Our story
Our B2B SaaS Journey
Join us as we document the real, unfiltered journey of building SixSides, one week at a time. New episodes every Tuesday.
59: We won the World Police and Fire Games 2027!
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin finally unveil Project Rendezvous as the World Police and Fire Games 2027, share how the deal came together, welcome their first two developers to SixSides, and talk through the hiring sprint, website plans, LinkedIn content push, and why the next 12 months could change everything.LinksWorld Police and Fire Games 2027 - https://wpfg2027.com/Chapters00:00 - Intro 00:45 - Project Rendezvous is finally revealed 02:44 - How Volunteering WA led to the police games 06:18 - What the deal means for SixSides 10:27 - Hiring our first two developers 13:39 - The plan to announce it to the world 17:58 - The bank account, burn rate, and payment milestones 24:56 - Posting to LinkedIn and building a content engine 30:06 - Why the website is now a massive priority 32:37 - Two more paid events and more momentum 35:47 - What we’re working on this weekIn this episode, we cover:Unveiling Project Rendezvous as the World Police and Fire Games 2027How the Volunteering WA event led to SixSides’ biggest deal so farWhat it takes to sell into large organisations with long procurement cyclesWhy this project could fund the next 12 to 18 months of growthHiring SixSides’ first two developers - Raymond and MartinGrowing the team across engineering, lead generation and marketingBuilding product features for international and large-scale event communitiesThe pressure of milestone payments, cash flow, and managing burnWhy the SixSides marketing website now matters more than everStarting a proper LinkedIn content engine for founder-led marketingTurning white papers, case studies and blog posts into a repeatable content systemHow one major event could create years of lead generation and follow-on businessBalancing weddings, leave, onboarding and startup momentumThe ambition to turn event-driven sales into product-led growthGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
58: We doubled our team in two weeks
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin share why they moved fast to hire their first two team members, unpack the near-finished Project Rendezvous deal that made it possible, and talk through onboarding, process documentation, DealBuddi plans, and the next wave of product work inside SixSides.Chapters00:00 - Intro 01:06 - We hired our first two team members 03:38 - Project Rendezvous and the procurement process 10:12 - Why this deal unlocked hiring 13:20 - Meet Chris and Rhea 15:07 - Fair Work, contracts, and doing right by the team 17:10 - Making up onboarding as we go 22:02 - Commission, incentives, and team-wide upside 26:38 - Product updates - liquid glass, app parity, and new event features 38:01 - The plan with DealBuddiIn this episode, we cover:Hiring the first two team members for SixSidesWhy Project Rendezvous is such an important sales opportunityUsing upfront strategy work to survive a formal procurement processThe risks of hiring before a major deal is fully signedOnboarding new team members while building the process in real timeDocumenting SOPs and using AI to speed up internal operationsStructuring fair pay, commission, and team-wide upsideNavigating offshore hiring and Fair Work considerationsProduct updates across the SixSides app and dashboardLiquid glass design work and upgrading the app’s UI foundationsClosing the parity gap between the app, dashboard, and AI assistantEvent feature updates including session RSVPs, sponsors, and exhibitorsPlanning around Mitchell’s wedding and developer hiring timelinesThe next phase of DealBuddi and building AI-powered internal toolsHow the founders are thinking about growth, revenue, and team cultureGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
57: Building the right team
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin unpack a tense enterprise procurement process, share where hiring is up to across lead gen and development, and talk through the product, positioning, and SaaS agreement changes that are making SixSides feel more scalable.Chapters00:00 - Intro 01:31 - Project Rendezvous and enterprise procurement delays 03:51 - Fitness updates and wedding countdown 07:28 - Hiring plans across lead gen and development 12:38 - Loom screening, technical hiring and what good candidates look like 18:38 - Creating room for initiative and experimentation in the team 23:18 - Project Hammer and expanding within existing accounts 25:12 - Website, design direction and making SixSides feel premium 32:33 - Product updates - dashboard fixes, AI assistant improvements and feature cleanup 38:54 - SaaS agreements, positioning work and wrapping upIn this episode, we cover:The procurement panel slowing down a major SixSides deal Whether to keep hiring even before a large contract is formally signed Fitness updates, discipline struggles, and wedding prep Interviewing candidates for lead generation and development roles Why responsiveness and initiative matter more than a polished CV Building a 90 day onboarding plan for new hires Delegating LinkedIn and email outreach as the team grows A new expansion opportunity with Project Hammer Moving customers from one-off events to ongoing SaaS agreements Updating the SixSides dashboard so organisers can manage more without developer help Improving the AI assistant so it can handle links, logos, profile photos, and more event setup tasks Why modern UI matters for an event platform built around connection and community Using product design to make SixSides feel more premium Planning webinars and outreach to convert past event users into future organisers Clarifying SixSides positioning as a community-first event engagement platformGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
56: We're hiring!
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin unpack a huge turning point for SixSides as they start hiring, celebrate Project Rendezvous moving into contracts, and talk through how DealBuddi, team structure, and long-term planning are all evolving at once.LinksDealBuddi - https://dealbuddi.comChatGPT Atlas - https://chatgpt.com/atlas/Superwhisper - https://superwhisper.comAaron Francis on YouTube - Are designers cooked? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm9im-3g8fYStitch by Google - https://stitch.withgoogle.comSuno - https://suno.comChapters00:00 - Editor’s note and intro 00:52 - We’re hiring at SixSides 07:38 - Using Atlas browser and AI to screen applicants 14:08 - Project Rendezvous gets approved 18:49 - What DealBuddi does and why it matters now 27:39 - Rebuilding DealBuddi in Laravel 31:04 - Founder roles, planning styles and playing to strengths 35:23 - National Safety Conference and product adoption lessons 38:44 - PlanetScale spikes and event infrastructure 41:58 - Founders Collective, student work experience and wrap-upIn this episode, we cover:Why now feels like the right time for SixSides to start hiringHiring a growth marketer, lead gen support and multiple developersUsing AI tools like Atlas browser to screen job applicants fasterHow voice-to-text workflows with Superwhisper and ChatGPT are changing day-to-day workProject Rendezvous getting committee approval and moving into contract discussionsWhy DealBuddi’s positioning needs work and how it supports real sales conversationsThe plan to rebuild DealBuddi from Bubble into LaravelFounder roles, planning styles and how to play to each other’s strengthsLessons from the National Safety Conference and event app adoptionDatabase load spikes in PlanetScale during live eventsFounders Collective momentum, community building and staying in touch between eventsWhy student work experience is a good idea, but not the right fit just yetGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
55: That's tree trimming money
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin unpack a huge week of live events, reflect on the first real signs of SaaS leverage inside SixSides, talk through plans to hire their first extra team members, and share why Project Rendezvous could become a major turning point for the business.Chapters00:00 - Intro 01:25 - CCF Women in Civil and a big week of events 03:31 - We’re not engaging with attendees properly 08:13 - We’re hiring 12:03 - Good signs for Project Rendezvous 20:43 - Project Hammer Brisbane and tree trimming money 27:45 - Bridging the gap between operations and dev with Linear 39:09 - NSCA tomorrow 40:31 - Understanding the user journey on our site with PostHog 43:41 - When do we hire for AI and agents?In this episode, we cover:What happened at the CCF Women in Civil event and how attendee usage is improvingWhy SixSides needs a better post-event attendee engagement strategyHow the team is thinking about email automation and lifecycle messaging with BentoThe current growth in platform users across all SixSides eventsWhy Mitchell and Gavin are planning their first hires across development and lead generationHow Project Rendezvous could unlock faster growth and more engineering capacityThe moment SixSides started to feel like a real software business with paid events running without hands-on supportLessons from Project Hammer and how event setup is becoming more repeatableBridging the gap between operations and development with better planning in LinearWhy the team is looking at PostHog to better understand the user journey on the marketing websiteHow bootstrapping affects hiring, planning, and long-term product decisionsWhen AI agents might become part of the team structureGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
54: There is so much to do
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin celebrate their fastest client win yet, prepare for five events in seven days, share updates to the SixSides app and dashboard, and unpack the growing pressure of building a bootstrapped SaaS when the momentum finally starts to kick in.Chapters00:00 - Intro 00:19 - Fitness update and hitting new milestones 03:42 - Fastest client win yet 06:46 - Five events in seven days 10:35 - Building the first user guide 14:59 - Should we go back to AIM next year? 18:11 - Product updates in the app and dashboard 22:33 - There is so much to do 31:31 - Should we hire our first developer? 38:05 - OutroIn this episode, we cover:Fitness progress and how personal routines are tracking alongside startup pressureOur fastest client win yet and what made the sales process workHow a quick Loom walkthrough helped close a new event customerWhy community building keeps coming up in SixSides sales conversationsInvoicing momentum and how March revenue is already beating last yearPreparing for five events in seven days across multiple customersThe operational risk of becoming the bottleneck as event volume growsBuilding a first draft attendee user guide for event clientsUsing Gamma to speed up polished documentation and onboarding assetsWhy sponsor and exhibitor workflows could become a product-led growth leverRecommitting to AIME as a key conference for future customer growthNew SixSides product updates including sponsor tier layouts and feature togglesFixing AI assistant tooling issues in the dashboard backendThe growing product roadmap across the website, dashboard, infrastructure and mobile appWhether it is time for SixSides to hire a first developerThe realities of bootstrapping while juggling multiple businessesGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
53: Our biggest deal yet
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin celebrate one year of podcasting, lock in their biggest client commitment yet with four more events booked through to EOFY, and unpack what’s next across dashboards, lead gen follow-ups, Linear vs Slack, and a big push towards a better AI workflow inside SixSides.Chapters00:00 - Intro and one year anniversary 02:40 - Biggest deal yet - four more events booked 06:27 - Project Rendezvous - still waiting 07:34 - Leadfeeder signals and why the website needs work 10:46 - Slack channel vs Linear for feature requests 15:58 - AI inside SixSides - Vercel AI SDK, agents, and better chat UX 22:14 - Infra fatigue and keeping the work fun 27:02 - AIM follow-ups and lead gen reply reality 29:36 - The DICE - mailing packs and handwritten notes 31:19 - Fitness check-in and staying consistentIn this episode, we cover:One year of podcasting and how routine keeps the business groundedLanding the biggest SixSides deal so far and booking four more events through to EOFYHitting 93% event app adoption and what might be driving itProject Rendezvous delay and learning to live on other people’s timelinesUsing Leadfeeder-style tooling to see who’s checking out the SixSides siteWhy the marketing site needs screenshots, walkthroughs, and a proper sign-up pathLinear vs Slack for feature requests and how to keep dev work organisedUsing AI inside SixSides to duplicate events and reduce setup grunt workMoving towards the Vercel AI SDK and improving agent workflows, approvals, and attachmentsParking infra work to stay motivated and keep shippingAIM follow-ups, outreach reply rates, and lead gen back in motionThe DICE mail-out plan and handwritten notes for supportersFitness routines, travel disruption, and staying consistent over perfectionGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
52: This episode is mostly technical
In this episode, we go mostly technical - Mitchell migrates the SixSides dashboard from Vue to React, moves the database to PlanetScale, and outlines the plan for proper preview environments that go from Linear to Cursor to live. Along the way there’s a fitness check-in, a disrupted Canberra trip, Project Hammer running without us on-site, and a new plan for an event manager success playbook.Linksmostlytechnical.comChapters00:00 - Intro, billionaires, and the Christmas present 05:00 - Anniversary trip recap - escape room, Harbour Bridge nope, ice cream mission 08:50 - Fitness updates - gym habits, 75 Hard halfway, and easing into running 14:20 - We’re a React app now - why we moved from Vue 20:05 - PlanetScale migration - ditching RDS and simplifying the database setup 25:05 - Cost reduction and scaling globally into other regions 27:30 - Import issues, support fixes, and the “metal instance” workaround 32:50 - Linear to Cursor to live previews - the new dev workflow 41:30 - Project Rendezvous, CCF Magazine, and external deadline pressure 48:25 - Canberra trip disruption, Project Hammer lessons, and mailing out the diceIn this episode, we cover:The “billionaire” Christmas present (Zimbabwean dollars, obviously)Anniversary trip vibes, escape rooms, and bailing on the Harbour Bridge walkFitness updates - 75 Hard progress, running blocks, and sore feetWhy SixSides is now a React dashboard (goodbye Vue)Using Cursor to accelerate a React rewrite and why popularity matters for AI toolingMoving the SixSides database from AWS RDS to PlanetScaleConsolidating global and regional databases into a simpler modelData sovereignty trade-offs (and when it’s worth paying for)Big cost reduction for adding regions (from hundreds to tens per month)The plan for preview environments: Linear tickets - Cursor agents - live preview linksReplacing Laravel Vapor with Terraform for better automationProject Rendezvous update and what “due diligence” could look likeCCF Magazine editorial deadline pressureCanberra trip disrupted, then Sydney trip pivotProject Hammer ran without the founders on-site - lessons learnedBuilding an event manager success playbookMailing out SixSides dice to leads - and a review-for-dice offerGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
