MIT Solve
Advances solutions through open innovation with grants up to $150K.
Services
3 availableYouth Innovation ChallengesMIT Solve helps young people ages 24 and under create solutions to big problems in their communities and the world. They run special contests where young innovators can win money and support for their ideas. Past challenges have helped young people work on climate change, health, social justice, and other important issues. Winners get funding and mentoring to make their ideas real. MIT Solve also partners with organizations like the NBA Foundation and United Nations to create custom challenges for young entrepreneurs.Solve Innovation Future Investment FundThis is an investment fund that helps early-stage social entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Instead of traditional charity giving, donors can invest money directly into innovative companies that use technology to solve world problems. The fund supports entrepreneurs who might not get help from regular investors, especially those from diverse backgrounds working on social issues. Companies can grow at their own pace with this flexible funding. Investors can make a real impact while potentially getting returns on their money.Custom Innovation Challenge PlatformMIT Solve helps organizations create their own innovation challenges to find solutions to big problems. They work with companies and groups to design contests that attract creative people with new ideas. Organizations can pick topics that matter to them, like climate change, health, or education. MIT Solve handles the whole process - from promoting the challenge to picking winners and giving out money. Past challenges have focused on things like making communities stronger during disasters, improving healthcare, and helping young people learn job skills. This service connects organizations with innovators who can solve real-world problems.
Latest
MIT Challenge: Tech Solutions for Better Learning for EveryoneMIT Solve runs challenges to find technology solutions that make education better and more fair for all learners. They focus on helping students who need the most support get quality education. The program brings together innovators who create tools using artificial intelligence, games, and other technology to help students learn better. Some examples include tools that adapt books for different learners, AI tutors that help with math, and games that help kids with disabilities do physical therapy. MIT Solve offers funding, mentorship, and connections to help these education solutions grow. They run different challenges throughout the year, focusing on areas like STEAM education, civic learning, and making sure girls and women succeed in science and technology. The goal is to use technology to make learning more personal, engaging, and accessible for everyone, especially those who have been left out of good education opportunities. Teams can apply to participate in challenges and get support to develop their ideas into real solutions that help students around the world.Mar 11, 2026
MIT Program Uses Tech to Create Fair Jobs and Money Access for AllMIT Solve runs a program called Economic Prosperity that helps people get better access to jobs and money through technology. They focus on helping people who are often left out of good opportunities. The program works on several challenges: 2.6 billion people don't have internet access, 1.4 billion people can't use banks, and 2 billion people work in jobs without official benefits. MIT Solve creates contests where teams compete to solve these problems using new technology like AI. They support solutions that help people get jobs, start businesses, access banking, and build wealth. Some examples include apps that help fishers sell their catch, platforms that train caregivers, tools that give people digital addresses to access services, and programs that help people with disabilities find work. The program especially focuses on helping women, people of color, and other groups that face extra barriers. Their goal is to use technology to make sure everyone can participate in and benefit from the economy, not just people who already have advantages.Mar 11, 2026
MIT Shows How to Fight Climate Change with New TechnologyMIT Solve is a program that finds and supports new technologies to fight climate change. They help inventors create solutions that reduce pollution and help communities adapt to a changing world. The goal is to reach net zero emissions by 2050. MIT Solve runs contests where inventors compete to solve climate problems like making buildings use less energy, protecting ecosystems, creating sustainable food systems, and building circular economies where things get reused instead of thrown away. They have supported technologies like better fertilizers for farmers, AI systems that help cool buildings more efficiently, and ways to make food last longer. The program connects inventors with funding and mentors to help scale their solutions. Expert judges from universities, companies, and environmental groups evaluate the innovations. MIT Solve focuses on community-based solutions that directly help the people they serve, especially disadvantaged communities who often face the worst impacts of climate change. The program has multiple challenges each year covering different climate topics.Mar 11, 2026
Organization Details
Founded2015
Location77 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02139
Service AreaNational