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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.
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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 up In 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 platform 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links DealBuddi - https://dealbuddi.com ChatGPT Atlas - https://chatgpt.com/atlas/ Superwhisper - https://superwhisper.com Aaron Francis on YouTube - Are designers cooked? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm9im-3g8fY Stitch by Google - https://stitch.withgoogle.com Suno - https://suno.com Chapters 00:00 - 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-up In this episode, we cover: Why now feels like the right time for SixSides to start hiring Hiring a growth marketer, lead gen support and multiple developers Using AI tools like Atlas browser to screen job applicants faster How voice-to-text workflows with Superwhisper and ChatGPT are changing day-to-day work Project Rendezvous getting committee approval and moving into contract discussions Why DealBuddi’s positioning needs work and how it supports real sales conversations The plan to rebuild DealBuddi from Bubble into Laravel Founder roles, planning styles and how to play to each other’s strengths Lessons from the National Safety Conference and event app adoption Database load spikes in PlanetScale during live events Founders Collective momentum, community building and staying in touch between events Why student work experience is a good idea, but not the right fit just yet 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 improving Why SixSides needs a better post-event attendee engagement strategy How the team is thinking about email automation and lifecycle messaging with Bento The current growth in platform users across all SixSides events Why Mitchell and Gavin are planning their first hires across development and lead generation How Project Rendezvous could unlock faster growth and more engineering capacity The moment SixSides started to feel like a real software business with paid events running without hands-on support Lessons from Project Hammer and how event setup is becoming more repeatable Bridging the gap between operations and development with better planning in Linear Why the team is looking at PostHog to better understand the user journey on the marketing website How bootstrapping affects hiring, planning, and long-term product decisions When AI agents might become part of the team structure 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 - Outro In this episode, we cover: Fitness progress and how personal routines are tracking alongside startup pressure Our fastest client win yet and what made the sales process work How a quick Loom walkthrough helped close a new event customer Why community building keeps coming up in SixSides sales conversations Invoicing momentum and how March revenue is already beating last year Preparing for five events in seven days across multiple customers The operational risk of becoming the bottleneck as event volume grows Building a first draft attendee user guide for event clients Using Gamma to speed up polished documentation and onboarding assets Why sponsor and exhibitor workflows could become a product-led growth lever Recommitting to AIME as a key conference for future customer growth New SixSides product updates including sponsor tier layouts and feature toggles Fixing AI assistant tooling issues in the dashboard backend The growing product roadmap across the website, dashboard, infrastructure and mobile app Whether it is time for SixSides to hire a first developer The realities of bootstrapping while juggling multiple businesses 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 consistent In this episode, we cover: One year of podcasting and how routine keeps the business grounded Landing the biggest SixSides deal so far and booking four more events through to EOFY Hitting 93% event app adoption and what might be driving it Project Rendezvous delay and learning to live on other people’s timelines Using Leadfeeder-style tooling to see who’s checking out the SixSides site Why the marketing site needs screenshots, walkthroughs, and a proper sign-up path Linear vs Slack for feature requests and how to keep dev work organised Using AI inside SixSides to duplicate events and reduce setup grunt work Moving towards the Vercel AI SDK and improving agent workflows, approvals, and attachments Parking infra work to stay motivated and keep shipping AIM follow-ups, outreach reply rates, and lead gen back in motion The DICE mail-out plan and handwritten notes for supporters Fitness routines, travel disruption, and staying consistent over perfection 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links mostlytechnical.com Chapters 00:00 - 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 dice In this episode, we cover: The “billionaire” Christmas present (Zimbabwean dollars, obviously) Anniversary trip vibes, escape rooms, and bailing on the Harbour Bridge walk Fitness updates - 75 Hard progress, running blocks, and sore feet Why SixSides is now a React dashboard (goodbye Vue) Using Cursor to accelerate a React rewrite and why popularity matters for AI tooling Moving the SixSides database from AWS RDS to PlanetScale Consolidating global and regional databases into a simpler model Data 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 links Replacing Laravel Vapor with Terraform for better automation Project Rendezvous update and what “due diligence” could look like CCF Magazine editorial deadline pressure Canberra trip disrupted, then Sydney trip pivot Project Hammer ran without the founders on-site - lessons learned Building an event manager success playbook Mailing out SixSides dice to leads - and a review-for-dice offer 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 next In this episode, we