51: We shipped our dashboard between bike rides
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin debrief their first big AIME conference trip - from Mitch’s truly unhinged packing list to what they learned meeting organisers face-to-face, how they plan to follow up leads, and why the new SixSides dashboard and AI workflows suddenly became the star of the booth.Chapters00:00 - Intro 02:05 - What did Mitch pack? 06:34 - Relocating to Melbourne - podcast gear, desktop PC, and the mic-in-a-cup moment 11:12 - AIME debrief - nerves, then finding the groove 13:23 - Selling lessons - human first, outcomes over features 16:35 - Lead follow-up plan - LinkedIn connects, then email sequencing 17:49 - Dice idea - why we want them at every event 20:14 - Booth lessons - placement away from competitors and why banners weren’t the play 22:22 - The Monday sprint - shipping the dashboard demo fast 24:05 - What we’d change next time - travel days, flights, schedule and dress code 28:19 - Project Hammer update and meeting Joe in person 29:10 - Dashboard and AI workflows - self-serve events and production rollout 35:49 - The “exercise trip” recap - 40k steps, food, and no relaxing 37:16 - The tan track and the uphill cycling humiliation 39:43 - Project Rendezvous white paper - global rollout strategy and what’s nextIn this episode, we cover:Mitch’s chaotic travel kit - steamer, mini fan, full desktop PC, and podcast gearAIME conference debrief - nerves, first conversations, and surprising momentsWhat worked at the booth - demoing dashboards, theming, and speed of executionHow Mitch and Gavin approach conversations differently - features vs outcomesLead follow-up plan - LinkedIn connects, email sequencing, and timingDice update - why physical gimmicks might matter more than bannersLessons learned - flights, schedules, attire, and staying until the endThe SixSides dashboard - self-serve event setup and getting Mitch out of the loopProductivity gains with AI tooling (with a bigger tech stack chat teased for next week)Exercise and travel routines - 40k steps, sore legs, and avoiding weight creepProject Rendezvous update - white paper strategy and “initial rollout” framingFounder Collective update - co-hosting with The Precinct and upcoming eventsGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
50: Live from Melbourne
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin record in person from a Melbourne hotel room ahead of AIM, share what it cost to exhibit and what they’re actually trying to achieve, and unpack big momentum updates across Project Rendezvous, CCF, and a major push to get SixSides dashboards ready for live demos.Linksatlas.devChapters00:00 - Audio note - recording in person with two mics 00:28 - Live from Melbourne - exercise trip meets lead gen trip 02:53 - Morning person vs night person (and the need for naps) 05:39 - Project Rendezvous update - multi-year potential and pricing pressure 08:29 - What AIM is and why we’re exhibiting 09:23 - Booth setup - reusable banner, shipping pain, and vendor shoutout 12:19 - Booth envy - avoiding the event tech aisle and why positioning matters 15:08 - Conference strategy - lead rating, rapport, and follow-up commitments 17:12 - Pricing direction - per-event pilots to SaaS, dashboards as the key 26:57 - Shoutout to Clay Smith on Bluesky 28:44 - CCF President’s Lunch recap - JT on stage and Tag, You're It via event photos 31:51 - Dashboards build sprint - consolidating repos and shipping fast with AI 35:42 - Using AI for white papers - foundations first, then polish 38:13 - Weight loss update - 5kg down, walking focus, no booze habits 46:00 - Lessons learned coming next week - pitching, exhibiting, and confidence buildingIn this episode, we cover:Recording in person from Melbourne and the joys of mismatched micsExercising like maniacs and discovering who’s a morning person vs a night personWhat AIM is, why we’re exhibiting, and how much it costBooth setup decisions, reusable banners, and avoiding the intimidating event tech aisleConference lead strategy - cold/warm/hot leads and getting commitment to follow upProject Rendezvous update - pricing pressure, US decision makers, and multi-year deal potentialShifting from per-event pricing to SaaS pricing, and why dashboards are the unlockThe CCF President’s Lunch recap, JT on stage, and a new angle for Tag, You're It using event photosHow we’re both using AI - white papers for sales, dashboards for product iterationMitch’s weight loss journey updateGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
49: Why we're being so transparent
In this episode, we unpack why we’ve chosen to be so transparent on the podcast - the upside for listeners, the potential risks with customers and competitors, and where we draw the line on sharing sensitive details. We also share a stack of updates as AIME approaches, including meeting bookings, a new client trial, analytics learnings from Heroly, multi-agent AI workflows, and a big strategic planning prompt from Inductive. Plus, wedding prep and fitness check-ins to round things out.Chapters00:00 - Intro 00:46 - AIME meeting bookings update (Gavin on 11+, Mitch on 3) 03:20 - Banner logistics and prep for Melbourne 06:07 - The secret AI breakthrough teaser for AIM 09:28 - Why we’re being so transparent (and the downsides) 16:34 - Being “small” vs getting on people’s radar 18:40 - New client trial and shifting to community-based pricing 20:43 - Why short events don’t suit “tagging” features 22:10 - Catching up with Heroly: analytics, AI and advice 24:35 - Using multiple AI agents in parallel (what worked, what didn’t) 29:00 - Claude Code vs Cursor experiments 30:02 - Project Hammer update and deadlines 30:40 - Inductive session: backcasting to $10M-$20M 32:45 - Wedding planning update (catering, dogs, MC/DJ, photo booth, bus) 37:41 - Fitness check-in (weight, habits, 5k walks, Apple Watch, Strava) 46:24 - Episode 50 coming up and outroIn this episode, we cover:Why we’re choosing transparency, and what could go wrongThe trade-offs between “looking big” vs being honest about being smallAIME prep: meeting bookings, banners, and how we’re pitching the standA new client trial and testing a community-based, ongoing pricing modelWhy “tagging” style features don’t suit short events and meetupsLearning from Heroly's analytics setup (and what we’re missing)Using multiple AI agents in parallel without melting your brainCursor vs Claude Code, and what we’re experimenting with nextProject Hammer update and timelines for event setupBackcasting with Inductive to plan for a $10M-$20M futureWedding planning progress and suit decisionsFitness habits: daily 5k walks, early gym sessions, and staying consistentEpisode 50 coming upGot questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
48: No dice
In this episode, we debrief a not-quite-right funding program (and a rejection that honestly saved us time), share encouraging momentum on Project Rendezvous, and get into full pre-conference mode for AIME in Melbourne - flights, accommodation, banner logistics, meeting bookings, and the lead capture tool build.Chapters00:00 - Intro - wedding prep and what’s on this week 07:01 - Funding chat - rejected for the first interview and why it wasn’t a fit 10:15 - Project Rendezvous update - signs are positive (and it could change everything) 14:25 - Marinus check-in - timelines, sponsors, and expectations 15:23 - Lead capture tool progress - backend done, frontend next 18:36 - AIME prep - flights, accom, and the Melbourne plan 21:26 - Credit card points - Amex without spending beyond your means 23:25 - Booth logistics - banner arrives and meeting booking portal opens 26:00 - No dice - supplier drama, refunds, and the Alibaba pivot 29:30 - 75 hard vs 75 medium - fitness updates, shin splints, and staying consistentIn this episode, we cover:Why the accelerator style funding program wasn’t a fit (10 weeks in-office with no guarantee)A positive update on Project Rendezvous and what “long-term partner” could meanCatching up with Marinus ahead of their May conference and sponsor scale (60+ exhibitors)Progress on the sponsor lead capture tool - backend done, frontend nextWhether the lead capture tool should become a separate appAIME conference prep - flights, accommodation, bikes, and daily walking plansApplying for an Amex to earn points on business spend (without spending beyond your means)Banner arrived - and it’s way heavier than expectedMeeting booking portal opened and how we’ll approach outreachThe dice order saga, the refund, and switching to Alibaba for cheaper dice75 hard vs 75 medium updates - plus shin splints, walking plans, and diet tweaksExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
47: We're thinking about funding
In this episode, Mitch and Gavin ease back into the year with a big life update (Mitch’s tea ceremony), some very real fitness chat, and then get into the spicy question they keep circling - should SixSides consider funding to accelerate growth?Chapters00:00 - Intro and personal stuff 17:30 - Back to business - AIM prep 18:29 - Booth logistics - table hire costs and keeping it simple 19:04 - Ordering dice, cancelling the order, and refunds 19:49 - Shout out to Nick Taylor 20:56 - Booking flights and timing around AIME 21:24 - Main topic - we’re thinking about funding 25:30 - What funding changes for Gavin (focus, lead gen, capacity) 29:08 - The trade-offs - bosses, reporting, networks, advice 31:10 - Lead capture tools and sponsor lead gen pricing 34:14 - Reducing reliance on attending events in person 37:31 - Getting the most out of a work trip (Project Hammer travel stacking) 39:35 - Referral to an international events company 40:16 - Wrap up and where to find usIn this episode, we cover:Mitch’s edit note - the first 17 minutes are very not-businessGetting back into fitness - 75 Hard, 75 Medium, and 75 EasyParkrun follow-up, chafing survival strategies, and being sickMitch’s tea ceremony recap - games, challenges, and family speechesAIME prep - booth setup decisions, signage, hiring tables, and keeping it simpleOrdering custom dice and cancelling a dropship orderShout out to Nick Taylor and the promised diceBooking flights and planning travel around eventsThe big topic - funding vs bootstrapping and what “full-time” would changeLead capture tools, sponsor lead gen, and how to create more inbound opportunitiesReducing reliance on attending events in person and planning for clashes and overseas eventsReferrals and partnerships that could pull SixSides into new regionsExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
46: Our biggest bid yet
In this episode, we’re back from the break and gearing up for the biggest pitch of our SaaS journey so far. Gavin walks us through how we approached pricing for Project Rendezvous — a potentially game-changing deal — while Mitch shares what he didn’t finish during the holidays.We also get into prepping for AIME, our lead capture tool, why we’re ordering custom dice (yes, dice), and a whole lot of honest founder chat about fitness, burnout, and figuring out what kind of company we want to be.Links8 Ball Pool app: iOS and AndroidChapters00:00 - Intro - back for 2026 00:37 - Holiday catch-up - first aid incident and a tough Christmas 06:00 - Mitch’s new pool table hobby (and the 8 Ball Pool app) 10:34 - Project Rendezvous update - sponsor prospectus and indicative pricing 12:25 - Pricing advice - “get the logo first, pricing second” 16:42 - Big opportunity pressure - backlog, speed, and protecting advantage 20:24 - Learning from podcasts - growth tactics and AI agents in sales 26:57 - AIME prep - booth planning, swag, and ordering custom SixSides dice 31:47 - Mitch’s “spectacle” ideas vs conference reality 32:40 - AR concept - how we might wow people at the booth 34:10 - Badge scanning tool - OCR lead capture and follow-ups 36:18 - Do we even need a TV? Booth strategy chat 38:48 - Travel logistics - flights, accom, and budgeting 41:26 - Mitch’s tea ceremony - getting “married” before the wedding 43:28 - Project Hammer Sydney trip planning 44:35 - Virtual office - looking legit with a business address 45:48 - Fitness goals - running, Strava, Parkrun, and wedding prep 52:13 - Wrap-up - where to find us and the SixSides dice giveawayIn this episode, we cover:Our experiences over the holiday period (including some intense moments)Why Mitch didn’t get as much done on SixSides as he hopedThe story behind Project Rendezvous and our pricing strategyCreating sponsor and pricing documents for a major eventHow Gavin’s ex-CEO helped shape our approachPlanning for AIME: dice giveaways, AR interactions, and moreWhether we need to aim higher for in-person eventsWhy Gavin is rethinking our pace and whether we should stay bootstrappedWhat we’re learning from other SaaS founders via podcastsOur lead capture tool and how OCR is helping us demo at AIMEVirtual offices, customer perception, and looking legitFitness goals and accountability leading into Mitch’s weddingMitch’s pool table obsession (and why 8 Ball Pool is surprisingly educational)Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
45: Getting to know Mitch and Gav
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin take a break from the usual product updates to share the personal backstories that shaped them - from childhood and family life, to early career detours, to how they eventually teamed up to build SixSides.Chapters00:00 - Intro - co-founders, holiday timing, and why this episode 01:07 - Gav’s 2026 challenge: learning harmonica 01:49 - Why we’re doing a “get to know us” episode 02:48 - Gav’s childhood, moving around, and early perspective shift 06:11 - Mitch’s childhood, Central Coast life, and independence 13:44 - Family pressure, mentors, and what shaped Gav 16:38 - Counselling, relationships, and communication lessons 24:45 - Mitch’s path into coding: GTA SA-MP and first paid dev work 31:20 - Gav’s path into sales: labour work, Vodafone, mining, and SaaS 37:58 - Redeye, the MBA, and the start of Sales Market Fit 41:06 - Mitch goes solo: the spreadsheet gig and long-term client 50:38 - RecruitKit: product lessons and selling reality 52:50 - How Mitch and Gav met (CV Check), and the coaching era 59:00 - EventKit to SixSides: Laracon AU, community angle, and the Laravel IP snag 01:10:59 - SixSides today: what “six sides” means, working together, and what’s nextIn this episode, we cover:Why we recorded a “get to know us” episode for the holiday breakGavin’s childhood, moving around, and the perspective it gave himMitchell’s upbringing, independence early on, and the teachers who influenced himCounselling, relationships, and learning to communicate betterHow Mitchell got into coding through GTA: San Andreas Multiplayer scriptingGavin’s winding path into sales - from labour roles to Vodafone, mining, and SaaSThe stepping stones that led to RecruitKit, EventKit, and ultimately SixSidesHow Mitch and Gav met through a CV Check sales process (and why Mitch resisted)Why SixSides focuses on community-building, not “just another event app”Where the name SixSides comes from and the six sides of an eventWhat it’s like working together as co-founders, and how they handle frictionA look ahead at growth, hiring, and what 2026 might demandExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
44: How much did we actually make this year?
