President’s Innovation Challenge

Participants in the President's Innovation Challenge leverage the community connections, feedback, and funding they receive to make an impact on their communities and the world.

PIC Venture News + Stories

Reimagining a Foot Brace as an AI-Powered Robotic Sock

Sole 1 is embedding robotics into knitwear to help people with mobility challenges walk with confidence.

Jul 01, 2026
Reimagining Fertility + Family Planning

Khaled Kteily (HKS ’18) is challenging long-standing barriers in reproductive healthcare by bringing fertility testing and preservation directly to the people who need it through Legacy.

May 27, 2026
‘What Moves You?’: Harvard University President Alan Garber Addresses 2026 President's Innovation Challenge

"Your curiosity and drive moved you to action, and we are eager to see where your ambition leads," said President Garber to finalists and attendees at the finale to the University's global venture competition.

May 21, 2026
Turning Survival into Service: Aria Mustary’s Fight for Girls’ Futures

Motivated by her own story of narrowly escaping child marriage, Aria Mustary (HGSE ’24) founded the Mai Soli Foundation to equip young girls with the education, support, and agency to determine their futures.

May 20, 2026
Walking a Different Path: Maeve Wang and the Future of Fit

After seeing millions of consumers settle for uncomfortable footwear, Maeve Wang (College ’11) built IAMBIC to bring personalized fit and AI-driven design to an industry rooted in standardization.

May 13, 2026
Moved to Act

Using the sun to power oxygen delivery in Africa, developing AI to mitigate risks on construction sites, and curing chronic inflammatory diseases with novel small molecules are a few many winning ideas from the 2026 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge.

May 08, 2026
Announcing the 2026 Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge Finalists

25 ventures from across Harvard's schools compete for $500,000+ in prizes at the 2026 President's Innovation Challenge on May 6.

Mar 27, 2026
AI-Powered Innovation

AI-powered innovation is on full display at the Harvard Innovation Labs. Here are 10 standout examples from current and former i-lab teams. Together, they offer a snapshot of where AI is headed next, and how founders in the Harvard community are helping to build that future across every industry.

Mar 02, 2026
Unlocking Capital for America’s Small Businesses

Mona, a startup founded by a Harvard Law School grad, is reimagining how small businesses access affordable capital.

Jan 07, 2026
Using Sunlight to Reach the ‘Unflyable’ Sky

How Rarefied plans to use solar-powered flight to capture the stratosphere’s critical weather data

Dec 02, 2025
From Idea to Acquisition: The Day Zero Diagnostics Journey

How a team of Harvard scientists turned cutting-edge sequencing research into life-saving diagnostic technology.

Oct 22, 2025
Redefining What’s Possible

Meet the winners of this year's Harvard President’s Innovation Challenge.

May 08, 2025
A New Vision for Aging Eyes

Meet Adaptilens, the flexible lens made to revolutionize eye surgery.

May 06, 2025
Announcing the 2025 Harvard President's Innovation Challenge Finalists

These 25 Harvard startups are redefining what's possible across health care, social impact, and business.

Apr 01, 2025
Eradicating Food Insecurity and Empowering Farmers One Crop at a Time

Pelkins Ajanoh (HBS '22) shares how his venture, CassVita, is extending the shelf life of cassava to combat hunger and empower farmers.

Mar 13, 2025