Founders whose developer has left
Our freelancer stopped replying, and we’re not sure where the code is.
We secure the repository, hosting, domain and app store accounts in your name, then read what is there. See the freelancer handover checklist.
App project rescue: take over an app that’s stuck
For apps a freelancer, an agency or an AI tool left half-finished, or that work but nobody can safely change. We start by moving access into your name and writing down what we find, then fix what matters first.
- Code and accounts moved into your name first
- A written review, with findings ranked by risk
- Fix in place or rebuild parts: your call, with reasons
30 minutes with a founder. Times show in your time zone.
Who this is for
Sound familiar?
Teams with an AI-built app that keeps breaking
It worked in the demo. Now every change breaks something else.
A review of security, data and the riskiest parts of the code, then the fixes that make it safe to launch. See from vibe coding to production.
Businesses with an agency build that never launched
We’ve put a lot into this, and we still can’t go live.
An honest read of what can be kept and what can’t, so the decision rests on facts rather than on what has been spent. See rewrite or refactor.
How a takeover runs
Example plan
Every app is different. This is the order we work in.
- Access
The repository, hosting, domain, app store and third-party accounts moved into your name. Nothing else starts until this is done.
- Review
A written review of security, data, reliability and the code, with each finding ranked by risk and a fix beside it. See what a code audit covers.
- Stabilize
The critical fixes first: secrets out of the code, working backups, error alerts, and a deploy anyone on the team can repeat.
- Decide
Fix in place, or rebuild the parts that can’t be saved. You get the reasons in writing, and you choose.
- Build
Keep building with us, or hand the work to your own team with notes they can use.
This is the order we work in, not a past client project.
Questions about taking over an app
Can you work on code someone else wrote?
Yes. That is what a takeover is. We read the code before we commit to a plan, and the written review tells you what we found.
Do we have to rebuild the app?
Usually not all of it. Most takeovers keep what works and replace what is risky. The review says which is which, and why.
What do you need from us to start?
Access to whatever exists: the repository, hosting and app store accounts, and any notes or designs. If some access is missing, getting it back into your name comes first.
What if the developer won’t hand over the code?
Start with what you control, the accounts in your own name. Then check your contract for who owns the code; who owns the code explains what to look for. This is not legal advice.
Can you take over an app built with Lovable, Bolt or Replit?
Yes, as long as the code can be exported or synced to GitHub. Lovable, Bolt or a developer? explains what each tool lets you take out.
Who owns the code once you take over?
You do. Code lives in your GitHub, accounts stay in your name, and IP is assigned to you as each invoice is paid.