In this episode, we look back on our first full year of building SixSides and share our top 5 moments each – from the emotional, to the hilarious, to the surprisingly profitable.Chapters00:00 - Intro - uncaffeinated Mitch, cafe loyalty, QR code banter 02:14 - What are we doing - year in review, top 5 moments, full transparency on numbers 03:05 - Revenue and expenses - $15k in, $10.5k revenue, $23k spend, what surprised us 07:34 - Bootstrapping chat - when funding might make sense, momentum and market advantage 10:57 - Putting more money in - hiring ahead of revenue, marketing role, managing risk 13:39 - Top 5 moments begin - Mitch’s #5: starting the podcast 18:09 - Gav’s #5: starting this venture together 19:58 - Mitch’s #4: meeting in person in June 21:11 - Gav’s #4: The Founders Collective as a living case study 23:06 - Mitch’s #3: Volunteering WA win and the payoff 25:41 - Gav’s #3: designing “holy shit moments” and seeing them work live 28:29 - Mitch’s #2: Laracon AU stress test - will the app fall over? 31:58 - Gav’s #2: end-of-year momentum shift and inbound opportunities 34:39 - Mitch’s #1: Brisbane hangs - drinking on the couch with Gav and Mel 38:21 - Gav’s #1: Project Rendezvous - the opportunity that could change 2026 42:28 - Bonus moments - conflict, communication, lessons from Denmark 47:41 - Where to find us - Gavin’s plugs, Mitch’s socials, Happy New Year and what’s nextIn this episode, we cover:SixSides 2025 year in review - what changed (especially in the last 3 months)Revenue for the year: $10.5k invoiced/received (excluding two agreements for next year)Funding put in by founders: $15k total (setup, hosting pre-credits, AIM sponsorship)Total spend for the year: just over $23k (incl. AIME for next year, contractor work, hosting, accounting)Current bank position: roughly $2.5k left in the accountWhat bootstrapping feels like right now - and when funding might make senseThe “spend $2k to make $20k” mindset - spending only when it’s revenue generating or reduces costsHiring ahead of revenue - likely bringing on a marketing person next yearTop 5 moments each (mix of personal and business highlights)Starting the podcast and why it’s become a weekly journal + creative outletMeeting in person (June catch-up) and building the co-founder relationshipThe Founders Collective as a “living case study” for SixSides (events, RSVPs, lead gen)Volunteering WA delivery - first big in-person win and the emotional payoffDesigning “holy shit moments” and seeing them work live at eventsLaracon AU “stress test” - hundreds of photo uploads, infra holding up, learning from edge casesEnd-of-year momentum shift - more inbound conversations and unexpected opportunitiesProject Rendezvous teaser - why it could be a step-change opportunityNavigating conflict and improving communication as co-foundersQuick wrap: where to find you both online + New Year / upcoming long-form episode teaserExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
43: Our goals for 2026
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin wrap the year with a Christmas check-in and map out what 2026 needs to look like for SixSides, including revisiting the $300k goal, chasing bigger multi-event deals, and getting ready for AIM in February.Chapters00:00 - Intro and Merry Christmas 01:06 - Revisiting the $300k goal for 2026 03:40 - Sharing revenue and founder contributions next episode 04:49 - What drives $300k: multi-event deals and bigger contracts 06:06 - Leads coming from LinkedIn outreach and Mitch’s profile 08:27 - Setting a baseline goal: $120k invoiced in 2026 10:32 - Project Rendezvous meeting update and buy-side milestones 14:10 - AIME conference prep: booth, signage, meetings portal 17:00 - Marketing hire plan and lead gen investment 18:55 - Pausing outreach for the holiday period 19:23 - New leads, long-term opportunities, and international interest 20:49 - Mitch’s work Christmas party and the “future company dinner” idea 24:40 - Cursor UI mockups, speed of shipping, and product quality lift 33:10 - Inbox zero and dashboard work over the break 34:50 - Roadmap: dashboards, photo selection, notifications, user-level galleries 41:15 - Fireflies didn’t record the biggest meeting 43:10 - Wrap up, where to find the boys, and what’s nextIn this episode, we cover:Revisiting the $300k goal for 2026, and why the market signals feel different nowA more conservative baseline goal: invoicing $120k in 2026Project Rendezvous update, pricing pressure, and competing against “product-only” vendors“Buy-side milestones” and how to arm internal champions with the right infoAIME (February) planning: booth setup, reusable signage, and booking meetings via the event portalHiring a part-time marketing resource to run lead gen strategy and iterationPausing LinkedIn outreach over the holidays (and why that matters)Why a self-serve setup flow and dashboards are the next big product bottleneck to killCursor-generated UI mockups that look production-ready in two promptsRoadmap thoughts: dashboards, photo selection, notification inbox, and lifting galleries/connections to the user levelThe joys of a work Christmas party… and why remote teams miss thatFireflies failing to record your biggest meeting and the scramble to memory-dump notesExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
42: Planning our first hire
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin celebrate landing a new client (Project Hammer), read out their latest listener emails, give pragmatic advice on validating SaaS ideas, and unpack what it looks like to plan their first hire - starting with just four hours a week focused on lead generation.Chapters00:00 - Intro - building SixSides and the 12-month momentum shift 01:17 - We won another client - welcome, Project Hammer 04:29 - Project Rendezvous prep - pitch work, mockups, and what to demo 09:48 - Listener emails - Herri Lee and Nick from the UK 12:15 - Nick’s questions - validating SaaS ideas and when to start marketing 20:46 - Planning our first hire - 4 hours a week and ROI expectations 23:47 - SOPs and documentation - avoiding vague roles and churn 28:08 - The “Messi effect” - sprinting when it matters, avoiding burnout 33:05 - Next year planning - AIM, banners, travel, and a stacked first half 36:14 - Sales cycles vs effort - and the path to self-serve signups 44:07 - What Mitch is building for Thursday - reskinned app demo for the pitchIn this episode, we cover:Winning a new client and why you should codename early deals (hello, Project Hammer)Prepping for a high-stakes pitch with Project Rendezvous, including scripted intros and mockupsListener emails from Heroly and Nick, and what questions we’d love more people to sendAdvice for developers starting a SaaS - validating ideas with interviews before buildingWhen to start marketing - and why relationships beat “get 1,000 customers” thinkingPlanning the first hire: four hours a week, ROI expectations, and not burning cashCreating lightweight SOPs and documentation so hires don’t fail from vague expectationsThe “Messi effect” - when to sprint and when to cruise to avoid burnoutNext year planning: AIM conference prep, booth “holy shit moments”, banners, and travelThoughts on sales cycle length vs actual effort, and when self-serve might make senseExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
41: Can we win two more customers before Christmas?
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin celebrate landing a new customer (Marinas 2026) and wonder: can they win two more before the holidays? They unpack the exciting (and slightly terrifying) momentum they’re feeling, dream about going full-time on SixSides, and discuss a potentially game-changing opportunity in Project Rendezvous.Chapters00:00 - Intro 00:28 - Can you feel the momentum? 01:29 - We landed Marinas 2026 03:07 - Planning for the future: going full-time? 07:12 - Gavin reflects on founder traits and coachability 08:37 - Early talks with VCs and making a single bet 10:12 - Project Rendezvous: a potential game-changer 12:05 - Mitch feels it too 15:35 - Challenge: can we win two more customers before Christmas? 18:03 - Deep dive on Marinas onboarding and expectations 19:45 - Deals slipping through the cracks in HubSpot? 21:03 - White-labelling SixSides for big customers 26:05 - Community story: how our podcast helped someone get a job 27:32 - Reviewing the Preshience sponsor experience 30:44 - Brainstorming a lead capture tool for sponsors 33:31 - Could this be another revenue stream? 35:45 - Mitchell still hasn’t posted on LinkedIn 37:30 - Bed bugs, broken cars and a terrible Airbnb 44:34 - Mitchell recovers and delivers photo exports for clients 47:20 - Gavin’s podcast appearance and Mitch’s wedding prepIn this episode, we cover:Signing a new customer: Marina Industries AssociationAre we actually building momentum or just hoping we are?Big conversations about going full-time on SixSidesProject Rendezvous and why it could change everythingGavin’s thoughts on founder focus and the Inductive programLearning from past mistakes (Mitchell’s RecruitKit story)A new use case: SixSides for sponsors and exhibitorsReviewing the Preshience pilot and lead capture challengesWhite-labelling the SixSides app for enterprise clientsBulk photo downloads for customers like Denmark and PreshienceThe ever-elusive LinkedIn post from MitchellA disaster getaway: bed bugs, broken Mahjong and a flat car batteryGavin’s upcoming appearance on the Bootstrapped podcastPrepping for mock-ups and meetings before ChristmasExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
40: Project Rendezvous
In this episode, we reflect on a surprisingly big sales week that came off the back of Laracon AU and Volunteering WA. Mitch steps outside his comfort zone as we commit to exhibiting at AIME 2026. We talk conference nerves, how fast you should respond to leads, and how an unexpected testimonial made all the difference.LinksDelivering 15TB of 4K video with Cloudflare R2 for $2.18: screencasting.comChapters00:00 - Intro and catching up 01:40 - Mitch’s Mahjong weekend plans 04:00 - Sales stories and risky contract practices 07:45 - Locking in AIME2026 and planning our booth 10:20 - Project Rendezvous: the biggest opportunity yet 14:40 - The follow-up email mistake 18:20 - Juggling SixSides with SMF and DealBuddi 21:55 - WorldShare’s Cambodia trip review 25:10 - Using SixSides as a lead capture tool 28:45 - Improving onboarding for sponsors and attendees 31:20 - Gavin’s bonus-points-per-5-photos idea 34:00 - Our marketing glow-up and the new white paper 39:20 - SOPs, design quality and marketing processes 43:40 - The Leap vs our podcast 48:10 - Planning for the holiday period and listener feedbackIn this episode, we cover:AIME2026 and locking in our first conference boothProject Rendezvous: the biggest opportunity we’ve ever hadGavin’s near-disastrous follow-up email and how he recoveredUsing SixSides as a lead capture tool for the first timeGavin’s genius idea for bonus points per 5 photosWorldShare’s Cambodia impact trip and feedback on SixSidesMitch building our first white paper (and levelling up on Canva)The evolution of our marketing website and webinar strategyBalancing SixSides with our other businesses during sales spikesPlanning our podcast schedule over the holiday breakAn open call for listener feedback on next year’s formatExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
39: $200K in the pipeline
In this episode, we reflect on a surprisingly big sales week that came off the back of Laracon AU and Volunteering WA. Mitch steps outside his comfort zone as we commit to exhibiting at AIME 2026. We talk conference nerves, how fast you should respond to leads, and how an unexpected testimonial made all the difference.LinksSubscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.comThe Leap (podcast) by Founders Collective: podcasts.apple.comThe Plateau of Latent Potential: medium.comChapters00:00 - Intro & Gavin’s fruit bat problem 02:00 - A big week in sales: $200K in new pipeline 04:30 - Laracon AU feedback and Vickie’s testimonial 06:30 - What if we had stopped? Reflecting on momentum 07:30 - DealBuddi and business juggling 08:30 - Our five-minute reply challenge 11:00 - Sending the first contract via DocuSign 12:00 - How our first webinar went (and what’s next) 15:00 - Committing to AIME 2026 (and Mitch’s nerves) 22:00 - Gavin’s other conference commitment for DealBuddi 23:00 - Reaching out to Justin Jackson and cold emails 27:00 - Founders Collective recap with Mark Salby 32:00 - Improving app UX for small meetups 36:00 - Tagging photos, engagement ideas, and event UX 37:00 - Tall poppy syndrome and staying under the radar 40:00 - Should we go public with our wins? 43:00 - Wrapping up and where to find usIn this episode, we cover:How Volunteering WA and Laracon AU filled our pipelineWhy testimonials matter (and what Vickie said about our app)Reaching out to Justin Jackson (and how he responded)Mitch confronting his fear of manning a booth at AIME 2026Lessons from running a second Founders Collective meetupHow we’re improving “Tag You’re It” UXThe five-minute rule for responding to leadsWhy tall poppy syndrome might be holding some founders backWhether it’s time to go public with our winsWebinar experiments and how we’re repurposing contentDealBuddi and juggling multiple businessesThe moment when momentum finally shiftsExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
38: 2,500 photos in two weeks
In this episode, we do a full debrief of Laracon AU, breaking down exactly what worked (and what didn’t) with SixSides in our biggest and most polished event deployment yet. From overwhelming feedback and glowing stats to near-crashes and a few WorkOS woes, we unpack it all — plus a peek into what’s coming next.LinksSubscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.comThe Leap (podcast) by Founders Collective: podcasts.apple.comThe Plateau of Latent Potential: medium.comChapters00:00 - Intro 00:32 - Laracon AU first impressions 05:25 - Comparing Laracon and Volunteering WA 08:20 - Lessons from mobile app support 10:00 - Real business dev opportunities coming out 12:30 - The plateau of latent potential 14:45 - Stats that blew us away 19:00 - Rethinking the structure of a conference 24:45 - WorldShare event recap 27:45 - Supporting events remotely 31:00 - Scaling concerns and AWS limits 36:20 - Prepping for the upcoming webinar 41:00 - The SixSides culture reflected in the app 43:30 - Founders Collective and upcoming events 46:00 - Viral growth through the product 47:25 - Shoutouts and lead follow-ups 50:00 - Next steps in development 52:22 - Building impact reports for organisers 53:50 - Tracking users for grant goals 55:15 - Wrap up and final thoughtsIn this episode, we cover:Our experience at Laracon AU and how the event played outApp stats: 2,500+ photos, 300+ questions, 91% five-star ratingsThe power of prescriptive MCs and the “Tag You’re It” featureComparing stats from Laracon AU vs Volunteering WAThe stress of mobile support for live event softwareLessons learned from WorldShare’s Cambodia eventHow SixSides helps break the ice and boost connectionsTurning Laracon attendees into leads (14 and counting!)The upcoming webinar and what we’re coveringEarly traction on Founders Collective and what’s nextOur thoughts on scale, support, and infrastructureSneaky UX issues and what we’re prioritising in devWhy events are now the core of our business development strategyPlanning follow-ups and personal recap emailsCommunity, connection, and culture as product advantagesWhy we’re building case studies for every major eventExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
