Seriously, Can You Tell The Difference Between Good And Bad Tech?
Choosing a dev agency isn’t easy. It’s stressful, high-stakes, and full of unknowns. One wrong move and you’re locked into the wrong team, wrong scope, and wrong spend. That’s why we give you what no agency ever will: a seasoned, impartial CTO who works only for you. We help define the project, select the right team, oversee the work, and de-risk the entire engagement, start to finish.
Avoid Becoming Another Failed Software Project Statistic
Choosing a custom software development agency is one of the riskiest decisions a company can make, especially without deep technical leadership in-house. The sales pitch sounds great, the portfolio looks solid, and the estimates seem reasonable. But behind the scenes, most of these projects fail. Not because of bad code, but because the business wasn’t protected.
At Red Corner, we’ve been inside the room for hundreds of these engagements. Our FCTOs have led teams, fired agencies, cleaned up disasters, and most importantly, prevented them. We’re not vendors. We don’t work for the agency. We represent you, every step of the way.
We start by uncovering the real business need. Most clients come to us with assumptions: a list of features, a rough idea of cost, and a vague sense of scope. We break that down. We help you articulate what actually matters to your business, and cut out what doesn’t. This clarity alone can cut your costs by 30% or more, before the agency even begins.
Once scoped, we help you select the right agency, not the one with the flashiest site, but the one with the right fit for your goals, team, and constraints. Then we stay with you. Every call, every message, every line of code. Your FCTO is your technical lawyer: validating every change, calling out risk, and protecting your outcomes.
As your project evolves, so do we. We redefine scope with you as priorities shift. We course-correct when delivery slips. And when it’s time to scale, hire, or integrate, we lead that too. Your Red Corner FCTO stays with you as long as needed, from kickoff to full independence.
If you’re about to hire a dev agency, or already stuck in a mess, we can help. We’ve seen what goes wrong. More importantly, we’ve built a system to make it go right.
The Red Corner Approach
Most advisors point at problems. We prevent them. At Red Corner, your FCTO has led high-stakes software projects, selected and fired agencies, managed handovers, and rescued failing builds. We don’t just give advice, we embed with you, define the work, select the right team, and act as your partner all the way through. Where others check boxes, we protect your business.
Foundational
Most clients come in asking for what they think they need. We help them figure out what they actually need , and what they don’t. That’s the foundation. Before a single line of code is written, your Red Corner FCTO works with you to strip away assumptions, challenge vendor estimates, and reframe the problem in business terms. The result? A sharper scope, a smarter roadmap, and often a much lower cost. Advisory first, action second, that’s how we set your project up to win.
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Evolution
We watch over every aspect of the project. Every email, every message, every meeting, we’re there. We review the code, inspect the process, and stay close enough to catch problems before they cost you. As your needs evolve, and they will, we help redefine the scope and make sure the agency is aligned to your business, not the other way around. Your Red Corner FCTO is your protector, your advisor, your guardian angel in a project where even small mistakes can turn into big costs.
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Growth
After delivery, most agencies disappear. Red Corner doesn’t. We stay with you. Your FCTO continues to support you on every technical front, from scaling infrastructure to integrating new tools, to troubleshooting legacy issues that surface post-launch. If it’s time to build out your internal team, we’ll help you recruit, assess, and onboard talent the right way. Whether you need us for another month or another year, we’re here, protecting your tech decisions like they’re our own.
Let me tell you a story I’ve seen play out far too many times.
A company reached out to us in a panic. They were burning over $50,000 a month across several dev agencies to build their next-gen SaaS platform. The project was behind schedule. What had been delivered was buggy. Key requirements were missing. Tensions were rising, internally and with the agencies. No one was steering the ship. The worst part? The client couldn’t even tell where the problem started, they just knew something was off.
That’s where we came in.
One of our FCTOs joined their executive team and immediately got to work. We went through everything, emails, contracts, invoices, quotes, documentation, and code. We talked to the agencies. And it became clear: the client was being taken for a ride. Not maliciously, but because they didn’t speak tech. And the agencies knew it.
So we fired them.
We then spun up an internal dev team, part contractors, part full-timers, and cut the overall spend by half. Within months, the product was stabilized, delivery became predictable, and internal confidence returned. That same FCTO stayed with them for another year, managing engineering and technology until we were certain they could run on their own.
