Abstract: A system and method for a quantum-enhanced optimizer (QEO) using quantum generative models to achieve lower minimum cost functions than classical or other known optimizers. In a first embodiment, the QEO operates as a booster to enhance the performance of known stand-alone optimizers in complex instances where known optimizers have limitations. In a second embodiment, the QEO operates as a stand-alone optimizer for finding a minimum with the least number of cost-function evaluations. The disclosed QEO methods outperform known optimizers, including Bayesian optimizers. The disclosed quantum-enhanced optimization methods may be based on tensor networks. The generative models may also be based on classical, quantum, or hybrid quantum-classical approaches, including Quantum Circuit Associative Adversarial Networks (QC-AAN) and Quantum Circuit Born Machines (QCBM).