Power the next generation of MIT social innovators
The IDEAS Social Innovation Challenge is MIT’s platform for early-stage social entrepreneurship, where students turn ideas into impact through community-centered design, mentorship, and funding.
Partner with MIT IDEAS
Join a community of forward-thinking organizations supporting the next generation of social innovators
For Companies
Help solve problems at scale
When you support IDEAS, you’re not just funding student projects—you’re investing in solutions that can reach millions. These students are building technologies and systems that tackle root causes, not just symptoms.
- Connect with teams solving problems you care about
- See innovations before they change the world
- Support MIT’s mission to make the world better
For Individual Champions
Fund students motivated by social impact
IDEAS students are building solutions alongside communities who have been overlooked by traditional systems. Your support helps them push through the hard parts—the prototypes, the field testing, the long nights figuring out how to actually make sustainable change.
- Directly fund breakthrough solutions
- Mentor students tackling problems you understand
- Be part of solutions that outlast any one organization
For Foundations & Family Offices
Invest in solutions that scale
IDEAS teams don’t just build products—they build systems. They understand that lasting change requires solutions that work for communities, not just individuals. Your investment helps them test what works, iterate on what doesn’t, and create impact that multiplies.
- Fund proven approaches to complex problems
- Support work that measures real impact
- Connect with a community committed to justice
Grounded in mens et manus — mind and hand
At MIT, we believe the best solutions come from understanding problems deeply and building things that actually work. IDEAS students don’t just imagine a better world—they build it.
Innovation in Action
Selected teams apply rigorous research methodologies to address complex global challenges, translating academic insights into real-world solutions through evidence-based innovation.
Biobot Analytics
Epidemiology Data & Analysis
Pioneered wastewater epidemiology through rigorous field research and data analysis. Developed the first COVID-19 wastewater monitoring system, recognized by Time Magazine’s Best Inventions 2022.
Takachar
Applied Engineering
Engineered portable biomass conversion technology addressing agricultural waste and rural energy access. Applied systems thinking to create scalable climate solutions for developing regions.
Forma Systems
Materials Science
Developed novel low-carbon concrete alternatives through materials science research. Integrated lifecycle analysis with construction industry partnerships for sustainable building solutions.
How IDEAS Works
A proven four-step process that transforms ideas into real-world impact
Discover & Define
Teams identify social challenges and define their approach through community engagement and research.
Prototype & Test
Build and iterate on solutions with user feedback, technical validation, and mentor guidance.
Apply & Pitch
Present solutions to expert judges and compete for funding to scale impact initiatives.
Launch & Learn
Deploy solutions alongside community partners while measuring impact and refining approaches.
Two Decades of Change
Since 2001, IDEAS has supported students who want to build a better world. These numbers represent real solutions reaching real people.
1,200
Teams Participated
Since 2001
63
Countries Represented
Global reach
276
Grant Recipients
Funded innovations
“IDEAS helped us expand our lens and think more deeply about the people behind the problem we’re trying to solve.”
David Brown MBA ’25
Helix Carbon
Supported by Organizations That Care
Join a distinguished group of sponsors supporting social innovation at MIT
Join Us
Ready to support students who are changing the world? We’d love to hear from you.
