Software Project Rescue, Guided by Fractional CTOs Who’ve Been There
We’ve rescued software projects across every scale — from scrappy early-stage teams to multi-team operations backed by nine-figure budgets. Our focus isn’t on your stack — it’s on the actual problems: misalignment, broken leadership, overlapping agendas, or contractors milking budgets without oversight. These are the realities that derail software — and we know how to fix them.
Red Corner CTOs go deep. When we join, we’re not hovering above as advisors. We’re inside your Slack, in your code reviews, leading your retros, and calling out what no one else will. If needed, we augment your team. If required, we rebuild confidence, reset structure, and cut through the noise.
We move at the speed your business demands. If dollars are bleeding every day, we’re there around the clock until things stabilize. If your timeline allows for a strategic rebuild, we move carefully and precisely. This isn’t theory — we understand cash flow, investor pressure, launch windows, and what’s at stake.
What sets Red Corner apart? Every FCTO on our team has done this before — not once, but repeatedly. We come from the startup world where projects fall apart on Friday and need to ship Monday. We thrive in this space.
The Red Corner Approach
We lead from the inside. Your Red Corner CTO dives into the code, team, and process to find what’s broken - then rebuilds from the ground up. We stabilize systems and realign teams with one goal: shipping software that works.
Foundational
In the foundational phase, we bring everything to the surface. Your Red Corner CTO will perform a full technical and team audit — architecture, code quality, CI/CD pipeline, backlog quality, and more. We identify structural weaknesses, tech debt, talent gaps, and delivery flaws. Then we stabilize. That means refactoring where needed, cleaning up delivery processes, redefining roles, and restoring confidence in your software. This isn’t a patch — it’s a reset built on solid engineering principles.
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Evolution
With your product now stable and live, the next step isn’t growth — it’s evolution. Your Red Corner CTO now shifts from stabilizing the chaos to reshaping the system for long-term resilience and adaptability. We evaluate how your architecture, delivery pipelines, and team workflows perform under real usage. We address legacy decisions made under pressure, refine deployment strategies, and lay the groundwork for consistent iteration. Evolution means turning your patched-up system into a reliable, scalable product that won’t break when the stakes get higher. This is where we prepare your tech — and your team — to handle what’s next.
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Growth
Now that your product has evolved into something stable and scalable, it’s time to drive growth. Your Red Corner CTO stays in the loop — helping you prioritize technical initiatives that directly impact revenue, expansion, and customer success. We’re not here to rack up features. We’re here to help you grow with intention: launching into new markets, integrating with partners, scaling infrastructure cost-effectively, and avoiding the traps that slow fast-moving businesses. We earn our seat by being brutally honest, technically fluent, and relentlessly focused on results.
When I say we’ve seen it all, I mean it.
A few years ago, we were brought into an e-commerce company that ran short-term, high-volume sales events. Their new platform — meant to replace a perfectly functional legacy system — was eight months behind schedule. Two development agencies were on the payroll, burning $75K a month. They weren’t talking to each other. No one was in charge. Deadlines slipped, and excuses piled up. It was a mess.
We had 60 days until their biggest sales event of the year. If things didn’t change fast, the business could literally collapse. They called Red Corner.
We stepped in immediately. We sat down with the only in-house developer and started with the basics: deploying, testing, building quickly and confidently. We provided hands-on training and real resources. Every morning, we led team meetings to direct the rescue. We brought in two trusted contractors to plug critical gaps. And we stayed close — CTO-level availability, day or night, for as long as it took.
Six months later, the system was stable, the client’s event had run, and the business was still standing. But that wasn’t the end — that was the start of the evolution. We began fixing the deep-rooted issues that had led to failure in the first place. And today? We meet with them once or twice a week. The team runs on their own — with the systems, processes, and confidence to do it right.
After it was all said and done, the client said something that stuck with me: “You provided so much more value than the cost you demanded.” That’s what we do. When the stakes are high and failure isn’t an option, we show up, fix it, and leave your business better than we found it.
— Oshri Cohen
Founder, Red Corner
Expert Guidance
Our FCTOs don’t just advise on rescue projects — they’ve lived them. We’ve taken over mid-flight, inherited bad codebases, restructured delivery orgs, and made the tough calls that saved product launches. We know how to spot the real blockers — technical, cultural, or operational — and we don’t flinch when it’s time to act. This isn’t theoretical. We’ve led these turnarounds before, and we’ll lead yours like it’s our own.
Tailored Solutions
Every software rescue is different. Some teams are burned out, some just need direction. Some products are overbuilt, others barely function. We don’t walk in with a template. We listen, we learn how things got messy, and then we build a plan that actually works for your situation. That might mean fixing things in small steps, working side by side with your team, or making the hard calls no one else will. We stay grounded in what your business actually needs — not what looks good in a slide deck.
