Fractional leadership
Fractional CTO for AI startups
Engagement models
Three ways to work together
The first 90 days
What the first 90 days look like
No discovery theatre and no architecture diagrams nobody asked for. Week one is about what you are actually building, who is actually building it, and what would have to be true for it to matter.
What this covers
What this is not
- Not a body shop — no juniors billed at senior rates.
- Not an agency pitching a 200-page deck.
- Not a promise to build your product for you.
- Not a certificate. The proof is in what has shipped.
Why me
The track record behind the engagement
- Ph.D. in Embedded Systems — Université de Montpellier
- EMBA — Mannheim Business School
- MSc. Computer Science — PUC-RS
- Project Manager / Team Lead — Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Product & Engineering Leadership — HARMAN International
- Senior Director / Principal Engineer — Capgemini Engineering
- Senior Product Manager — Aptiv
- Clinical Imaging Software — Leica Biosystems
I worked with Gabriel on my website project, and the experience was excellent from start to finish. He quickly understood my vision, design preferences, and overall goals right from the beginning. His execution was fast, precise, and exactly aligned with what I had in mind. I can confidently recommend Gabriel as a true professional.
Victoria Strezova
Founder & Managing Director — NorthBridge Automotive
May 2026
I had the pleasure of working with Gabriel in a shared working group focused on Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV), and I can confidently recommend him as a strong and reliable leader. Throughout our collaboration, Gabriel consistently demonstrated solid leadership skills, effectively guiding the team and ensuring alignment across stakeholders. His ability to bring clarity to complex topics and keep the group focused on outcomes made a significant impact on our progress. Gabriel brings deep expertise in the infotainment domain, combined with a strong understanding of connectivity. He has built impressive visibility within the automotive community, particularly in infotainment and connectivity areas, which adds great value to any initiative he is part of.
Denis Akhmerov
Program Manager — Capgemini Engineering
Mar 2026
He is an Engineer at core and it reflects in all his product management activities. Never known him to shy away from speaking his mind and always takes a no-nonsense approach towards his work and with stakeholders. I would highly recommend him wherever they are serious about building cutting-edge products.
Vignesh Malkumar
Senior Product Manager — Digital Cockpit
Jan 2025
Gabriel possesses a profound understanding of the automotive industry and excels in merging technical innovation with strategic business objectives. As a visionary leader, he consistently delivers impactful solutions. I wholeheartedly endorse Gabriel as a valuable and transformative asset to any organization.
Dilshad Alam
Engineering Leader — HARMAN International
Nov 2024
Gabriel played a pivotal role in developing the media features and roadmap for the Harman IC Space4 product, showcasing his strategic vision and technical expertise. His dedication and positive attitude are truly commendable, and I highly recommend him for any future endeavors.
Zunfeng Li
Senior Program Manager — HARMAN International
Nov 2024
A scholarly professional and a lucid engineer, highly skilled in envisioning product goals and translating them into user stories and well-written business needs. Gabriel's skill set of Engineering and Finance makes him unique in administering highly complex Projects and Products.
Haniefa M S
Product & Portfolio Management — SDV & Connected Mobility
Nov 2024
Gabriel's deep knowledge of the automotive industry, combined with his ability to balance technical innovation and strategic business skills, is truly remarkable. He is a visionary leader who consistently drives impactful solutions, and I highly recommend him as a transformative asset to any organization.
Ramnath Kashikar
Transformational Leader — Strategic Program Delivery
Nov 2024
Questions
What founders ask first
How fast can you start?
Typically within a week for a fractional or project-based scope, and at the end of a notice period for an interim engagement. If it is urgent, say so on the first call.
Do you work with in-house teams or replace them?
With them, always. The goal is that your team is stronger and more independent when the engagement ends.
What do you need from us to be effective?
Access to the code, the product decisions and the people who make them — and honesty about the constraints you are actually operating under.
Do you take equity or a success fee?
Cash, for a defined scope. I will look at an equity component when the scope is a genuine partnership, not as a discount on a fee.
Can you build the MVP as well as advise on it?
Yes — that is the project-based model. If you want an advisor who never ships, that is a different engagement.
Tell me what you are building
A 30-minute technical review, no deck. You describe the product, the constraint and the deadline; I tell you what I would do first — and whether you need me at all.
Book a 30-minute reviewmarchesan.me