
Solve at MIT 2019
Annual Flagship MeetingSolve at MIT 2019
Watch all the videos from Solve at MIT 2019 on our YouTube channel.
Solve at MIT is the annual gathering of Solve’s global community of social impact leaders. Over the course of three days, you’ll meet more than 500 world-class leaders in the social impact space, including representatives from Solve Members such as Starbucks, Nike, HP, Capital One, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Save the Children. You’ll also connect with the social entrepreneurs behind cutting-edge solutions to the world’s biggest problems. Solve at MIT is three inspiring days of partnerships, networking, and connections—all on the MIT campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts on May 12-14.
If you’re interested in attending, find out how you can become a Member of Solve.
The world has made great strides over the last decade in reducing extreme poverty and expanding access to education and health care for millions, yet income inequality continues to increase between and within countries. A person’s zip code, gender, race, and nationality—rather than their talents—overly determine their opportunities. Technology holds great potential to speed progress; how can we design and deploy tech to reduce global inequality gaps—not exacerbate them?
Featured Speakers

L. Rafael Reif

Luis Alberto Moreno

Alaa Murabit

Mark Reuss

Stephanie Mehta
Session Speakers

Julia Kumari Drapkin
Purvi Shah
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Fohla Mouftaou

Joichi "Joi" Ito

Lyla June

Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Hosted by APCO Worldwide
Today’s uncertain business environment causes most companies to move too cautiously or—worse yet—not move at all. Companies that thrive today are insatiably curious and bold. They are curious, inclusive, and never stand still. They’re agile, but in a new way.
Drawing from new cutting-edge research, APCO Worldwide, majority women-owned and independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy, will lead a discussion around the drivers of organizational agility. Join us to examine the formula for building a purpose-driven culture within an organization, discuss common pitfalls and missed opportunities, and learn where organizations of all sectors and sizes should focus their time and effort. Participants will leave with practical steps to creating strong purpose and culture within innovative new ventures.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Hosted by MIT Solve
Long before invention, design, innovation, and iteration were mainstream concepts, indigenous communities valued and practiced these beliefs. Practical inventions—such as Iroquois bunk bed structures, the Mi’kmaq toboggan for transport, Inuit insulated parkas, or applying raw bitumen to waterproof the tarpaulins of the Chumash—all demonstrate an advanced knowledge of science, technology, and innovation. Join us to hear from indigenous leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship, and discuss how to further foster ingenuity and inclusive, human-centered technology for future generations.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Hosted by Fundación Banco Popular
After more than a decade of economic depression, Puerto Rico was further devastated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Aware of the years of tough recuperation ahead and the resiliency needed to succeed, Fundación Banco Popular and Hispanic Federation teamed up to launch the Puerto Rico Big Ideas Challenge to push change makers to create socially innovative solutions to the island’s most pressing problems. In this dinner, the three Challenge finalists will present their innovative work: creating new agricultural seed stocks, building biodigesters for waste management, and establishing a community lab to improve coastal ecosystems in preparation for future storms. We’ll brainstorm ways to make these projects thrive and discuss how we can create additional opportunities to re-imagine the future and build resilient communities around the world.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Increasing women’s participation in business, politics, and peacebuilding yields stronger and more durable results. However, despite this evidence, girls and women continue to be marginalized and excluded from financial and political systems around the world—in developed and developing countries alike. To help close this gap, how can women entrepreneurs, and innovations designed for women, drive real change around the world?
Featured Speakers

Marjorie Yang
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Neela Montgomery
Session Speakers

Linda Henry

Sona Shah

Sarah Krasley

Noëlla Coursaris Musunka

Priya Lakhani

Jade Hameister

Namya Mahajan

Camille Caron

Anna Bertmar Khan

Hildreth England
In this interactive and action-driven session, our Solver and Fellow teams will showcase the progress they have made since being selected at Solve Challenge Finals and through the Indigenous Communities Fellowship. During this session, participants will collaborate with fellow experts to provide advice and brainstorm opportunities for improvement, partnership, and investment to advance these innovative solutions to the 2018 Challenges:
- Coastal Communities
- Frontlines of Health
- Teachers & Educators
- Work of the Future
Session Speakers

Sanjay Sarma

Hari Balasubramanian

Tina George
Kick off the afternoon by hearing from a panel of cross-sector experts on the current state of the 2018 Challenges, progress made to date, and what gaps still need to be filled. Participants will then continue morning conversations or meet Solver and Fellow teams from a different Challenge. Participants will exchange knowledge and resources needed to advance solutions to the 2018 Challenges:
- Coastal Communities
- Frontlines of Health
- Teachers & Educators
- Work of the Future
Session Speakers

