Startmate CEO Michael Batko’s side hustle, Puddle Pod, is diving into courses in AI, Marketing and B2B sales

Puddle Pod started four years ago as a weekend side hustle of Startmate CEO Michael Batko.

But since then it’s grown into a thriving community of learners committed to improving their professional lives featuring courses for people in startups to ramp up the talents they need to succeed. Puddle Pod has become the go-to productivity and professional development platform for founders, investors, and operators, with more than 500 customers and community members.

Everyone from staff at VCs Blackbird, Airtree and SquarePeg, to startups such as Canva, Uber, Google, and Fable have undertaken the flagship productivity course to maximise their day and drive growth. Some companies are now using the course as part of their employee onboarding for new starters.

Now Batko is looking to take things to the next level, with Puddle Pod launching three new crash courses – AI for your Day-to-Day, AI in Marketing, and B2B Sales.

Michael Batko said this marks a new era for Puddle Pod, as it grows beyond his original vision into a collaborative platform for continuous learning and professional development.

“Puddle Pod’s expansion is not just about adding more content but also about bringing in the right experts,” he said.

“The courses are now led by a team of subject matter experts, each bringing their unique industry experience and insights to the table.”

Here are explainers of the new courses:

AI in your Day-to-Day: is designed to integrate AI tools into their daily workflows. Participants learn how to leverage AI to automate mundane tasks, enhance decision-making processes, and ultimately boost productivity across all areas of their work. This course is perfect for anyone who is overwhelmed by how quickly AI is developing and has only scratched the surface of AIs themselves.

AI in Marketing: is tailored for marketing professionals with a deep dive into: customer segmentation and predictive analytics to content creation and campaign optimisation. This course equips marketers with the skills they need to harness AI and drive impactful results in their marketing strategies.

B2B Sales: is a comprehensive guide to the full sales process, this course covers everything from lead generation to closing deals. It’s designed for sales professionals who want to refine their approach, adopt new tools, and master the art of B2B sales. With insights from industry experts, participants will gain the knowledge and confidence to excel in today’s competitive sales landscape.

“Whether you’re a startup founder, a marketer looking to stay ahead of the curve, or a sales professional eager to close more deals, Puddle Pod’s expanded course offerings have something to offer,” Batko said.

For more, see puddlepod.com.