Pick My Brain with Alan Jones 
About James Davie
James Davie is co-founder of Miyagi, a Sydney-based startup building an AI Community Concierge that helps technology companies run active, well-supported user communities without a large team. He also writes Community dōjo, a publication sharing practical lessons on community building for founders and community leads. Davie holds a Master's degree in Data Science from the University of Sydney and worked in SaaS product roles before starting Miyagi. On Pick My Brain, he spoke with Alan Jones about building a community-led startup and what makes online communities thrive rather than stall.
In conversation.
1 episode
Pick My Brain with Alan Jones Go straight to the good bits.
Key moments from How to Build a Community-Led Startup | with James Davie from Miyagi.
- 1:44James’ surprising path to becoming a founder
- 6:39What is Miyagi, and who is it for?
- 10:30The hidden cost of running a community without ownership
- 12:45Founder-led sales when you’ve never sold before
- 13:17Learning to ask for the sale: how James is building muscle
- 15:54Imposter syndrome and credibility as an unknown founder
- 17:39Why LinkedIn alone won’t build your funnel
- 18:51Using small events and meetups as growth channels
- 21:29From attendee to speaker: how to build “expert magic”
- 24:35Becoming a panelist, host, or community organiser
Miyagi AI on Day One
Imagine your community running on autopilot - providing instant, accurate answers to member queries, proactively engaging your audience, and surfacing key customer…
1 person · 1 episode
Across the network.
In the room with
Spot something wrong? Suggest a correctionUpdated 25 September 2026
Be part of
the conversation.
Put your brand alongside the voices founders, investors and operators come to hear.
Explore sponsorshipProduced by W2D1 Media
Want a show of your own?
W2D1 Media — the team behind the Day One Network, which helped build Blackbird Ventures' Wild Hearts — builds and produces podcasts for funds, founders and operators. If you want a show built around your brand, let's talk.
