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Josh Weaver

Josh Weaver

Find Your Opposite

Creating Chapter Founders

Empowering Student Leaders

Building 10 campus chapters in 3 months

The Challenge

Campus Polarization Crisis

Echo chambers are the default. Traditional debate formats increase division rather than understanding.

Students graduate without the skills to work across difference—a career-limiting blindspot in diverse workplaces.

Key Stats

  • •60% feel pressure not to voice controversial beliefs in class(FIRE Campus Survey)
  • •70% express discomfort publicly disagreeing with professors(Knight Foundation)
  • •66% believe political divisiveness has gotten worse since 2021(BridgeUSA Internal Survey)
  • •70% acknowledge they're part of the "exhausted majority"(More in Common/BridgeUSA)

The Insight

Students Want Connection

Behind the polarization is loneliness. Students crave authentic relationships but fear judgment. They're tired of performative activism and cancel culture.

When given structured, safe opportunities to engage across difference, students consistently choose connection over conflict.

The Strategy

Student-Led, Digitally-Native, Exponentially Scalable

Transform bridge-building from institutional obligation to social movement through peer recruitment, viral moments, and gamified growth.

Empower Students

Founders own their chapters. We provide tools, training, and funding—they provide authenticity and peer influence.

Digital-First

Discord communities, TikTok challenges, and Instagram stories spread the movement faster than flyers ever could.

Network Effects

Each successful chapter makes the next one easier. Shared content, cross-campus events, and peer mentorship accelerate growth.

Recruitment Channels

PAID DIGITAL CHANNELS

Social Media Advertising

  • • TikTok Ads: Spark ads using creator content, targeting political interests
  • • Instagram Reels/Stories: Video ads with "Start Something" messaging
  • • Snapchat Campus Stories: Geo-targeted around student unions
  • • Reddit Promoted Posts: In university and political discussion subreddits
  • • YouTube Pre-Roll: Before political commentary and campus life content
  • • Twitter Campus Targeting: During political moments and campus events

ORGANIC DIGITAL CHANNELS

Social Platforms

  • • TikTok Organic: Partner with campus creators for "day in life" content
  • • Instagram Campus Pages: Guest takeovers on university accounts
  • • Discord Servers: Join existing political and campus life servers
  • • Reddit Communities: Active presence in university-specific subreddits
  • • LinkedIn University Pages: Target student government leaders
  • • BeReal Campus Moments: Authentic "building bridges" content

Content Platforms

  • • Medium Campus Publications: Op-eds about dialogue need
  • • Substack Newsletters: Partner with student journalists
  • • Spotify Campus Playlists: Audio ads between songs
  • • Twitch Study Streams: Partner with study-with-me streamers

CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE

Student Government

  • • Senate Email Lists
  • • Committee Presentations
  • • Election Season
  • • Budget Request Partners

Greek Life System

  • • IFC/Panhellenic Meetings
  • • Service Chair Network
  • • Greek Week
  • • Chapter House Visits

Academic Channels

  • • Political Science Classes
  • • Freshman Seminars
  • • Honors Programs
  • • Study Abroad Returnees

Student Organizations

  • • Pre-Law Societies
  • • Student Media
  • • Cultural Centers
  • • Religious Groups

PHYSICAL CAMPUS PRESENCE

High-Traffic Locations

  • • Library Table Sits: During midterms and finals
  • • Dining Hall Displays: Table tents and banner stands
  • • Student Union Booths: Prime location reservations
  • • Gym/Rec Center: Bulletin boards and flyers

Event Activation

  • • Club Fairs: Beginning of semester recruitment
  • • Orientation Week: First-year student targeting
  • • Campus Festivals: Interactive booth activities
  • • Sports Events: Halftime announcements

DIRECT OUTREACH

Email Campaigns

  • • Department Listservs
  • • Leadership Programs
  • • Scholarship Recipients
  • • RA/Orientation Leaders