37: Live from Gavin's kitchen
In this episode, Mitch and Gavin are finally recording together in person from the Gold Coast – live from Gavin’s kitchen, no less. They dive into their huge week delivering the Volunteering WA conference, prep for Laracon AU, and share some honest lessons learned from the front lines of building SixSides.Chapters00:00 - Intro and live from the Gold Coast 01:22 - Volunteering WA recap: our first big conference 04:05 - Fixing the iPhone photo upload bug (HEIC issue) 06:30 - 629 photos and a working notifications system 08:15 - Turning one event into 9 sales leads 09:40 - Why we need a CRM now 10:25 - Laracon AU prep and the 1,000 photo challenge 13:00 - Repositioning SixSides as a community platform 15:10 - New features: check-ins, better themes, notifications 17:35 - SaaS pricing model vs per-event 18:50 - SixSides goes international: Cambodia! 20:00 - Founders Collective and structured networking 21:30 - Gavin’s new podcast and wrapping upIn this episode, we cover:Volunteering WA: what went right and what we learnedThe emotional moment seeing SixSides on three massive screensA weird iPhone bug with photo uploads and how we fixed itHow one event turned into nine real leads for 2026-2027The magic of notifications and user momentumThe upcoming push at Laracon AU (and the 1,000 photo challenge)Designing themes that don’t look amateurShipping check-in functionality just in timeWhy we’re shifting towards a SaaS model instead of one-off eventsUsing events as marketing content and lead gen flywheelsOur first international simultaneous event use – in Cambodia!When it's time to get a CRMThe future of SixSides as a community-building platformLessons from last year’s EventKit vs this year’s SixSidesGetting people to connect with structured networking promptsGavin’s new podcast: The Leap by the Founders CollectiveOur upcoming conference as exhibitors (gulp, $$$)Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
36: The day we lost $97K
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin talk through their best month yet in podcast downloads, Gavin’s rapid expansion into multiple podcasts, and the final lead-up to the Volunteering WA event — including Mitch’s mad dash to polish features and release a build in time. They also reflect on a tough week of stress, miscommunication, and their first big disagreement as co-founders, and how they worked through it. Plus, there’s a deep dive into why traditional digital lead generation is losing effectiveness — and how in-person events might be the comeback story.LinksSubscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.comChapters00:00 - Intro 00:43 - The Leap podcast launch 03:41 - Podcast download growth 05:59 - Volunteering WA prep 07:26 - Juggling three major events this week 09:46 - Last-minute app tweaks and release plans 11:09 - Recap video design decisions 13:06 - Photo timing, music, and recap video UX 16:05 - Video formats for social media 17:12 - Gavin’s on-the-ground plan for interviews in Perth 19:01 - Hope for a smooth event rollout 20:35 - The DocuSign debate 22:29 - Business case writing for WorldShare 25:08 - Streamlining the process with Fireflies 26:06 - Sales learnings from recent calls 28:52 - We didn’t get the grant 31:16 - In-person lead gen is making a comeback 33:37 - The case for businesses building community 34:58 - SixSides vs online event platforms 36:31 - Making content AI searchable 38:06 - DealBuddi and LLM-ready SEO 39:16 - Mitch and Gavin’s falling out (and how they resolved it) 47:07 - Next week’s in-person catch-up in Brisbane 48:09 - Recording plans for next week’s episode 50:07 - Laracon AU volunteering and wrap-upIn this episode, we cover:Celebrating the show’s best-ever month for downloadsGavin’s new podcast series, The Leap, and upcoming guestsPreparing for Volunteering WA, Founders Collective, and WorldShare’s Cambodia eventRecap video functionality and design tweaks before releaseShifting lead generation from digital back to in-personBuilding a business case for WorldShare and how it became a new playbookHoning the SixSides value prop in real sales conversationsReflecting on not getting the Ignite Ideas GrantThe emotional toll of juggling multiple businesses and responsibilitiesHow Mitch and Gavin handled their first real co-founder conflictBehind the scenes of Gavin’s push for video interviews and content strategyWhy AI-written cold emails are losing their edgeSEO vs LLM optimisation and what they’re doing for visibilityUsing SixSides as a live case study at Volunteering WAThe vision for helping regular businesses run community eventsWhat’s next for the product roadmap post-event seasonExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
35: Google Surprised Us: Our biggest product release yet
In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our biggest product release yet. Mitch walks through all the new features in the SixSides mobile app — from private ratings and reviews to notifications, polished bottom sheets, and fully functional meeting bookings. Plus, Gavin shares early feedback from clients, how these new features landed us more leads, and how this update finally made the product feel “ready.”We also revisit our lofty $300K revenue goal for 2026, talk about why it might have been unrealistic, and how we’re now reverse-engineering a more sustainable growth plan (with a strong focus on structure, SEO, and freemium strategies).Chapters00:00 - Intro and lawn chat 01:06 - Our best app release yet 02:02 - New features: ratings, reviews, and meetings 06:24 - Private notes and feedback logic 10:14 - Toast notifications and app polish 12:24 - App store review times (thanks Google!) 13:33 - Why the app finally feels ready 15:39 - Five questions with Mitch (dev Q&A) 22:44 - Lessons learned from this release 25:28 - Client feedback from Volunteering WA 30:09 - Re-evaluating our 2026 revenue goals 35:27 - Reverse engineering $300K 36:54 - What structures we’re missing 39:45 - Our new SEO and content strategy 41:06 - Founders Collective growth update 43:03 - Hopes for upcoming funding 44:26 - New opportunities: WorldShare and others 46:11 - Planning our upcoming webinar 47:06 - Spreading the word on LinkedIn 48:34 - Giving our partners the inside scoop 50:14 - Wrap upIn this episode, we cover:Our biggest mobile app update yetNew features: private ratings, reviews, notes, and meeting bookingToast notifications and what makes them greatHow fast Google and Apple approved the app (and why that matters)Why Mitch feels like “day one” just startedReal client feedback from Volunteering WAHow the app helped close a new trial clientRevisiting our revenue goals and setting realistic expectationsThe power of reverse-engineering growth from outcomesBuilding the foundation for inbound and outbound salesWorldShare’s upcoming trial and what it means for usFreemium, SEO and creating scalable structureThe importance of habit-building (and avoiding burnout)Preparing for Volunteering WA’s big conferenceExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
34: Under promise, over deliver
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin talk through the latest updates to the SixSides app, from new cryptography-powered notifications to a completely redesigned recap experience. They also chat about how they're using Founders Collective as a real-world case study to prove their hypothesis: events can build stronger communities when you encourage behaviour change.Plus, Gavin's off to Perth for Volunteering WA, and Mitchell’s prepping for Laracon AU - with new street-style interviews, better onboarding, and a feature-packed release on the horizon.LinksSubscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.comChapters00:00 - Intro 00:38 - Decorating the office (or not) 02:09 - App release timeline update 05:00 - Cryptography and unique device identification 13:00 - Notifications and event admin features 16:00 - Rebuilding the recaps feature with Cursor 21:00 - Under promise, over deliver: a product philosophy 24:23 - Mitchell's creative drive and project priorities 33:00 - Upcoming webinar on designing interaction 36:00 - Founders Collective learnings and RSVP plans 44:00 - Why we're ditching Luma for in-app RSVPs 47:52 - Gavin's Perth road trip and $2K strategy 50:13 - Mitchell's Laracon AU travel plans 54:29 - Lead generation lessons and role changes 58:24 - Wrap-up and where to find usIn this episode, we cover:The (slightly delayed) app release timeline and why it was worth the slipUsing cryptography to uniquely identify devices without tracking usersA technical deep dive into public/private keys and how they power notificationsThe brand new recap (formerly wrapped) feature and how Cursor helped build itWhy Mitchell needs fun tasks to stay motivated (and how Gavin enables that)Preparing for Volunteering WA and Laracon AU — and how we’re maximising the ROITurning Founders Collective into a test case for community-building featuresPlanning the next event with deliberate behaviour design to increase engagementSwitching to in-app RSVPs to cut frictionUpcoming features: meeting notes, job titles, ratings, and improved onboardingBuilding our sponsorship strategy the reverse way — community first, prospectus secondThe state of our sales pipeline and how to de-risk lead generationWhy being your own client is the best kind of product feedbackUpdates on the newsletter and upcoming Change Makers podcastExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
33: We're starting a podcast for lead generation
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin dive into their evolving content and lead generation strategy, including why they’re launching two new podcasts: “Change Makers” for SixSides and “The Leap” for Founders Collective. They unpack the goals, target audiences, and how they plan to use podcasting alongside Substack to grow a real community around their events platform.Plus, Mitchell gives a behind-the-scenes update on the SixSides app, including major mobile improvements, Android headaches, Liquid Glass drama, and the new onboarding checklist tied to the app’s points system. Gavin shares an inspiring story about his recent trail run, a LinkedIn post that resonated, and even hints at chasing Olympic torch dreams (yes, seriously).LinksNorth Meets South Web Podcast (episode 184): northmeetssouth.audioChapters00:00 - Intro 01:17 - Why we're launching new podcasts (and who they’re for) 04:46 - Podcasts as a lead generation strategy 07:37 - What is Founders Collective? 09:17 - Introducing “The Leap” podcast 10:06 - Who we’ll feature on “Change Makers” 13:13 - Timeline for launching the new podcasts 15:00 - Gavin’s trail run and recovery 17:44 - Gavin’s viral LinkedIn post 20:52 - How that post inspired Mitchell (and Nicole’s baking dream) 26:46 - Planning for Mitchell’s wedding 30:30 - Michael Dyrynda’s podcast feedback 35:18 - Preparing for app release ahead of two big events 36:27 - Dealing with Expo and Android updates 37:18 - Apple’s Liquid Glass problems and design decisions 42:30 - Redesigning the app dashboard and onboarding checklist 44:51 - Why we’re introducing points for user actions 48:38 - Designer feedback and UI polish plans 49:37 - Full-screen background images and event branding 51:24 - Gavin’s plan for next week (first guest, podcast setup) 52:43 - Sales updates and lead generation challenges 54:35 - Preparing for WA and getting the buying process right 55:27 - Wrap up and where to find usIn this episode, we cover:Why we’re starting new podcasts as part of our lead gen strategyThe plan for “Change Makers” and “The Leap” podcastsUsing Substack to grow our newsletter and reach new audiencesThe importance of giving before asking in content marketingGavin’s LinkedIn post that unexpectedly struck a chordThe trail run that nearly broke Gavin – and inspired MitchellMajor progress on the SixSides mobile app (Expo, Android, UI overhaul)Why Liquid Glass is both beautiful and frustratingA fresh new app dashboard with onboarding checklist and user pointsDesigner feedback on UX and future design aspirationsMichael Dyrynda’s podcast critique (and how we’re handling it)Wedding planning updates from MitchellGavin’s ongoing DealBuddi sales conversations and upcoming eventsExpect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!Connect with usSixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
32: Prioritising our roadmap with upcoming events
In this episode, Mitch is mostly through being sick and is back in the office just in time for a hectic sprint. With two weeks until “tools down”, the guys talk through the looming deadlines, feature updates, and the challenge of staying productive while under the weather.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/Gavin’s been diving deep into community-building, launching a new newsletter and outlining a webinar series to build awareness and add value for SixSides users. He’s also floating ideas for a second podcast (or three) while Mitch focuses on getting the Android SDK upgraded and features locked in for Volunteering WA and Laracon AU.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Mitch’s recovery from a rough week of being sickWhy too much coffee after a break = disasterPreparing for Volunteering WA and Laracon AUGavin’s plan for building the SixSides communityStarting a Substack newsletter: Events Into GrowthLaunching a webinar series using StreamyardDiscussing the benefits of “community-led marketing”Thoughts on spinning up a second podcastUI/UX advice and upcoming design improvementsMichael’s progress on the dashboard and internal toolingSDK upgrades and feature priorities before eventsNew meeting features, star ratings, and private notesTrail running and training through the heatPlanning for podcast episodes over the Christmas breakChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Mitch is still sick (but recovering) 04:00 - Gavin's starting a newsletter and community 06:11 - Planning a webinar series for SixSides 09:02 - The Inductive accelerator kicks off 12:20 - Mitch updates on development and deadlines 14:52 - Two weeks until “tools down” 17:22 - UI/UX support from a local agency 20:47 - Countdown to Volunteering WA and Laracon AU 24:05 - Planning the podcast over Christmas 26:56 - Should Gavin start a second podcast? 30:33 - Dashboard progress from Michael 34:19 - Trail running and heat training 38:50 - Dropping weight, quitting drinking, and health updates 39:58 - Planning next week’s dev sprint 42:10 - Outro chaosAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: sixsides
31: A case study in building a strong community
