Derrick Ware

About Derrick Ware

I believe that when we design systems that scale, in technology, education, or community, we create more opportunities for people to reach their full potential. That belief has guided every step of my journey.As the Founder of Fraqta and a Chief Product and Technology Officer, I help early and growth stage companies turn vision into execution. My focus is on building scalable, secure, and resilient systems that bring clarity to complexity and empower teams to deliver meaningful outcomes. With over two decades leading product and technology organizations, I have learned that progress happens when strategy, people, and process move in sync.I am also proud to bring WorldKids School® to Raleigh, the first in North Carolina. This multilingual immersion preschool is more than a business venture. It is a personal commitment to giving children a strong start in life, inspiring curiosity, cultural awareness, and a lifelong love of learning.Beyond my work, I serve on the Board of The Joel Fund, supporting veterans and their families, and I write Second Wind Weekly, a newsletter about leadership, reinvention, and finding strength in new beginnings.At the center of everything I do is one goal, helping people and organizations build with clarity, purpose, and confidence so their work creates outcomes that truly last.

Experience

1. Chief Product & Technology Officer

   Fraqta

   Jan 2024 — Present · Wake Forest, NC, US

   Fraqta partners with early- and growth-stage companies to align product and technology strategy, accelerate execution, and drive measurable business outcomes. I work alongside founders and executive teams to turn complex ideas into scalable, impactful products that strengthen operations and fuel growth.We help organizations:• Define product vision, roadmap priorities, and success frameworks grounded in customer needs and market realities.• Align Product, Design, Engineering, and GTM to improve delivery velocity and collaboration.• Establish scalable practices for outcome-based planning and MVP delivery, reducing time to market by up to 20%.• Advise leadership on org design, platform scalability, and agile operations, improving efficiency by 10–15%.• Build innovative, secure, and resilient digital products that drive measurable impact.Selected Engagements:Stealth OT Security & Device Intelligence (Jan–May 2024)Led the design of next-generation device identity and anomaly detection solutions for Operational Technology environments. Delivered real-time receptor systems, revamped the Tautuk Insights dashboard, and strengthened market fit through faster release cycles.Stealth EdTech AI Startup – Personalized Learning Platform (Mar 2025–Present)Advising the founding team of an AI-powered learning platform across K–12, Higher Ed, and workforce learning. Defined product vision, MVP scope, and adaptive learner pathways; architected FERPA/COPPA-compliant systems; and guided go-to-market planning and investor positioning.Core Expertise: Product Strategy | Technology Leadership | Agile Delivery | Scalable Architecture | Cross-Functional AlignmentPassionate about helping teams find clarity and confidence in how they build, so they can move faster and achieve outcomes that matter.

Education

• North Carolina State University

  Computer Science and Psychology

• Community College of the Air Force

  Associate’s Degree, Aerospace Engineering

• Babson College

  Executive Leadership Program: Leading Customer-Centric Growth

• The Wharton School

  Wharton Fellows

• North Carolina Wesleyan University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration & Computer Information Systems

Skills

• Execution Management Systems
• Agile Project Management
• Saas
• Organizational Development
• Social Media
• Client Liaison
• Employee Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Engineering
• Executive Management
• Problem Solving
• Coaching
• Operations Management
• Quality Management
• Agile Methodologies
• Strategy Execution
• Capital Budgeting
• Customer Engagement
• Outsourcing
• Risk Management
• Quality Assurance
• Cloud Computing
• Leadership Development
• Kpi
• Organizational Effectiveness
• Web Development
• Mentoring
• Technical Leadership
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Thought Leadership
• Tactical Planning
• Wireless
• Business Acumen
• Staff Development
• Negotiation
• Military Experience
• Business Strategy
• Product Development
• Forecasting
• Vendor Management