Available for Fractional CTO Engagements

Your technology was built for
the company you were.

It's not built for the company you're becoming.

I help businesses between $5M and $10M close that gap with hands-on fractional CTO leadership, without the full-time overhead. I'm David Aragó, and when you reach out, you reach me directly.

I didn't come up through the executive track. I went from senior developer to team lead to the room where company-wide decisions were made, which means I understand these problems from the inside, not from a strategy deck.

Book a 30-minute conversation

Take the free self-assessment if you're not ready to book.

25+
Years Hands-On Experience
9
Major System Migrations
EN · ES
Bilingual

For growing companies

Your technology is working against you.

Most growing businesses reach a point where the systems that got them here aren't built for where they're going. The website was built by a freelancer. The tools don't talk to each other. The team's "tech person" is stretched thin and duct-taping things together. Nothing is broken enough to stop the business, but everything is harder than it should be.

If any of this sounds familiar:

  • Your data lives in five different places and none of them agree
  • You have manual processes your team runs every week that should be automated
  • Your team spends more time working around the technology than working with it
  • No one has a clear picture of what your tech stack is actually costing you
  • You're not sure your current setup can handle the next phase of growth

That's the gap I fill. I come in, figure out what's actually holding you back, fix the critical risks first, and build a technology foundation that scales with your business, without recommending complexity you don't need.

Practical technology.
Real business impact.

One Connected Stack

Disconnected systems → unified, reliable data

Manual Work Eliminated

Repetitive processes → automated operations

Built to Scale Safely

Security-aware foundation → ready for growth

What an engagement actually looks like

  • Weekly working session: decisions, priorities, blockers
  • Shared Slack or email channel for between-meeting questions
  • Hands-on time in your tools (CRM, cloud, analytics) when needed
  • Monthly written summary: where things stand and what's coming next

Let's connect if you're ready to simplify operations and make your technology work together.

Book a 30-minute conversation

Engagements run through me directly. For specialist work I partner with Evrig (commerce engineering) and Content Cucumber (content).

Not ready for a call yet?

Understand where your technology stands before the first conversation.

The free self-assessment takes 5 minutes. It helps you put words to the problem and gives your first conversation with David a real starting point — useful even if you never book a call.

Take the self-assessment

Takes about 5 minutes · Sends to David by email

Who I work with

The right
fit.

$5M–$10M revenue · 20–40 people · no full-time CTO in the room

  • 30-day technology audit: up to $1,500. Around 20 hours. Defined scope, specific deliverables, clear picture of where things stand. See what the audit includes 14-day opt-out if the engagement isn't the right fit.
  • Ongoing fractional CTO: $750–$1,500/month. Most engagements run 10–20 hours a month, billed at $75/hour, no minimums.
  • Not sure which fits? Start with the audit.

If you're not an exact fit, reach out anyway. I'd rather point you somewhere useful than let you keep searching.

Book a 30-minute conversation

Take the free self-assessment if you're not ready to book. · See how I work

What I Do

Hands-On Tech Leadership

Six service areas. One person accountable. I do strategy and execution, no handoffs to junior staff.

🧭

Fractional CTO

Senior technology leadership (strategy, decisions, roadmap, team oversight) on a part-time basis. I align your technology with your business goals, identify risks before they become crises, and make sure every significant technology decision is made by someone who understands the full picture. No full-time salary required.

Leadership · Strategy · Roadmap
🤖

AI Integration

I help you figure out which two or three things AI will actually improve in your business, and which ten are hype that will cost you time and money you don't have. Then I build the ones worth building. Currently developing WrapInsights, an AI-powered analytics platform for non-technical business owners.

Practical AI · Real Workflows · No Hype
🌐

Web Development

Custom WordPress sites, Laravel applications, and full-stack platforms built to perform and last. Emmy Award–winning background in web design and usability. I build things your team can actually maintain when the engagement is over.

WordPress · Laravel · Full-Stack · Emmy-Recognized
☁️

Cloud Infrastructure

Hosting, deployment pipelines, and infrastructure built to grow with the business. I've migrated organizations from fragile hybrid setups to managed platforms that reduced overhead and eliminated single points of failure.

Oracle Cloud · Managed Hosting · DevOps · Pantheon
🗄️

Database Management

Nine major system migrations across ERP, HRIS, CMS, and financial platforms. Schema design, performance tuning, and data architecture for the assets your business depends on most.

Oracle · MySQL · Architecture · Migration
⚡

Web Performance & WebOps

I optimize load times, implement CDN and caching strategy, and streamline deployment workflows so your site loads fast and your team can update it without calling in a developer. Best in WebOps Award winner (Pantheon, 2023).

Performance · WebOps · CDN · Uptime
About Me

David Aragó

I didn't become a technology leader by climbing a corporate ladder. Over 23 years at Hubbard Broadcasting, I went from senior developer to team lead, building a custom CMS for seven TV stations, leading nine major system migrations, and sitting in the room with the CIO and President when the decisions that shaped the company's technology were made. I've managed the 2am crisis when the system went down. I know what these problems look like from the inside, which means I know how to actually fix them, not just recommend someone else fix them.

I started AraGrow to stay close to the work. I split my time between Minneapolis and Spain, with bilingual fluency in English and Spanish that is professional and technical, not just conversational. When you reach out, you reach me directly, no account managers or handoffs between us.

The Crisis Hit Mid-Migration. We Finished Ahead of Schedule.

In early 2020, my team was mid-migration across seven TV station websites when the organization was forced to remote work with no transition period. Rather than pushing through, I called a two-day pause and redesigned how the team operated. The migration finished ahead of schedule, and working remotely for the first time built more cohesion in that team than years of sharing an office had. Years later, I still meet with members of that team when I'm back in Minneapolis.

David Aragó
Recognition
🏆
Emmy Award — Web Site Design & Usability
Upper Midwest Chapter · 2007–2008
🥇
Best in WebOps Award Winner
Pantheon Platform · 2023
🏆
Brooklyn Center Local Business Person of the Year
Alignable · 2025
🌟
Highly Recommended by Locals
Alignable · 2025
🤝
Community Supporter Award
Alignable · 2025

Connect

What clients and colleagues say

People Who've Done the Work With Me

AraGrow works with a small number of clients at a time. These are real people who have worked alongside David as clients, collaborators, and peers.

"

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with David Arago following an AI Mastermind session. He was incredibly generous with his time and insight, helping me work through several challenges related to a lead generation tool I am developing. David brings a genuine desire to help and a thoughtful, practical approach to problem-solving. As a Fractional CTO, he would be a valuable partner for any business needing strong technical leadership and guidance, particularly in navigating complex technology decisions.

"

His 25+ years of experience shine through in his ability to navigate complex problems with finesse. His dedication to his craft and his collaborative spirit ensure that he not only meets but exceeds expectations. I wholeheartedly recommend David.

"

David is committed to his craft and he is willing to do what I call the R&R – reading and research.

"

David is a good connection to get to know if you want personalized care on your small business web site. He is very easy to talk to.

"

David is highly knowledgeable and thorough. His sincere approach to addressing issues is refreshing and instills confidence.

"

David is a great guy, I applaud his authenticity you know you are dealing with a straight shooter. There is a reason he is recommended.

"

David was extremely helpful and informative in such a short amount of time! I could easily see his genius and his clear expertise gave me confidence in his ability to achieve our goals.

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