On March 1 MIT Solve launched its 2021 Global Challenges with over $1.5 million in prize funding available to innovators worldwide.
Solve seeks tech-based solutions from social entrepreneurs around the world that address five challenges. Anyone anywhere can apply to address the challenges by the June 16 deadline. Solve also announced Eric s. Yuan founder and CEO of Zoom and Karlie Kloss founder of Kode With Klossy as 2021 Challenge Ambassadors.
To help with the challenge application process Solve runs a course with MITx entitled ’Business and Impact Planning for Social Enterprises’ which introduces core business model and theory-of-change concepts to early stage entrepreneurs.
Finalists will be invited to attend Solve Challenge Finals on Sept. 19 in New York during U.N. General Assembly week. At the event they will pitch their solutions to Solves Challenge Leadership Groups judging panels comprised of industry leaders and MIT faculty. The judges will select the most promising solutions as Solver teams.
’After a year of turmoil including a major threat to our collective health disruption in schooling lack of access to digital connectivity and meaningful work a reckoning in the U.S. after centuries of institutionalized racism or worsening natural hazards — supporting diverse innovators who are solving these challenges is more urgent than ever’ says Alex Amouyel executive director of MIT Solve. ’Solve is committed to bolstering communities in the U.S. and across the world by supporting innovators who are addressing our 2021 Global Challenges — wherever they are — through funding mentorship and an MIT-backed community. Whether youre a prospective Solve partner or applicant we hope youll join us!’
Solver teams participate in a nine-month program that connects them to the resources they need to scale. Thanks to its partners to date Solve has provided over $40 million in commitments for Solver teams and entrepreneurs.
Solves challenge design process collects insights and ideas from industry leaders MIT faculty and local community voices alike.
Solves 2021 Global Challenges are:
Funders include the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation General Motors Comcast NBCUniversal Vodafone Americas Foundation HP Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation American Student Assistance The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Andan Foundation Good Energies Foundation and the Elevate Prize Foundation. The Solve community will convene at Virtual Solve at MIT on May 3-4 with 2020 Solver teams Solve members and partners to build partnerships and tackle global challenges in real-time.
As a marketplace for social impact innovation Solves mission is to solve world challenges. Solve finds promising tech-based social entrepreneurs around the world then brings together MITs innovation ecosystem and a community of members to fund and support these entrepreneurs to help scale their impact. Organizations interested in joining the Solve community can learn more and apply for membership here.
