u/Odd_Leadership_1809

Hey everyone,

I was recently laid off from my remote software engineering job (4 YOE) where I built custom CRMs, ERPs, and mobile apps. Given the tough job market, I've decided to stop waiting for interviews and build my own boutique software and automation agency.

My Tech Stack & Capabilities:

• Automations: WhatsApp lead-gen workflows, custom CRM/ERP integrations
• AI Solutions: RAG chatbots and internal knowledge base agents
• Cloud & DevOps: AWS, Azure, Docker, custom app deployment

I’m starting with zero clients and $0 budget for paid ads, so I need to rely entirely on organic growth (cold email, outbound, networking, agency partnerships).

Since I live outside the US/EU, direct cold calling isn't practical due to time zone constraints. Most posts on this sub focus on marketing agencies, so I’d love advice from people actually running dev/automation agencies:

1. First $1k–$5k Client: If you had my skill set and zero budget, what specific channel would you push first?
2. Global Cold Outbound: For those living outside your target markets, how do you successfully pitch and close US/EU clients asynchronously or via cold email?
3. Agency Partnerships: Is subcontracting for established agencies a good short-term play, and how do you pitch them without looking like spam?

Appreciate any actionable feedback or hard truths—I know outbound is a grind, but I'm fully committed to making this work.

First, let me give you some insight into my background. I am a 32-year-old software engineer with over four years of experience, and I recently lost my job just one month before my wedding. I was also a college dropout in 2020, though I eventually finished my degree (thanks to my university for allowing me to complete it).

Right now, I am trying everything at my disposal: grinding LeetCode, watching system design videos, and attempting to build my own agency. Looking at the industry, it feels like the job market for software engineers is shrinking in the long run.

However, I have very little idea of how to reach people and sell agency services. I am avoiding platforms like Upwork or Fiverr because of their policies and the long time it takes to build a profile there.

So, Redditors, I am seeking your advice: what should I do next?