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

1

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).

2

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).

3

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

Contract Length:

Growth CTO

Most popular

$6,000per month

10 hours per week, 40 hours per month

Post-Seed to Series A startups actively building product and team (3 to 10 engineers).

  • Weekly call with founders (1 hour)
  • Bi-weekly sprint reviews with the team
  • Active hiring involvement: sourcing, interviews, offers, onboarding
  • Product architecture and technical roadmap ownership
  • Emergency availability for critical situations
  • Slack support (24-hour response time)

What's included:

  • Quarterly OKRs for the technical team
  • Hiring playbook for first 5-10 engineers
  • Architecture Decision Records (ADR)

Outcome:A solid technical foundation and team ready for rapid growth and product scaling without chaos.

Contract term:from 3 months

Scale CTO

$12,000per month

≈3 days per week, 80 hours per month

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

  • Everything from Growth CTO package
  • Participation in executive meetings and investor discussions
  • Building engineering management team (leads, engineering managers)
  • Due diligence support for fundraising
  • Organizational design: team structure, processes, rituals
  • Technical debt strategy and refactoring roadmap
  • Vendor and partner negotiations (AWS, third-party services, contractors)

What's included:

  • Engineering handbook and team culture code
  • Leveling and compensation framework
  • Engineering metrics dashboards (DORA, velocity, code quality, etc.)
  • Incident management and on-call rotation

Outcome:A mature engineering organization with clear processes, metrics, and a culture of product ownership.

Contract term:from 6 months

Related services

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Frequently asked questions

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Fractional CTO for EdTech and educational platforms - Anton Golosnichenko - Fractional CTO