Each year Solve seeks tech-based solutions from innovators around the world for its Global Challenges, and anyone can submit a solution. Solve’s 2019 Global Challenges include Circular Economy, Community-Driven Innovation, Early Childhood Development, and Healthy Cities.
About the Program:
Solve at MIT is a flagship annual event held on the MIT campus in Cambridge, MA, bringing together more than 500 cross-sector leaders as well as MIT faculty and students. The event will feature Solver teams on stage, in online and written materials, and through dedicated Challenge workshops.
To date, Solve’s community has committed more than $7 million in funding to Solver teams, in addition to in-kind support such as mentorship, technical expertise, media and conference exposure, and business and entrepreneurship training.
The 2019 Global Challenges:
- Circular Economy: How can people create and consume goods that are renewable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable?
- Community-Driven Innovation: How can citizens and communities create and improve social inclusion and shared prosperity?
- Early Childhood Development: How can all children under five develop the critical learning and cognitive skills they need to reach their full potential?
- Healthy Cities: How can urban residents design and live in environments that promote physical and mental health?
Eligibility:
Solve seeks innovative, human-centered, tech-based solutions to our Global Challenges. We will consider solutions at all stages of development:
- Idea: We welcome you to submit your solution idea, but please note that concept-stage solutions are unlikely to be selected. You have until the submission 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.”
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.
Judges will score screened solutions based on the following criteria:
- Alignment: The solution uses technology to address one of Solve’s Global Challenges.
- Potential for Impact: The planned solution implementation has the potential to impact lives.
- Scalability: The solution can be scaled to affect the lives of more people.
- Feasibility: Solution implementation is feasible, and the team has a plan for financial sustainability.
- Innovative Approach: The solution includes a new technology, a new application of technology, a new business model, or a new process for solving the Challenge.
Selected finalists will pitch before the Challenge judges and a live audience at Solve Challenge Finals. The most promising solutions will form the new Solver class and build partnerships with the Solve community.
Benefits of Program:
Selected Solver teams will:
- Receive a $10,000 grant from Solve—as well as access to significant additional prize funding from our partners.
- Join a supportive community of peers, funders, and experts to help advance their work; receive mentorship and strategic advice from Solve and MIT networks; attend Solve at MIT, and the flagship event in May 2020.
Selection Process:
Finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions to Solve’s Challenge Leadership Group—a judging panel of cross-sector leaders and MIT faculty—at Solve Challenge Finals on September 22, 2019, in New York City during UN General Assembly Week.
The most promising solutions will be selected to form the 2019 Solver Class, and Solve will then deploy its global community of private, public, and nonprofit leaders to build the partnerships needed to scale their work.
Duration of Program:
August 2019 — Finalists announced.
September 2019 — Finalist pitch in New York during the U.N. General Assembly week.
How to Apply:
If you have a relevant solution, you can apply here.
Application Deadline:
July 1, 2019 at 5:00 pm