Build Something Useful With AI — Live

Bring a real problem. Michael Batko will pick a couple of challenges from the room and build the solution live, showing how to turn an idea into something useful, whether that's a website, an AI agent or another practical workflow. This session is built around live problem solving rather than another AI-tools presentation. Michael will select a small number of audience challenges and build solutions in real time, showing the thinking, tools and decisions as the work comes together. The examples could range from a website to an agent or another useful workflow, depending on the problems submitted. The value is not only in the finished build, it is in watching how Michael interprets the problem, chooses an approach, works through constraints and gets to something usable quickly. What you'll leave with FormatLive AI build from selected audience problems and Q&A. Who it's forFounders, operators and builders who want to see how AI can be used to solve practical business problems, not just generate content or demos. Speaker Michael Batko is the CEO of Hourglass AI (thehourglass.ai), building AI automation for Australian businesses and helping companies move past the hype and put AI to work across their operations. Before Hourglass, Michael was CEO of Startmate, Australia and New Zealand's most ambitious accelerator and most active venture capital investor, where he significantly expanded the organisation's operations and revenue. He started his career in corporate finance and consulting (American Express, PwC and KPMG) before moving into startups, helping grow two of Australia's largest marketplaces, Mad Paws and Expert360. He's passionate about supporting founders and building at the frontier of AI. The Startup Growth Lab is 2-days of practical workshops, live demos and real conversations, part of Spark Festival at UTS, 23-24 September 2026.