In this episode, Mitch battles a cold while Gavin shares the huge success of the very first Founders Collective event, built on the SixSides platform. We dive into what went right, what could improve, and how the app held up in a real-world stress test.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/We also reflect on a sales call that felt like a slam dunk... until it wasn’t. There’s a lot of candid unpacking about what went wrong and what we’ll do differently next time. Plus, we chat about upcoming UI/UX design help, receiving our first real support email, and whether we should start planning for help desk software.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Mitch powering through the podcast while sickLaunching the first Founders Collective event in BrisbaneReal-world lessons from using SixSides live at an eventAndroid Expo upgrade blocking Play Store updatesiOS releases and stability during the eventFirst real support request: do we need a help desk now?Sales meeting that felt great... but fell throughLessons in sales process and emotional disciplineSales plan development and moving towards lead generation with ClayUI/UX designers joining to improve the appDecommissioning old infrastructure from Laracon AUThe question of raising money vs continuing to bootstrapExploring the Inductive.au program and investment readinessReflections on running two SaaS products at onceChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:52 - Mitch is sick but showing up anyway 02:05 - Founders Collective launch recap 07:30 - What we learned from the first SixSides live event 15:10 - App updates and iOS/Android rollout challenges 20:26 - Our first support request and help desk discussions 23:40 - Shutting down the old EventKit infrastructure 25:25 - Michael helping with dashboard development 25:40 - Sales call that felt great but didn’t convert 31:20 - What went wrong with the sale and lessons learned 34:00 - Sales planning and ROI justification 35:45 - Gavin’s lead gen strategy and using Clay 36:45 - Pitching SixSides to Founders Collective attendees 37:25 - What is Inductive.au and should we raise money? 46:10 - Bootstrapping vs capital - pros and cons 52:30 - Upcoming UI/UX design improvements 56:00 - Podcast listenership growing month-on-month 57:14 - Plans for next weekAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coFounders Collective: founderscollective.com.auConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: ourb2bsaasjourney
30: Eating our own dog food with 100 founders watching
In this episode, we celebrate our 30th episode with a jam-packed update on everything happening across SixSides, Founders Collective, DealBuddi, and beyond. From shoutouts on LinkedIn and Stripe giving $1,500 in credits, to onboarding a Laravel legend to help build the dashboard – it’s been a huge week.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Hitting 30 weeks of podcasting and what it means to usWhy email shoutouts are done (unless you’re Holly on LinkedIn)Feedback from PlanetPrice and our unofficial sponsorship 😆Stripe sponsoring our Founders Collective event with $1,500 in creditsHow Founders Collective blew past 100 RSVPsWhat we learned seeing a competitor's clunky UXMitch's perspective as the first-time event organiser using SixSidesMichael Dyrynda offering to help with dashboard devCEO/CTO titles and why they’re a bit awkwardOur call with a major charity and how culture alignment mattersLinkedIn outreach updates and what’s working (and what’s not)Why softly-softly lead gen is our approach with charities and associationsUsing SixSides as a living case study to win future customersThe broader vision for dashboards and future functionalitySales Market Fit strategy updates and deep lead gen thinkingGavin’s dad jokes and Mitch’s sarcastic energy peakingChapters:00:00 - Intro 01:23 - Email shoutouts – NOT 01:45 - Holly’s LinkedIn shoutout 02:58 - Feedback from PlanetPrice 04:12 - Celebrating episode 30 06:19 - Build Your SaaS is back 10:42 - Founders Collective deep dive 14:23 - Stripe’s sponsorship and Tag, You're It 18:35 - Setting up the event in the database 20:59 - Competitor dashboard UX breakdown 24:33 - Gavin’s lead gen targeting strategy 31:05 - Our big charity call 36:51 - Anticipating objections in sales 40:50 - Designing the dashboard with Michael Dyrynda 46:06 - Multi-role dashboards and future vision 48:34 - Wrapping up – shoutout to MichaelAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coFounders Collective: linkedin.comLaracon AU and Michael Dyrynda: laracon.auConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: ourb2bsaasjourney
29: SaaS pricing you can believe in
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin break down a major pivot in SixSides’ pricing strategy — moving away from per-event pricing in favour of a tiered annual model designed to grow with communities. They also share behind-the-scenes stories from meetings with Volunteering WA, the launch of the Founders Collective in Brisbane, new sponsor engagement features, and how a simple ticket code change could make event onboarding a breeze.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why we’re moving away from per-event pricingHow our new pricing model better serves associations and communitiesA brilliant meeting with Volunteering WA (shoutout to Holly and Krista!)Prioritising mobile app development over the web dashboardThe launch and surprising growth of the Founders Collective in BrisbaneIntroducing one access code for all event attendeesOur approach to sponsor engagement and ROIPreparing for Laracon AU and the role of gamificationGavin’s lead gen updates and LinkedIn video strategyThe flywheel starting to turn and what’s next for SixSidesChapters:00:00 - Listener challenge and intros 03:30 - Pricing strategy deep dive 13:00 - Volunteering WA meeting recap 17:00 - Mobile app focus and new dev strategy 20:20 - Founders Collective and single ticket code breakthrough 27:40 - Lead generation updates and LinkedIn video outreach 33:30 - Sponsor engagement and gamification plans 38:00 - Wrapping up, shoutouts, and Gavin’s YouTube hiatusAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coFounders Collective: linkedin.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: ourb2bsaasjourney
28: Just click on the damn link
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin are back with updates on life, lead gen, and looming travel plans. Gavin’s been down with the flu, but that hasn’t stopped him from pushing lead generation, testing video outreach on LinkedIn, and prepping for some big upcoming calls. The duo chats Father’s Day, outdoor adventures, and the strategy behind showing up in-person at key events.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Gavin’s sick week and how it reset his prioritiesFun and chaos from Father’s Day celebrationsLead generation updates and why no one’s watching our Loom videosLinkedIn outreach strategies that aren’t landing (yet)Applying lessons from DealBuddi to SixSidesThe Sales Market Fit approach and why most founders get it wrongBig upcoming calls with Laravel Live Denmark and Volunteering WAShould Mitch join Gavin in Perth?Planning for Laracon AU and how we’re making time for each otherKicking off street-style interviews at eventsDashboard development updates for SixSides organisersWhy it’s time to over-service early customersGavin’s LinkedIn profile overhaul and the new branding directionChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:25 - Gavin’s been sick 02:25 - Father’s Day catchups 08:30 - The changing seasons and productivity energy 10:20 - Gavin’s 20kg weight loss challenge 11:08 - Lead gen and outreach update 13:13 - LinkedIn videos and zero engagement 17:15 - Why getting people to click is the first battle 22:56 - Applying learnings from DealBuddi to SixSides 27:20 - The value of making people problem aware 29:31 - Upcoming calls with Denmark and Volunteering WA 32:05 - Planning Mitch’s Perth trip 33:49 - Laracon AU plans and community involvement 38:44 - Wrapping up dashboard development and app work 42:14 - Gavin’s plans for webinars and LinkedIn brandingAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coSales Market Fit: salesmarketfit.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: ourb2bsaasjourney
27: Lessons from our first conference on SixSides
In this episode, we break down everything that went right (and wrong) during our first real customer event at Laravel Live Denmark. From a midnight Redis disaster to 500 attendee connections and surprise AWS credits, we’re giving you the full behind-the-scenes debrief.We also cover our new lead gen strategy, launching a Substack for the podcast, and the emotional rollercoaster of watching a potential customer choose a competitor. Plus, Mitch reflects on his time as a Subway sandwich artist and Gavin adds two more past jobs to the resume.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:How our first real customer event went at Laravel Live DenmarkA Redis caching issue that brought the app down at midnightThe fix: moving to a serverless Redis instance on AWSAttendee stats: 75% logged in, 50% joined the game, 500+ unique connectionsAWS credits approved: what it means for our infra roadmapWhy we’re exploring Cloudflare as a regional database solutionLessons learned from supporting events in opposite timezonesWhat we'll do differently for future eventsBuilding wrapped videos vs. collages for conference recapsGavin's new lead gen approach with LinkedIn and LoomSubstack launch for the podcast and why we’re pausing YouTubeInvestigating email deliverability issues with our domainCompetitor apps and how we're feeling seeing familiar ideas pop upFounders Collective: Gavin’s upcoming Brisbane-based eventMitch’s downtime and why burnout is real after a launchGavin’s resume deep dive and Mitch’s Subway flashbackChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:57 - AWS credits surprise 03:27 - Laravel Live Denmark recap 05:23 - The Redis issue explained 08:43 - Last hour panic and lessons learned 10:10 - Conference usage stats 12:54 - What defines a ‘connection’ 14:43 - Friday issues and latency bugs 16:26 - Adding features mid-event: what went wrong 18:09 - Collages vs wrapped videos 20:05 - What’s next for event content 22:43 - Night shift resume battle 24:26 - Sorting out HubSpot and CRM drama 26:56 - New sales opps including Bulgaria 27:49 - Loom videos and soft connect LinkedIn strategy 29:46 - Webinar-led lead gen idea 31:16 - Time zone fatigue and future event support 32:46 - Substack launch and podcast promo 34:32 - Episode 5 is blowing up (but we don’t know why) 35:24 - Competitive app angst and takeaways 36:31 - Smart notifications we might copy 37:11 - Spinning wheels and gamification 39:42 - What’s next: wrapped videos, roadmap and Cloudflare 42:34 - Dashboard priorities and resource planning 44:21 - Wrapping up: new listeners, new energyAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coRecit Advisory: recitadvisory.com.auConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidescoSixSides on Substack: ourb2bsaasjourney
26: Live from Copenhagen
In this episode, we hit a huge milestone as SixSides goes live at Laravel Live Denmark. Mitch ships the Android app just in time, supports the event from Sydney into the early hours, and the team watches real time adoption, photos, and questions roll in. We also workshop our 30 second pitch, set an ambitious $300k revenue goal for next year, and talk about what’s next, including dashboards and post‑event deliverables.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Live launch at Laravel Live Denmark and how the rollout wentThe App Store saga: expedited iOS approval vs the slow Google reviewShipping fixes with Expo over-the-air updatesHandling an iOS 26 beta crash and the attendee workaroundsReal time numbers: logins, photos, questions, and connectionsInfra notes: AWS RDS, regions, performance, Cloudflare Workflows retriesContent moderation using OpenAI and why retries matterOur 30 second pitch attempts and tying it back to missionSetting a $300k revenue goal for 2026 and what it impliesLead gen experiments and why outreach alone won’t cut itNew office vibes and adding Melanie and Roman to SlackWhat’s next: post‑event wrap videos, reports, leaderboards, and the organiser dashboardChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:43 - Denmark is happening now 01:56 - App Store saga and Android approval stress 03:31 - Over-the-air updates and support plan 05:18 - Night shift handover 07:16 - iOS 26 crash and workarounds 08:43 - Early numbers and adoption 10:46 - Infra and moderation stack 12:45 - Fast iterations and UI tweaks 14:14 - The 30 second pitch attempts 18:19 - How it feels to run our first event overseas 22:42 - Lead gen bookings and the $300k goal 26:52 - Rethinking lead gen and market size 29:29 - Mobile networking errors and monitoring 31:12 - Six months of podcasting and the new office 32:30 - Everyone’s on Slack 34:13 - What comes after the conference 37:41 - Organiser dashboard and data locality 39:19 - Teasing new in-app interactions 40:11 - Late night support schedule 43:12 - Emoji reactions demo 45:29 - Shipping tomorrow: wrap videos and leaderboard 46:32 - Numbers check-in 46:57 - Where to find us 48:25 - Wrap upAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on YouTube: gavintye1SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco
25: These are our company values
In this episode, we finally lock in our company values, vision and mission — and talk through how they’ll shape the way we build SixSides moving forward. We also check in on lead gen, accounting drama (featuring Roman and Mel), and the final countdown to Laravel Live Denmark. Plus, Mitch finally finishes the app and gets some much-needed breathing room.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:How we’ve defined the SixSides vision, mission and valuesWhy it matters for a remote, growing teamThe messy effect and how we manage burnoutLead generation experiments and learnings from the last weekWhy Gavin's outreach didn’t quite land (and what he’s changing)The ongoing accounting saga (featuring co-founder confusion)Android vs iOS approval times (spoiler: Apple wins)How Mitch edited an app update faster than Google reviewed itThe new system for writing blog articles from our podcastFeedback loops from Denmark and Michael DyryndaGavin’s daily YouTube videos and what he’s learningTools to track who’s visiting our websiteWhat’s next for the SixSides content strategyChapters:00:00 - Intro 02:51 - Lead gen update 10:26 - Accounting distractions 15:41 - Defining our vision, mission and values 23:00 - Our five company values 27:56 - Running our growth hypothesis by customers 31:06 - The Android app approval headache 36:46 - Feeling free after app submission 40:24 - The messy effect (and not burning out) 45:22 - Gavin’s YouTube videos and 4am routine 46:34 - Blog articles from the podcast 54:45 - Tracking traffic with Leadfeeder and Snitcher 56:13 - Wrapping up the episodeAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco
24: How much should we pay ourselves (and when)?
