Evidence over opinion
Move from hierarchy and guesswork toward evidence-informed action.
Organized by the nonprofit Test & Learn Community
Optimizers Conference
West · March 3-5, 2027 · Santa Cruz, California
Where optimizers find their people.
Spend three days with curious practitioners who improve digital products, customer experiences and organizations through better questions, stronger evidence and continuous learning.
Two hotel nights, meals, sessions and evening activities included.
A new name that finally fits
Formerly Experimentation Island. Now built for every kind of optimizer.
Some attendees run experiments every day. Others conduct research, build products, analyze customer behavior, improve marketing, design experiences, work on SEO or build AI systems. What unites them is not a job title. It is the drive to make things better.
Inspired by Europe’s Conversion Hotel, the format stays the same: a small community, one shared location and enough time together for strangers to become collaborators.
The theme for 2027
Mystic World: reveal what is really going on.
Optimization is full of myths, assumptions, black boxes and confident opinions. Throughout the event, speakers and attendees will help demystify organizational change, consumer behavior, experimentation, growth, AI, learning loops and better decision making.
The theme is our creative hook-not a costume party. It gives us a playful way to question what seems obvious, investigate what is hidden and replace stories with clearer evidence.
Your team for the journey
Every attendee joins a small event team designed to create safe, new connections. Direct colleagues and close competitors will not be placed together.
Teams meet early, take on a few light challenges along the way and give everyone a trusted group of optimizers to return to throughout the three days.
You might be an optimizer if...
You are the person who asks: “How do we know?”
You challenge assumptions, including your own. You care about practical outcomes. You are comfortable saying “I don’t know yet” - quickly followed by “let’s find out.” You believe learning compounds and that better decisions create better products, experiences and businesses.
Learning over ego
Share successes, failures and the honest lessons in between.
Curiosity over certainty
Explore perspectives beyond your own discipline.
Community over sales pitches
Build relationships with practitioners who genuinely help one another.
Learn differently
Thought-provoking keynotes with practical value.
Hear honest stories about organizational change, consumer psychology, successful experimentation, growth, learning loops, AI and better decision making. Speakers are selected because they have something worth teaching - not something to sell.
Challenge your thinking
Every attendee can become a speaker.
Attendee-led unconference sessions create space for the questions that matter right now. The best discussions often happen without slides, when people compare experiences, challenge assumptions and solve real problems together.
Stay for the conversations
The event does not stop when a session ends.
Everyone stays at the same resort. Speakers do not disappear into a green room. There are no VIP areas and no pressure to “network.” Shared meals, evening activities, walks and late conversations create the connections people remember.
The people behind the experience
The first #OCW2027 speakers are announced.
Meet the first speakers joining us in Santa Cruz, alongside the performers who shape the full three-day experience. More 2027 speakers will be announced before October 1.
The #OCW2027 Performers
2027 keynote
Colin McFarland
Partner, CoreAI · Microsoft · Former Director of Experimentation · Netflix
Demystifying Originality
Preview this keynote →
2027 keynote
Shailvi Wakhlu
Author of Self-Advocacy · Former Head of Data at Strava
Demystifying Self-Advocacy
Preview this keynote →
Unconference host
You
Share what you know and lead a discussion
Intro songs & Game night
Josh Silberbauer
Partner · From the Future
Organizer
Kelly Wortham
Founder · Test & Learn Community
Host
Ton Wesseling
Founder · Conversion Hotel
Past keynote speakers
Past speaker
Lukas Vermeer
Director of Personalization · VistaPrint
Past speaker
Line-Ariel Bretous
Behavioral Scientist · 1Lab
Past speaker
Dylan Lewis
Experimentation Leader · Atlassian
Past speaker
Jenni Bruckman
Product Director · YETI
Past speaker
Rishi Rawat
Founder · Frictionless Commerce
Past speaker
Alex Arvanitidis
Senior Conversion Specialist · Spotify
Past speaker
Paula Sappington
Senior Director Digital Research · Hilton
Past speaker
Heather Greene
CEO · Milam & Greene
The event starts before Santa Cruz
One app for the pre-fun, the event and everything after.
Our event app helps the community start connecting before arrival, keeps schedules and communication in one place during the conference, and makes it easy to stay in touch afterwards.
- Meet attendees and your event team before March
- Receive program updates and practical information
- Shape and follow unconference discussions
- Continue conversations after everyone goes home
Find your people
A deliberately mixed community of 130 optimizers.
Expect mid-to-senior individual contributors, managers, directors and technical specialists from product, design, UX research, analytics, engineering, AI, marketing, SEO, experimentation and growth.
Different disciplines. Different perspectives. One shared love for optimization and growth.
Built on a proven format
Three days together changes the quality of every conversation.
Previous editions welcomed practitioners and speakers from leading digital organizations, scale-ups, agencies and technology companies. The common denominator was never their employer - it was their willingness to share, learn and help others move forward.
HiltonBreeze AirwaysAtlassianVistaPrintKhan AcademyALSAC/St. JudeAppleDysonFedExHyattComcast CablePetSmartLeovegasAmazonRedditChaseYETIMicrosoftSpotify
What previous attendees say
Unlike any other conference.
“By far the best conference I’ve ever attended in the States. Being ‘on an island’ was perfect; there’s as much together-time as you want, to learn from each other and build relationships. 10/10 recommend!”
“This was unlike any other conference I've attended, but its unique format helped me make so many connections with folks with all different kinds of backgrounds and perspectives.”
