The CTO Show with Mehmet Gonullu #441 From Struggles to Success: How Founders Can Optimize Tech Teams with Vygandas Pliasas
Struggling to scale your tech team? Not sure when to move beyond an agency and build in-house? In this episode, we dive deep into engineering team optimization, startup scaling challenges, and the future of AI in development with Vygandas Pliasas—a Fractional CTO and expert in engineering management.
🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✅ When startups should transition from an agency to an in-house team
✅ The common traps founders fall into when working with external dev teams
✅ The step-by-step process for fixing tech bottlenecks and improving team efficiency
✅ How to scale remote engineering teams without chaos
✅ AI’s impact on development and how to integrate it into your tech strategy
✅ The biggest mistakes startups make when hiring developers
✅ The red flags that indicate it’s time for a change in your tech team
🎯 Key Takeaways:
📌 Miscommunication with agencies can slow progress—here’s how to fix it
📌 The right moment to build an in-house team and hire a Fractional CTO
📌 Scaling tech teams requires balancing technical leadership & business goals
📌 AI helps but doesn’t replace human decision-making—how to use it effectively
About Vygandas:
Vygandad is a seasoned Fractional CTO and software development executive with over 18 years of experience. He specializes in scaling startups, building dedicated remote teams, and driving technical innovation. With expertise in SaaS, e-commerce, and compliance-driven industries, he helps businesses align their technology with strategic goals, ensuring impactful, sustainable growth. From mentoring engineering leaders to streamlining operations, he empowers teams to deliver excellence while cutting costs and boosting performance.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vygandas/
⏱️ Episode Highlights & Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome & intro to Vygandas Pliasas
02:30 - Why founders struggle with agency-based development
05:15 - How to know when to bring development in-house
08:40 - The challenges of scaling remote engineering teams
12:10 - Hiring & firing: How fast is too fast, how late is too late?
18:45 - AI in development: What works, what doesn’t
30:10 - The biggest startup tech mistakes and how to avoid them
38:45 - Final thoughts & where to find Vygandas online