In this episode, Mitch and Gavin pull apart money, momentum, and mild panic: how we’re splitting revenue (hello, 40/40/20), why the iOS app is live but Android is still pending, early feedback from Laravel Live Denmark (thanks, Rasmus!), plus a candid chat about our fears — from deep water to wasting time — and how we’re evolving SixSides from “event app” to “community engine.”Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:The 40/40/20 split: founders’ wages, expenses, and tax (inspired by Profit First)Why we’re paying ourselves now (with caps) and how that shapes hiringXero vs extra bank accounts for visual budgetingEvolving beyond “an event app” toward ongoing community value and MRROur not-yet-shareable competitive advantage (moat-building in progress)iOS app approved; Android still in review (and why OTA updates are magic)Early feedback from Laravel Live Denmark and a sneaky newline login bugExpo 101: what triggers app store review vs over-the-air updatesDoing unscalable setup now (YAMLs, imports) until the dashboard is readyFounder fears: wasting time, letting people down, and healthy conflictConsultative strategy: auditing conferences to open doorsGavin’s daily YouTube updates and a smarter, deeper lead gen approachChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Please leave us a review 01:25 - Shout out to Dan Herbert (podcast workflow chat) 03:34 - Money chat: paying ourselves and early revenue 05:42 - Profit First inspiration and our 40/40/20 split 09:39 - Xero vs multiple bank accounts (Mel’s advice) 11:10 - Mindset shift and evolving revenue model 12:40 - The secret sauce we can’t share (yet) 14:44 - Consultative conference audits 16:20 - iOS app approved; Android pending 18:55 - OTA updates vs app store review (Expo explained) 21:28 - Denmark feedback and the newline login bug 27:58 - Topic: our fears (personal and business) 42:18 - Conflict resolution and not wasting time 44:45 - Gavin’s YouTube + deeper lead gen plan 48:20 - What’s next and wrap-upAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coDealBuddi: dealbuddi.comBuild Your Saas: saas.transistor.fmMobile apps don't suck anymore: youtube.comProfit First by Mike Michalowicz: mikemichalowicz.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.coSixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco
23: We’re bootstrapped and feeling every dollar
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin celebrate a huge milestone—submitting the SixSides app for review ahead of Laravel Live Denmark—while also unpacking the real costs of getting there (including a spicy $6K invoice). From Strepsils at 9am to strategic conversations about offshore hiring, they reflect on the emotional and financial rollercoaster of bootstrapping a SaaS.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Submitting the app for review ahead of Laravel Live DenmarkThe emotional toll of shipping under deadline pressureSubmitting a grant and scoring 9/10 from ChatGPTFounder burnout and feeling the weight of bootstrappingBig invoices and the cost of external development helpDeciding when to take money from your business (if ever)The ethics and practicality of using offshore workersHow Gavin is using DealBuddi to prep for business developmentStarting the shift toward recurring revenue and pricing modelsThe need to formalise SixSides’ vision, mission and valuesChapters:00:00 - Intro 01:55 - Submitting the grant (and getting GPT’s 9/10 rating) 03:34 - Shipping the app for Laravel Live Denmark 06:26 - Burnout, relief, and what’s next 10:31 - Surprise $6K invoice and the cost of building 13:52 - Feeling the financial pinch across two businesses 16:00 - Exploring new revenue streams and early pricing ideas 18:05 - Profit allocation models and sustainable bootstrapping 22:35 - Ready for general use (but not self-service yet) 26:21 - Using offshore workers (ethically) 30:59 - Can we afford to build a team? 34:46 - Ethical hiring, privilege, and long-term thinking 37:01 - What's next this week 40:26 - Wrapping up (and listener shoutouts)Atlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coDealBuddi: dealbuddi.comBuild Your Saas: saas.transistor.fmConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
22: This is our $97K pitch (and it better work)
In this episode, Mitchell returns from Bali with sunburn, margarita memories, and a deadline staring him down — the Denmark app launch. Gavin, meanwhile, has been neck-deep in grant writing, trying to win $97,000 to accelerate SixSides… even if it means giving himself four times Mitch’s salary (which comes up, hilariously, on the show).They also dive into building in public, Gavin’s evolving LinkedIn strategy juggling two businesses (SixSides and DealBuddi), and how they’re prepping for their first paying customer on the new infrastructure.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Mitchell’s Bali trip and near-meltdown on a volcano hikeGavin’s $97k grant strategy (and how he’s pitching it)Shared friends, margaritas, and the Laracon hatWhy Gavin listed himself at 4x salary (and Mitch let it slide)Grant writing tips from Gavin’s Today Show glory daysThe power of thinking like the grant reviewerGavin’s plans to build in public across two businessesMitch’s mobile app progress for Laravel Live DenmarkLessons from “Build Your SaaS” and why they still resonateMitch’s plan to enlist testers and speed through app reviewGavin’s long-term vision for student internships and community impactChris from Atlas joining the dev sprint to hit deadlineMitch’s vow: the app will be done by FridayChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:09 - Mitch's Bali hat gets roasted 01:35 - What SixSides actually does 03:01 - Doing a no-prep podcast episode 03:39 - Bali trip recap and volcano regrets 10:43 - Build Your SaaS and podcast inspiration 13:21 - Gavin’s kitchen reno and grant writing grind 17:09 - Gavin’s Today Show story and grant mindset 22:02 - Building in public and juggling two SaaS businesses 31:36 - Gavin’s 4x salary justification (hilarious) 37:36 - What we’d do with the $97k grant 42:01 - Laravel Live Denmark app progress 50:29 - Submitting to the App Stores and what’s next 52:09 - Getting people to help test the app 53:00 - Wrap up and what’s coming next weekAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coDealBuddi: dealbuddi.comBuild Your Saas: saas.transistor.fmMostly Technical: mostlytechnical.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
21: When should founders quit their day jobs? (with Roman Galikov of Recit Advisory)
In this episode, Gavin chats with Roman Galikov — co-founder of Recit Advisory and a long-time mate from their RedEye days — about the financial realities and blind spots that can make or break a startup. From Roman’s wild upbringing in a Cold War-era Russian missile town to co-founding an accounting firm helping Aussie tech founders scale sustainably, this episode is packed with insights (and a few table tennis flashbacks).Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Roman’s incredible journey from Russia to the Australian startup sceneThe financial mistakes startups make early — and why they’re hard to recover fromWhy founders underestimate cash flow (and how to fix it)Equity, cap tables and avoiding messy investor situationsHow to structure your startup’s P&L like a proper SaaS businessWhen to make your first hire and the cost of getting it wrongWhy most founders shouldn't outsource sales too earlyThe 80/20 rule for SaaS gross marginsR&D capitalisation and tax incentives explained simplyRoman’s take on bootstrapping vs raising capitalThe story of Gavin ripping his pants at a trade show (it’s worth it)Chapters:00:00 - Intro 00:56 - Roman joins the show 02:29 - Why founders neglect accounting 05:06 - Roman’s journey from Russia to Australia 17:16 - How Roman and Gavin met at RedEye 20:36 - Early-stage accounting mistakes 22:53 - Lessons founders learn at each stage 25:02 - Cash flow truths (and myths) 30:01 - Gavin’s risk balancing with Sales Market Fit 33:39 - SixSides’ early traction and approach 34:17 - Juggling multiple businesses and focus 41:10 - Equity, vesting and cap table messiness 46:53 - Bootstrapping vs raising capital 50:41 - Scaling up: hiring your first employee 53:50 - Managing hiring expectations 57:10 - Sales vs product vs support hires 59:15 - Business case analysis for product decisions 01:04:02 - Understanding SaaS financial structure 01:08:43 - What is EBITDA? And why it matters 01:11:31 - Starting Record Advisory 01:16:13 - Gavin’s final missile question 01:17:59 - Wrap-up and final thoughtsAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coDealBuddi: dealbuddi.comRecit: recit.appConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeRoman on LinkedIn: romangalikovSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
20: Mitch vs Apple (and will we get $100K in funding?)
In this episode, Mitch is not in Bali (yet), Gavin almost gets Roman cancelled, and the guys dive deep into their TestFlight adventures, app store approvals, and why the new comments UI looks suspiciously like Instagram.They also talk through Gavin’s sales strategy for SixSides, the launch of DealBuddi, and how they’re building a community-led approach to founder support in Brisbane. Oh, and there’s an update on their government grant application – plus a story about a fake software award Gavin once pulled off that you don’t want to miss.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why Mitch is still in town and not sipping coconuts in BaliGavin’s recording with RomanTips on structuring your finances from a trusted friendDid we hit our TestFlight deadline?Mitch’s battle with Apple’s review processNew comments UI inspired by InstagramSubmitting the app to the store (and why we're not telling anyone)The “as is” and “to be” model for sales strategyGavin’s launch of DealBuddi and onboarding 9 startupsWhy cold outreach is dying – and community is the answerBuilding a founder community in Brisbane using SixSidesGrant progression and the feedback we receivedGavin’s fake software award storyStress check-ins and how they’re managing the mental loadPlans for the next two weeks while Mitch is awayChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:44 - Mitch is not in Bali 01:31 - Gavin’s episode with Roman 04:06 - TestFlight deadline check-in 05:00 - Comments feature and UI inspired by Instagram 09:38 - Explaining Apple’s review process 14:37 - Publishing a stealth production build 18:31 - App development progress update 19:17 - Gavin checks in on stress levels 22:46 - Launching DealBuddi 25:14 - Using SixSides as a sales strategy case study 27:15 - The future of lead gen and building real communities 29:27 - Planning the first Brisbane founder meetup 31:30 - Dogfooding: eating our own dog food with SixSides 32:30 - Finalising the SixSides sales strategy 42:30 - Government grant update and feedback 47:44 - How they’re using GPT for grant writing 54:06 - What would we do with $100K? 55:23 - Wedding updates and sunscreen plans 57:02 - Gavin’s plans while Mitch is awayAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coDealBuddi: dealbuddi.comSales Whitepaper: salesmarketfit.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
19: Burnout and reducing stress, while building to committed customer deadlines
In this episode, Mitch reveals the mounting pressure of delivering the new SixSides app as the team approaches a self-imposed TestFlight deadline. Gavin brings a new sales strategy to life, and the guys explore the delicate balance between progress and burnout.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Gavin’s success with a new, consultative sales approachMitch’s looming deadline for the new SixSides app and his battle with burnoutBehind the scenes of building infrastructure across regions (Sydney and Frankfurt)Adding a tiny emoji feature, and why it sparked a debateChris's dashboard work and how it's shaping upExploring Slack Connect and customer communication strategiesWhy the blog system needed an overhaul and what we’re using nowLean Startup lessons and planning for sustainabilityThe challenge of stress in a fast-paced bootstrapped startupMutual TLS, Cloudflare Workers, and other nerdy but vital thingsChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:27 - Global shout-outs and listener feedback 01:53 - Slack Connect wins and misses 03:04 - Gavin's sales strategy shift and early wins 06:41 - DealBuddi, AI coaching, and sales evolution 07:58 - Mitch’s TestFlight deadline and mounting burnout 10:36 - Learning infrastructure the hard way 13:45 - Emoji feature: distraction or creativity boost? 16:40 - Burnout management and future-proofing 22:00 - Dashboard progress and Chris's backend work 24:16 - Startup stress: when is it too much? 26:34 - Should we create a product roadmap? 28:06 - Planning help for the future 29:46 - The many flavours of development roles 33:55 - More on Slack Connect + customer comms 36:47 - SEO titles experiment: last week for now? 38:29 - Next week’s episode sneak peek with Roman 40:34 - Gavin tries (and fails) to write a blog post the dev way 42:21 - How Tina.io saved our blog workflow 45:26 - Dashboard progress and test flight follow-up 46:43 - The Lean Startup: a joint book club idea 49:22 - Starting our internal startup book club 51:10 - Load balancing, mutual TLS, and hosting challenges 54:31 - Data privacy and multi-region infrastructure 57:36 - Wrapping up – see you next week!Atlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coDealBuddi: dealbuddi.comMio: m.ioConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
18: OpenAI and Cursor use WorkOS, should we? Plus, why we are evolving our B2B sales strategy.
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin reflect on a huge milestone: SixSides has hit the six-month mark - and things are finally starting to move. They dive into a brilliant new sales call that reshaped their positioning, reveal how WorkOS helped them ship auth in record time, and unpack what it means to bootstrap while juggling other businesses.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why they're really recording this podcast (and who it's for)The power of podcast SEO and keyword-rich episode titlesGavin’s “amazing” sales call and how it reframed SixSides' positioningSelling a platform that doesn’t exist (yet) with empathy and visionHow WorkOS helped them ship authentication in 24 hoursLaravel, JWT tokens and Mitchell’s developer brain dumpGlobal database deployment with AWS (Sydney + Frankfurt)Introducing Slack Connect for real-time customer supportDoubling user growth and the importance of cadenceWhy they’re still bootstrapping (and not taking investment… yet)The psychology of founder alignment over 6 and 12 monthsGetting help without blowing the budget (hello, Chris from Atlas)Chapters:00:00 - Intro 00:38 - Why we’re doing this podcast 03:09 - Listener growth and SEO musings 06:05 - Gavin’s amazing sales call breakdown 12:15 - Strategic selling vs event facilitation 15:11 - Denmark client update 16:36 - Hitting the six-month SaaS milestone 18:28 - Aligning tech and sales roadmaps 22:02 - Repositioning attendees as users 24:27 - Implementing WorkOS in a night 29:29 - How WorkOS handles auth, tokens & login 32:23 - Reducing clicks, increasing security 35:58 - Laravel & Cloudflare integration update 36:19 - Slack Connect for better support 42:00 - Do clients need paid Slack? (Maybe) 44:04 - Chris joins to help hit the July 8 deadline 47:56 - AWS global databases explained 50:26 - Bootstrapping vs funding (and why we’re staying lean) 54:44 - What success looks like 57:47 - Wrapping up + Gavin’s rejected sloganAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coWorkOS: workos.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
17: Why meeting face-to-face is critical for remote founders
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin finally meet up in person after four years of online collaboration, and their strategy session delivers a massive product breakthrough for SixSides. They share how a simple conversation unlocked a critical insight about user onboarding and future product direction. Plus, Gavin shares his experience at the CEO Sleepout, Mitchell locks in a wedding venue, and they reflect on long-term SaaS planning.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Meeting in person for the first time after four years of remote workA major product breakthrough: shifting from event attendees to full usersHow in-person deep work unlocked product clarityGolf, beers and surprisingly deep strategy conversationsGavin’s experience at the CEO SleepoutThe importance of community tracking and security in eventsMitchell’s wedding venue hunt and planning adviceWhy Expo was chosen for the SixSides mobile appA simple non-technical explanation of mobile app tech stacksTesting the podcast’s SEO-driven titles and early resultsSetting medium and long-term SaaS planning goalsGavin's upcoming DealBuddy integration with SixSidesChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:38 - First in-person meeting after four years 02:10 - Hanging out, strategy sessions and golf 04:38 - The big product insight: users vs ticket codes 06:51 - Why full user accounts change everything for SixSides 12:28 - CEO Sleepout reflections 15:29 - Gavin’s Fiji trip (and food poisoning) 19:33 - Mitchell locks in a wedding venue 24:10 - Planning SixSides for family and future time off 29:11 - Technical deep dive: why we’re using Expo 34:40 - A non-technical explanation of mobile app tech stacks 42:29 - Reviewing SEO titles experiment 46:01 - What we’re working on this week 49:19 - Highlights from the last six months 53:31 - Wrapping up and call for reviewsAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMatt Langtree and Entry Place: entry.placeMitchell’s Laracon AU talk: Mobile apps don't suck anymoreConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
16: How we landed our first customer (with Michael Dyrynda of Laracon AU)
In this episode, Mitchell flies solo without Gavin (who’s soaking up the sun in Fiji) and sits down with Laracon AU organiser and SixSides’ very first customer, Michael Dyrynda. They dive deep into what it takes to run a developer conference, how Laracon AU has evolved over the years, and how SixSides went from talk idea to full-blown product.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:The early days of Laracon AU and how it got startedWhy Brisbane has become the new long-term home for the conferenceHow Laracon AU balances growth, inclusivity and vibeMichael’s approach to managing sponsors, booths and the foyer experienceThe story behind SixSides and its in-conference photo gameHow Mitch’s talk turned into a SaaS companyDealing with fire alarms, bowling nights, and late-night scooter ridesLessons from using Bento and running segmented email campaignsMichael’s evolving role from developer to full-time event operatorWhat’s coming next for both Laracon AU and SixSidesChapters:00:00 - Intro and where's Gavin? 00:46 - Meet Michael Dyrynda – organiser of Laracon AU 01:31 - Ticketing strategy and pricing experiments 06:22 - Using Bento and smarter email marketing 10:55 - Evolving the attendee experience post-COVID 13:49 - Turning sponsors into active participants 22:48 - Gavin’s sales advice and chasing better sponsors 28:28 - How Laracon AU helped launch SixSides 43:01 - Building the photo game and live Q&A features 55:25 - What’s next for SixSides and final reflectionsAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coLaracon AU: laracon.auCaleb Porzio's Notes On Work: notesonwork.transistor.fmConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeMichael on X: michaeldyryndaMichael on Bluesky: dyrynda.auMichael on LinkedIn: michaeldyryndaSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
