Announcing Virtual Solve Challenge Finals on September 29 to Select 2020 Solver Teams and Share Over $2 Million in Prize Funding

Dear Solve Community, 

With over $2 million in funding available to Solver teams this year, we’re thrilled to announce that we received over 2,600 solutions from 135 countries to Solve’s 2020 Global Challenges:

• Health Security & Pandemics

• Good Jobs & Inclusive Entrepreneurship

• Learning for Girls & Women

• Sustainable Food Systems

• Maternal & Newborn Health

This is a big increase compared to 2019’s applications, and we are delighted to see a great diversity of applications, with over 37 percent coming from sub-Saharan Africa, 16 percent from Asia, 11 percent from Latin America and the Caribbean, and four percent from the Middle East and North Africa. 

Solve’s reviewers and judges are now working to shortlist 75 finalists who will be announced in August, and you will have an opportunity to vote on your favorite solutions. These finalists will then pitch their solutions virtually at Solve Challenge Finals on September 29. Out of the finalists, 30-35 of the most promising solutions will be selected as Solver teams and share over $2 million in prize funding provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gulbenkian Foundation, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, General Motors, Vodafone Americas Foundation, and many additional Solve partners.

Solve Challenge Finals will be virtual this year—and we’d love to see you there. This exciting live pitch event will showcase the finalists in our Global Challenges, select the 2020 Solver Class, and bring together Solve’s cross-sector community through interactive virtual workshops and networking.

Here’s how you can get involved: 

• Join Solve as a Member to drive impact on complex Global Challenges, support Solver teams, connect with like-minded leaders, and inspire your community. Members also have full access to Solve’s flagship events, including Solve Challenge Finals. 

• Support current and future Solver teams through prize funding, or make a tax-deductible donation to Solve Innovation Future.

• If you can partner with us in any other way, please let us know here. 

Looking for ways to make your virtual events more engaging? Check out Solve’s tips to host an engaging virtual event.

Photo: Joe Jenkins / MIT Solve