I'll agree with most folks here that you aren't a CTO. You don't NEED a CTO, today, and at this point it might even be counter productive. Your either going to

I'll agree with most folks here that you aren't a CTO. You don't NEED a CTO, today, and at this point it might even be counter productive. Your either going to hire what you can afford, or pay a lot of money for little code return. Do you need an architect/director/VP/tech-lead? Probably. What you have already done in "reducing the time to goto market and cost- quality has taken a hit" is make a sound business decision. Without knowing what your road map, funding level, growth projections and anything about the existing codebase we are being asked to give advice in a vacuum. Your real issue (and why I would say you ARENT a CTO, or VP or any of those other titles) is that you lack a network. If I need advice, a sounding board, an outside opinion or a shoulder to cry on, I have a list of folks I can call 24/7 who I trust and have worked with in the past. Sometimes it isn't wise or possible to get this kind of support within your current company, and as a manager outsiders who understand may be your ONLY outlet. Your a founder, you just got some cash, set aside 2-3 hours every day to just TALK to new people. You want to buy me lunch and pick my brain for 2 hours, thats a fair deal, and its easier for me to be objective about YOUR issues, and YOUR drama (its going to happen). If we got along and started to get together regularly, I'm going to get insight and continuity that you just can't create in a form post. If I'm willing to listen to you for lunch (and I have do so for others) I'm sure a lot of other folks are as well. There was a story a while back that there were folks willing to give up their passwords for a snickers bar, just imagine what you can get from sandwiches, cheeseburgers and the occasional beer.