June 6, 2025
Born in a middle-class family in Nagpur, Maharashtra, I was raised by strong parents—my mom, a cancer survivor who fought her battle when I was born, and my dad, a self-made man who built a business from scratch. At age
“While on an exchange in Sweden, I encountered bed bugs & had to change accommodations. This twist of fate led me to meet my now-wife, an Australian. After our exchange program, we decided to give our relationship a shot, & I moved to Australia on a working holiday visa in 2015.
Starting in Australia was a mix of luck & persistence. I posted on Facebook about needing a job in a bar & was connected with the founder of Mad Paws – Alexis, a marketplace for pet sitters. We bonded well at several soccer games. Then a spot opened up due to parental leave & he offered me an ad-hoc contract to fill in, marking my first start-up experience.
From there, I also joined Expert360, a marketplace for freelance consultants, where we grew the company significantly, raising $14 million from Airtree Ventures.
This exhilarating feeling of seeing results after putting in hard work inspired me, I wanted to do more, I wanted to work with lots of companies rather than just one. So, I quit my job & moved out of Australia to travel for 6 months. Through these 6 months, I went on a survival trip in the Amazon forest & saw pink dolphins & piranhas for the first time. But, my hands started getting itchy for work. So I cold-emailed over 150 accelerators across the world.
Then, a job offer from Startmate brought me back to Sydney, an accelerator for start-ups. This role aligned with my passion for seeing others grow & thrive. At Startmate, we invest in 30 new companies annually & help 1,000+ individuals & investors navigate the start-up world every year.
In addition to my work at Startmate, I founded Puddle Pod, a side project focused on productivity. Over the past four years, we’ve helped over 500 people streamline their lives & work more efficiently.
From my experience with start-ups, I’ve learned that whether you’re starting a business, joining a start-up, or investing, it’s crucial to approach challenges with an open mind & a willingness to learn. My ultimate vision is to create a physical start-up city—a place where ambition is nurtured & risks are celebrated.” ⚡️ Michael Batko
Born in a middle-class family in Nagpur, Maharashtra, I was raised by strong parents—my mom, a cancer survivor who fought her battle when I was born, and my dad, a self-made man who built a business from scratch. At age
I landed in Sydney in 2014 with a suitcase full of dreams and a body still healing from cancer. After surviving thyroid cancer the year before, I knew this move wasn’t just about changing countries — it was about choosing
I come from a small town in Punjab called Rajpura, and my journey to Australia has been nothing short of an adventure. I started my Bachelor’s in computing at Manipal University in India, before transferring to the Australian National University
I grew up in Sydney with a single mother and spent most of my early years immersed in wrestling and boxing. School, on the other hand, was never my thing. I struggled with dyslexia, couldn’t focus in class, and changed