Continuous Support
Rescue is the turning point — not the finish line. Once your project is back on track, your Red Corner CTO remains in your corner. We offer ongoing support that fits your rhythm: embedded weekly, monthly checkpoints, or behind-the-scenes technical oversight. We track delivery health, review roadmaps, spot issues early, and keep teams aligned. When questions come up — about hiring, scaling, launching — you’ve got someone who knows your history and has the technical depth to advise with confidence. Long-term support means no regressions, no firefighting, and no being left on your own.
Innovative Approach
Innovation isn’t about big ideas in slide decks — it’s about solving real problems under real pressure. Our FCTOs come from startup environments where speed, constraint, and chaos are the norm. We know when to invent and when to cut corners smartly. We’ve duct-taped systems to hit deadlines and rebuilt them the next week. Sometimes the best innovation is a clever shortcut that buys you time. Other times it’s a technical leap that redefines your stack. We don’t chase shiny tools — we solve what matters, fast.
Software Project Rescue, Guided by Fractional CTOs Who’ve Been There
Software rarely fails because of bad code, that’s the easy part to fix. The real breakdowns happen upstream: misaligned teams, unclear product vision, broken processes, or leadership gaps. That’s why your Red Corner CTO isn’t just a fixer, they’re a leader. They’ve stepped into chaotic orgs, stabilized delivery, rebuilt trust, and shipped working software in environments where nothing was working. This is someone who sees through the noise and gets to the root of why things are broken, then leads the team to fix it.
Experience Leading Teams Through Crisis
A Red Corner CTO doesn’t walk in and take over — they walk in and lift up. When we step into a rescue, the in-house team is often still there, overwhelmed or sidelined. Our job is to steady the ship and build their confidence back up. We lead through clarity, not control — helping the team reset priorities, regain trust in the process, and re-learn how to deliver. The goal is never dependency. It’s evolution. We guide your team through the mess and leave them stronger, faster, and able to run without us.
Deep Auditing Across Product, Tech, and Process
Most rescues fail because no one takes the time to stop and assess what’s actually broken. At Red Corner, our CTOs begin with a full audit — not just of code, but of product direction, team structure, delivery processes, and stakeholder alignment. We look at how work flows (or doesn’t), where trust has eroded, and how the system behaves under pressure. This 360° view is what lets us make real decisions — not guesses — about what needs to change, what can be salvaged, and what should be left behind.
Driving Realignment Between Business and Engineering
When projects collapse, it’s tempting to blame the code — but that’s not the real problem. Red Corner CTOs come from the startup world, where failure costs real money and excuses aren’t tolerated. We’re not here to point fingers. We’re here to realign product, engineering, and business strategy — fast. That means getting the right things built, in the right order, with clarity and accountability. We talk to you like you’ve put $100M on the line — because that’s how seriously we take your trust. No fluff. No drama. Just leadership, alignment, and action.
It’s Time to Turn Things Around
TELEPHONE. 514-777-3883
Founded with Love in Montreal, Canada, but operates around the world :-)
No cost. No commitment. Just a real conversation with a CTO who can help. Fill out the form or message us on WhatsApp — don’t wait while things get worse.
FAQ
1. What is a software project rescue?
A software project rescue is an intensive, hands-on intervention designed to recover a software initiative that is failing or stuck. This can include stabilizing broken codebases, replacing or guiding underperforming vendors, restoring team morale, clarifying project scope, and re-establishing trust with stakeholders. Rescue work doesn’t just fix what’s broken, it also rebuilds the systems, processes, and leadership practices that caused the failure in the first place. At Red Corner, these rescues are led by seasoned CTOs who’ve done it many times, under real pressure.
2. How do I know my project needs rescuing?
Most teams know before they say it out loud. If deadlines have been missed repeatedly, if the team is burnt out, if you’re pouring money into development and seeing little return, or if leadership can’t answer simple questions about what’s being built or why, your project is in trouble. We also see projects where multiple vendors or contractors are working with no coordination, or where communication with stakeholders has broken down entirely. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s time to talk.
3. What makes Red Corner different from typical consultants or dev agencies?
Red Corner doesn’t send in a project manager or a developer to “look around.” We embed a fractional CTO, someone who has owned outcomes in high-stakes environments and knows what a real turnaround requires. We lead from the inside. Our CTOs write code, lead teams, audit systems, talk to investors, and fix what’s broken, across tech and org. We’re not a vendor. We’re not “advisors.” We’re the ones who take responsibility when others won’t.
4. Will you replace our existing development team?
Not unless it’s necessary. Most of the time, your team isn’t the problem — it’s leadership, process, or lack of alignment. We work to lift your existing team up. We train them, guide them, and create an environment where they can succeed. If you have team members or vendors who aren’t contributing, we’ll give you clear, actionable recommendations, but our default is to help your people succeed.
5. What exactly happens during a rescue?
We start with a deep audit: of your codebase, infrastructure, delivery pipeline, and team structure. We speak to everyone, from developers to product managers to stakeholders. Then we build a plan: stabilize first, then evolve. We lead daily standups, rebuild backlogs, fix CI/CD, and get clarity on what you’re trying to ship and why. Once the bleeding stops, we shift to long-term fixes, replacing brittle systems, cleaning up tech debt, and restoring team morale.