cover: Mitch’s chaotic travel kit - steamer, mini fan, full desktop PC, and podcast gear AIME conference debrief - nerves, first conversations, and surprising moments What worked at the booth - demoing dashboards, theming, and speed of execution How Mitch and Gavin approach conversations differently - features vs outcomes Lead follow-up plan - LinkedIn connects, email sequencing, and timing Dice update - why physical gimmicks might matter more than banners Lessons learned - flights, schedules, attire, and staying until the end The SixSides dashboard - self-serve event setup and getting Mitch out of the loop Productivity 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 creep Project Rendezvous update - white paper strategy and “initial rollout” framing Founder Collective update - co-hosting with The Precinct and upcoming events 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links atlas.dev Chapters 00:00 - 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 building In this episode, we cover: Recording in person from Melbourne and the joys of mismatched mics Exercising like maniacs and discovering who’s a morning person vs a night person What AIM is, why we’re exhibiting, and how much it cost Booth setup decisions, reusable banners, and avoiding the intimidating event tech aisle Conference lead strategy - cold/warm/hot leads and getting commitment to follow up Project Rendezvous update - pricing pressure, US decision makers, and multi-year deal potential Shifting from per-event pricing to SaaS pricing, and why dashboards are the unlock The CCF President’s Lunch recap, JT on stage, and a new angle for Tag, You're It using event photos How we’re both using AI - white papers for sales, dashboards for product iteration Mitch’s weight loss journey update 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 outro In this episode, we cover: Why we’re choosing transparency, and what could go wrong The trade-offs between “looking big” vs being honest about being small AIME prep: meeting bookings, banners, and how we’re pitching the stand A new client trial and testing a community-based, ongoing pricing model Why “tagging” style features don’t suit short events and meetups Learning from Heroly's analytics setup (and what we’re missing) Using multiple AI agents in parallel without melting your brain Cursor vs Claude Code, and what we’re experimenting with next Project Hammer update and timelines for event setup Backcasting with Inductive to plan for a $10M-$20M future Wedding planning progress and suit decisions Fitness habits: daily 5k walks, early gym sessions, and staying consistent Episode 50 coming up 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 consistent In 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 mean Catching up with Marinus ahead of their May conference and sponsor scale (60+ exhibitors) Progress on the sponsor lead capture tool - backend done, frontend next Whether the lead capture tool should become a separate app AIME conference prep - flights, accommodation, bikes, and daily walking plans Applying for an Amex to earn points on business spend (without spending beyond your means) Banner arrived - and it’s way heavier than expected Meeting booking portal opened and how we’ll approach outreach The dice order saga, the refund, and switching to Alibaba for cheaper dice 75 hard vs 75 medium updates - plus shin splints, walking plans, and diet tweaks 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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? Chapters 00:00 - 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 us In this episode, we cover: Mitch’s edit note - the first 17 minutes are very not-business Getting back into fitness - 75 Hard, 75 Medium, and 75 Easy Parkrun follow-up, chafing survival strategies, and being sick Mitch’s tea ceremony recap - games, challenges, and family speeches AIME prep - booth setup decisions, signage, hiring tables, and keeping it simple Ordering custom dice and cancelling a dropship order Shout out to Nick Taylor and the promised dice Booking flights and planning travel around events The big topic - funding vs bootstrapping and what “full-time” would change Lead capture tools, sponsor lead gen, and how to create more inbound opportunities Reducing reliance on attending events in person and planning for clashes and overseas events Referrals and partnerships that could pull SixSides into new regions 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links 8 Ball Pool app: iOS and Android Chapters 00:00 - 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 giveaway In 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 hoped The story behind Project Rendezvous and our pricing strategy Creating sponsor and pricing documents for a major event How Gavin’s ex-CEO helped shape our approach Planning for AIME: dice giveaways, AR interactions, and more Whether we need to aim higher for in-person events Why Gavin is rethinking our pace and whether we should stay bootstrapped What we’re learning from other SaaS founders via podcasts Our lead capture tool and how OCR is helping us demo at AIME Virtual offices, customer perception, and looking legit Fitness goals and accountability leading into Mitch’s wedding Mitch’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.