In Tandem for Organizations

If it’s not rooted in authentic youth experiences, it’s not an insight.


In Tandem creates trusted conditions where young people can share specific stories, pain points, behaviors, and experiences. Your team gains grounded insight through authentic youth research and design to strengthen programs, technologies, and services without relying on assumptions.

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Better serve youth

We empower organizations to achieve authentic youth engagement by providing a teen user research platform that supports trusted, effective collaboration.

Need

Whether you're an early-stage edtech startup or a mature non-profit looking to scale impact, you’re working to create something that’s valuable to youth. You know outcomes improve when youth are meaningfully involved, but the process can feel daunting, costly, unpredictable, and resource-intensive.

Impact

In Tandem simplifies youth research by providing access to a diverse cohort of Youth Partners with a wide range of experiences and identities. This allows organizations to tailor engagements and test assumptions about how products and services resonate across different contexts.

You focus on creating a strong, youth-centered product or service. We ensure you have the youth input needed to inform decisions and maximize impact.

How we support partner success

Streamlined process Simplified engagement Increased adoption Enhanced credibility
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Streamlined process

From initial contact through implementation, our team ensures each step is clear and efficient. We provide hands-on support to help organizations integrate youth input into existing workflows.

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Simplified engagement

We make it easy to connect with youth through our Youth Partners cohort, supporting teen remote user research without the burden of managing logistics. Our team handles coordination so you can focus on the insights that matter.

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Increased adoption

Our Youth Partners share authentic perspectives that help teams build solutions young people recognize and engage with, increasing adoption over time.

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Enhanced credibility

Demonstrating a commitment to involving youth in decision-making shows stakeholders and communities that the organization values the input of those directly impacted by the work. This can strengthen trust and relationships among both youth and adults.

In Tandem for organizations

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Who we work with

We support organizations dedicated to creating better outcomes for youth.

  • Edtech startups
  • E-learning startups
  • Youth-serving nonprofits
  • Research teams and organizations focused on youth-centered design programs
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Benefits

Create more credible, youth-centered products by integrating authentic feedback from young people into your work.

  • Reduce research and development time
  • Align programs with youth needs
  • Increase engagement and adoption
  • Optimize internal resource use
  • Enhance product credibility

Youth privacy and safety are foundational to initiatives like yours. We’ve built safeguards into every part of how In Tandem operates.

Review our youth privacy and data protection practices


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Design activities

Youth Partners can directly shape youth-focused projects through interviews, focus groups, and surveys, working with organizations to prioritize youth input. averaging 2-3 activities monthly, each lasting 30 minutes to an hour. Choose your level of involvement, The program is flexible to accommodate other commitments ( All activities are remote, with technical support available.


Time commitment

Throughout the year, Youth Partners can choose their level of engagement. On average, they should expect to participate in at least two to three activities each month, plus trainings and networking opportunities. Activities usually take between thirty minutes and an hour each. However, the program is designed to be flexible and allows them to choose which activities they participate in. We welcome youth balancing other jobs, home responsibilities, extracurricular activities, or other commitments.


Compensation

Youth Partners & Peer Mentors receive a quarterly scholarship for their participation. Scholarships start at $50 per quarter and increase based on your level of participation in the program. Because the stipend is a non-qualified scholarship, and is considered taxable income, there are no restrictions on how the money can be spent. We offer a number of payment options to accommodate the needs of participants. 

Results that go beyond engagement

Partnering with In Tandem isn’t just about hearing from teens. It’s about building a structure where young people can show up consistently, candidly, and in ways your team can actually use. When logistics, consent, and coordination are handled behind the scenes, organizations have the space to focus on the conversations that move their work forward.

 

200+ youth voices engaged nationwide

Including a core advisory of 10–12 teens meeting twice monthly, plus 20+ additional youth in seasonal co-design sessions.

1,000+ staff hours saved annually

Time previously spent on recruitment, consent management, payments, scheduling, and compliance tasks.

5+ tangible research outputs delivered

Including the Youth Advisory Insights on Generative AI Memo, Imagine Sessions, and a sustained year-long youth advisory model.

“"Partnering with In Tandem didn't just make logistics easier, it elevated the quality of our work."”

Emily Weinstein, Co-Founder, Center for Digital Thriving

“Often, decisions are made on behalf of youth without their voices being included in the conversation. It's essential for youth to be centered in research and policy conversations to ensure their priorities are driving the education they receive.”

