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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

  1. OPTIMISM
    Though complex challenges exist in the world, we believe they are solvable.
  2. PARTNERSHIP
    No one organization, sector, or industry can solve these challenges alone. Progress must be made through partnership.
  3. OPEN INNOVATION
    Talent and ingenuity exist everywhere; we must find and support those with big ideas.
  4. HUMAN-CENTERED SOLUTIONS
    Solutions must begin with, end with, and involve the people for whom they’re designed.
  5. 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 its partners, Solve has catalyzed over $65 million in commitments for Solver teams and social entrepreneurs.

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

Megan Smith

CEO & Founder shift7, Former U.S. Chief Technology Officer, shift7

United States

Steering Committee

Cynthia Barnhart

Provost, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Eric Grimson

Chancellor for Academic Advancement, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alfred Ironside

Vice President for Communications, MIT

Glen Shor

Executive Vice President and Treasurer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

 
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