253
253 technology initiatives led
Most software projects fail. Yours doesn't have to.
Hi, I'm Sam Halcrow, a Sydney fractional CTO — one of the few with his own engineering team. 25 engineers report to me, not to a vendor.
I've led technology for 253 Australian companies over 16 years. I've seen where these projects go wrong. Halcrow exists to stop that happening to yours.
Book an introduction callProof & reviews
I've led software projects for these companies
How can I help?
Mid-build and losing confidence? A project that's stalled, a quote you can't judge, an AI pilot going nowhere? Bring me the problem. You'll leave the session knowing exactly what to do.
Learn moreStart a new software project
Get it right from day one. The first step is a free conversation, and my written read of what to build, what to skip, and what it should cost.
Rescue a project in trouble
Stalled build, vendor you've lost trust in, budget mostly gone. I'll tell you where it really stands and what happens next.
Why work with me
1 million
1,000,000+ engineering hours under my leadership
#3
#3 Best Workplace in Technology (Micro), Australia 2025
4.9/5
Rated 4.9/5 by our clients who work directly with me, not an account manager.
Client success stories
Big projects I've led
Acciona
I led the software team on the WestConnex Tunnel project, capturing and storing 13km of precision engineering data
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Agilyx
I helped the tech team mature product engineering processes for a product serving 41,000+ people
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Bovara
I led the technical build of purpose-built software powering a new EV parking network across NSW
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Testimonials
What clients say
"Sam and his team took the time to understand our business and knew all the tech we needed… They act as an extension of our team."
"Sam and his team operate as a trusted partner at every stage of delivery. They're pivotal in bringing engineering maturity to coordinate and execute large, complex projects."
Arun Prasad, Founder AIWhispr“Sam took the time to understand our business and knew all the tech we needed. It was a pleasure to work with him and his team as they acted as an extension of our team.”
Luke Schwigtenberg, Head of R&D Banktech"From the concept design meeting, Sam exceeded our expectations. He understood what our needs were, and his engineers worked quickly from brief to going live."
Rouad El-Ayoubi, CEO Alliance Project Group”Sam and his team's expertise, Ways of Working framework, and mastery of their craft truly set them apart. This is the beauty of partnering with them. We extend our technical capabilities seamlessly without the overhead of hiring in-house.”
Angela Bevitt-Parr, CMO AWS Australia"With a deep understanding of our business needs, Sam leads an efficient process in delivering quality outputs.”
Kelvin Kenney, CEO Bow Wow Meow"Working with Sam has been a turning point for our business. In addition to bringing structure to the development work, we also benefitted from his insight into emerging trends and technologies, as well as efficient and effective solutions."
Adrian Black, Founder Ticked Off“In a short period of time, Sam demonstrated an exceptional ability to align the right technical expertise with our specific needs.”
Tim Buric, CTO Agilyx“Sam guided us through the design and development process in a way we wouldn't be able to do on our own. We’re very happy to partner with him.”
Thomas Roper, Engineer Lendlease"I've worked with Sam and his team for over 4 years over multiple projects. Phenomenal.”
Andrew Raso, Group-CEO Online Marketing Gurus"Sam and his team are great. They built really cool tools for us, and we look forward to doing more together as partners.”
Matthew Freebury, Director FMCG Analytics“We spotted a market gap, and Sam helped us seize it quickly. His team built a product that gave us real advantage.”
Michael Soukie, Founder Scafflinq"Sam introduced remarkable insights, and his passion for world-class quality delivered wonderful results for the business.”
George Betsis, Founder Stickytape“Sam has a keen understanding of our company and our clients’ needs. His technical knowledge enables him to deploy solutions that continue to further our growth.”
Michael Kalucy, Managing Director Workhouse“Sam is everything we want in a fractional CTO. He understands our needs, works as if he owns the product, and comes up with innovative solutions quickly.”
Malaz Majanni, CEO OnePath Network“Sam's competency, attention to detail, and technical skills were impressive. What he built with us has been adding value to our business for over 5 years.”
Anastasia Lobanova, SAP Analyst Agrana Fruit“Sam took a concept and together with his team, turned it into a product we’re genuinely proud of. Their passion makes them a joy to work with.”
Trent Carney, Founder MyCanaryMY TRACK RECORD
Hear from the companies I'm currently working with
Angela Bevitt-Parr
National Marketing Manager
AWS Australia
Tim Buric
Chief Technology Officer
Agilyx & MUNIvers
Kelvin Kenney
Chief Executive Officer
Bow Wow Meow
FAQ
What I'm asked on most introduction calls
How do you price?
Day rates for embedded engineers and my fractional CTO time, or a scoped phase price where the work suits it.
Who owns the code and IP?
You do. Everything we build for you belongs to your business.
Can you take over an existing build or vendor situation?
Yes, a meaningful share of our engagements start as rescues or take-overs.
How quickly can you start?
Scoping within days. Engineering start is typically weeks and not months.
How long does a typical engagement last?
It varies. Some engagements are project-based with a clear end point. Others are ongoing because the company needs a permanent fractional CTO, not just someone to fix a specific problem. We work that out at the start based on what the company needs, and adjust as things change.
What kinds of problems are you typically brought in to fix?
It varies, but the most common situations are: a technology project that's drifted without a leader steering it, a business that's scaling and realises it needs technical leadership it doesn't have, or a founder who needs someone to take technical decisions off their plate.
My situation is more complex than these examples. Can you still help?
The engagements in these case studies range from straightforward to complicated: enterprise transformations, failing builds, businesses with no technical foundation at all. If you're not sure whether your situation fits, the easiest thing to do is get in touch and describe what's going on. Sam will give you a straight answer.
These companies look quite different from mine. Does that matter?
The industries vary, but the problems don't. Whether it's a logistics business, a pet insurance company, or a civil construction company, the issues that brought Sam in were almost always the same: no technical leader accountable for the outcome, engineers without proper direction, or technology decisions being made by the wrong people. The context changes, but the fix is usually the same.
Where are you based?
Sydney, working with clients across Australia.
What kinds of organisations do you typically work with?
Any organisation that is making significant technology decisions and needs someone senior enough to make them well. Some have engineering teams already, some don't. Some are mid-project, some are just starting. The common thread is they need a technical leader who's accountable for the outcome.
How is this different from hiring a full-time CTO?
You get the same level of judgment, experience, and accountability without the full-time salary, equity, or long-term commitment. It works particularly well for organisations that are about to start a significant technology project, need someone to lead an existing team, or want senior technical lead.
Do I get just a fractional CTO, or do I get a team of engineers?
You're primarily getting me as your fractional CTO, someone who's accountable for your technology. If there's building to do and you don't have engineers to do it, I can bring my own team. But that's an add-on, not a requirement.
Ready?
After our first meeting you'll leave knowing what to do next
Visit my office in Surry Hills
Meet on a video call
Book your introduction meeting with me
The most expensive mistakes in a software project happen before anyone writes code. This call is how you avoid them.