On May 3, during its annual flagship event Solve at MIT, MIT Solve launched a new program called Solv[ED], geared toward young innovators to help them become problem solvers and learn about social entrepreneurship. 

Starting in June, Solv[ED] will feature a variety of workshops and learning sessions and provide resources that are designed to support young people aged 24 and under with the skills needed to make an impact on their communities and the world. Solv[ED] will host its first annual Youth Innovation Challenge this September and invite young people to submit and pitch solutions to solve problems worldwide. 

Via events throughout the year, young problem-solvers will also be able to network with one another, as well as the broader Solv[ED] community through its open innovation platform, to brainstorm ideas and advance their solutions and enterprises.

“There is no one path through Solv[ED]’s offerings. We’re creating a program for young people to design their own social impact journeys,” says Alex Amouyel, executive director of Solve. “We can’t do this alone. That is why we are inviting youth organizations, education providers, and other cross-sector leaders to join us and support young problem-solvers all over the world.”

Emma Yang, the youngest MIT Solver and founder of Timeless, a startup that empowers Alzheimer’s patients to stay engaged and connected to their loved ones, is excited about the launch of Solv[ED] and believes that it will generate a large community of youth looking to work together to make change.

“Solv[ED] will give young people the opportunity to learn about and practice skills for social entrepreneurship. I’m especially excited about the ways that it’ll do this while bringing young people from around the world together,” Yang says.

In addition to young innovators, Solv[ED]’s community gathers member organizations looking to support these youth, such as Anant National University, Antropia ESSEC, Firefly Innovations at City University of New York, Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey, Learn with Leaders, T.A. Pai Management Institute, Universidad de los Andes, and Universidad Privada Peruano Alemana. 

Solv[ED] partners include the Morgridge Family Foundation, the Rieschel Foundation, and the Pozen Social Innovation Prize. 

MIT students  can sign up for the Solv[ED] newsletter for more updates, and organizations that support youth innovation can become Solv[ED] Members.