FAQ

Verizon:

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) powers and empowers how its millions of customers live, work and play, delivering on their demand for mobility, reliable network connectivity and security. Given our core business, we have a role to play in helping communities be more resilient. Through our social impact programs, Verizon leverages a multifaceted approach that nurtures the development of innovative tech solutions and empowers vulnerable communities to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

MIT Solve:

Solve is an initiative of MIT. Solving is core to what we do. We believe that to build a better future for all, we need new voices and ideas. We launch open calls for brilliant and bold tech-based solutions that solve big problems from anyone, anywhere in the world. To date, 280 million lives have been reached. Selected innovators get the backing of MIT and our community of supporters to scale their impact and drive lasting change.

Please refer to the Prize Details tab for more information.

Sourcing Solutions: Anyone who meets the criteria above can participate in this Prize and submit a solution.

Selecting Solutions: Once the submission deadline passes, judging begins. After an initial screening and review by MIT Solve, Verizon, and community reviewers, a selected set of solutions will move forward as finalists. These finalists will be invited to pitch their solutions during a virtual interview day with the judges and participate in a technical vetting interview. After final scoring, the judges, MIT Solve, and Verizon will select 4 winning solutions.

Supporting Solutions: Verizon will award a total prize pool of $1,000,000 and winning solutions will be invited to participate in a winner announcement event in September.

April 8: Prize launches

June 13: Prize closes

June - July: MIT Solve, Verizon, and external reviewers screen and review solutions

Late July: Finalists are selected

Early August: Finalist teams pitch and interview with Prize Judges

Fall 2025: Winner Announcement

Some benefits of being selected for the 2025 Verizon Disaster Resilience Prize include:

• Sharing in a $1,000,000 prize pool, divided evenly among four Prize winners

• Participating in an on stage winner announcement in mid-late September

• The potential to integrate into Verizon’s existing infrastructure and programs

Please refer to the Judging Criteria tab.

We discourage using ChatGPT or other generative AI chatbots to write your application for you. Your application will sound impersonal or generic to reviewers, and this can strongly disadvantage your application in our selection process. We want to hear your passion for and perspective on your solution!

However, ChatGPT and other generative AI chatbots may be able to assist you with initial drafts for some application questions. If you do use GenAI tools to assist in your writing, you must check the content and ensure that it accurately reflects the current status of your solution. Fabricated or misleading information in your application may lead to the removal of your solution.