Want to start a software agency but lost on sales

Hey everyone, I need some help. I have been freelancing on Upwork for the last 3 years, mostly Python backend work with Django and Flask, and later moved into AI engineering. I also worked at a software agency for about 10 months.

My Upwork account got suspended last December, so now I want to start my own software agency instead. But I am totally lost on the sales side. I don't know how to find clients or get projects. If anyone here has done this, how did you get your first clients? Any advice would really help. Thanks.

reddit.com
u/cruelhat — 5 days ago
▲ 1 r/hiring

[FOR HIRE] AI & Backend Engineer | Python/Django | AI Integrations | 3+ Years Experience

Hi everyone!

I'm an AI & Backend Engineer with 3+ years of professional experience building and deploying production software for startups, agencies, and international clients.

My core expertise includes:

• Python, Django, FastAPI & Flask

• REST APIs & backend architecture

• AI chatbots & AI assistants

• LLM integrations with OpenAI, Claude, LLaMA & Mistral

• RAG & knowledge-base AI systems

• AI automation & business workflows

• Voice AI and Twilio integrations

• WhatsApp Business API integrations

• CRM, payment & third-party API integrations

• PostgreSQL & MySQL

• AWS cloud deployment

• Docker, Git & GitHub

• LangChain & Whisper

I've worked on real, live production projects for clients and businesses, including LinguaAgents, Purity White, and Pure Motions.

I've also worked on production AI systems including AI booking assistants, WhatsApp AI assistants, multilingual voice AI systems, AI-powered automation, and AI integrations for real-world business applications.

I have experience working with clients across the US, UK, and Europe. I've also completed 50+ freelance projects on Upwork with a 100% Job Success Score and have a 5-star rating on Fiverr.

I'm currently open to:

• Freelance projects

• AI integrations

• Python/Django backend development

• AI automation

• API integrations

• AI-powered SaaS products

• Long-term contracts and ongoing development

If you need someone who can take a project from idea → architecture → development → AI/API integrations → deployment, feel free to send me a DM.

GitHub: https://github.com/haamzaasaleem

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haamzaasaleem/

Thanks for reading!

u/cruelhat — 1 month ago
▲ 1 r/Upwork

What going on here??

Most clients never open anyone's proposal, ghost you after the first message, and never end up hiring anyone. Such a mess upwork is now..

u/cruelhat — 2 months ago