Aerial view of Chaminade Resort surrounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains
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.

Want the numbers first?

Two hotel nights, meals, sessions, and evening activities included.

Discover what to expect

Who is coming

Curious people who make digital products and organizations better.

You will meet people who challenge assumptions, look for evidence, share what worked and what did not, and care more about learning than defending a job title.

Evidence over opinion

People who use evidence to improve decisions instead of relying only on hierarchy or confident opinions.

Learning over ego

Practitioners willing to share successes, failures and the useful lessons in between.

Curiosity over certainty

People interested in perspectives outside their own discipline and comfortable saying “I don’t know yet.”

Community over sales pitches

Attendees who come to contribute, compare notes and help other optimizers move forward.

Attendees laughing and playing together at a previous Optimizers community event Attendees in conversation at a previous Optimizers community event The event crew together on stage at a previous Optimizers community event

Find your people

A deliberately mixed community of 150 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.

65%In-house practitioners
25%Agency partners, consultants and contractors
10%Event partners and technology vendors

Different disciplines. Different perspectives. One shared love for optimization and growth.

What previous attendees say

Unlike any other conference.

Use the arrows to hear from more attendees.

What to expect

Three days designed for better conversations.

The stage matters, but the format is built around what happens when thoughtful people have enough time to compare notes, challenge each other, and keep talking after the formal sessions end.

A keynote session at Experimentation island

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.

Attendees shaping an unconference schedule

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.

Attendees sharing dinner during the event

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 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.

The people behind the experience

The first #OCW2027 speakers are announced.

Meet the first four keynote speakers joining us in Santa Cruz, alongside the performers who shape the full three-day experience. More 2027 speakers will be announced over the coming months.

Michael Aagaard, coach for the New Speaker Showcase
New Speaker Showcase · made possible by GrowthBook

Your idea could take the main stage.

Two #OCW2027 attendees without lots of keynote experience will earn a main-stage slot, speaker coaching with Michael Aagaard, and an extra Tuesday night plus VIP dinner on us.

The #OCW2027 Performers

Vijay Krishnan
2027 keynote

Vijay Krishnan

Data Science Manager · Apple

Demystifying Stories of Experimentation

Preview this keynote →
Alisa Scharf
2027 keynote

Alisa Scharf

Chief AI Officer · Seer Interactive

Demystifying AI Search

Preview this keynote →
Colin McFarland
2027 keynote

Colin McFarland

Partner, CoreAI · Microsoft · Former Director of Experimentation · Netflix

Demystifying Originality

Preview this keynote →
Shailvi Wakhlu
2027 keynote

Shailvi Wakhlu

Author of Self-Advocacy · Former Head of Data at Strava

Demystifying Self-Advocacy

Preview this keynote →
Attendees lead the unconference sessions
Unconference participant

You

Share what you know and join or lead a discussion

Explore the unconference →
Josh and Rachael Silverbauer
Intro songs & Game night

The Silverbauers

Josh: Partner @ From the Future
Rachael: Partner @ Truth & Consequences

More about The Silverbauers →
Kelly Wortham
Organizer

Kelly Wortham

Founder · Test & Learn Community

More about Kelly →
Ton Wesseling
Host

Ton Wesseling

Founder · Conversion Hotel

More about Ton →

Past keynote speakers

Lukas Vermeer
Past speaker

Lukas Vermeer

Director of Personalization · VistaPrint

Line-Ariel Bretous
Past speaker

Line-Ariel Bretous

Behavioral Scientist · 1Lab

Dylan Lewis
Past speaker

Dylan Lewis

Experimentation Leader · Atlassian

Jenni Bruckman
Past speaker

Jenni Bruckman

Product Director · YETI

Rishi Rawat
Past speaker

Rishi Rawat

Founder · Frictionless Commerce

Alex Arvanitidis
Past speaker

Alex Arvanitidis

Senior Conversion Specialist · Spotify

Paula Sappington
Past speaker

Paula Sappington

Senior Director Digital Research · Hilton

Heather Greene
Past speaker

Heather Greene

CEO · Milam & Greene

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.

