About
About Solve
Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to drive innovation to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social innovators all around the world. Solve then brings together MIT’s innovation ecosystem and a community of supporters to fund and support these innovators to help them drive lasting, transformational impact. Join Solve on this journey at solve.mit.edu.
Core Values
- OPTIMISM
Though complex challenges exist in the world, we believe they are solvable. - PARTNERSHIP
No one organization, sector, or industry can solve these challenges alone. Progress must be made through partnership. - OPEN INNOVATION
Talent and ingenuity exist everywhere; we must find and support those with big ideas. - HUMAN-CENTERED SOLUTIONS
Solutions must begin with, end with, and involve the people for whom they’re designed. - INCLUSIVE TECHNOLOGY
Technology should address economic, cultural, and social barriers to create opportunities for all.
Our Story
Solve was born out of the Office of the President of MIT in 2015, a natural offshoot of MIT’s mission to advance knowledge in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.
Thanks to our community of supporters, Solve has mobilized over $70 million in funding for Solver teams and social innovators.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
MIT Solve is committed to inclusion and diversity to build a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more diverse our team is, the better we can achieve our mission of solving world challenges.
Advisors
Noubar Afeyan
Co-Founder and Chairman, Moderna
Colin M. Angle
Chairman, CEO & Founder, iRobot
H.S.H. the Prince Henri d’Arenberg
Founder & Chairman, be.Source, a private foundation under Belgian law
Ursula M. Burns
CEO and Chairman, VEON
Vilas Dhar
President & Trustee, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation
Linda Henry
Managing Director, The Boston Globe
Elizabeth McGovern
Trustee, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation; Founder and Executive Director, WEEMA International
United States
Lubna Olayan
CEO and Deputy Chairman, Olayan Financing Company (OFC)
Laurene Powell Jobs
Founder and President, Emerson Collective
Terry & Susan Ragon
CEO, Founder, Owner & VP Finance, Administration, Recruitment, InterSystems Corporation
Ray A. Rothrock
Executive Chairman, RedSeal, Inc.
Eric Schmidt
Technical Advisor and Board Member, Alphabet Inc.
David Moinina Sengeh
Chief Innovation Officer, Government of Sierra Leone
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