23M/Earnimg 9L/mon looking to scale?

Hey guys,

Need some advice from people who have already gone through this stage.

Right now I'm working in the AI space as a freelancer and making around 9 lakh PKR/month. Most of that comes from one client that I originally got through Upwork, and over time it basically turned into a long-term/full-time role. The company seems pretty stable and I've built a good relationship with them, so I'm not too worried about that side of things.

The thing is, I'm now trying to grow beyond just being a solo freelancer. I've started working on building an agency, and the plan is to hire a few talented people, train them, and eventually have a small team handling projects.

My biggest challenge right now is client acquisition. Upwork has worked well for me so far, but I don't want to rely on a single platform forever. I've been thinking about LinkedIn since I've heard a lot of people get clients there, but honestly I have no idea where to start or whether it's even the best option.

For those who have gone from freelancing to running a small agency, how did you get your first few clients outside of Upwork? Did LinkedIn work for you? Cold outreach? Content? Something else?

Would love to hear what's actually working in 2026 instead of the usual generic advice.

Thanks!