Our mission is to advance lasting solutions from tech entrepreneurs to address the world’s most pressing problems. Solve is a marketplace for social impact: we find tech entrepreneurs from around the world and broker partnerships across our community to scale their innovative work—driving lasting, transformational change.

Do you have a solution to the world’s biggest challenges? We encourage you to apply to our Global Challenges, which are open for solutions between March 1 and July 1 each year. If our Challenges are not open right now, sign up for our email newsletter to find out when they launch and for additional funding opportunities throughout the year.

Finalists in our Challenges will pitch their solutions to a live audience of hundreds of leaders and an expert panel of judges at Solve Challenge Finals in September during UN General Assembly Week in New York City. Those that are ultimately selected as a Solver will:

• Join a supportive community of peers, funders, and experts to help advance their innovative work through Solve’s nine-month program;
• Receive mentorship and strategic advice from Solve and MIT networks;
• Attend Solve at MIT, our annual flagship event in May; and
• Receive access to more than $1.6 million in prize funding for the 2019 Challenges.

In the last two years, thanks to our partners, Solve has brokered commitments of over $12 million in funding for Solver teams and entrepreneurs, in addition to in-kind support such as mentorship, technical expertise, media and conference exposure, and business and entrepreneurship training.

Who can apply to Solve’s Challenges?

Anyone, anywhere around the world can submit a solution to Solve’s Challenges. You can be an individual, a team, or an organization. You can be an applicant from previous years or already part of our community. If you have a solution, we hope you’ll apply.

For full participation details, please see our Terms of Service.

What type of solutions will Solve accept?

Solve seeks innovative, human-centered, tech-based solutions to our Global Challenges. Our definition of “tech-based” is broad: in addition to AI, blockchain, and virtual reality, Solver teams have leveraged a plant-based fiber that absorbs oil spills, biodegradable sanitary pads, and user-friendly mobile apps. Learn about all our Solver teams‘ diverse technologies.

Through open innovation, Solve is looking for a diverse portfolio of solutions across geography, development stage, and team members’ gender and background. We encourage people of all backgrounds to submit applications.

Solution applications must be written in English. We will consider solutions at all stages of development:

• Concept: We welcome you to submit your solution idea, but please note that concept-stage solutions are unlikely to be selected. You have until the editing deadline to prototype and experiment with your idea!
• Prototype: A venture building and testing its product, service, or business model. Typically described as “pre-seed” if for profit.
• Pilot: An enterprise deploying a tested product, service, or business model in at least one community. Hybrids and for-profits would typically be in a “seed” round and generating revenue (whether or not they are cash flow positive).
• Growth: An enterprise with an established product, service, or business model rolled out, which is poised for further growth in multiple communities or countries. Organizations at this stage should have a clear path to sustainability. For-profits at this stage would be “seed” or “Series A.”
• Scale: A sustainable enterprise working in several communities or countries that is looking to scale significantly, focusing on increased efficiency. For-profits in this stage would be “Series A” or “Series B.”

What is Solve at MIT?

Solve at MIT is our annual flagship event held on the MIT campus in May in Cambridge, MA, bringing together more than 500 cross-sector leaders as well as MIT faculty and students. The event features Solver teams on stage, in online and written materials, and through dedicated Challenge workshops.