“At most conferences, you hope for one good lesson. At this conference, there were strong takeaways from each session that you could apply immediately. I'm going back better at my job and with a new network to reach out to. I can't wait until next year.”
“This event is the future of industry conferences. The format is all about building and renewing connections, which is where the value is for any event. If you want to dive headfirst into the experimentation community I heartily recommend it!”
“This conference was something different our industry has been needing. The conversations and brainstorming are something I won’t forget and will use so much of what I learned in growing myself and my career.”
“This conference was a blast. It was super fun to reconnect with so many wonderful people as well as make new connections and go deep on memorable conversations. The conference strikes a perfect balance between professional keynotes while enabling lots of space and time for open-ended, informal and friendly conversations.”
“When they say it's the can't-miss experimentation and optimization event of the year, they truly mean it! I heard many good things about the European event that started this here in the States, so I was both excited and skeptical if it could be reproduced here. Absolutely nailed it. I wouldn't choose another event after seeing what Ton and Kelly have achieved here.”
Draft schedule
Three days together, from Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon.
The exact keynote and activity details will evolve. This draft shows the rhythm: focused stage time, attendee-led discussions, generous breaks, shared meals and evenings together.
Wednesday
March 3, 2027
- Check-in and collect your badgeChaminade Resort & Spa
- Take your seat in the keynote room
- Kickoff: start of #OCW2027Followed by three keynote sessions
- Dinner at ChaminadeSeated dinner
- Unconference sessionsTwo attendee-led rounds
- Bar openDrink, meet, snack and continue the conversations
Thursday
March 4, 2027
- BreakfastAt Chaminade
- Take your seat in the keynote room
- Kickoff: start of day 2Followed by three keynote sessions
- Lunch at Chaminade
- Unconference sessionsFour attendee-led rounds
- Long breakRecharge until dinner
- Dinner at ChaminadeSeated dinner
- Game night
- Bar openDrink, snack and time to party
Friday
March 5, 2027
- Breakfast and check-outAt Chaminade
- Store your luggage and take your seat
- Kickoff: start of day 3Followed by three keynote sessions
- Optional lunch at Chaminade
- End of #OCW2027Time to head home-or continue your Santa Cruz stay
Our Santa Cruz venue
Close to Silicon Valley. A world away from the office.
Chaminade Resort & Spa is set among the redwoods overlooking Monterey Bay. It gives us the space to step away from everyday routines and focus on learning, connection and great conversations.
- March 3-5, 2027
- Approximately one hour from San Jose International Airport
- Three days and two nights in one shared location
- Hotel, all meals, activities and the full program included
- Optional early arrival or an extended stay can be added during ticket registration
One ticket. The complete three-day experience.
The earlier you register, the more you save.
Every ticket includes your two-night hotel stay at Chaminade, all meals, activities and access to the complete keynote, unconference and community program.
Prices shown are for in-house attendees. Agencies, consultants, contractors and vendors pay a $500 premium. Non-sponsoring vendors may only attend when they bring a client.
Wednesday and Thursday night at Chaminade Resort & Spa.
Shared meals throughout the event, from arrival through Friday.
Keynotes, unconference sessions, team challenges and activities.
Add an early arrival and/or extra nights when registering.
Ended August 1
Flying Blind
$1,395No speakers announced yet. Trust the community, the format and the place.
No longer availableAugust 1-October 1
Super Early Bird
$1,595The first speakers are now announced.
Claim this ticketOctober 1-December 1
Early Bird
$1,795All invited speakers will be announced.
Not available yetDecember 1-February 1
Regular
$1,995The full speaker program is available.
Not available yetFrom February 1
Late Bird
$2,195For the final available places.
Not available yetFrequently asked questions
What you need to know.
Who is this conference for?
For people who improve digital products, customer experiences and organizations through curiosity, evidence and continuous learning. Your exact job title matters less than your optimizer mindset.
What is included in my ticket?
Your ticket includes two hotel nights at Chaminade, all meals, activities, the event app and full access to every keynote, unconference session and community event.
Can I arrive early or stay longer?
Yes. Ticket registration will offer options to arrive before the conference, extend your stay afterwards, or both. We will do our best to keep you in the same room throughout your visit.
How do the event teams work?
Every attendee is placed in a small team to create safe new connections and complete a few light challenges during the event. We avoid placing direct colleagues and close competitors in the same team.
What is the event app used for?
The app opens before the event for introductions and pre-fun, supports schedules and communication during the three days, and helps attendees stay connected after the conference.
Can non-in-house attendees join?
Yes. Agencies, consultants, contractors and vendors pay a $500 premium. Non-sponsoring vendors can only purchase a ticket when they bring a client.
Why is attendance limited?
130 attendees is large enough for diverse perspectives and small enough for people to genuinely meet, contribute and build lasting relationships.
Also coming in 2027
Optimizers Conference East
Our West edition in Santa Cruz is the current focus. Optimizers Conference East is planned for the end of August 2027, bringing the same three-day retreat format to the East Coast.
Get in touch
Have a question about Optimizers Conference?
Send us a message and the team will reply by email. Questions about tickets, the program, partnerships, travel or accessibility are all welcome.
You can also email info@optimizersconference.com.
March 3-5, 2027 · Santa Cruz, California
You have found your people.
Join a community of practitioners who cannot help but make things better.
Claim a Super Early Bird ticket now