At Matter, we study the science of happiness and use what we learn to help people experience more of it. One thing we’ve learned: one of the fastest ways to feel happier is to make someone else happy. For the next week (through August 21st), we're accepting ideas to fund up to 10 surprises ($100 each) for people who want to make someone's day.
Who can join
People in the U.S. 18 years or older with a Venmo account. (Venmo, our money-mover of choice, only works stateside). No other restrictions.
How to submit
DM us on Instagram @matterneuroscience with your idea:
- Who you want to surprise (a friend, family member, or even a stranger)
- What the surprise is
- Roughly when you'd pull it off
- Surprises must be safe, legal, and respectful/non creepy.
The more specific, the better. We want to be able to picture it. We’ll review up to 3 ideas from a single account. Submissions are open August 13, 2026 through August 21, 2026. We'll get back to you within 24 hours of your DM, so you'll know quickly whether we’ll fund the idea. Please note, we may be slower to respond after the submission deadline.
How we choose
This isn't a random drawing, we're reading every idea and picking the ones we love most. Matter is built to help you train your brain to feel good more often, and we’re using that same lens here: the six feel-good neurotransmitters – dopamine, testosterone, serotonin, oxytocin, cannabinoids, and opioids – we think this surprise would activate, for both you and the person you're surprising. We'll use our neuroscience framework when evaluating - and the more creative and specific it feels, the better its shot. We’ll review every eligible submission and fund up to 10 of our favorite ideas.
If your idea is selected
We'll send you $100 to bring it to life. Afterwards, send us photos, a short video, or a quick recap so we can celebrate it with the community. We'll share it (with credit to you) on our Instagram. By sending it to us, you're giving Matter permission to repost it on our channels.
Full transparency: once that $100 lands in your account, there's nothing stopping you from keeping it and skipping the surprise. We're trusting you to use it within the next week to give someone else a memorable moment. We promise it will make your day, too. (And, we might just have to call you out on social if you don't... kidding. Mostly.)
One more thing
Following @Matterneuroscience isn't required to enter, but we'd love to have you along for the ride. It's the best way to see what gets picked and watch the surprises as they roll in.
Legal
This activation is run by Matter Neuroscience and is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram in any way. No purchase is necessary. Matter reserves the right to modify or end this program at any time.