Do you still need a CTO in a founding team?

In this post, we unpack why technical leadership has become a defining factor in how software startups scale, learn, and build defensibility in the AI era.

At a recent VC panel hosted by Maria 01, one of the most upvoted audience questions was simple but striking: Are CTOs still needed in founding teams?

It’s a question of our time. With AI-assisted coding and no-code tools, building software has become faster, cheaper, and more accessible than ever. But does that mean the founding CTO is becoming irrelevant?

I believe the opposite is true. A strong CTO is more critical than ever. Here’s why.

The faster you build, the more structure you need

AI has transformed how quickly products can be built. What once required a full engineering team can now be done with a few lines of prompt engineering. But when you move fast, technical debt and fragility can build up just as quickly.

That’s where the strongest CTOs make the difference. They think in systems, not sprints, and build early foundations that enable growth without losing stability. They know that structure is not a constraint but a framework that keeps progress sustainable over time.

In a world where anyone can ship fast, clarity becomes the advantage. The best CTOs understand that lasting momentum comes from strong foundations, and that the real challenge of moving fast is staying resilient while doing it.

When building becomes easy, choosing becomes hard

AI can generate infinite outputs, but it shouldn’t decide what deserves attention. As tools lower the barrier to creation, judgment becomes the ultimate bottleneck.

A strong CTO turns ambiguity into direction, cutting through noise, setting priorities, and anchoring ambition in what truly moves the business forward.

Investors watch for that discipline early. Clear product judgment signals not only leadership maturity but also a culture that compounds rather than reacts.

What defines a great CTO today

The role of the founding CTO is evolving. It’s no longer about being the best engineer in the room, but about designing how the company builds, learns, and scales.

Today’s strongest CTOs:

• Build to scale, not to sprint. The strongest CTOs design for growth that holds up under pressure. Speed matters, but the ability to sustain it defines long-term value.

• Stay close to customers. Proximity creates clarity. Teams that stay close to users make better choices and build products that matter.

• Use AI to create leverage. AI does not replace people, but extends their impact. The best CTOs use it to remove friction and free time for work that compounds.

• Connect technology and strategy. What you build today defines what’s possible tomorrow. Strong CTOs ensure today’s builds align with the long-term strategic direction.

• Make growth pay off. In the AI era, software costs don’t stay fixed – they scale with usage. The best CTOs design systems and strategies that keep unit economics and margins strong as the company grows.

The takeaway

The role of the founding CTO has never been just about code. It’s about engineering the foundation, technical, cultural, and strategic, that allows a company to grow without breaking.

In an era where anyone can ship an MVP in a weekend, success depends on building what lasts. That is where a great CTO makes all the difference.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on how the role of the CTO is evolving — and what defines great technical leadership in the AI era. Reach out: paavo@maki.vc.