Hello!
I'm Michael Hoelzer, founder of Koda Learning. For too long, the educational landscape has prioritized revenue and volume over access and mastery. Ultimately jeopardizing our future by decreasing intrinsic motivation to learn new skills, find new interests, and expand on our passions. I built Koda to form a community that makes learning affordable, exciting, worth-while, and human-centered. Learning shouldn’t be locked behind pricy paywalls, scattered across dozens of websites and apps, or feel like a chore. Koda pulls the most useful and interesting features from today’s top educational tools into one streamlined, affordable platform for people of all ages.
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As you grow, we grow. Thank you for your support and please reach out if you have any feedback or questions!
Michael's Background
Learn more about the creator of Koda!
Education
Michael graduated from CBC High School in St. Louis in 2019. This is where he grew his passion for technology, eventually graduating from Wartburg College with a Bachelors degree in Computer Science in 2022. He later went on to receive a Masters degree in Data Science and Machine Learning from Maryville University in 2024.
Maryville University
While attending Maryville University, Michael worked for multiple companies and business lines as a Data Analyst, leading many teams and large projects. After graduating, he also began working as an Adjunct Professor of Data Science at Maryville University, teaching Masters level courses to both graduate and undergraduate students.
NASA
Along with being an Adjunct Professor at Maryville University, one of Michaels other ventures is working as a Data Scientist for NASA. At NASA, he leads multiple contracts and projects, mostly working with AI and Machine Learning technologies. He is responsible for building out the NASA Taxonomy and LLM chatbot used to gather information.
Community
Koda is a platform built for everyone!
Students
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Boost your grades with flashcards and quizzes
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Stretch beyond the syllabus by exploring advanced topics or niche electives your school doesn’t offer
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Master study skills using proven tools
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Uncover new interests and passions that spark curiosity
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Make learning fun again while challenging yourself, increasing your intrinsic motivation
Non-Students
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Parents guiding their kids’ success with reliable, easy-to-follow resources (and a place to learn alongside them).
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Learning new, or advancing skills, on your own schedule.
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Curious minds who missed out on certain subjects or courses the first time around.
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Passion seekers looking to identify (or reignite) interests
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Self-motivators eager to grow smarter every day
Koda is Your Learning Ally
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Re-igniting curiosity. Too many people are tuning out of learning, especially as passive AI tools hand us quick answers without true understanding. Koda is designed to spark that “wow, I get it!” feeling again.
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Affordable access. Quality education shouldn’t break the bank. Our subscription options low price keeps the door open for everyone. Whether it be students, professionals, retirees, and lifelong learners.
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Passion discovery. Whether you want to master Python, debate philosophy, or explore astrophotography, Koda gives you space to chase the topics that light you up.
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Built for the future. We combine both short and long-form content, so you can learn on your schedule and at your pace.
The Koda Community, Your Learning Family
Koda isn’t just a platform; it’s a family of learners who cheer each other on. From discussions to collaborations, everything on the platform encourages sharing, mentoring, and mutual growth. When you join Koda, you’re not just subscribing, you’re stepping into a community that cares about your progress and celebrates your wins.
Our Mission
To make high-quality learning intrinsically motivating again, so that every person, regardless of age or background, can unlock their potential, stay curious, and help raise the collective intelligence of our world.
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Ready to (re)discover the joy of learning?
Join the Koda family today and let’s grow together!