Sideways 6 is a technology company.
Sideways 6 has raised $620K across 1 funding round.
Sideways 6 has raised $620K in total across 1 funding round.
Sideways 6 has raised $620K in total across 1 funding round.
Sideways 6's investors include Ambridge Capital, Expon Capital, Firstminute Capital, FJ Labs, Freigeist, Project A Ventures, The Founder Coach, Martin Varsavsky, Mirko Caspar, Richard Cooperstein, Sina Afra.
Sideways 6 is an AI-powered idea management software platform that integrates with tools like Microsoft Teams, Yammer, Workplace from Facebook, and intranets to capture, develop, and implement employee ideas for business improvement.[2][3][4][6] It serves enterprises across industries, including AstraZeneca, Nestle, British Airways, Balfour Beatty, M&S, and Virgin Trains, solving the challenge of surfacing and actioning ideas from employees—especially in large or deskless workforces—leading to over $500 million saved, 4 million employees engaged, and 5,000+ ideas implemented.[3][4] With 24 employees, $5.1 million in revenue, and pricing starting at $3 per month, it drives growth through measurable outcomes like 76% higher employee connection to the business and 70% engagement boosts in change initiatives.[1][2][4]
Originally independent since its 2014 launch, Sideways 6 was acquired by Interact Software in April 2023, enhancing its role within a suite of employee experience products like intranets and mobile apps.[3][5]
Sideways 6 was founded in 2014 by Will Read with a mission to help companies capture and bring employee ideas to life, addressing the gap where "nobody knows a company better than its employees" but turning those ideas into action proves difficult.[2][3][5] Read's background involved early traction through investment secured by 2017, when the SaaS business began generating serious revenue amid challenges like data cleanup and scalable processes.[5] Pivotal moments included partnering with accountants for financial health checks, custom revenue recognition for multi-year contracts, and efficient spend management via tools like Xero and Pleo, all without an internal finance hire.[5] This groundwork enabled scaling, culminating in its April 2023 acquisition by Interact Software, providing an investor exit and integration into a broader employee experience ecosystem.[3][5]
Sideways 6 rides the wave of employee experience (EX) platforms and AI-driven internal innovation, capitalizing on post-pandemic shifts toward hybrid work, deskless employee engagement, and continuous improvement amid economic pressures for cost savings.[3][4] Timing aligns with surging demand for tools that boost retention and productivity—76% employee connection and 70% engagement gains counter quiet quitting trends—while AI automates idea overload in large enterprises.[2][4][6] Market forces like Microsoft Teams' dominance (1B+ users) and intranet revivals favor its no-disruption model, influencing the ecosystem by proving ROI on crowdsourced ideas, as seen in clients like British Airways and Balfour Beatty saving millions.[4] As part of Interact, it amplifies a holistic EX trend, bridging collaboration tools with actionable outcomes.
Sideways 6 is poised for accelerated growth within Interact, leveraging AI enhancements and expanded distribution through intranets and apps to target more deskless and global enterprises.[3][6] Trends like generative AI for idea generation, deeper Microsoft/Viva integrations, and ESG-driven employee voice initiatives will shape its path, potentially doubling impact metrics amid rising EX spending. Its influence may evolve from niche innovator to standard in transformation platforms, empowering "ideas from anywhere" to fuel resilient businesses—just as its core belief promises, turning employee insight into enduring success.[3]
Sideways 6 has raised $620K across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $620K Seed in April 2017.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2017 | $620K Seed | Ambridge Capital, Expon Capital, Firstminute Capital, FJ Labs, Freigeist, Project A Ventures, The Founder Coach, Martin Varsavsky, Mirko Caspar, Richard Cooperstein, Sina Afra |