Project rescue for builds that stalled, broke or were abandoned.
Projects stall for familiar reasons: a freelancer who went quiet, an agency that ran out of road, a codebase nobody can deploy or an AI-built prototype that worked in the demo and fell over with real users. You have already spent money, and you need someone to tell you plainly what it is worth.
- Free 30-minute call
- Fixed quote in writing
- Code you own
What is software project rescue?
Software project rescue is taking over a build that has stalled, failed or been abandoned: securing access to the code and accounts, auditing what exists, deciding what to keep, repair or rebuild, and then stabilising and finishing the product.
We start with an audit, not a sales pitch. You get a written report on the code, hosting, security and ownership, a recommendation to keep, repair or rebuild each part, and a fixed quote to finish. If the previous work is good, we build on it.
What a rescue covers.
Not sure it is the right fit? Ask an engineer first.
Thirty minutes with a senior engineer, free and with no obligation. Bring the problem, not a brief.
How a rescue runs.
Check who owns the code.
Under UK copyright law, code written by a freelancer or another company belongs to its author unless it was assigned to you in writing, signed by them (Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90). Paying for the work is not enough on its own. Our audit flags any gaps in the paperwork, so you can take legal advice and fix them before an investor or buyer asks.
Often built alongside it.
Frequently asked questions.
Will you just tell us to start again?
Only if that is genuinely the cheapest route to a working product, and the audit shows you why. More often, parts of the existing work are sound and worth keeping. Each recommendation comes with its reasoning and its cost, so you decide.
Can you fix an app built with AI coding tools?
Yes. Prototypes made with AI app builders are a fast way to test an idea, but they often lack proper security, data design, testing and hosting. We keep what works, rebuild the weak foundations and give you a product that can handle real users.
Our previous developer still has the logins. What can we do?
Start with what you can prove: your company usually owns the domain and hosting accounts if it paid for them in its own name. We help you work with the registrar, hosting company and app stores to regain control, and move everything into your name.
Do we own the code the previous team wrote?
Not automatically. Under UK law, copyright stays with the author unless it was assigned to you in writing. Check your contract for an IP assignment clause. If there is none, take legal advice and ask the previous developer to sign an assignment.
Still have a question? Ring 07723 431000 and speak to an engineer.