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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 next In this episode, we cover: Why we recorded a “get to know us” episode for the holiday break Gavin’s childhood, moving around, and the perspective it gave him Mitchell’s upbringing, independence early on, and the teachers who influenced him Counselling, relationships, and learning to communicate better How Mitchell got into coding through GTA: San Andreas Multiplayer scripting Gavin’s winding path into sales - from labour roles to Vodafone, mining, and SaaS The stepping stones that led to RecruitKit, EventKit, and ultimately SixSides How 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 event What it’s like working together as co-founders, and how they handle friction A look ahead at growth, hiring, and what 2026 might demand 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 next In 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 account What bootstrapping feels like right now - and when funding might make sense The “spend $2k to make $20k” mindset - spending only when it’s revenue generating or reduces costs Hiring ahead of revenue - likely bringing on a marketing person next year Top 5 moments each (mix of personal and business highlights) Starting the podcast and why it’s become a weekly journal + creative outlet Meeting in person (June catch-up) and building the co-founder relationship The Founders Collective as a “living case study” for SixSides (events, RSVPs, lead gen) Volunteering WA delivery - first big in-person win and the emotional payoff Designing “holy shit moments” and seeing them work live at events Laracon AU “stress test” - hundreds of photo uploads, infra holding up, learning from edge cases End-of-year momentum shift - more inbound conversations and unexpected opportunities Project Rendezvous teaser - why it could be a step-change opportunity Navigating conflict and improving communication as co-founders Quick wrap: where to find you both online + New Year / upcoming long-form episode teaser 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 next In this episode, we cover: Revisiting the $300k goal for 2026, and why the market signals feel different now A more conservative baseline goal: invoicing $120k in 2026 Project Rendezvous update, pricing pressure, and competing against “product-only” vendors “Buy-side milestones” and how to arm internal champions with the right info AIME (February) planning: booth setup, reusable signage, and booking meetings via the event portal Hiring a part-time marketing resource to run lead gen strategy and iteration Pausing LinkedIn outreach over the holidays (and why that matters) Why a self-serve setup flow and dashboards are the next big product bottleneck to kill Cursor-generated UI mockups that look production-ready in two prompts Roadmap thoughts: dashboards, photo selection, notification inbox, and lifting galleries/connections to the user level The joys of a work Christmas party… and why remote teams miss that Fireflies failing to record your biggest meeting and the scramble to memory-dump notes 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 pitch In 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 mockups Listener emails from Heroly and Nick, and what questions we’d love more people to send Advice for developers starting a SaaS - validating ideas with interviews before building When to start marketing - and why relationships beat “get 1,000 customers” thinking Planning the first hire: four hours a week, ROI expectations, and not burning cash Creating lightweight SOPs and documentation so hires don’t fail from vague expectations The “Messi effect” - when to sprint and when to cruise to avoid burnout Next year planning: AIM conference prep, booth “holy shit moments”, banners, and travel Thoughts on sales cycle length vs actual effort, and when self-serve might make sense 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 prep In this episode, we cover: Signing a new customer: Marina Industries Association Are we actually building momentum or just hoping we are? Big conversations about going full-time on SixSides Project Rendezvous and why it could change everything Gavin’s thoughts on founder focus and the Inductive program Learning from past mistakes (Mitchell’s RecruitKit story) A new use case: SixSides for sponsors and exhibitors Reviewing the Preshience pilot and lead capture challenges White-labelling the SixSides app for enterprise clients Bulk photo downloads for customers like Denmark and Preshience The ever-elusive LinkedIn post from Mitchell A disaster getaway: bed bugs, broken Mahjong and a flat car battery Gavin’s upcoming appearance on the Bootstrapped podcast Prepping for mock-ups and meetings before Christmas 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links Delivering 15TB of 4K video with Cloudflare R2 for $2.18: screencasting.com Chapters 00:00 - 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 feedback In this episode, we cover: AIME2026 and locking in our first conference booth Project Rendezvous: the biggest opportunity we’ve ever had Gavin’s near-disastrous follow-up email and how he recovered Using SixSides as a lead capture tool for the first time Gavin’s genius idea for bonus points per 5 photos WorldShare’s Cambodia impact trip and feedback on SixSides Mitch building our first white paper (and levelling up on Canva) The evolution of our marketing website and webinar strategy Balancing SixSides with our other businesses during sales spikes Planning our podcast schedule over the holiday break An open call for listener feedback on next year’s format 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links Subscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.com The Leap (podcast) by Founders Collective: podcasts.apple.com The Plateau of Latent Potential: medium.com Chapters 00:00 - 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 us In this episode, we cover: How Volunteering WA and Laracon AU filled our pipeline Why 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 2026 Lessons from running a second Founders Collective meetup How we’re improving “Tag You’re It” UX The five-minute rule for responding to leads Why tall poppy syndrome might be holding some founders back Whether it’s time to go public with our wins Webinar experiments and how we’re repurposing content DealBuddi and juggling multiple businesses The moment when momentum finally shifts 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links Subscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.com