Elisabeth B. Reynolds

Pape Gaye

Tina George

Nina Huntemann

S. Atyia Martin

Carolina Bastidas

Angela Gichaga

Marcus Winter

Andrew Cunningham

Marijke Wijnroks

Terence Mauri

David Abel

Sarah King
Tate Ryan-Mosley
Every day, the world generates 2.5 quintillion bytes of new data. That’s equivalent to 250 million human brains, when counted in neurons! AI, machine learning, the blockchain, and augmented or virtual reality enable us to analyze, use, and visualize data—helping to cure diseases, fight climate change, and more. These technologies also disrupt jobs and economies, and raise ethical questions both corporations and lawmakers have yet to answer. How can we shift the focus of data efforts to serve those who could benefit the most?
Featured Speakers

Tristan Harris
Session Speakers

Jakob Way

Ram Dhan Yadav Katamaraja

Deanna MacDonald

Rajesh Anandan

Patrisse Vasek

Betelhem Dessie

Fengmin Gong

Davina Durgana

Jennifer Strong

Deb Roy
Hosted by Erika & Colin Angle
Challenges associated with the environment continue to inspire and promote new ways of thinking and innovating to mitigate climate crises. To prevent the effects of climate change from further impacting global communities and their livelihood, we must look to harness technology to drive meaningful and lasting solutions. Join us in a dynamic dinner conversation to discuss the current technological landscape and opportunities to build new systems to address our global environmental challenges.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Hosted by Compassion International
The first few years of life are a crucial window for a child’s brain development. If young children aren’t well nurtured, they could earn one-quarter less over their career, increasing global inequality. To ensure all children have bright futures, Solve’s Early Childhood Development Challenge asks, how can every child under five develop the critical learning and cognitive skills they need to reach their full potential? Join this invite-only dinner hosted by Compassion International to learn about relevant Solver solutions and discuss the possibilities of early childhood development innovation.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Hosted by H.S.H. the Prince Henri d’Arenberg, Founder & Chairman, be.Source, a private foundation under Belgian law
How cities are planned, built, and inhabited indelibly defines the lives of residents, and unhealthy cities and slums expose residents to serious risks to their wellbeing. Aging populations are especially dependent on urban design and technology. As we face unprecedented cultural and environmental shifts, what can healthy cities do to help their most vulnerable residents foster connectivity and meaning? Our dinner conversation will cover how cities can leverage technology, transit, public services, and healthcare access to better support their elderly populations—and, in addressing urban health risks, build cities that make people of all ages and abilities healthier and happier.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
Hosted by Linda Henry
Enabling today’s workforce with the right tools and skills, and our teachers with the right resources remains a critical element in bolstering the growth of our economy and mitigating inequality. Yet our workforce and educators are too often undervalued, inadequately trained, and poorly supported. To ensure we upskill, reskill, and retrain our workforce and enhance the quality education, we must seek new innovative techniques and technological solutions. Join this dinner discussion to learn about relevant Solver solutions and examine how technology can amplify the effectiveness of today’s workers and educators around the world.
*Space is limited. Pre-registration is required.
There are over 60 million refugees and displaced persons around the world, and many more economic migrants. Despite anti-immigration sentiments across the US, Europe, and many other parts of the world, refugees and immigrants can be a tremendous source of economic growth—if allowed access to opportunity. In the US, 43 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded or co-founded by immigrants or the children of immigrants, and overall, refugees and immigrants contribute more in taxes than their cost to governments. How can we best support and invest in refugees and immigrants, enabling them to help communities and economies thrive?
Session Speakers

Elizabeth Roscoe
Hala Hanna

Admir Masic

Rachel Micah-Jones

Franklin Shaffer

Robert Hakiza

Aziz Alghunaim

Tenzin Seldon

Eveline Buchatskiy

Guadalupe Gonzalez
Join cross-sector leaders for a dive into Solve’s 2019 Global Challenges. Led by members of Solve’s Challenge Leadership Groups, this workshop will feature moderated, interactive discussions on Challenge themes. Participants will brainstorm specific action points to advance solutions to various dimensions of each of the 2019 Challenges:
- Circular Economy
- Community-Driven Innovation
- Early Childhood Development
- Healthy Cities
Session Speakers

Matt Haggman

Ceasar L. McDowell
Lewis Akenji

Danielle Joseph

Donald F. Schwarz

Ernest Madu

Lesley Patricia Holst

Rosemarie T. Truglio
Chinny Ogunro

Laura Schulz

Shirley Leung

Karen Hao
Emma Foehringer Merchant

Venan Sondo

Jenny Anderson

Stacey Moraa Ondimu
This session is a chance for MIT undergraduate and graduate students and Solve at
MIT attendees to meet with Solve Indigenous Communities Fellows to learn more
about their projects.
In 1865, Jules Verne imagined a space gun that could shoot and land three people on the moon—a feat that would have seemed impossible at a time before aircrafts. Yet just a little more than 100 years later, thanks to pioneering research at MIT, Apollo 11 landed and two men moonwalked. For centuries, science fiction writers and storytellers have imagined the future of technology and society—ranging from dystopian degeneration to utopian paradise. But the futuristic innovations we envisioned in the 2000s—flying cars, brain implants, and genetically engineered babies—are no longer decades away and even might be here right now. How can we prepare ourselves for the future we’re fast creating, and how can we ensure it will be more inclusive, equal, and prosperous for all?
Featured Speakers

