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One of the more interesting projects we’ve taken on recently has been with the founder of Western USI, one of Australia’s largest signage installation companies.
When we first started working together, there was definitely some hesitation. And honestly, I don’t blame him. Handing over an important part of your business to a new software team requires a lot of trust.
So we didn’t try to convince him with big promises. We focused on the work.
We built the app, worked through the details, added the admin panel, and kept improving things based on his feedback. Slowly, the conversations changed from “Can this be done?” to “Can we also add this?”
Then we got this message from him, complimenting the app and admin panel and sending over his list of fixes and improvements.
That shift is probably my favorite part of working with founders.
You don’t really earn trust by talking about what you can build.
You earn it by building something that makes the client comfortable enough to trust you with the next thing.
The network for creativity
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What I Built: Briefly
I built Briefly, a web app on Bubble.io that helps freelancers handle client pitches without the headache.
Smart Drafting: It takes a messy, casual client message and turns it into a clean, structured proposal with milestones and budgets.
Easy Sharing: Instead of messing with PDFs, you just send a secure web link that clients can view instantly without making an account.
All-in-One Feedback: Clients can leave comments directly on the page, and everything is tracked in one simple dashboard.
Modern Design: I focused on a clean, dark-themed UI that feels premium and is easy to navigate.
Why I Built It
Scratching my own itch: As a freelance AR and game dev, I get a lot of casual project requests. Writing proposals from scratch for every single one eats up hours of unbillable time.
Skipping the blank page: I wanted a tool that bridges the gap between a quick, disorganized email and a confident, ready-to-send pitch.
No more lost emails: Keeping track of revision requests in long email chains is a mess. I needed a way to keep all client comments permanently attached to the actual proposal.
The Contra Challenge: I wanted to test what I could pull off with no-code tools and see how fast I could launch a real, usable product without writing traditional web code.
this is so helpful!
Biggest Advantage into Software Engineering with AI is still the fundamentals.
Yep. AI writes the code, but you still need a human to make sure it actually makes sense...
Looking for advice from experienced freelancers & founders 👋
I’m currently expanding my freelance work as a Full-Stack & AI Engineer and I’d love some practical advice from people who are already successfully getting clients.
I build:
AI-powered applications & RAG systems
SaaS platforms
Custom CRM / HRM / QMS systems
AI automation & agents
Full-stack web applications
Modern business & corporate websites
I’ve already built and shipped projects across AI, recruitment, manufacturing, real estate, property management, and business software.
I’d especially like feedback on:
How are you currently finding good freelance clients?
Which platforms/channels are actually working for you?
Does my portfolio communicate enough value to attract international clients?
What would you change or improve in my positioning?
Are there opportunities to collaborate on projects where you need an AI/full-stack developer?
I’m open to freelance projects, subcontracting, long-term collaboration, and working with agencies or other freelancers.
If you have experience getting clients or building a freelance business, I'd genuinely appreciate your advice.
The long service list makes it hard for a client to know what to hire you for first. I’d pick one kind of client and lead with one result they can picture, then let the broader stack sit behind that proof.