OptimizeWayne Information

OptimizeWayne is Wayne State University's student-run social impact incubator. Projects range from startups and non-profits to student organizations here at the university. The program gets students to ask themselves the question, "why not me?" and encourages them to stop being bystanders to problems existing within the community, or on an even larger scale. It provides students with the tools, mentors, and community to launch an impactful venture. Students participate in an annual Social Innovation Challenge. This is where they get the opportunity to come up with an idea to better the world around them, apply to the challenge, and experience workshops that teach them the tools to grow their initiatives. Workshops are a safe environment to share ideas, work in teams, and learn from mentors who are experts in different fields. After a series of collaborative workshops, they emerge ready to pitch to judges for funding to expand their ideas further. The program has granted funding to several different teams that have launched their ideas and is now on its fifth cohort of students. Over the past four years, we've awarded about over $180K in funding to student startups, and hope to continue supporting even more in the future. If you are interested in becoming involved with the program in any way, please visit optimizewayne.org!