6. How long does a rescue take?
It depends. We’ve seen meaningful results in as little as 3–4 weeks in high-urgency environments, and we’ve supported complex rescues that took 6+ months to fully stabilize. Most engagements land somewhere in the 2–4 month range for full stabilization, with optional ongoing support for evolution and growth. We work at your business speed: if revenue is at risk, we work faster and harder. If the situation allows for a rebuild, we move methodically.
7. Can you help if our launch is in 30 days or less?
Yes, we’ve done it. We’ve taken over chaotic projects with weeks left before public launches and got them over the finish line. These engagements are intense, time-sensitive, and high-pressure, and that’s where we shine. We focus only on what’s essential, rally the team, and ensure you ship something stable and functional.
8. What happens after the rescue?
Once stability is achieved, we enter what we call the “evolution” phase. Here we work on long-term technical improvements, org upgrades, and culture shifts. We help your product roadmap evolve into something sustainable and clear. Your team becomes more self-sufficient. At this stage, we may scale back our involvement to a few hours a week or act as a technical advisor to leadership. Many clients keep a Red Corner CTO around in a low-touch capacity to stay on course.
9. What if I already have a CTO or tech lead?
No problem. We partner with internal leadership all the time. Some CTOs are overworked and appreciate outside perspective and bandwidth. Others need help in specific areas like delivery, architecture, or team dynamics. We are there to support, not compete. Our goal is to leave your leadership team stronger, not replace them.
10. We’re working with outsourced devs. Can you work with them?
Yes. We’ve done dozens of rescues that involve offshore or hybrid setups. Often, part of the problem is misalignment, time zone gaps, or lack of accountability. We get everyone talking, tighten delivery expectations, introduce oversight, and ensure your vendors are working in your best interest. If they aren’t, we’ll help you find someone better, and get things under control in the meantime.
11. What does a Red Corner CTO actually do?
We lead. That means joining daily meetings, running code reviews, talking to developers, advising founders, presenting to investors, fixing pipelines, rewriting scopes, replacing tools, and clearing roadblocks. Our work spans technical, organizational, and leadership domains. We act like someone who’s responsible, because we are.
12. Can you help explain things to investors or boards?
Yes. Many rescues involve reporting up the chain to concerned stakeholders. We speak business and tech fluently. We explain what went wrong, what’s being done to fix it, and how to measure progress. We bring confidence and clarity where it’s been missing.
13. How fast can you start?
If we’re available, we can begin within a few days. We’ll start with a short diagnostic to understand scope, then dive into planning and team integration immediately. In high-urgency cases, we can begin the same week and run triage mode to stabilize fast.
14. Is this expensive?
Compared to the cost of failure, no. Delays, bad code, and leadership gaps burn cash and opportunity. We charge for senior-level work that delivers outcomes fast. You get a CTO-level mind and hands working on your biggest risk area. Clients often say we paid for ourselves in the first month.
15. What do your clients say?
“You provided so much more value than the cost you demanded.” That was from one of our rescue clients after we saved their product before a make-or-break sales event. We’ve heard similar feedback from dozens of teams, because this is what we do best.
Other Services We Offer
Custom Headless E-Commerce Solutions, Designed for Growth
Red Corner delivers high-performance headless e-commerce development backed by expert Fractional CTOs. We design systems that handle real-world scale, from product drops to high-velocity campaigns, ensuring your storefront stays fast, integrated, and built for growth.
Build MVPs with a FCTO Who Thinks Like a Founder
Red Corner offers MVP development led by experienced Fractional CTOs who guide startups from idea to launch without wasting time or money. We don’t just code, we help you define the right MVP, avoid costly mistakes, and build only what matters. Whether you’re validating a new idea or preparing for investor rounds, our FCTOs ensure your product is stable, scalable, and ready to evolve.
Get Reliable, Always-On Data Engineering Without Hiring In-House
Struggling with unreliable pipelines or outdated dashboards? Red Corner offers fully managed, real-time data engineering for SMBs, no hiring, no downtime. We set up and maintain your private data stack with a dedicated fractional CTO who ensures your data is always accurate, always flowing, and always ready to power decisions.
Healthcare Software Built by Proven HealthTech Leaders
Red Corner provides custom healthcare software development led by HealthTech CTOs, not contractors. We design and scale compliant, interoperable platforms across EHR, telehealth, and clinical systems. From HIPAA and PHIPA to HL7 and FHIR, we handle complex integrations and build tech that works in the real world.
Independent Advisory for Selecting and Managing Software Agencies
Most dev agency projects fail due to poor oversight. Red Corner provides experienced, impartial CTOs who guide you through vendor selection, scope definition, technical management, and delivery, ensuring your investment leads to real business results.
Custom Web Development - CTO Led
Red Corner offers CTO-led web development services tailored for startups and growing businesses. Our fractional CTOs and engineering teams build scalable, maintainable platforms with long-term product success in mind. No fluff, no bloat, just web systems that work and keep working.