15: Juggling three businesses and a wedding (while bootstrapping a SaaS)
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin catch up before Gavin jets off to Fiji for a family holiday, and reflect on how juggling multiple businesses is helping them bootstrap SixSides. From battling sunburn at the beach to shipping major infrastructure changes, it's a wild and very real look into the life of early-stage SaaS founders.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Gavin's upcoming Fiji trip and the challenges of parenting while bootstrappingA shoutout to Entry Place and the Laravel dev communityThe pressure and joy of getting great customer feedbackBig news: SixSides lands its first international event in DenmarkWhat we’ve learned from juggling multiple businessesHow we’re planning to share resources across startupsBuilding infrastructure that can scale globally (on a budget)Mitchell’s excitement about real-time syncing and Cloudflare’s roleWhy we’re not selling yet—and what our early customers are teaching usGavin’s new AI sales tool, DealBuddi, and managing multiple product launchesWhy moving fast isn’t always the best movePlanning weddings, CEO Sleepout updates, and the heat in WoolgoolgaChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:32 - Gavin’s holiday plans and Mitchell’s Wii baseball look 01:43 - Parenting, beach time, and sunscreen stories 03:11 - Shoutout to Matt and EntryPlace 04:07 - How the rap video went down at Start Club Brisbane 07:03 - SixSides goes international: Denmark event confirmed 10:51 - Building infrastructure that scales globally 13:30 - Feedback from Holly and iterating the theme designer 15:57 - Bootstrapping while running other businesses 18:21 - DealBuddy and startup resource sharing 21:58 - Outsourcing and tech stack consolidation 29:07 - CEO Sleepout and fundraising chat 34:43 - Update on the new SixSides app infrastructure 39:02 - Fiji, weddings, and aluminium smelters 41:25 - Wrapping up and what’s nextAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coSupport Gavin with the CEO SLEEPOUT: ceosleepout.org.auMatt Langtree and Entry Place: entry.placeDealBuddi waitlist: dealbuddi.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
14: How we are using Cloudflare and AWS to build a freemium solution without blowing the budget
In this episode, Mitchell takes us deep into the development of SixSides’ new real-time theme designer—built with Next.js, Cloudflare, and a dash of Cursor magic. Meanwhile, Gavin begins his “CTO in training” journey by installing GitHub for the first time (with only mild resistance). We also get into the behind-the-scenes planning for Mitchell’s wedding (yes, it’s a side project), a live wrap video for Start Club Brisbane, and the exciting future of SixSides scaling globally through durable objects.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:How Mitchell used AI to build a collaborative theme designerSwitching from Laravel to Next.js for the marketing siteWhy Cloudflare Durable Objects are a game-changer for global scalabilityLessons from launching a blog and improving content workflowsGavin’s first encounter with GitHub (and VS Code!)The story behind Mitchell’s upcoming wedding venueWhy Start Club Brisbane is eager to use SixSidesOur new merch idea for our partnersPlanning for freemium and infrastructure scalingGavin’s busy week juggling client work, DealBuddi, and SixSidesChapters:00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Four months in: reflecting on the journey 02:15 - Dishwashers of the world, we salute you 03:00 - Mitchell’s wedding planning (and why Gavin’s uninvited) 05:30 - Building the theme designer with AI 10:00 - Real-time collaboration and sharing in the browser 12:49 - Gavin loses his design (and wants an undo button) 13:30 - A blog is born + CEO sleepout post 15:00 - Gavin’s dev setup begins (slowly) 17:00 - Tuple, tabs, and taking control 18:45 - SEO titles and future-proofing content 22:00 - Gavin’s week: juggling DealBuddy, clients, and chaos 26:25 - Start Club Brisbane and our first SixSides wrap 29:30 - Shirts for the real MVPs: our partners 32:00 - Why durable objects matter for scaling 36:00 - Real-time updates and saving $$$ 42:00 - Freemium, cost control, and infrastructure 44:30 - How Mitchell’s learning all this stuff 48:00 - Back to the mobile app 49:40 - Gavin gets a GitHub 50:01 - Wrap-upAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coSupport Gavin with the CEO SLEEPOUT: ceosleepout.org.auConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeGavin on GitHub: gavtye76SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
13: Starting a SaaS? Start a podcast.
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin go full meta – reflecting on why they’re podcasting, who they’re doing it for, and how this little weekly ritual might become a key pillar in the SixSides journey. Along the way, there’s SixSides merch, a powerful personal story about homelessness, and a marketing website rebuild that may or may not have caused Gavin’s eyes to glaze over.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Launching SixSides merch (and dreams of embroidery)Why this podcast is more than just content – it’s a recordGavin’s personal story of homelessness and the CEO SleepoutOur approach to SEO and technical updates to the marketing siteA discussion on audience – real, imagined, and future-facingThe idea behind the upcoming newsletter “Watch Our Six”Apollo setup dramas (and Gavin’s rookie save button mistake)How we’re prepping for sales growth and community buildingApplying for $100k in grant funding and what we’ve learnedChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:41 - Mitchell gets dubbed “Head Visionary” 01:15 - Gavin debuts SixSides merch 02:45 - Why this podcast exists (and who it’s for) 06:40 - Podcast as time capsule: unexpected insights 08:44 - Gavin’s resistance pattern and dirt bikes 11:01 - Shout out to caffeinated dev + SEO saga 13:27 - Building the podcast GPT & speeding up publishing 14:42 - Who’s this podcast actually for? 16:37 - For the audience of tomorrow 17:38 - Event updates: one defer, one maybe 21:20 - Gavin’s Apollo config fail (solved!) 23:54 - Launching the “Watch Our Six” newsletter 26:45 - Gavin’s CEO Sleepout and homelessness story 31:15 - SixSides donation & fundraising update 32:49 - Queensland grants & funding strategy 38:07 - Technical deep dive: marketing website rebuild 50:54 - Gavin’s ideas for newsletter + lead capture 53:47 - Pillar content, AI, and a content flywheel 56:03 - Wrapping up and what's nextAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coSupport Gavin with the CEO SLEEPOUT: ceosleepout.org.auCaffeinated Dev on Bluesky: caffeinated.systemsConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
12: Low Rider, Donny?
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin reflect on 12 weeks of podcasting, the power of Low Rider to set the mood, and why Gavin’s red jumper might be cursed. They dive into lessons from listener feedback, debates around SEO-style episode titles, and a light-hearted competition over who’s got the better LinkedIn banner.6 weeks of SEO-based titles will start next week!Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:The “Low Rider” ritual that gets us hyped for meetingsWhy podcast titles matter (or don’t) and the SEO vs. vibes debateGavin’s red jumper saga (RIP old one)Listener shout-outs (especially if you’re walking the dog)The Apollo lead gen mystery and debugging outreach toolsMitch’s first Terraform experience — and why he scrapped itValidation from their second client and the SixSides app directionLimited edition merch ideas and building a brand with heartA friendly LinkedIn banner competition (spoiler: Mitch won)The case for guesting on other podcasts (and when to do it)Reflecting on 12 weeks of building SixSidesChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:42 - The Lowrider story 02:50 - Dog-walking shoutouts & podcast feedback 06:52 - SEO titles vs. playful names 10:43 - Twelve-week milestone reflection 13:05 - App store prep & infrastructure experiments 16:31 - Terraform trials & tribulations 17:47 - Client validation on the SixSides app 19:19 - Lead generation update and Apollo bugs 22:55 - LinkedIn vs. LinkedIn: The banner design face-off 25:21 - Merch talk and hoodie wars 28:33 - T-shirt drops, brand building, and charity ideas 36:38 - Reflections on the journey so far 44:04 - Should Gavin go on other podcasts? 48:43 - What's next this weekAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coPodcast Marketing Trends Explained: podcastmarketingacademy.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
11: We’re not paying $40K for a domain
In this episode, Mitch and Gavin celebrate the launch of the new SixSides marketing site, reflect on their growing list of reviews, and dive into the weird world of AI agents. They also discuss their latest challenges with domain negotiations, cold outreach woes, and how they’re staying lean with software and services.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Our first live listener joining the streamA bunch of new podcast reviews (thanks Mel, Roman, Justin & more!)Launching the updated SixSides marketing websiteWhy we said “no thanks” to the .comGavin’s early results with Apollo and cold email outreachThe potential of AI agents in content creationHow we’re keeping our SaaS stack lean and low-costConversations with our WA client and feedback on the unified app experienceEarly sponsorship shoutout to Laracon AU 2025Mitch getting back into mobile app developmentBehind-the-scenes fun with SixSides merch and toddler cameosChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:42 - First live listener shoutout 01:29 - Podcast reviews and feedback 04:17 - journey@sixsides.co gets its first email! 04:28 - Week in review 06:47 - Building the new SixSides marketing site 07:02 - Gavin’s cold outreach and Apollo issues 09:11 - A mysterious opportunity arises 10:14 - Client feedback on unified app 10:45 - Laracon AU sponsorship & details 13:59 - Domain drama: the $25K dot com 17:48 - What software we’re using to run SixSides 21:20 - Hosting costs and cost-cutting 23:55 - Tools Gavin’s using in Sales Market Fit 26:40 - Merch, legacy shirts, and future plans 29:07 - Gavin discovers another Gavin Tye 30:28 - Gavin dives into AI agents and SalesBuddy 33:25 - AI content strategies and marketing bottlenecks 36:10 - Michael suggests videotap.com 38:08 - New theme music for the pod 39:23 - Mitch returns to mobile app development 40:56 - Client ideas and creative engagement strategies 41:55 - What’s coming up next week 42:39 - Wrap up and where to find usAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coLaracon AU: laracon.auNorth Meets South Web Podcast: northmeetssouth.audioVideo Tap: videotap.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
10: The reviews are in
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin hit the 10-week milestone and dive into what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s coming up for SixSides. From reading their first podcast reviews to debating LinkedIn banner designs, it's a candid look into the real work behind building a B2B SaaS. They chat about Gavin’s cold outreach efforts using Apollo, the challenges of multi-brand personal profiles, and how Mitchell speed-built a new marketing site using Relume and Cursor. There’s also some classic banter about working styles, parenting schedules, and how early is too early to start your workday.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Celebrating 10 episodes and reading listener reviewsCold outreach using Apollo and planning Gavin’s lead gen strategyWhat even is Apollo, and is it a bit shady?The pros and cons of cold email vs LinkedIn messagingUsing Relume + Cursor to build a marketing site in 20 minutesThe ongoing challenge of balancing multiple businesses on LinkedInThe future SixSides app and positive feedback from Laracon AU’s organiserHow remote founders can improve async communicationGavin’s 4am starts and how kids shape your calendarThe hunt for our .com domain and negotiating with GoDaddyUpcoming meetup plans and how to make them productiveChapters:00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Reading our first podcast reviews 05:42 - Starting our lead gen campaigns 07:54 - What is Apollo and how does it work? 09:32 - Is cold email still effective? 12:55 - Our LinkedIn banner showdown 14:06 - Live design feedback and font fights 18:25 - Personal branding across multiple businesses 23:39 - Building a marketing site fast with AI 28:33 - How Mitchell used Cursor to speed things up 32:30 - Feedback from Laracon AU organiser 35:40 - Planning our app + dashboard rollout 38:37 - Prepping for our in-person meetup 40:31 - Making async communication better 45:46 - Juggling multiple businesses + client work 52:48 - The .com domain update 55:30 - Twitter, Bluesky, and community questions 57:24 - Wrap-up and where to find usAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coRelume: relume.ioPoll with both LinkedIn banners: linkedin.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeSixSides on LinkedIn: sixsidesSixSides on X: sixsideseventsSixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co
9: The $4,700 refund
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin talk about the chaos of trying to launch a YouTube live episode, the ongoing saga of securing their SixSides.com domain, and how Cursor is radically speeding up their app development. Mitchell shares insights on when AI tools shine and when they get in the way, while Gavin opens up about new lead gen plans and early sales lessons. Plus, a hilarious story about dancing in a puppet suit at a music festival.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why our YouTube live idea fell apartUpdates (and frustrations) around getting our domain nameThe power and pitfalls of using Cursor for codingHow we're preparing SixSides for real customersGavin’s early lead gen efforts and refining our ideal customerThe importance of finding the right target marketHow co-founder dynamics affect creativity and momentumReflecting on early wins, setbacks, and lessons learnedFuture ideas around AI-powered event insightsBuilding SixSides while still running our main businessesChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:32 - Nine weeks of documenting the journey 01:45 - Why the YouTube live stream didn’t happen 03:28 - Gavin’s puppet suit disaster story 04:48 - Asking for reviews and feedback 05:26 - Domain saga update 08:12 - Drama, suspense, and the reality of startup life 08:54 - Cursor and speeding up development 14:43 - How Cursor really helps (and where it struggles) 20:42 - Using AI even when you're tired 23:21 - Dreaming about future AI integrations 25:04 - Finding our ideal customer 27:53 - Website updates and next marketing moves 32:28 - Building a lead gen strategy 36:10 - Lessons from early sales conversations 38:40 - Reflecting on our real progress 41:16 - How working together shapes the product 47:35 - Conflict resolution: the podcast numbering story 48:27 - Wrap-up and where to find usAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coRelume: relume.ioConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
8: Paid In Full
In this episode, we dive head-first into the rebuild of the SixSides mobile app – and the reason why we’re shifting from one-off event apps to a centralised, community-focused experience. Mitch finally caves and uses AI to help with coding (thanks to a little nudge from Heroly), and Gavin shares a big sales milestone: our first paid client.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why we're moving from one-off event apps to a centralised SixSides platformMitch’s first real use of AI to write code (and how Cursor helped)How we’re thinking about user onboarding and long-term engagementGavin’s custom GPT to generate marketing copy for clientsThe strategic reason we're deliberately holding back salesHow we’re shaping our target market and refining our missionWhy trust, consistency, and timing matter more than everThe excitement (and nerves) of our $5,000 .com domain purchaseEarly wins, upcoming goals, and our plan to scale to 10+ eventsPlanning our first live podcast episode and a future in-person meetupChapters:00:00 - Intro 01:02 - Mitch tries AI and builds a new app 04:35 - Why we’re rebuilding from the ground up 07:42 - Shifting from single-event to community-driven 10:10 - The SixSides app vision takes shape 13:36 - Making design decisions (and why Figma isn’t it) 16:19 - We got paid! First client win 17:06 - Mel’s unexpected podcast cameo 18:31 - Gavin builds a custom GPT for clients 21:13 - Using AI to support, not replace humans 22:42 - Identifying our ideal customer 25:49 - Why we're holding back on outreach 28:11 - The trust vs. speed balancing act 31:14 - Planning for scale without burnout 34:07 - When will we be ready to flood the market? 38:27 - Gavin’s LinkedIn plans and lead gen strategy 41:32 - How one event can turn into two 43:42 - Looking ahead: goals, challenges, and live episodesAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
7: The $5,000 letter
In this episode, Gavin gets emotional over SixSides’ first two verbal client yeses (yep, there were actual tears), while Mitch celebrates a major milestone - securing the sixsides.com domain. We dive into the momentum that's building, the technical and emotional rollercoaster of early traction, and the fast-tracked setup of all the boring-but-important SaaS admin stuff like Stripe, Xero, and legal terms.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Our first two verbal client wins (and the unexpected emotions)Why we bought sixsides.com (and how much we paid)The case for consolidating into one mobile appStripe onboarding inspirationTrading time to fast-track accounting setupWhy timing is everything with conference salesSetting up HubSpot, Xero, and Stripe to scaleMitch's struggles with balancing priorities (and how he's working through it)Gavin's five-eight method and upcoming positioning workConference heartbreak and how to handle itChapters:00:00 - Sandpaper saga 01:13 - Intro 03:12 - What is SixSides? 04:23 - Our first verbal client wins 06:42 - Getting emotional over early traction 07:26 - Admin scramble: bank accounts, Stripe, and invoicing 08:24 - Legal, terms and CPA help 10:02 - Stripe onboarding inspiration 12:17 - Lost conference deal and moving on 14:15 - Building a GPT for event messaging 16:24 - We bought sixsides.com! 19:29 - Why domain names matter for mobile apps 26:21 - Focus for the week ahead 28:46 - Tracking deals in HubSpot and Fireflies 30:27 - Setting up payments with HubSpot and Stripe 31:07 - Prioritising SixSides while juggling other work 36:01 - Game ideas and networking incentives 36:46 - Moving to a single shared app 37:46 - Wrapping upAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
6: We’re small. Should we act big?
