GigX and Fractionus both connect companies with fractional executive talent, but they operate on fundamentally different models. GigX is a self-serve directory of fractional CxOs, where executives create their own profiles and pay a tiered membership fee to be listed, and companies search the directory and contact CxOs directly at no cost. Fractionus is a managed marketplace: companies submit a brief, our team takes the brief and returns a vetted shortlist, and the platform sits inside the engagement.
If you're choosing between them, the question is whether you want a free directory you browse yourself, or a managed shortlist with vetting and matching included.
Fractionus is a vetted, managed marketplace where every executive is screened before being listed, and our team handles the matching process for you. You submit a brief, and we return a ranked shortlist of pre-vetted operators (typically within 24 hours), matched on functional fit, industry experience, seniority, and location. You don't browse a directory or screen profiles yourself. The platform takes responsibility for both the quality bar on talent and the work of finding the right one for your role.
Founders, CEOs, and boards who want platform-level vetting on every candidate and a managed shortlist delivered to them. Particularly strong fit for Series A–C startups, PE-backed portfolio companies, and scale-ups where the time saved on search and the quality assurance on talent justify the retainer-based commercial model.
Hands-on hirers who genuinely prefer to browse a directory, vet candidates themselves, and avoid any platform fee. Also not the right fit for short-term gigs, advisor seats, or roles below Head of / VP level.
GigX is a fractional CxO directory founded in 2018 by John Fox and Chuck Lee, both fractional executives. Headquartered in Irvine, California, the platform operates on a directory model: executives at director-level and above pay a tiered annual membership to list their profile, and companies search the network for free, contacting CxOs directly to negotiate engagement terms. GigX explicitly does not take a percentage of any deal.
Hands-on hiring managers who are comfortable running their own search and screening process, prefer to deal directly with executives without a platform in the middle, and want zero platform fees on top of the fractional executive's rate. Strong fit when you already know what you're looking for and want a free, browsable directory.
If you want a vetted shortlist delivered to you, Fractionus is the stronger choice. Our matching process takes a brief and returns a ranked shortlist of pre-screened executives, typically within 24 hours. GigX runs a self-serve directory model where you browse profiles and contact members directly. Both approaches are valid, but the work involved is fundamentally different.
If you want platform-level vetting on every executive, Fractionus has a clear advantage. Every operator on the Fractionus platform is screened before being listed. GigX members self-list and self-describe, with the platform's main eligibility gate being director-level seniority. This means a wider range of profile quality on GigX and more vetting work for the hiring company.
If you want zero platform fees and full ownership of the relationship, GigX has a clear structural advantage. The platform takes nothing from the deal, the hiring company pays no platform fee, and engagement terms are negotiated directly between the company and the executive. Fractionus operates a retainer-based commercial model that includes matching, vetting, and ongoing support throughout the engagement.
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