Indigenous Innovators Summit 2021

Overview Supporters Schedule Speakers

Solve's Virtual Indigenous Innovators Summit 2021 will be an engaging digital two-day event held February 10-11 that’s open to the Solve Community and Indigenous community members from across the country.

In light of the continued spread of COVID-19, we’re transforming our annual in-person event into a powerful online experience that will convene, connect, and inspire Solve’s community—our Fellows, Solver teams, MIT faculty, and peer leaders from our Member organizations.

If you're a part of the Solve community or are interested in joining, please fill out the form below.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Build an Ecosystem of Indigenous Innovators: Dive into discussions with cross-sector leaders as we explore the necessary facets of a fruitful ecosystem of Indigenous entrepreneurs, showcasing best practices for impactful partnerships in tribal communities. 
  • Explore cutting-edge innovations: Connect directly with Fellows to share strategic advice and new ideas. In collaborative working groups, you’ll learn about and workshop their innovative solutions.
  • Create impactful partnerships: Expand your organization’s social and environmental impact by partnering with Fellows to scale their work.



About Solve:

Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation designed to support the scalable growth of community-based solutions.

At Solve, we understand that to disrupt institutionalized inequities in the US, we must support the tremendous work of Indigenous innovators across the country. Since 2018, Solve has run an Indigenous Fellowship program that has supported 21 Native American innovators from across the country, awarding $275,000 to date and supporting additional partnerships. The Fellowship selects 6-8 Native-led solutions each year, that utilize traditional knowledge and technology to drive positive impact in Native communities. The Fellowship provides a nine month program of support that includes seed funding, a comprehensive resource needs assessment, technical/business mentorship, and tailored connections to a network of companies, foundations, NGOs, and more. Solve is proudly partnered with the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

If you would like to learn more about the Fellowship and how to support these innovators reach out at solve@mit.edu.

Featured Speakers

Susan Alzner

Co-founder and Chief of Strategy & Ops, shift7

United States

Dr. Christine Ami

Associate Professor, Diné College, Grant Manager, Navajo Cultural Arts Program

Luke Bastian

President, MIT Chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society

Nephi Craig

Executive Chef, Café Gozhóó

Julie Garreau

Executive Director, Cheyenne River Youth Project

Clara Pratte

Founder & Partner, Navajo Power

Sanjay Rawal

Filmmaker

A-dae Romero-Briones

Director of Programs - Native Agriculture and Food Systems, First Nations Development Institute

Megan Smith

CEO & Founder shift7, Former U.S. Chief Technology Officer, shift7

United States

Erik Stegman

Executive Director, Native Americans in Philanthropy

United States

Edgar Villanueva

Founder & Principal, Decolonizing Wealth Project, Senior Vice President of Programs and Advocacy, Schott Family Foundation

Rowen White

Director and Founder, Sierra Seeds

Phyllis Young

Standing Rock Lakota Activist

United States

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