The Leap (podcast) by Founders Collective: podcasts.apple.com The Plateau of Latent Potential: medium.com Chapters 00:00 - 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 thoughts In this episode, we cover: Our experience at Laracon AU and how the event played out App stats: 2,500+ photos, 300+ questions, 91% five-star ratings The power of prescriptive MCs and the “Tag You’re It” feature Comparing stats from Laracon AU vs Volunteering WA The stress of mobile support for live event software Lessons learned from WorldShare’s Cambodia event How SixSides helps break the ice and boost connections Turning Laracon attendees into leads (14 and counting!) The upcoming webinar and what we’re covering Early traction on Founders Collective and what’s next Our thoughts on scale, support, and infrastructure Sneaky UX issues and what we’re prioritising in dev Why events are now the core of our business development strategy Planning follow-ups and personal recap emails Community, connection, and culture as product advantages Why we’re building case studies for every major event 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Chapters 00:00 - 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 up In this episode, we cover: Volunteering WA: what went right and what we learned The emotional moment seeing SixSides on three massive screens A weird iPhone bug with photo uploads and how we fixed it How one event turned into nine real leads for 2026-2027 The magic of notifications and user momentum The upcoming push at Laracon AU (and the 1,000 photo challenge) Designing themes that don’t look amateur Shipping check-in functionality just in time Why we’re shifting towards a SaaS model instead of one-off events Using events as marketing content and lead gen flywheels Our first international simultaneous event use – in Cambodia! When it's time to get a CRM The future of SixSides as a community-building platform Lessons from last year’s EventKit vs this year’s SixSides Getting people to connect with structured networking prompts Gavin’s new podcast: The Leap by the Founders Collective Our 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.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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links Subscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.com Chapters 00:00 - 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-up In this episode, we cover: Celebrating the show’s best-ever month for downloads Gavin’s new podcast series, The Leap, and upcoming guests Preparing for Volunteering WA, Founders Collective, and WorldShare’s Cambodia event Recap video functionality and design tweaks before release Shifting lead generation from digital back to in-person Building a business case for WorldShare and how it became a new playbook Honing the SixSides value prop in real sales conversations Reflecting on not getting the Ignite Ideas Grant The emotional toll of juggling multiple businesses and responsibilities How Mitch and Gavin handled their first real co-founder conflict Behind the scenes of Gavin’s push for video interviews and content strategy Why AI-written cold emails are losing their edge SEO vs LLM optimisation and what they’re doing for visibility Using SixSides as a live case study at Volunteering WA The vision for helping regular businesses run community events What’s next for the product roadmap post-event season 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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). Chapters 00:00 - 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 up In this episode, we cover: Our biggest mobile app update yet New features: private ratings, reviews, notes, and meeting booking Toast notifications and what makes them great How fast Google and Apple approved the app (and why that matters) Why Mitch feels like “day one” just started Real client feedback from Volunteering WA How the app helped close a new trial client Revisiting our revenue goals and setting realistic expectations The power of reverse-engineering growth from outcomes Building the foundation for inbound and outbound sales WorldShare’s upcoming trial and what it means for us Freemium, SEO and creating scalable structure The importance of habit-building (and avoiding burnout) Preparing for Volunteering WA’s big conference 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides 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. Links Subscribe to the newsletter: sixsides.substack.com Chapters 00:00 - 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 us In this episode, we cover: The (slightly delayed) app release timeline and why it was worth the slip Using cryptography to uniquely identify devices without tracking users A technical deep dive into public/private keys and how they power notifications The brand new recap (formerly wrapped) feature and how Cursor helped build it Why 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 ROI Turning Founders Collective into a test case for community-building features Planning the next event with deliberate behaviour design to increase engagement Switching to in-app RSVPs to cut friction Upcoming features: meeting notes, job titles, ratings, and improved onboarding Building our sponsorship strategy the reverse way — community first, prospectus second The state of our sales pipeline and how to de-risk lead generation Why being your own client is the best kind of product feedback Updates on the newsletter and upcoming Change Makers podcast 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! Connect with us SixSides: sixsides.co Book a call with Gavin: call.sixsides.co Mitchell on Bluesky: mitchdav.is Mitchell on LinkedIn: mitchdav Gavin on LinkedIn: gavintye Gavin on YouTube: gavintye1 SixSides on LinkedIn: sixsides SixSides on X: sixsidesevents SixSides on Bluesky: sixsides.co SixSides on Youtube: sixsidesco SixSides on Substack: sixsides