The COMPASS Upgrade tokamak (Vondracek et al 2021 Fusion Eng. Des.169 112490) will have dimensions and with high-field (), high-current (), high-triangularity (–) capabilities. This contribution aims at establishing open loop Poloidal Field coils current scenario for complete plasma initiation (breakdown and burn-through) and initial current ramp-up in both low field () and high field () conditions. A complete electro-magnetic model of the future device was derived and linearized through the FIESTA code (Cunningham 2013 Fusion Eng. Des.88 3238–47): in particular the Passive Stabilizing Plates have been consistently included. The optimization algorithm aims at providing the currents necessary to generate the proper vacuum field and maintain the plasma in its initial position against the inner limiter. It relies on the YFactory optimization tool (Bardsley 2024 https://git.ccfe.ac.uk/obardsle/yfactory). We present for the first time a fully optimized plasma initiation strategy that provides the feed-forward currents of all the coils from breakdown to the mark, without any active feedback. The optimization takes into account a certain number of control points for the field and flux values which allows to guide the null size and shape, as well as ensures initial radial and vertical stability. The breakdown strategy is discussed with respect to the null geometry and the maximum loop voltage requested during the breakdown. The outputs of the optimization are tested via the DYON code (Kim et al 2024 Nucl. Fusion64 126010) for a reasonable range of neutral prefill densities. The duration of burn-through is analyzed and an optimum breakdown configuration is identified that minimizes burn-through time, current consumption and stresses. The optimization is further refined in order to minimize the stress in the sliding joint of the Toroidal Field coil which is evaluated by ANSYS APDL model (Titus 2022 IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.50 4304–10). The combined approach provides an operational space for COMPASS-U startup that is consistent with both electromagnetic and structural constraints.