Sierra Noakes, Director of Edtech Evaluation & Contracting, Digital Promise

“I think that it is important for teenagers to co-design products and research, especially when these are geared toward our age group. Developers can generate a greater understanding of teenage minds and experiences even through working with us on a singular project. This allows researchers "into our minds," so that they can apply their firsthand knowledge to other studies and products as time passes. Additionally, this gives students and teenagers the opportunities to co-create a truly beneficial and important end result for people like themselves.”

Audrey D., 11th grade

“Working with youth in our research has been a dream! We've found that young people are eager to have frank, insightful discussions about what they want and need in their own educational experiences - and that insight is invaluable to help us build products they would actually want to use.”

Desirée Stanley, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

“Involving youth in research design is valuable because it gives young people agency and a voice in topics that matter to them. In my experiences, this leads to greater impact for youth in developing effective interventions that are relevant and resonate with their lived experiences and expertise.”

Eduardo Lara, Center for Digital Thriving

“We have had speakers that are in the space and it’s just really inspiring because those are people that I want to be when I grow up.”

Manuela C., 9th grade

“Many stakeholders working on research and products that impact young people have a strong desire to include youth perspectives in the work but lack the ability to easily do so. In Tandem not only provides access to a diverse group of well-trained young people but also removes much of the legal and administrative friction that can hold up the work including parental consent, scheduling, and payment distribution.”

Amy Green, Hopelab

“Engaging young people as partners in research is not just a nice-to-have but a necessity for developing research insights and creating programs and products that resonate with their lived experiences and needs. Young people's use of technology is particularly nuanced and complex. If researchers, policymakers, school administrators, and product developers want to support young people's digital thriving, they really need to involve young people as collaborators in their work.”

Emma Bruehlman-Senecal, Hopelab

Questions?
Let’s answer them.

Learn more about partnering with In Tandem for youth-centered design. Question not answered here? Contact us using the form below.

What types of organizations can benefit from In Tandem's services?

In Tandem works with youth-facing edtech companies, non-profit organizations, and research teams looking to incorporate youth research into how they design and improve products, programs, and services.

How does In Tandem ensure the safety and privacy of youth participants?

Our commitment to youth safety and privacy informs every part of our work. All interactions are monitored, and we provide a secure environment for youth to participate and share their insights. View our privacy policy.

What can organizations expect from Youth Partners?

Organizations can expect thoughtful, authentic engagement from Youth Partners that leads to actionable insight. This helps teams better understand the experiences, needs, and preferences of their primary audience, resulting in more relevant and effective products, programs, and services.

How does In Tandem facilitate communication between organizations and Youth Partners?

In Tandem’s platform provides user-friendly tools and structure that make communication clear and efficient. We coordinate logistics and continuity across engagements so organizations can focus on gathering meaningful insights, not managing the process.

What are the costs associated with using In Tandem's services?

Costs vary based on the scope and needs of each project. We offer flexible pricing options and will work with you to find the right fit. For detailed pricing information, please contact awyattmcgill@in-tandem.org.

Can organizations customize their engagement with Youth Partners?

Yes. Organizations can customize their engagement based on their goals and constraints. We work closely with each team to tailor engagements that align with what they are trying to achieve.

What is the process for onboarding with In Tandem?

Onboarding with In Tandem is straightforward. Our team provides comprehensive support, including detailed guides and personalized assistance. We help organizations integrate youth engagement into their workflows, ensuring a smooth transition and effective use of our tools.

How can organizations get started with In Tandem?

To get started, fill out the contact form below. Our team will follow up to learn more about your goals and walk through next steps together.

“Young people have so
much lived experience
and wisdom to share."

- Amy Green, Hopelab

Ready to become a partner?

Initial engagement

Submit a contact form, schedule a discovery call, and together we’ll scope your needs.

Planning & agreement

Develop a shared impact plan, finalize the service-level agreement, and align on pricing.

Onboarding & execution

Get started, set milestones, and maintain momentum with regular check-ins.

 

In Tandem - Overlapping Circles

Contact us

Looking to incorporate youth insights into your research, product, or program?
Fill out the form below to learn how In Tandem can support your work. 

Interested in becoming a Youth Partner?
Click here to learn more.