David Podgurski

David Podgurski is an American entrepreneur and former professional poker player. He played poker professionally from 2006 to 2017, primarily active in the San Diego area and likely other major poker circuits. After retiring from poker, he co-founded SDDC Goods, an e-commerce company, with his longtime friend and fellow poker professional Cole South.

David Podgurski played poker professionally from January 2006 to November 2017, a span of nearly 12 years. Based in the Greater San Diego Area, he built a reputation as a skilled player and developed a network of trusted colleagues in the poker community. One of his key relationships was with Cole South, another high-stakes player who later became his business partner. The two shared action, gambled on credit, and built trust over a decade of playing together.

While specific tournament cashes or major titles are not widely recorded, Podgurski’s presence in the poker world is evidenced by his listing in the WSOP player directory and his ability to sustain a decade-long professional career. He likely competed in both live and online games, as his poker peers were heavily involved in the online boom of the mid-2000s.

By 2015, Podgurski and Cole South were both feeling burned out from poker. The online poker landscape had become tougher and less accessible after Black Friday, and live action was dwindling. In early 2016, they launched BirdRock Baby, a mid-market baby shoe brand inspired by South’s wife’s need for affordable yet quality footwear. This venture quickly expanded into four other unrelated brands.

Under Podgurski’s leadership as Co-founder of SDDC Goods (founded January 2016), the company refined its focus, selling off three of the five brands during the 2019–2021 private equity boom. Today, the company operates BirdRock Baby and Gold BJJ, a Jiu Jitsu gear brand. Their brands have generated tens of millions of dollars in sales on Amazon and their own websites.

David Podgurski was born around 1982 (estimated age 43 as of 2025) and currently resides in San Diego, California. He is also associated with addresses in Peoria, Arizona, and other locations. His LinkedIn profile describes him as passionate about building brands and products that customers love, with 20+ years of total experience.

David Podgurski exemplifies the modern poker professional who successfully transitioned from the felt to the boardroom. His poker career provided the financial foundation and strategic mindset that enabled him to launch and scale a multi-million-dollar e-commerce business. While his poker results remain largely undocumented, his partnership with Cole South and subsequent entrepreneurial success highlight the transferable skills of discipline, risk management, and adaptability gained at the poker table.