
Solve Challenge Finals 2020
Virtual Pitch EventSolve Challenge Finals 2020
Virtual Solve Challenge Finals is the premier social impact pitch event. During this event, finalists in our 2020 Global Challenges presented their solutions to 400+ leaders from the global Solve community.
The most promising 35 finalists were selected to form the 2020 Solver Class, accessing more than 2 million in prize funding and joining the Solve community to build partnerships with cross-sector organizations—including Members such as Nike, Capital One, and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
"During the event, we met new partners to collaborate with, from Education Ministers wishing to deploy AI technology in their schools, to investors and contacts in harder to reach communities."
—Priya Lakhani, Founder and CEO of Solver Century Tech
What you can expect:
Short, engaging pitches from diverse innovators will expose you to the most promising tech-based solutions to global challenges—with over $2 million in prize funding to help selected Solver teams scale.
Interactive, issues-focused workshops and breakout sessions with cross-sector leaders will help inspire your personal and organizational social impact goals.
Intentional networking opportunities to connect with Solve Members will shed light on how they are addressing the “new normal” during the Covid-19 crisis
Not yet a Member?
If you're interested in attending this premier social impact event—and joining the Solve community to partner with innovators who are solving Global Challenges—find out how you can become a Member of Solve.
Looking for ways to make your virtual events more engaging? Check out Solve’s tips to host an engaging virtual event.
Join us to kick off the day with opening remarks, a Solver story of impact, and a fireside chat between Yetneberesh Nigussie, global disability rights activist, and Alex Amouyel, Executive Director of MIT Solve, on how we can use this moment to build a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Session Speakers
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Alex Amouyel

Yetneberesh Nigussie
From the Main Stage, you will hear one minute pitches by the 15 finalist solutions for the Good Jobs & Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Maternal & Newborn Health Challenges. Join for inspiration and to hear the latest trends.
Session Speakers

Ruchit Nagar

Conor Smith
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Razin Mustafiz

Alia Rasoully
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Marvin Tumbo

Dewan Ahmad Fawzul Kabir Choudhury

Meghan McCormick

Emilian Popa

Abdulwaheed Alayande

Sebastian Groh

Iva Gumnishka
Eyitayo Ogunmola
Tomas Uribe

Sahar Jamal

Antonio Nuno

Debbie Teodorescu

Hanae Bezad

Albina Poljak

Lauren Payne

Charles Onu

Prosper Ahimbisibwe

Jemimah Muthoni Kariuki

RUTH MWAURA

Chidi Okpala

Soheil Ghiasi

Luisa Bonin
Ratul Narain

Jon Lexa

Carrie Murchison
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Digital and entrepreneurial skills for all.
Session Speakers

Conor Smith

Meghan McCormick

Sebastian Groh
Tomas Uribe

Nicolas Serrano
Anna Tunkel

Laura Gaviria Halaby

James Danahy
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Services for micro and small businesses.
Session Speakers

Philip Gaskin

Angela Jackson

Philip Reuchlin
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Razin Mustafiz

Iva Gumnishka

Hanae Bezad

Chidi Okpala

Luisa Bonin
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Better jobs, job matching, and income generation pathways.
Session Speakers
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Marvin Tumbo
Eyitayo Ogunmola

Antonio Nuno

Jon Lexa

Carrie Murchison

Gwyneth Gaul

Bilha Ndirangu

Megan McCarthy
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Diagnostics and services for pregnant women.
Session Speakers

Emilian Popa

Abdulwaheed Alayande

Prosper Ahimbisibwe

Jemimah Muthoni Kariuki

Soheil Ghiasi
Kevin Przybocki
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Oren Oz
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Newborn-centered care.
Session Speakers

Ruchit Nagar

David Sarley

Dewan Ahmad Fawzul Kabir Choudhury

Sahar Jamal

Charles Onu
Ratul Narain
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Renuka Gadde
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Gynecological, mental, and primary healthcare for women.
Session Speakers