Day 1

Wednesday

March 3, 2027

  1. Optional airport shuttleBe at the SJC or SFO meeting point by 11:30 AM for the ride to Chaminade.
  2. Check-in and collect your badgeChaminade Resort & Spa
  3. Take your seat in the keynote room
  4. Kickoff: start of #OCW2027Followed by three keynote sessions
  5. Dinner at ChaminadeSeated dinner & team play start
  6. Unconference sessionsTwo attendee-led rounds
  7. Bar openDrink, meet, snack, play games and continue the conversations
Day 3

Friday

March 5, 2027

  1. Breakfast and check-outAt Chaminade
  2. Store your luggage and take your seat
  3. Kickoff: start of day 3Followed by three keynote sessions
  4. Optional lunch at Chaminade
  5. End of #OCW2027Time to head home-or continue your Santa Cruz stay
  6. Optional airport shuttleLeaves after the event; planned arrival at SJC around 3:00 PM and SFO before 4:00 PM.

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.

  • About 45 minutes from San Jose International Airport (SJC) and 1 hour 15 minutes from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • Optional airport shuttle service makes transport easy, gives you time to meet fellow attendees on the way, and helps avoid potential ride-share availability issues
  • Three days and two nights in one shared beautiful location in the redwoods
  • Hotel room, all meals, activities, and the full program included
  • Optional early arrival, extended stay, or bringing a +1 in your room - attending the event or not - can be added during ticket registration
A redwood walking trail directly accessible from Chaminade Resort & Spa Terrace at Chaminade overlooking Monterey Bay Fireplace lounge at Chaminade Resort & Spa Aerial view of Chaminade Resort surrounded by the Santa Cruz Mountains

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.

2Hotel nights

Wednesday and Thursday night at Chaminade Resort & Spa.

AllMeals included

Shared meals throughout the event, from arrival through Friday.

3Days of programming

Keynotes, unconference sessions, team challenges and activities.

+Wonderful extra options

Add an early arrival, extended stay or +1 in your room, and apply to help as crew, become a new speaker, or join a main-stage panel.

Closed

Ended August 1

Flying Blind

$1,395

No speakers announced yet. Trust the community, the format and the place.

No longer available
Closed

August 1-September 30

Super Early Bird

$1,595

The first speakers were announced.

No longer available
Opens December 1

December 1-January 31

Regular

$1,995

The full speaker program is available.

Not available yet
Opens February 1

From February 1

Late Bird

$2,195

For the final available places.

Not available yet

Frequently 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 and conference session. Thanks to the generous Experience Sponsorship of Creative CX, every attendee can also receive complimentary access to the 2027 keynote recordings, as well as slides and summaries.

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?

150 attendees is large enough for diverse perspectives and small enough for people to genuinely meet, contribute and build lasting relationships.

Built with our partners

Partners who make more learning, play, and connection possible.

We deliberately keep the partner group small. They support the experience, join the conversations, and help us invest in the things attendees actually notice - without turning the conference into a sales floor.

Coming next

Community partners

Newsletters, communities, podcasts, and independent voices who help the right optimizers discover the event. We will add them here as they join. Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Contact us →

Community voicesNewslettersPodcastsExperimentation communitiesGrowth communitiesIndependent media

Previous US events

Two Experimentation island events. One proven community format.

Optimizers Conference West builds on our 2025 and 2026 US events. The name changed because the community grew beyond experimentation; the format that people loved stays: one place, several days, generous time together and conversations that continue long after the stage sessions.

Attendees together at a previous US event
+68 / +83NPS scores from our previous US events
9.19 / 9.50Experience scores / 10 from our previous US events

Experimentation island 2025

Experimentation island 2026

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

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.

Register for an Early Bird ticket