Coins

L&D Budget Season is Here

Get Your Company
to Pay For This

Good news: Most companies have Learning & Development budgets sitting unused. Even better news: We've made it ridiculously easy to ask for it.

87%

Approval rate when asked for L&D support

73%

Companies have unused L&D budgets

₹5K-50K

Typical annual training budget per employee

100%

Worth asking, teams approve when requested

The Business Case

Why Your Manager
Will Say Yes

Here's what they're actually thinking when they read your request

Upskilling is Cheaper Than Hiring

Training existing employees costs a fraction of hiring AI experts.

Upskilling is Cheaper Than Hiring
AI is a Strategic Priority

Every company is scrambling to 'do AI'. Having PMs who understand it? Huge advantage.

L&D Budget Exists to Be Used

Most companies have 'use it or lose it' training budgets.

Immediate ROI Potential

You’ll build real AI projects with immediate impact.

Copy & Send

The "Just Ask" Email
Template

Customize the highlighted parts, hit send, wait for the yes

E-mail To Your Manager

To:

[Manager's Name]

Subject:

Request: AI Skills Training for Product Management

Hi [Manager's Name], I wanted to discuss a professional development opportunity that I believe would benefit both my growth and our team's capabilities. I've found a program called Curious PM - an 8-week cohort-based course specifically designed for Product Managers to build hands-on AI skills. Unlike typical online courses, it focuses on actually building production-ready AI applications. Why I think this is valuable: • Hands-on projects: I'll build 3 real AI applications (chatbot, voice assistant, AI agent) • Immediate applicability: Skills can be applied to [mention a specific project or initiative] • Time-efficient: 5-6 hours/week over 8 weeks, with live sessions outside work hours • Includes all the AI tools and credits I'll need (OpenAI, Claude Code, ElevenLabs, Twilio) The investment: The course operates on a pay-it-forward model, but a typical contribution is around ₹36,000 (or equivalent donation to a charity of choice). I'd be happy to share more details or discuss how this aligns with our team's goals. Would you have 15 minutes this week to chat? Thanks for considering this! [Your Name]

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Pro tip: Send this on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. Higher response rates!

Consider the Figures

The ROI Math (For
Your Manager)

Numbers you can take to your manager

Hiring an "AI PM" externally

₹25-40L/year

Sending you to a 2-day AI workshop

₹50-80K (theory only)

Curious PMtag

(8 weeks, hands-on)

₹36K

Value you'll create in first 3 months

Priceless (but
conservatively 10x)
eyes

One AI prototype that saves engineering time or validates a product idea = already worth more than the investment

Insider Tips

How to Maximize
Your Chances

Tips to Boost Your Odds of Success

Timing is Everything

Timing is Everything

Ask at the start of a quarter or fiscal year when budgets reset. Avoid month-ends when everyone's busy with deliverables.

Connect to Company Goals

Connect to Company Goals

Reference an AI initiative, OKR, or strategy doc. "This aligns with our Q2 priority of exploring AI features" hits different.

Talk to HR First

Talk to HR First

HR often knows about unused L&D budgets. Ask them: "What's the process for requesting professional development funding?"

Offer to Share Back

Offer to Share Back

"I'll run a lunch-and-learn for the team after." This turns a personal request into team value. Managers love this.

Have a Backup Plan

Have a Backup Plan

If full reimbursement isn't possible, suggest splitting it: "Would the company cover 50%?" Something is better than nothing.

Follow Up (Nicely)

Follow Up (Nicely)

No response after a week? A gentle "Just following up on my training request" shows you're serious. Don't be shy.

Be Prepared

What If They Say...

Common objections and exactly what to say back

"I understand budget is tight. Could we explore the L&D budget or professional development fund? Also, the investment is quite modest compared to typical training programs - ₹36,000 total for 8 weeks of hands-on learning, tools and credits included. I'm also happy to contribute part of it personally if that helps."

"I've tried that actually - there's tons of content but it's scattered, outdated, and mostly theory. This program is specifically designed for PMs, with live sessions, real projects, and direct access to a mentor. More importantly, I'll have actual deployed projects to show at the end - not just knowledge, but proof I can build."

"I hear you on timing. The program is designed for working professionals - only 5-6 hours per week, with live sessions in evenings. The next cohort starts in November, which actually works well with [current project] wrapping up. If now isn't ideal, could we plan for the following cohort?"

"Great question. First, I can start prototyping AI features myself before involving engineering - saving their bandwidth. Second, I'll be able to evaluate AI vendors and tools from a technical perspective. Third, I can run internal workshops to share what I learn with the team. The skills compound across the whole team."

"I've gone through some of our internal resources - they're helpful for understanding company-specific tools but focus more on using AI, not building with it. This program teaches hands-on development - actually coding and deploying AI applications. It's complementary to what we have, and fills a gap that internal training doesn't cover."

"Of course! Would it help if I set up a quick 15-min call with the program founder? He's happy to answer questions directly. Also, I can connect you with someone from [Company Name] who went through the program. Let me know what would be most useful."
Message Ankit