Challenge Overview

IDEAS Social Innovation Showcase

Housed within the MIT Priscilla King Gray (PKG) Public Service Center, the IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge is MIT’s signature social innovation and entrepreneurship incubator program. Since its founding in 2001, IDEAS has enabled MIT student-led teams to apply their education and expertise, in collaboration with community partners, to creatively address the world’s most urgent social and environmental challenges—including climate change, public health, ethics in tech, racial justice, and more. IDEAS supports MIT’s social entrepreneurs and innovators with tailored programming, advising, mentorship, and grants of up to $21,000. Over the past 23 years, the IDEAS Challenge has awarded more than $1.5M to over 240 teams that have implemented innovative ventures in over 60 countries, serving the needs of tens of thousands of people.

You are invited to explore the finalists’ projects and vote for your favorites for consideration of two $2,500 crowd favorite awards! Each finalist is receiving a seed grant of $1,000 to further their efforts and will be considered for an additional juried grant, ranging from $7,500-$20,000, on Tuesday, April 9. Teams that are not awarded a juried grant will be considered for the crowd favorites awards. 

Vote for your favorite teams through Monday, April 8 at 2pm ET. 

For questions about the MIT PKG Center, the IDEAS program, or to learn more about how you can support social entrepreneurship at MIT, please email: mitpkgideas@mit.edu