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin dive deep into the messy but rewarding middle of building SixSides - from early product feedback and design challenges to how they’re preparing for big sales meetings next week.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why the app felt “one-dimensional” – and how we're fixing itWhat makes a great product meetingThe role of AI in speeding up design and ideationUsing themes and branding to create emotional buy-in from clientsBuilding holy shit moments into the sales processRisks of having a single point of contact in salesHow to track ROI from events beyond the event itselfEarly onboarding challenges (and opportunities for SOPs)Zapier integrations and future automationBeing small vs. acting big: where transparency winsThe case for putting themselves on the SixSides websiteTheir first YouTube upload flop (and what we're doing about it)Chapters:00:00 - Intro 00:35 - Gavin gets under the hood 01:16 - Product design feedback session 04:07 - Making the app less boring 06:14 - AI vs hiring a designer 08:26 - Planning a design chat with Rolly and Graham 10:49 - Gavin’s perspective shift as a founder 13:20 - Custom branding for clients 17:39 - Creating emotional buy-in in sales 21:01 - Demo tools and the wow factor 23:31 - Redundancy in the sales process 27:10 - Sales horror stories and lessons learned 30:04 - Mitch’s solo call with Zoe 33:35 - Meeting bookings update 34:24 - From sales to onboarding 36:18 - Why onboarding has been hard historically 38:09 - Event setup: seeded data vs real data 42:23 - Zapier integrations and automation dreams 44:37 - Getting to break-even and beyond 46:12 - Building value post-event 49:41 - Transparency vs. perception 52:42 - Should we be promoting the podcast? 56:33 - Acting big vs being honest 58:49 - Personalising the SixSides website 59:49 - Wrapping up + next week’s big meetingsAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
5: Building a better events platform, one API at a time
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin are finally feeling the momentum. They’ve launched their first new feature in months - meeting bookings - and walk through the design and development process behind it. Gavin reflects on the mission-led sales conversations that are actually fun for a change, while Mitchell gets real nerdy about Laravel, APIs, and how design doesn’t always need to start in Figma.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Launching our first feature in months: meeting bookingsGavin’s best-ever sales call and why the mission is resonatingWhy starting with “why” is still a winning move in salesBuilding a product that can scale without needing to rewrite laterWhat Laravel is and why Mitchell swears by itHow we keep design lean and fast (without wireframes)APIs, backend vs frontend, and how the parts fit togetherFounders learning from each other’s work to stay alignedThe value of reporting and ROI in the events spaceGetting honest in startup partnershipsJuggling multiple businesses and staying motivatedPlanning for the next feature: in-app chatSetting up the company, bank accounts, and getting legitGavin’s commitment to (finally) learn how to spell LaravelChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:42 - YouTube and episode buffer 01:17 - Week in review 02:24 - Best sales call yet 04:56 - Being mission-driven 05:52 - Turning $1 into $5 06:14 - Mitch gets nerdy 08:24 - Laravel 101 10:54 - Will Laravel scale with us? 15:58 - Making meeting bookings a reality 18:23 - Connecting attendees better 20:14 - Notifications and next steps 24:44 - What’s an API? 27:38 - Designing without Figma 30:09 - Where to find UI inspiration 32:46 - The trade-off between speed and polish 36:24 - Planning for chat 37:26 - Juggling priorities across businesses 38:10 - We’re officially a company! 41:26 - Sales should be fun 43:37 - Getting our story right 46:26 - Communication, boomers, and being honest 48:48 - Planning next week 50:14 - Coming up: chat and more meetings 52:03 - Gavin’s sales next steps 53:02 - Founders retreat and wrapping up Atlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coBuilt with Laravel: builtwithlaravel.comDribbble: dribbble.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
4: Why building a great product isn't enough (with Heroly Chour of Busable)
In this episode, we sit down with Heroly Chour, founder of Busable – a SaaS company helping regional bus operators digitise and modernise. From quitting his government job to becoming a full-time dad and accidental founder, Roly shares the deeply personal story behind Bussable’s beginnings.We dive into everything from AI-assisted development and customer advocacy to the harsh realities of product-led growth that doesn’t quite lead to sales. Roly gets real about his mistakes, lessons from his refugee upbringing, and why his approach to business is all about magic moments and building real relationships.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch – completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:How Busable started from a side project while on parental leaveWhy Roly believes sabbaticals are key to creative energyThe lessons of product-led growth (and when it fails)Sales Market Fit and working with Gavin to unlock momentumUsing AI to build faster and smarter with a small teamThe value of customer advocacy and emotional buy-inHow to identify strategic customers and turn them into alliesBalancing rapid development with disciplined focusBootstrapping with a mission rooted in lived experienceWhy great co-founders change everythingChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:40 - Meet Heroly (Roly) Chour from Busable 03:18 - Roly’s background, love of tinkering, and refugee family values 06:15 - The accidental founding of Busable 08:54 - Sabbaticals, snowboarding, and how a side project became a SaaS 11:44 - What Roly wishes he knew in year one 16:10 - The power of co-founder chemistry 22:39 - Why customer advocacy is Busable’s secret weapon 26:04 - How fast feedback loops and AI turbocharge their dev cycle 28:48 - Staying disciplined when ideas are endless 34:17 - Busable’s bigger vision as a transport platform 37:41 - How Roly chooses strategic customers 42:28 - The power of face-to-face and trust 47:01 - Creating "magic moments" with customers 50:13 - Can you scale to millions with a 10-person team? 54:23 - This week’s wins at Busable 57:05 - Busable’s reinvestment mindset 59:12 - Final reflections on values, legacy, and community 01:02:20 - Wrap-up and plans for a founder support groupAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coBusable: busable.appConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintyeHeroly on LinkedIn: herolychour
3: We just set a huge goal for 2032
In this episode, we dive into the challenge of building SixSides while balancing our other businesses. We also break down why we're creating a customer advisory council and how it will shape our product decisions.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.co.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Our struggle to get a solid podcast intro recordedWhy Mitch spent three hours perfecting an overview docHow we hired a designer on Upwork to create our first sales docThe pros and cons of different SaaS sales strategiesSetting up a customer advocacy group (and why it matters)Mitch’s approach to balancing SixSides with Atlas SoftwareHow a cyclone disrupted Gav’s week (but led to a tech upgrade)Our unexpected 2032 Olympics goalThe importance of tracking business conversations in a CRMChapters:00:00 - The struggle to record our podcast intro 02:54 - Mitch's hat collection and cyclone aftermath 06:36 - Mitch’s week: Balancing Atlas Software and SixSides 10:34 - The trade-offs of being a perfectionist in SaaS 14:17 - Why we created a SixSides overview document 18:08 - Lessons learned hiring a designer on Upwork 22:42 - The debate over "good enough" vs. "perfect" 25:45 - Gavin’s new Mac Mini setup 29:11 - Building a customer advocacy group 35:57 - Our unexpected 2032 Olympics goal 42:07 - How long should an advisory group run? 46:22 - Planning for next week: Key meetings & development work 52:05 - The importance of a family dinner (even remotely!) 54:51 - Wrap-up & outro Atlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
2: How we’re actually finding our first customers (Gavin's in a cyclone)
In this episode, Mitchell and Gavin continue their journey in building a B2B SaaS company. They discuss the challenges of launching a startup, handling redundancy issues, and finding their first customers. Gavin also shares a personal story about a tech mishap that made him rethink business continuity.Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Reflecting on episode one and the challenge of early feedbackGavin’s cyclone experience and running a business in extreme weatherA laptop disaster sparks a discussion on redundancy and backupsThe challenge of long sales cycles in the event industryCompeting with big event tech and finding our unique nicheThe idea of a customer advocacy group for real product feedbackWhat’s next: marketing site updates, sales outreach, and product planningChapters:00:00 - A slow but steady start 00:45 - Recap of last week's progress: Marketing, sales, and product development 01:19 - Cyclone Alfred update – running a business in extreme weather 02:26 - The reality of bootstrapping a SaaS business 03:20 - Gavin’s laptop disaster 05:27 - Why long sales cycles are a challenge in the event space 07:23 - Positioning SixSides in a competitive market 10:34 - Finding early adopters and the "decision-making window" 12:24 - Competing against industry giants as a startup 16:10 - The importance of feedback and customer advocacy groups 20:55 - Sales strategy: Building relationships vs. hard selling 28:17 - Structuring redundancy in a startup team 31:29 - First clients: How to go from zero to one 42:15 - Introducing the SixSides Client Maturity Scale 45:12 - What’s next? Marketing, product updates, and finding more early customersAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coBook a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.coMac Mini M4: apple.comBackblaze for cloud backups: backblaze.comConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye
1: What happens when a developer and a sales expert join forces?
Welcome to the very first episode of Our B2B SaaS Journey!Subscribe to our newsletter: https://sixsides.substack.com/In this episode, Mitchell Davis and Gavin Tye introduce themselves and share how they found each other, why they teamed up as co-founders, and what led to the creation of SixSides. From a conference app experiment to a full-fledged business, we discuss the early days, our complementary skills, and the challenges of sales vs. product development.Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to launch a B2B SaaS company from scratch - completely bootstrapped.Got questions or topics you want us to cover? Email us at journey@sixsides.coIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating and a review on your favourite podcast app. It really helps us reach more people!In this episode, we cover:Why we started this podcast and what to expectHow Mitchell’s Laracon talk led to a business ideaGavin’s first impression: "Do we really need another event app?"The challenge of sales for developersWhy choosing the right co-founder is criticalThe evolution of SixSides from a side project to a startupWhat’s next for the business and this podcastChapters:00:00 - Welcome to Our B2B SaaS Journey 00:28 - Who we are: Mitchell & Gavin introduce themselves 01:57 - What is SixSides? The story behind the name 02:31 - How Mitchell came up with the idea at Laracon AU 03:49 - Building the first version of the app & early feedback 08:27 - Reaching out to Gavin: The first conversation 10:08 - The challenge of sales: Why developers struggle with it 14:53 - How we first met: The "pain in the ass" sales process 21:38 - The turning point: Why we decided to team up 23:22 - How SixSides is different from other event apps 25:46 - The power of having a co-founder with complementary skills 28:49 - Why communication and conflict resolution matter in a startup 30:38 - The business plan: How we’re tackling sales & product growth 33:02 - Bootstrapping SixSides: Why we’re not raising funding (yet) 34:08 - Where to find us & how to support the showAtlas Software is a premier software development agency based in Sydney, Australia, and founded by Mitchell Davis. We specialise in building innovative, robust, and scalable applications that drive business growth. With expertise in Laravel, Vue, React, and React Native, we help businesses craft tailored software solutions that streamline operations and enhance user experiences. Whether you're a startup finding product-market fit or an enterprise scaling digital transformation, Atlas ensures your tech vision becomes reality. Learn more at atlas.dev.Gavin Tye is a sales strategist and the creator of Sales Market Fit (SMF) - a game-changing framework that helps B2B startups unlock predictable, scalable growth. With over 20 years of experience in high-value SaaS sales, Gavin has cracked the code on why businesses struggle to close deals and how they can transform their approach. Sales Market Fit aligns positioning, go-to-market strategies, and sales execution into a repeatable process that wins more clients with less friction. Learn how to stop relying on hope and start winning with a deliberate, proven sales strategy at salesmarketfit.co.Links:SixSides: sixsides.coMitchell’s Laracon AU talk: Mobile apps don't suck anymoreConnect with us:Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.isMitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdavGavin on LinkedIn: gavintye