This is why Red Corner exists.
Dev agencies aren’t the enemy. But they are businesses with their own goals, and if you don’t have someone on your side who truly understands the game, you’re likely to lose. A Red Corner FCTO protects your interests, speaks the language of engineers and executives, and keeps the project, and your money, on track.
Most software projects fail. With Us On Board, They don’t. Because we don’t just advise. We lead.
— Oshri Cohen
Founder, Red Corner
Expert Guidance
Be honest, how much do you really know about software development? Can you spot a bad solution? A horrible one? Or one that looks fine but hides $100,000 in avoidable costs? Your FCTO can. That’s their job. They do it every day for startups and businesses around the world. You wouldn’t go to court without a lawyer. Don’t walk into a dev agency contract without a Red Corner CTO at your side.
Tailored Solutions
It’s all about the right technical solution for the right problem. But first, do you actually know what the real problem is? That’s where we start. With technology, the nuances vary between companies, industries, competitors, and markets. What works for one business might sink another. Your Red Corner FCTO identifies the real issues, not just the loudest ones, and builds solutions shaped around your specific landscape. No playbooks. Just precision.
Continuous Support
Red Corner doesn’t vanish after kickoff or handover. Your FCTO is with you, daily, weekly, or quietly in the background keeping everything on track. Whether it’s live problem-solving or proactive technical check-ins, we support your systems, your decisions, and your people for as long as it takes. You’ll never have to guess if something’s off, we’ll catch it before you even know it’s a risk.
Innovative Approach
Everyone wants to innovate. The difference is, our FCTOs know how to do it without breaking the bank, and more importantly, when to do it. Innovation at the wrong time leads to bloated scope, distracted teams, and missed deadlines. That’s how most software projects fail. We help you focus, prioritize, and innovate where it actually counts, not where it sounds impressive in a pitch deck.
Avoid Becoming Another Failed Software Project Statistic
Think of your Red Corner FCTO as your technical lawyer. We make sure you say the right thing at the right time, ask for the right changes in the right way, and validate your needs with one goal in mind, helping you, not bloating your costs. We advocate for you at every step, ensuring the work delivered matches what you actually asked for, not what someone else decided you meant. That’s how we protect your budget, your vision, and your sanity.
Experience Managing High-Stakes Agency Relationships
Our FCTOs have worked directly with custom software agencies across the globe, negotiating contracts, managing expectations, and holding teams accountable when delivery slips. We know how to spot red flags before they become disasters, and how to course-correct without blowing up the relationship. We’ve seen how agencies operate from the inside, and we use that insight to protect you from the common traps.
Aligning Technical Decisions to Business Realities
Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum, every decision needs to make sense for your business, not just your backend. Our FCTOs keep the tech aligned with your actual goals, budget, and constraints. We push back on unnecessary features, call out over-engineering, and make sure what’s being built supports your business plan, not the agency’s portfolio.
Why 80% of Dev Agency Projects Fail and How We Stop It
Most dev agency projects fail for reasons that have nothing to do with code. Poorly defined scope. Misaligned incentives. Unchecked assumptions. A client team without technical leadership. We’ve seen it all, and stopped it all. Your Red Corner FCTO steps in before things go sideways, or pulls the project back before it’s too late. We know the traps. More importantly, we know how to avoid them.
Talk to a Red Corner CTO Before You Sign Anything
TELEPHONE. 514-777-3883
Founded with Love in Montreal, Canada, but operates around the world :-)
Not sure if your agency is the right fit? About to sign a scope you barely understand? Let’s talk before it costs you. Fill out the form or message us directly on WhatsApp, your Red Corner FCTO is ready to step in.
FAQ
What does Red Corner’s advisory service entail?
Red Corner offers comprehensive advisory services that encompass the entire lifecycle of engaging with a development agency. This includes initial project scoping, vendor selection, contract negotiation, ongoing project oversight, and post-launch support. Our experienced Fractional CTOs (FCTOs) act as your technical advocates, ensuring that your project’s technical aspects align with your business goals. We provide strategic guidance, risk assessment, and continuous monitoring to ensure project success.
How does Red Corner help in selecting the right development agency?
