Our Story

How a Professor and a Visionary Built a Smarter Way to Learn

Dr. Joshua Olson, a professor, practicing CRNA, and board review instructor, spent years helping students prepare for their exams. He saw firsthand how ineffective traditional study methods were, leaving students overwhelmed, burned out, and struggling to retain information.

April Olson, an educator and an expert in creating engaging learning experiences, saw the opportunity to bring joy and motivation to the process. She knew that when students enjoy learning, they retain information better, feel more confident, and stay engaged.

Together, they created Ollivate—the smarter, more engaging way to master boards.

The Ollivate Team didn’t just want to create another study tool. They wanted something that actually worked. They turned to cognitive science and gamification to make studying more effective, engaging, and enjoyable, leading to Ollivate’s Four Research-Backed Learning Pillars:

Backed by research, built for SUCESS

As Dr. Olson worked with his students to prepare them for boards, they kept asking for more flexible ways to study. They wanted something they could use:

✓ On the go – between cases, on their commute, or between shifts.

✓ At their own pace – without long, overwhelming study sessions.

✓ With real-time feedback – to adjust and improve their learning.

From classroom to app — making learning accessible anywhere

Ollivate was built to make that possible. Now, healthcare providers can:

✓ Navigate a map-based study plan that follows a path dedicated to your content area: SRNA/RRNAs, CRNAs, and RNs. More coming soon!

✓ Climb leaderboards to stay motivated and compete with peers on state and national levels.

✓ Track progress and focus on weak areas.

✓ Complete daily quests to build study consistency.

Meet the Ollivate Team — the minds behind the magic

It takes a world-class team to build a world-class learning platform. Get to know the people behind Ollivate.

Dr. Joshua Olson, Founder & CEO

April Olson, Founder & COO

Tyler Mays, Founding Software Engineer

Eds Leonisa, Social Media Specialist

Eric Lattin, Director of Finance

Michelle Lazo, Customer Service

Grace Adrias, Marketing Specialist

Director of Sales & Marketing

Ollivate in the News

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