I would focus on brands that are growing, Gen Z-facing, and realistic for a college creator partnership rather than only massive legacy brands. My top 10 would be Poppi, Olipop, Chomps, Magic Spoon, Vacation Sunscreen, Hero Cosmetics, Bubble Skincare, Touchland, Studs, and Graza. These brands all have products that fit naturally into student life, whether that is dorm/apartment routines, wellness, going out, studying, skincare, or campus events. I think they would be more open to creative, lower-lift partnerships that still give them authentic Gen Z reach, which is exactly where Home From College can be valuable.

I’d start by researching the brand’s current goals, audience, recent campaigns, and where they may be missing Gen Z or college student reach. Then I’d build a pitch that makes the value clear: Home From College gives brands direct access to real students who can create authentic content, campus buzz, and measurable engagement. I would keep the pitch specific, not generic — showing why that brand fits Julia’s audience, what the campaign could look like, and what results we could track. From there, I’d follow up professionally, be ready to negotiate scope and pricing, and focus on closing a partnership that feels valuable for both the brand and H\FC.

I would use AI as a research and efficiency tool, not a replacement for personal outreach. I’d use it to identify brands already investing in Gen Z, creator marketing, college ambassadors, and campus activations; organize prospects into a clear partnership pipeline; draft personalized pitch angles; compare past campaigns; and track follow-ups. I’d also use AI to help turn campaign performance into quick insights so we can show brands why Home From College is worth continuing to invest in. Since H\FC is built around Gen Z students making money with brands they love, I’d use AI to move faster while still keeping the outreach personal, specific, and relationship-driven.