Where we've been

In less than a decade, we’ve mobilized more than 1,000 leaders to accelerate 111 innovators who are addressing 13 of the world’s toughest challenges.  How did we get here?

Let’s start with a story.

In 1961, U.S. president John F. Kennedy set an ambitious goal for the nation: the U.S. would send a human safely to the moon by the end of 1969.  Accomplishing this goal required a sudden burst of technological creativity, and the largest commitment of resources ($24 billion) ever made by any nation in peacetime.  At its peak, the Apollo program employed 400,000 people and required the support of over 20,000 industrial firms and universities.  Through this massive team effort, the impossible became possible– the first moonshot was accomplished.

In 2008, NASA, USAID, the U.S. Department of State, and NIKE joined together to accomplish a different, but similarly ambitious moonshot: to create a more sustainable and just society through innovation. 

Read on to learn where we’ve been– and stay up to date by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

LAUNCH Challenges