MIT Solve 2026 10th Anniversary Global Challenge for emerging Leaders worldwide.

Application Deadline

Application Deadline: May 21, 2026 12:00pm EDT

Challenge Description

Applications are now open for the 2026 MIT Solve Global Challenge. For the 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, MIT Solve is 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. MIT Solve is interested in innovations that put people first, and pair technological ingenuity with trust and durable economics.

The challenge is particularly seeking innovations that advance:

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

Eligibility Requirements

• Your solution is up and running in one or more communities
• You have a consistent model
• You’re ready to expand
• If for-profit: you’ve raised at least seed funding
• If nonprofit: you have steady funding or donors

Growth and Scale Stage

Growth stage means:

• Your solution is up and running in one or more communities
• You have a consistent model
• You’re ready to expand
• If for-profit: you’ve raised at least seed funding
• If nonprofit: you have steady funding or donors

Scale stage means:

• Your solution operates in many communities or countries
• You’re focused on growing efficiently
• If for-profit: you’ve likely raised Series A funding or beyond

Prizes

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. 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. $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team selected for the 2026 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, or from Solve’s existing portfolio of alumni teams.

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. A $100,000 prize will be awarded to at least one US-based Solver team selected for the 10th Anniversary Global Challenge, or from Solve’s existing portfolio of alumni teams.

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. One selected Solver team from the incoming 2026 class or from Solve’s alumni portfolio will be awarded $100,000.

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. A prize of $100,000 will be awarded to one Solver team selected for MIT Solve’s 10th Anniversary Global Challenge.