Explore ideas, problems, and opportunities. You pick your own project and we help you get traction. It’s easy to get stuck in the “idea phase”, and there’s no perfect formula for validating ideas. That’s why building your project alongside other motivated students and experienced mentors is the best way to create effective, sustainable impact—whether that means building a startup, organizing an activist campaign, or anything in between.

Build lifelong connections with new friends and mentors. Whether you're a total beginner or an experienced builder, you’ll get access to the Slack and Mentor Directory—and support from a community that is diverse in every sense. In optiMize, you’ll meet friends, cofounders, investors, and partners. You’ll offer your unique perspective to help others, and you’ll find lots of people who want to help you.

Boost your energy and build the skills you need at curated, action-based events. We bring in world-class speakers and you get to choose action-based workshops tailored to your specific needs. You’ll be invited to engaging community events to share ideas, meet new people, and build your project. Lots of coffee and food for all!

Fit optiMize to your needs and schedule. We are here to meet your specific needs, not to force you into a box. We serve a range of traditional and nontraditional students, and our programs are extremely flexible. You can choose to attend every opportunity and engage every day—or you can pick and choose what you need most.*

Pitch for up to $10,000. All participants get the opportunity to pitch for up to $10,000 for you and your project to continue growing. We’ll help you prepare a fantastic pitch that will give you a stronger chance of raising money, both from optiMize and other funding opportunities.