Alia Rasoully

Debbie Teodorescu

Albina Poljak

Lauren Payne

RUTH MWAURA

Joia Crear Perry

Ako Egbe Manna Eneke

Toyin Ojora Saraki
From the Main Stage, you will hear one minute pitches by the 15 finalist solutions for the Learning for Girls & Women and Sustainable Food Systems Challenges. Join for inspiration and to hear the latest trends.
Session Speakers

Linda Kamau

Erin Fitzgerald

Tariq Fancy

Joy Wojiambo

Ady Beitler

Farshid Pahlevani

Geeta Mehta (Reviewer Account)

Rudayna Abdo

DEBORAH DE MARI

Mark Lim

Azellia Alma Shafira
Tracy Kimathi

Martha Lidia Oxi Chuy

Saar Safra

Cecilia Blasco

Sandhya Sriram

Natalja Rodionova

Celina Lee

Lalit Gautam

Sucheta Baliga

Alexia Akbay

Monika Katkute

Oyindamola Adesina

Pamir Yanık

Yehuda Elram

Talash Huijbers

Ashu Sikri

Ray Nathan

Carmen Nibigira

Maharshi Vaishnav
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Enrollment and accreditation.
Session Speakers

Anjali Sastry

June Sugiyama

Lucy Lake OBE

Linda Kamau

Geeta Mehta (Reviewer Account)

Oyindamola Adesina

Carmen Nibigira

Maharshi Vaishnav
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Connectivity and digital access.
Session Speakers

Erin Fitzgerald

Tariq Fancy

Rudayna Abdo

Martha Lidia Oxi Chuy

Sucheta Baliga

Geoff Davis
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Rania Khalaf
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Shanti Jagannathan
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Platforms for learning and mentorship.
Session Speakers

Joy Wojiambo

DEBORAH DE MARI

Natalja Rodionova

Celina Lee

Monika Katkute

Regina Honu
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Adam Simpson

Cleopatra Kambugu
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Healthy and low-waste diets.
Session Speakers

Hari Balasubramanian

Ady Beitler

Mark Lim

Cecilia Blasco

Pamir Yanık

Ray Nathan

Rajashekar (Raj) Seelam
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Efficient and equitable agriculture.
Session Speakers

Farshid Pahlevani

Saar Safra

Talash Huijbers

Ashu Sikri
Lalit Gautam

Amos Winter

Ismahane Elouafi
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Low-impact protein.
Session Speakers

Azellia Alma Shafira
Tracy Kimathi

Sandhya Sriram

Alexia Akbay

Yehuda Elram

Benedetto Marelli

Bruno Brasil
From the Main Stage, you will hear one minute pitches by the 15 finalist solutions for the Health Security & Pandemics Challenge and the Indigenous Communities Fellowship. Join for inspiration and to hear the latest trends.
Session Speakers

Michael Lenihan

Bryan Deans

Aditya Sharma

Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz

Keolu Fox
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Bramuel Mwalo

Tobi Nagel

Tsitsi Sifiyali

Amani Salim

Eva Burk

Satish Cherukumalli

Richelle Thomas
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Derrick J. Slick

Chelsey Luger

Matthew Wilson

Elizabeth Rule

Chase Comes At Night

Benjamin Richard Wang

Valter Cumbi

Jacob Scott

Mariah Gladstone

Michael Running Wolf

Tiana Henderson
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Kimberly Robertson

Austin Serio

Alexandra Grigore

Sheila Kioko

Patipat Susumpow

Ndiko Mwaura
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Disease detection, mapping, and recovery.
Session Speakers

Marijke Wijnroks

Michael Lenihan

Amani Salim

Satish Cherukumalli

Patipat Susumpow
Aditya Sharma

Douglas Hansen-Luke

Julius O. Akinyemi
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Clinical supply chain and healthcare worker tools and protection
Session Speakers

Mehjabin Tishan Mahfuz
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Bramuel Mwalo

Benjamin Richard Wang

Jacob Scott

Sheila Kioko

Melissa Menke
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Suzanne Miller
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: vaccines, research, and patient services.
Session Speakers

Jonathan Jackson

Tobi Nagel

Tsitsi Sifiyali

Valter Cumbi

Alexandra Grigore

Ndiko Mwaura
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Narges Baniasadi
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Tools for Indigenous learning.
Session Speakers