Wendy Schmidt
Session Speakers

Gideon Lichfield

Olivier Ceberio

Hila Azadzoy

Ayah Bdeir

Max Tegmark

Carlo Ratti
Marina Gorbis

Karen Lord

Elizabeth Bear

Andrew Freedman

Natalya Bailey
Featured Speakers

L. Rafael Reif
President
Luis Alberto Moreno
President
Alaa Murabit
UN High-Level Commissioner: Health Employment & Economic Growth; UN SDG Global Advocate
Mark Reuss
President
Stephanie Mehta
Editor-in-chief
Marjorie Yang
Chairman-responsive.jpeg)
Neela Montgomery
Chief Executive Officer
Tristan Harris
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Wendy Schmidt
PresidentSpeakers

Julia Kumari Drapkin
CEO, Founder, Team LeadPurvi Shah
Director of StoryWeaver-responsive.jpg)
Fohla Mouftaou
Managing Director
Joichi "Joi" Ito
Director of the MIT Media Lab, Professor of the Practice of Media Arts and Sciences
Lyla June
Poet, Musician, Human Ecologist, Public Speaker, Community Organizer
Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Co-Founder and CEO
Linda Henry
Managing Director
Sona Shah
CEO and Co-Founder
Sarah Krasley
CEO
Noëlla Coursaris Musunka
Founder and Director
Priya Lakhani
Founder and CEO
Jade Hameister
Polar Explorer
Namya Mahajan
Managing Director
Camille Caron
Director Education & Sustainability, 3D Print
Anna Bertmar Khan
Acting Director, Program
Hildreth England
Assistant Director
Jakob Way
CEO
Ram Dhan Yadav Katamaraja
Founder & CEO
Deanna MacDonald
CEO
Rajesh Anandan
CEO
Patrisse Vasek
Undergraduate - Bachelor's Degree in Natural Sciences
Betelhem Dessie
Project Manager, iCog - Anyone Can Code & Project Advisor, Solve IT!
Fengmin Gong
Head of Didi Labs North America & Vice President of Security Strategy
Davina Durgana
Senior Statistician, Walk Free Foundation, an initiative of Minderoo Foundation
Jennifer Strong
Reporter
Deb Roy
Professor of Media Arts & Sciences, MIT Media Lab
Elizabeth Roscoe
Executive DirectorHala Hanna
Executive Director
Admir Masic
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Rachel Micah-Jones
Executive Director
Franklin Shaffer
President and CEO
Robert Hakiza
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Aziz Alghunaim
Co-founder
Tenzin Seldon
Founder
Eveline Buchatskiy
Managing Partner
Guadalupe Gonzalez
Journalist
Gideon Lichfield
Editor in Chief
Olivier Ceberio
COO
Hila Azadzoy
Managing Director, Global Health, Ada; Co-founder, Kiron.ngo
Ayah Bdeir
Founder & CEO
Max Tegmark
Professor
Carlo Ratti
Director, MIT SENSEable Cities LabMarina Gorbis
Executive Director
Karen Lord
Writer
Elizabeth Bear
Writer
Andrew Freedman
Science Editor
Natalya Bailey
CEO and Co-founder
Sanjay Sarma
Vice President for Open Learning
Hari Balasubramanian
Managing Director
Tina George
Global Co-Lead, Delivery Systems, Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice
Elisabeth B. Reynolds
Executive Director
Pape Gaye
President & CEO
Tina George
Global Co-Lead, Delivery Systems, Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice
Nina Huntemann
Director of Academics and Research
S. Atyia Martin
CEO & Founder
Carolina Bastidas
Research Scientist
Angela Gichaga
CEO
Marcus Winter
Head of Division, Reinsurance Development
Andrew Cunningham
Global Advisor, Education
Marijke Wijnroks
Chief of Staff
Terence Mauri
Founder
David Abel
Reporter
Sarah King
DirectorTate Ryan-Mosley
Editorial Research Manager
Matt Haggman
Former Miami Director
Ceasar L. McDowell
Professor of the Practice, Civic Design; Associate Department HeadLewis Akenji
Managing Director
Danielle Joseph
Investor
Donald F. Schwarz
Senior Vice President, Program
Ernest Madu
Chairman and Founder
Lesley Patricia Holst
Initiatives Lead, Learning through Play in Early Childhood
Rosemarie T. Truglio
Senior Vice President, Curriculum and ContentChinny Ogunro
Managing Director
Laura Schulz
Professor of Cognitive Science
Shirley Leung
Interim Editorial Page Editor
Karen Hao
Artificial Intelligence ReporterEmma Foehringer Merchant
Staff Writer
Venan Sondo
Co-Founder and Managing Director
Jenny Anderson
Senior Reporter