SPOMost stake pools are technically excellent and commercially invisible.
SPO Academy is the business half of running a pool: who it is for, what it sells, and why anyone should delegate to it when returns look much the same everywhere. Project-based, on Andamio, with a blockchain-verified credential at the end.
The cohort is running now. Live sessions with Harry and Jonathan are on Mondays, with the next three on 12, 19 and 26 October. 20 seats, free to funded pools.
About SPO Academy
SPO Academy is a blockchain-enabled, project-based learning course designed to equip Stake Pool Operators with the business skills and frameworks needed to build viable, sustainable operations.
As a Stake Pool Operator, you're critical to the growth and decentralization of the Cardano ecosystem. But technical skills alone aren't enough to ensure long-term viability.
Based on our successful SPO incubator programs and mentoring experience, we've created a comprehensive, asynchronous course on the Andamio education platform that allows you to:
- Access proven business frameworks and tools at your own pace
- Develop a sustainable growth strategy for your stake pool
- Learn from experienced SPOs and business mentors
- Connect with a community of like-minded operators
Our program is built on Exponential Organization (ExO) growth principles, focused on helping you solve "wicked challenges" and harness "exponential opportunities" in the Cardano ecosystem.
Course Topics
Our comprehensive curriculum covers everything you need to transform your stake pool from a technical solution into a sustainable business operation.
SPO Business Audit
Evaluate your current stake Pool operations, identify strengths and weaknesses, and establish baseline metrics for growth.
Purpose, Vision & Intent
Define a compelling vision for your stake pool that differentiates you and attracts delegators who share your values.
SPO Business Models
Explore various business models for stake pool operations and identify the most sustainable approach for your unique situation.
External Business Environment
Analyze market conditions, competitive landscape, and regulatory considerations that impact your stake pool.
SPO Product Proposition
Create a compelling value proposition that clearly communicates the benefits of delegating to your stake pool.
Customer Proposition
Understand delegator needs and develop targeted marketing strategies to attract and retain them.
Infrastructure Options
Evaluate different infrastructure setups to optimize performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Pledge Bootstrapping
Learn strategies for effectively boosting your pledge to increase stake pool attractiveness and rewards.
Delegation Boosting
Implement proven techniques to increase delegation to your stake pool and enhance profitability.
Benefits of SPO Academy
Our Project-Based Learning approach delivers real value for Stake Pool Operators at every stage of their journey.
Self-paced, with four live Mondays
The material is yours to work through whenever. The four live sessions are what stop your own schedule becoming the reason it never gets finished.
Practical Application
Apply what you learn directly to your stake pool operation through guided projects and exercises.
Proven Frameworks
Leverage business models and frameworks that have been tested and refined with successful SPOs.
On-Chain Recognition
Receive blockchain-verified credentials upon course completion, demonstrating your business expertise.
Community Support
Connect with fellow SPOs, mentors, and experts in a collaborative learning environment.
Long-term Viability
Develop the business acumen needed to operate a successful stake pool for the long term.
What operators said last time
Written at the end of the previous cohorts, by the people who ran them.
“Incredible value, we’re so fortunate to have this level of knowledge for no charge to the SPOs.”
“It was very helpful to think about the business rather than just working in the business.”
“We thought we were selling to delegators, but they are in some sense our suppliers more than anything. I don’t think most SPOs would agree with that statement.”
“The facilitator is authentically invested in every participant’s learning and it shines through everything.”
“Without the discussions it would be hard to define and learn together. It is an essential part of the course.”
“Blind spots in my awareness of business activities and concerns. Clarifying the stake pool operations versus the greater organisational goals was really helpful, as it was very fuzzy before this course.”
Who runs it
Both of us are in every live session.
Harry Hellyer
Course lead
Harry has coached and mentored hundreds of leadership team members, from small tech firms to global organisations, including fellows at Cambridge University and Imperial College London’s education department. His work is on scalable growth built around full-value, impact-led innovation, and he has been delivering Catalyst-funded programmes with Edify CoLabs since Fund 7. The frameworks in this course are his.
Jonathan Adjei
Project lead, FLUID pool
Jonathan founded Fluid7 Ltd and has run the FLUID stake pool since its on-chain registration in September 2021. He has been in Catalyst since early 2021 and builds software for a living, which means he has taken his own pool through exactly the questions this course asks: who it is for, what it actually sells, and why anyone should delegate to it when returns look much the same everywhere.
Pricing
One curriculum, two ways to take it. The first cohort is free to pools funded through Project Catalyst. These prices apply after it.
Self-Paced
$210
The full stake pool operator curriculum, worked through on your own schedule.
Guided Cohort
$295
The same full curriculum, with scheduled sessions and an operator supervising your work.
Supported places for small pools
If your pool is estimated to earn under 5,000 ADA a year, you choose what you pay, from nothing. Apply with your pool details. We check the pool on chain, and if it qualifies we email you a code to use at checkout.
Prices are in US dollars. Book the first paid Guided Cohort early and it is $250.
Twenty seats, cohort running now
Onboarding was on 21 September and session 1 on 28 September, and both are recorded for anyone joining now. Sessions 2, 3 and 4 run on Mondays 12, 19 and 26 October at 16:00 UTC.
Free to funded pools. Seats are still open.