Megan Smith

Keolu Fox

Elizabeth Rule

Michael Running Wolf

Tiana Henderson

Jacob Moore

Krisha Zane
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Food, water, and a sustainable future.
Session Speakers

Bryan Deans

Eva Burk
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Derrick J. Slick

Matthew Wilson

Mariah Gladstone
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Larry Susskind
Dive deeper into key themes and solutions with Challenge Judges & Finalists working on: Indigenous wellness.
Session Speakers

Richelle Thomas

Chelsey Luger
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Kimberly Robertson

Austin Serio

Susan Alzner

Dana Comes At Night
From the main stage, a powerful presentation from Dr. Phillip Atiba Goff on addressing the racism behind police violence. Plus a preview of Solve's 2021 Global Challenge working themes, which you will have a chance to help shape later today.
Join Solve Members for a facilitated discussion around Solve’s 2021 Economic Prosperity working theme. We’ll get to know others in the Solve community working in this space, share examples of what’s effective and what’s needed, and build the start of a year-long Challenge coalition.
Solve believes that everybody should have a place at the problem-solving table, including (and especially) young people. If we want to build a more inclusive, equal, and sustainable tomorrow, we must inspire, guide, and support the next generation to become problem-solvers and social innovators today. To that end, Solve will bring together young people under 24 years old, as well as education providers and other cross-sector leaders and organizations, to design, launch, and run a global Youth program. This session is a facilitated community discussion to start building this program.
Session Speakers

Carrie Morgridge

Bruna Braga

Saachi Dalal
Learn how to use old tools, in new ways to better finance and cutting-edge impact innovators, and scale solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
Session Speakers

Geoff Davis
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Casey van der Stricht

Renée Vassilos
Join Solve Members for a facilitated discussion around Solve’s 2021 Learning working theme. We’ll get to know others in the Solve community working in this space, share examples of what’s effective and what’s needed, and build the start of a year-long Challenge coalition.
Join Solve Members for a facilitated discussion around Solve’s 2021 Health working theme. We’ll get to know others in the Solve community working in this space, share examples of what’s effective and what’s needed, and build the start of a year-long Challenge coalition.
Join Solve Members for a facilitated discussion around Solve’s 2021 Sustainability working theme. We’ll get to know others in the Solve community working in this space, share examples of what’s effective and what’s needed, and build the start of a year-long Challenge coalition.
Join Solve Members for a facilitated discussion around Solve’s 2021 US Interior working theme. We’ll get to know others in the Solve community working in this space, share examples of what’s effective and needed, and build the start of a year-long Challenge coalition.
Witness the exciting reveal of our 2020 Solver teams, the announcement of more than $2 million in prize funding, and an inspiring program of speakers and musical performances, including:
- A fireside chat between Sal Khan, Founder & CEO of Khan Academy, and Anya Kamenetz, NPR Education Correspondent, on the future of learning and social entrepreneurship
- A future-forward discussion on the remote workforce with Harry Moseley, Global Chief Information Officer of Zoom, and Solver Jessica Hubley, Co-Founder and CEO of Annie Cannons
- A panel on leveraging technology to promote inclusion and economic mobility with Lady Mariéme Jamme, founder of iamtheCODE, and Dalila Wilson-Scott, SVP, Community Impact, Comcast Corporation & President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation
- A presentation from Phillip Atiba Goff, Co-Founder and CEO of the Center for Policing Equity, on how data science can help measure bias in policing and combat racist systems
- Plus exclusive musical performances by artist, drummer, and gender liberation activist Madame Gandhi.
Featured Speakers

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Phillip Atiba Goff
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Madame Gandhi

Harry D. Moseley

Sal Khan

Dalila Wilson-Scott
Session Speakers
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Alex Amouyel

Sanjay Sarma

June Sugiyama

Carlos Moedas

Joseph Deitch

Philip Reuchlin

James Danahy

Douglas Hansen-Luke
Jessica Hubley
Elizabeth McGovern
Nassar Al Mubarak

Julie Doleman

Mariéme Jamme
