10th Anniversary Global Challenge

Ten years ago, we launched Solve on a simple bet: the best solutions to global challenges are out there —and it’s our job to find them, fund them, and help them scale.

Since then, the world has been reshaped. A pandemic exposed brittle systems, climate impacts are a daily reality, trust has eroded, and AI has both expanded what’s possible and raised questions about gaps in equity, power, access, and opportunity. In this new era, it is all the more urgent to close those gaps through innovation that scales, with broad adoption, wide distribution, and durability.

Over the past decade, Solve has become a global engine for that kind of innovation. We have launched over 100 challenges for which selected innovators, Solvers, have gone on to reach over 370 million lives and raise $1.1 billion to scale their impact. Solvers are our best bet in making a better future for all, and this year we’re doubling down on our support.

For our 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, we’re seeking 10 exceptional solutions built for the next decade: solving urgent problems and proving credible pathways to scale, whether through markets, policy, procurement, or platforms. We’re interested in innovations that put people first, and pair technological ingenuity with trust and durable economics.

Across health, climate, learning, and economic prosperity, solutions must respond to rapidly changing realities and operate at the speed of need. We are particularly seeking innovations that advance:

• A zero-carbon, equitable world and practical adaptation for communities already living with climate impacts

• Economic opportunity, security and mobility through jobs and livelihoods, financial inclusion, and small business growth

• Better health outcomes and stronger systems-care delivery, workforce, supply chains, prevention, and resilience

• Learning for all—delivering measurable learning gains in a modern world, particularly for those with different learning needs

• Indigenous communities in strengthening sovereignty and meeting their social, environmental, and economic goals

Solve’s 10th Anniversary Global Challenge is designed to surface the innovations that can define the next decade. Together with our network of partners, resources, and connections, we’re betting big on the solutions that will solve complex global challenges and fix broken systems in order to reach millions more.

Eligibility

This Challenge is for tech-based social impact solutions that are already growing or operating at scale. You can check your eligibility using this form.

How do you define "scale"? A solution is "at scale" when it's available for regular use and focused on reaching more people — not just being tested. This usually means you can show how much your solution costs to deliver (unit economics), you have a clear plan for finding customers, and you have real results. Scale can look different depending on the type of organization, but the key is having a consistent product or service that people can actually access.

How do you define "scale-ready"? "Scale-ready" means your product or service is stable and showing early signs of success, but you're still in the early stages of expanding to more communities. If you've had a successful pilot but still have major steps ahead — like getting regulatory approval or building your first facility — you're probably not scale-ready yet and are unlikely to be considered.

My solution is still at the pilot stage. Can I still apply? You can apply, but solutions that don't meet the eligibility requirements will be screened out. The next Solve Global Challenges round, which is open to earlier-stage solutions, will launch in September 2026.

My solution focuses on a topic outside Solve's usual areas of impact. Can I still apply? Yes! We welcome solutions on any topic that helps improve social or environmental outcomes. We expect that most solutions will connect to at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators.

Are solutions focused on Indigenous communities outside the US and Canada eligible? Yes. Solve's Indigenous Communities Fellowship only covers the US and Canada, but this 10th anniversary challenge is open to solutions working with Indigenous communities anywhere in the world, as long as they meet the other eligibility requirements.

My solution was already selected for a previous Solve challenge. Am I eligible? Yes — this challenge is open to all innovators who meet the eligibility requirements. We expect to select a mix of new solutions and ones already in our portfolio.

Benefits

What will winners receive? The ten winners get a big stage and serious support. They'll be featured at the Solve Challenge Finals in New York City during UN General Assembly and NY Climate Week in September 2026, with travel costs covered. There, they'll pitch their work directly to a room of Solve’s global community, including investors and funders — and each winner will receive at least $100,000 in unrestricted prize funding, meaning they can use it however they need.

But the funding is just the start. Winners will gain access to MIT's innovation ecosystem, including specialized mentorship, pro-bono legal support, discounted access to technology, and connections to the network of past Solver teams. Solve supports our portfolio for the long-term, with more funding opportunities, skills training, media exposure, and speaking engagements on an ongoing basis.

