Adarash Mishra

About

Most companies don’t fail because they can’t build software. They fail because they build the wrong thing: on the wrong foundation. I help founders and operators bring clarity to moments when software and AI become mission-critical: when decisions start touching revenue, operations, or risk. I work as a fractional CTO and embedded technical leader, stepping in when teams need senior technical judgment without hiring a full-time executive. My background spans early-stage startups shipping their first real products, founder-led and services businesses turning manual workflows into software, and teams transitioning from scrappy systems to production-grade platforms. Along the way, I’ve led platform and cloud strategy for a global smart-device brand with millions of devices in the field, helped venture-backed founders architect and launch MVPs, and scaled software organizations from a single engineer to small, high-impact teams. My work is product-first and pragmatic. I focus on clear trade-offs, strong technical foundations, and applied AI that fits real workflows, not demos or hype. Whether that means designing an initial architecture, modernizing legacy systems, or building AI-enabled internal tools, the goal is always the same: ship the right thing, and make sure it holds up. I work best with founders and operators who want leverage from software, not complexity for its own sake. If AI or software is becoming core to how your business runs and you want to build smarter (whether you’re shipping your first product or untangling systems that have outgrown their original shape), I’m happy to connect.

Experience

• Founder & Fractional CTO · Fulcro Labs2023-11-01 –

  I work as a fractional CTO and embedded technical leader for founders and operator-led teams when software or AI becomes mission-critical. Engagements typically focus on product architecture, AI-enabled systems, and technical decision-making during high-leverage phases—early product builds, platform transitions, or operational modernization. I’ve led and shipped production systems across SaaS, recruiting, logistics, consumer products, and healthcare-adjacent domains, working closely with founders, operators, and small senior teams.

• Founding Member · Sidebar2024-01-01 –
• Fractional Tech Lead · Go Overseas2024-12-01 – 2025-12-01

  Guiding the tech team through a significant transition, focusing on stabilizing development and fostering innovation in products aimed at the global education and travel abroad sectors. Advising on product and AI innovations, upskilling and adopting AI tooling.

• Fractional CTO · Fleet Lab2023-01-01 – 2025-08-01

  Advise CEO on the technical roadmap, product-market fit, software architecture, and team growth.

• Technical Advisor · Fleet Lab2021-09-01 – 2023-04-01
• Technical Program Manager · Gibson, Inc.2024-09-01 – 2025-02-01

  Program manage rollout of Shopify e-commerce platform

• Solutions Architect · Shopify2024-04-01 – 2024-08-01

  Assisted top merchants with the rollout of the 2024 checkout extensibility features.

• Software Engineer · Stealth Startup2022-11-01 – 2023-09-01

  A bet that didn't work out but provided a lot of learnings.

• Technical Program Manager · Whisker2022-01-01 – 2023-04-01

  Led cross-functional efforts and managed the Whisker Cloud program (collection of apps and services powering Internet-connected pet care products and auxiliary services). Responsible for the end-to-end technical roadmap, building alignment, and cross-functional leadership.

• Cloud Engineer · Whisker2020-08-01 – 2022-01-01

  First cloud engineering hire at Whisker, integral to the company’s growth phase across revenue, personnel, and customer base. Inherited legacy code from contractors, stabilized cloud systems, and designed and built the foundation for the Whisker Cloud platform which powers Internet-enabled smart pet care products.

Education

• University of Michigan College of EngineeringBachelor of Science in Engineering, Industrial Engineering
• Loveless Academic Magnet Prog High SchoolHigh School, High School/Secondary Diplomas and Certificates

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