ensuring accessibility

COPPA compliance: parental consent, protection of children's data under 13
FERPA compliance: student educational records privacy
GDPR compliance: for European users, consent management
Accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA): screen readers, keyboard navigation, captions
Section 508: for government and institutional buyers
Data security: encryption, access control, audit logs

Integration and interoperability

Seamless integration with educational systems

Single Sign-On (SSO): SAML, OAuth, Google/Microsoft login
LTI integration: Learning Tools Interoperability for LMS integration
SIS integration: sync with Student Information Systems (Infinite Campus, PowerSchool)
Roster management APIs: Google Classroom, Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle
API design: RESTful APIs for third-party integrations
Webhook systems: real-time notifications to external systems

Common use cases

Specialized solutions for different EdTech sectors

K-12 learning platforms

Digital curriculum and lesson plans
Homework management
Parent-teacher communication
Student progress tracking
Standards-aligned content

Higher education

Online degree programs
Course management systems
Video lectures and archives
Academic integrity tools
Student engagement analytics

Corporate training

Employee onboarding
Compliance training
Skills development programs
Certification management
Learning paths and tracks

Online course marketplaces

Multi-instructor platforms
Course creation tools
Payment and revenue sharing
Student reviews and ratings
Certificate generation

Language learning

Adaptive vocabulary practice
Speech recognition and pronunciation
Gamified lessons
Live tutoring sessions
Skills-based progress tracking

Technology stack and architecture

Proven technologies for educational systems

Frontend

React, Next.js
React Native, Flutter (mobile)
Progressive Web Apps
WebRTC for video

Backend

Node.js, Python, Ruby on Rails, Java
PostgreSQL, MongoDB
Redis (caching)
WebSockets, Socket.io

Video and streaming

AWS Media Services, Mux
Cloudflare Stream
Agora, Zoom SDK
HLS/DASH protocols

Analytics

Segment, Mixpanel, Amplitude
Custom data warehouse
SCORM, xAPI (Tin Can)
LTI, IMS Global

Infrastructure

AWS, GCP, Azure
Vercel, Heroku
CDN (CloudFront, Cloudflare)
Kafka/SQS for async processing

How it works

Month 1: Discovery and learning experience design

4 weeks

Understanding pedagogical goals and learner personas. Auditing current platform and user feedback. Designing target learning experience. Identifying technical bottlenecks. Quick wins (performance, UX improvements).

Month 2-3: Core platform development

8 weeks

Content delivery optimization. Assessment engine improvements. Analytics and reporting dashboards. Mobile experience improvements. Integration with key systems (SIS, SSO).

Month 4-6: Advanced features and scaling

12 weeks

Adaptive learning algorithms. Gamification and engagement features. Compliance and accessibility. Real-time/live features. Team training and documentation.

Results you can expect

Technical improvements

3x faster content delivery
99.9%+ uptime
Mobile app with offline lessons
Real-time collaboration features
Comprehensive learner analytics

Learning outcomes

20-40% increase in course completion
30-50% improvement in learner engagement
15-25% improvement in learning outcomes
Reduced time to proficiency
Higher student/teacher satisfaction

Business impact

Faster development velocity
Reduced infrastructure costs (20-40%)
Compliance with EdTech buyer requirements
Faster institutional onboarding
Scalability to millions of learners

Who this is for

Pre-Seed/Seed stage

Building first version of educational platform. MVP for online courses or tutoring. Developing mobile learning app.

Series A

Scaling to thousands of concurrent learners. Adding adaptive learning features. Enterprise sales requirements (SSO, SIS).

Series A+ and scaling

Millions of learners. International expansion. Advanced AI/ML features.

Enterprise and established companies

Complex compliance and accessibility requirements. Legacy system integrations. Multi-tenancy.

Pricing

Suitable packages for EdTech companies

Currency:

Growth CTO

Scale CTO

$11,000per month

~20 hours per week of dedicated time

For Series A+ startups with 15-20+ engineers preparing for the next funding round.

How we work:

Everything from Growth CTO package
Daily involvement in engineering operations - standups, planning, escalations
Executive team participation - board prep, investor meetings, due diligence support
Engineering management development - coaching team leads into engineering managers
Organizational design - team topology, processes, rituals, communication structures
Vendor strategy - cloud cost optimization, service negotiations, contractor management
Technical debt strategy - refactoring roadmap balanced against product delivery

What you walk away with:

Engineering handbook - culture, standards, processes, expectations
Leveling and compensation framework - career ladders and salary bands
Engineering metrics dashboard - DORA metrics, velocity trends, code quality
Incident management playbook - on-call rotation, severity definitions, postmortem process
Technical due diligence package - investor-ready architecture and security documentation
Security and compliance assessment - SOC2, GDPR, HIPAA readiness evaluation
Engineering headcount plan and infrastructure budget forecast

Outcome

A mature engineering organization ready for due diligence and the next funding round.

3-month minimum commitment