SMS/Text Campaigns

  • • Event Follow-Up
  • • Peer-to-Peer Texts
  • • Campaign Updates

INFLUENCER/AMBASSADOR

Micro-Influencers

  • • Campus TikTokers (1K-10K followers)
  • • Instagram Study Pages
  • • YouTube Vloggers
  • • Twitter Personalities

Key Opinion Leaders

  • • Student Body Presidents
  • • Campus Newspaper Editors
  • • Popular Professors
  • • Alumni Activists

PARTNERSHIP CHANNELS

National Organizations

  • • Debate Teams
  • • Model UN
  • • Political Clubs
  • • Service Orgs

Local Community

  • • City Council Interns
  • • Coffee Shop Boards
  • • Local NPR/Radio
  • • Community Centers

EARNED MEDIA

Press Outreach

  • • Campus Newspapers
  • • Local TV
  • • Podcast Appearances
  • • Blog Partnerships

REFERRAL SYSTEMS

Peer Recruitment

  • • Founder Referral Bonus
  • • Chapter Challenges
  • • Social Sharing Tools
  • • Alumni Networks

The Funnel

1.92M

Impressions

Total social media reach across 10 campuses

100%
57.6K

Clicks

Click-through to landing page

3%
of previous
5,760

Discord Joins

Community sign-ups

10%
of previous
864

Zoom Attendees

Live session participants

15%
of previous
432

Applications

Founder applications submitted

50%
of previous
30

Selected Founders

Accepted into program

7%
of previous
20

Active Founders

Complete activation

67%
of previous
10

Chapters Launched

Successful launches

50%
of previous

Recruitment Timeline

90-Day Founder Recruitment Pipeline

Founder Recruitment Pipeline

90-Day Journey from Awareness to Chapter Launch

PAID SOCIAL BLITZ

Week 1-2

$10K

Budget • 10 Campuses

$5.2

eCPM • $1K/campus

1.92M

Total Impressions

AWARENESS

Week 1-3

192K

Per Campus

3%

CTR (57.6K clicks)

57.6K

Total Clicks

DISCORD LANDING

Week 2-4

10%

Click → Discord conversion

5,760

Discord Joins

576

Per Campus

COHORT CALLS

Week 3-5

15%

Discord → Zoom rate

864

Zoom Attendees

86

Per Campus

APPLICATIONS

Week 4-6

50%

Zoom → Apply rate

432

Applications

7.5%

of Discord joins

SELECTION

Week 6-7

432

Applications

7%

Selection Rate

30

Selected

ACCEPTED FOUNDERS

Week 7

✓ 30 founders selected

✓ 3 per campus

ACTIVATION WEEK 1

Week 8 • 30 founders

ACTIVATION WEEK 2

Week 9 • 25 founders (-17%)

ACTIVATION WEEK 3

Week 10 • 22 founders (-12%)

ACTIVATION WEEK 4

Week 11 • 20 founders (-9%)

WAITLIST

Week 7

Strong candidates for:

• Next cohort

• Support roles

CHAPTER LAUNCH

Week 12-13

Goal: 10 Chapters Founded

2 founders per chapter average

90-DAY OUTCOME

✓

10 Active Chapters

✓

20 Committed Founders

$1K

CAC per Chapter

33%

Total Attrition

Pipeline Conversion Metrics

1.92M

Impressions

57.6K

Clicks (3% CTR)

5,760

Discord (10%)

432

Applications (7.5%)

20

Active (67%)

Key Tactics

DISCORD SCHOLARSHIP

First 5 members who attend 3+ sessions get $100 campus activity voucher

Direct incentive for early adopters to commit

PAIR-UP ALGORITHM

Pre-event survey matches opposites based on key beliefs

Creates anticipation and personal investment

DEAN'S CHALLENGE

University leadership publicly commits to attending a session

Top-down validation meets bottom-up energy

BRIDGE MOMENTS

60-second reflection videos shared after each session

Authentic content shows transformation, not just attendance

OPPOSITION DINNERS

Free pizza for mixed-viewpoint groups post-session

Extends conversations beyond structured programming

FACILITATOR FAME

Student moderators get LinkedIn recommendations from BridgeUSA

Professional development incentive for leadership