A marketplace for social impact

Entrepreneurship has been steadily on the rise in the United States and around the world. MIT Solve chose to join the forces of technology & entrepreneurship to address some of the biggest challenges in health, food security, climate, diversity & inclusion and more. Solve is a marketplace that identifies, connects, and invests in global early-stage social good entrepreneurs. The organization turned to APCO to shine a light on the impactful work of its leadership and Solver teams and their groundbreaking work on the national and global stage.

Creative tactics and multiplier partnerships

APCO developed a robust global reputation strategy utilizing earned media relations, thought leadership opportunities and multiplier engagement to build and sustain awareness about MIT Solve’s innovative platform and work.

Over the past year in anticipation of and preparation for, MIT Solve’s flagship event, APCO built a steady drumbeat of media coverage to garner interest in not just the Solver teams’ innovative solutions to global issues, but also the thought leadership of Solve executives. These efforts helped build meaningful relationships with top-tier media and garnered placements in outlets like Fast Company, Forbes and other leader publications.

These year-long efforts culminated at the flagship event, Solve at MIT, which brought together Solve’s members – which include prominent global leaders from the public and private sectors, foundations and nonprofits – and MIT faculty and all 33 Solver teams from 14 countries around the world. The event kickstarted partnership building and funding between Solver teams and Solve members working together to advance global social impact solutions.

Even with so many unique stories of social entrepreneurship, we knew our biggest challenge would be securing media to attend the three-day event in Boston when newsroom budgets and staffs are continuously being cut. Rising to the challenge, APCO approached the solution with a multifaceted strategy. In addition to inviting media to attend and interview Solver teams and leadership, we also identified media to moderate relevant sessions, developed authentic media partnerships, and coordinated major funding and partner announcements to further elevate our event and increase our reach.

Broadening impact and raising global awareness

Working with MIT Solve Communications & Marketing team, we built awareness and name-recognition for MIT Solve and the Solve at MIT event by securing four media partners, placing an op-ed in the Boston Globe, coordinating more than 30 interviews, securing 27 reporters on-site between attendees and moderators/speakers, promoting 3 major announcements, and much more. These efforts resulted in 40 articles with 669.8 million impressions, including pieces in the Boston Globe, Inc., The Chronicle of Philanthropy, CGTN, and start-up trades like AmericanInno. The media coverage and recognition solidified MIT Solve’s place as a leading marketplace for global tech entrepreneurs to solve the world’s most pressing challenges.