Overall Challenge

Why is Solve doing this? Over the past 10 years, Solve has received over 25,000 applications from people building solutions to social and environmental problems and has funded more than 600 across over 100 challenges. For our 10th anniversary, we want to highlight the range of tech-driven innovation led by people close to the problems they're solving — the real impact they're already making, the different ways solutions can grow, and how the right funding can help them reach even more people.

Does this replace Solve's topic-specific Global Challenges? Yes — the next round of Global Challenges, with separate challenges for each focus area and broader eligibility for early-stage teams, will open in September 2026.

This application clinic session is your opportunity to learn more about MIT Solve, the 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, commonly asked questions, and Solve's selection criteria. You can also review the Frequently Asked Questions for more details ahead of the session.

The application clinic was hosted on Wednesday, April 15. You can view the slides here.

The AI for Humanity Prize

The AI for Humanity Prize is open to solutions leveraging data science, artificial intelligence, and/or machine learning to benefit humanity. The prize is made possible by The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, a philanthropy committed to advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all. Up to $150,000 will be awarded to one Solver team from the 2026 10th Anniversary Global Challenge.

The E Ink Innovation Prize

The E Ink Innovation Prize is open to solutions that address problems of global importance in any of Solve’s areas of impact, with particular interest in sustainability, education, or intercultural understanding. The prize is funded by E Ink, a corporation that advances healthy solutions and a sustainable future using ultra-low power, daylight readable displays. $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team selected for the 2026 10th Anniversary Global Challenge. E Ink may also opt to provide materials and technical support to its prize recipients if they plan to use ePaper materials.

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize

The Citizens Workforce Innovation Prize seeks to accelerate the development of solutions that will prepare people for today’s opportunities and the workplace of future, advance new ways of working, and drive economic impact within communities. Funded by Citizens, the prize furthers the company’s commitment to helping communities meet today’s demands while positioning themselves well for the future. A $100,000 prize will be awarded to at least one US-based Solver team selected for the 10th Anniversary Global Challenge.

The Collegium Prize for Innovation

The Collegium Prize for Innovation is open to scale-ready solutions using innovative technology to improve mental health and/or transform mental health care and services for communities around the world. The prize is made possible by Collegium, a Boston-area pharmaceutical company passionate about improving the health and well-being of the communities where they live and work, and making an impact beyond their portfolio of medicines. $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team selected for the 2026 10th Anniversary Global Challenge. Collegium is the proud MIT Solve Global Health Anchor Supporter.

The Heifer Prize for Smallholder Agricultural Transformation

The Heifer Prize for Smallholder Agricultural Transformation seeks solutions that support smallholder farmers to grow and scale their agribusinesses and protect them from the adverse effects of climate change. The prize is funded by Heifer International, an international development organization on a mission to end hunger and poverty while caring for the earth. A $100,000 prize will be awarded to one scale-ready team selected for Solve’s 10th Anniversary Global Challenge.

The Philips Foundation Social Impact Award

The Philips Foundation Social Impact Award is open to scalable solutions that improve access to quality healthcare in maternal and child health and cardiovascular disease for underserved communities. The award reflects Philips Foundation's mission to enable equitable healthcare access globally through meaningful innovation, strategic partnerships, and catalytic funding. $100,000 will be awarded to one scale-ready solution selected for the 2026 10th Anniversary Global Challenge. 

The Schmidt Marine Wavemaker's Prize

The Schmidt Marine Wavemaker's Prize is open to scale-ready solutions that use innovative marine technology to restore and protect the health of the world's oceans. The prize is funded by Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, a program of the Schmidt Family Foundation which helps move promising marine technology ideas toward economic sustainability and global impact. Up to $100,000 will be awarded to one team selected for MIT Solve's 10th Anniversary Global Challenge.

The Seeding the Future Prize for Climate-Positive and Equitable Food Systems

The Climate-Positive and Equitable Food Systems Prize, sponsored by the Seeding the Future Van Lengerich Foundation, recognizes high-impact innovations that advance equitable, resilient, and climate-positive food systems worldwide. The Seeding the Future Foundation is a nonprofit organization that seeds and supports scalable, high-impact initiatives that advance sustainable food systems and equitable access to safe, nutritious, and trusted food globally. A prize of $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team selected for MIT Solve's 10th Anniversary Global Challenge.