Flexibility vs. dedication

Fractional vs. Full-Time Hire

The modern approach to AI leadership. When does fractional expertise make more sense than building an internal team?

Cost Structure

Aspect	Hyperion	Alternative
Annual Cost	€60-120K for fractional (0.25-0.5 FTE)	€200-350K fully-loaded for senior hire
Overhead	Zero recruitment, benefits, management	HR, training, equipment, office space
Flexibility	Scale up/down monthly	Severance, notice periods, risk

Expertise Access

Aspect	Hyperion	Alternative
Experience Level	15+ years, multiple industries	May need time to build domain knowledge
Network	Access to ecosystem of specialists	Limited to individual connections
Best Practices	Cross-pollinated from multiple clients	Single company perspective

Engagement

Aspect	Hyperion	Alternative
Availability	Dedicated hours, focused delivery	Full-time but competing priorities
Commitment	Project-based, outcomes-focused	Long-term but may plateau
Knowledge Transfer	Built into engagement, team training included	Risk of single point of failure

The Verdict

Choose Hyperion When

AI is important but not core to your business model
You need senior expertise without the full-time commitment
You want to test AI capabilities before building a team

Choose Alternative When

AI is the core of your product/service
You need 24/7 dedicated resource
You're building a long-term AI research function

Fractional engagement gives you senior AI leadership at a fraction of the cost, with flexibility to scale. Full-time makes sense when AI is your core business.

Not Sure Which Path Fits Your Situation?

Book a 30-minute call. I will give you an honest assessment of whether Hyperion is the right fit — and if not, I will tell you who is.