Selecting the right development agency is crucial for project success. Red Corner assists by thoroughly understanding your project requirements, budget constraints, and business objectives. We then leverage our extensive network and industry knowledge to identify agencies that are the best fit. Our FCTOs evaluate potential agencies based on their technical expertise, past performance, and cultural alignment with your organization. This rigorous selection process ensures that you partner with an agency capable of delivering high-quality results.
Can Red Corner assist if I’ve already chosen a development agency?
Yes, Red Corner can step in at any stage of your project. If you’ve already selected a development agency, our FCTOs can provide oversight to ensure that the project stays on track. We monitor progress, manage scope changes, and ensure that the agency’s deliverables meet your quality standards. Our involvement helps mitigate risks, address issues promptly, and maintain alignment with your business objectives.
What industries does Red Corner specialize in?
Red Corner has experience across a diverse range of industries, including fintech, healthtech, e-commerce, logistics, and more. Our FCTOs bring industry-specific knowledge that enables them to understand the unique challenges and opportunities within your sector. This expertise allows us to provide tailored advice and solutions that are relevant and effective for your specific industry context.
How does Red Corner ensure project quality?
Ensuring project quality is a core aspect of Red Corner’s services. Our FCTOs implement rigorous quality assurance processes, including code reviews, performance testing, and adherence to best practices. We establish clear quality benchmarks and continuously monitor the project’s progress against these standards. By maintaining close communication with the development agency and your internal team, we ensure that any issues are promptly identified and addressed, leading to a high-quality final product.
What is the role of a Fractional CTO in my project?
A Fractional CTO from Red Corner serves as your strategic technical leader. They bridge the gap between your business goals and the technical execution of the project. Responsibilities include defining the technical roadmap, overseeing the development process, managing technical risks, and ensuring that the technology choices align with your long-term objectives. By providing high-level technical leadership on a part-time basis, our FCTOs offer flexibility and cost-effectiveness without compromising on expertise.
How does Red Corner handle project scope changes?
Project scope changes are common and can impact timelines and budgets if not managed properly. Red Corner’s FCTOs implement structured change management processes to assess the implications of any proposed changes. We evaluate the technical feasibility, cost, and impact on the overall project before approving scope modifications. This disciplined approach ensures that changes are beneficial and aligned with your strategic goals, preventing scope creep and budget overruns.
Can Red Corner help reduce development costs?
Yes, Red Corner helps optimize development costs through efficient project planning, vendor negotiation, and continuous oversight. Our FCTOs identify cost-saving opportunities by eliminating unnecessary features, improving development processes, and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively. By preventing common pitfalls and ensuring that the project stays aligned with your business objectives, we help you achieve better value for your investment.
What happens if the development agency underperforms?
If a development agency underperforms, Red Corner takes proactive steps to address the situation. Our FCTOs conduct thorough assessments to identify the root causes of underperformance. We then work with the agency to implement corrective actions, such as process improvements or resource adjustments. If necessary, we assist in transitioning to a more suitable agency, ensuring that the project remains on track and your business objectives are met.
Does Red Corner provide post-launch support?
Yes, Red Corner offers post-launch support to ensure the continued success of your product. Our FCTOs remain engaged to monitor system performance, address any issues that arise, and guide ongoing enhancements. We help you plan for future updates, scalability, and maintenance, ensuring that your technology continues to support your evolving business needs.
How does Red Corner communicate with clients?
Effective communication is vital for project success. Red Corner maintains transparent and regular communication through scheduled meetings, progress reports, and real-time updates. Our FCTOs are accessible and responsive, ensuring that you are informed about the project’s status and any critical decisions. This open communication fosters collaboration and ensures that your input is continuously integrated into the project.
Is Red Corner suitable for startups?
Absolutely. Red Corner’s services are tailored to support startups in navigating technical challenges and scaling their operations. Our FCTOs provide the strategic guidance needed to build robust technology foundations, make informed decisions, and avoid common pitfalls. By offering flexible, part-time leadership, we help startups access high-level expertise without the financial burden of a full-time CTO.
Can Red Corner assist with international development agencies?
Yes, Red Corner has experience working with development agencies across the globe. Our FCTOs are adept at managing cross-border collaborations, taking into account time zone differences, cultural nuances, and international regulations. We ensure that communication remains seamless and that the project’s objectives are consistently met, regardless of the geographical locations involved.