Yesterday, Rethink Supply Chains: The Tech Challenge to Fight Labor Trafficking announced five finalists, who will each receive $20,000 as they proceed to the Finalist Accelerator to refine their solutions.  

With coverage in the Wall Street Journal and Reuters, the Challenge was commended for bringing innovation from outside problem areas, such as mobile payments, SMS-based research, and data analytics. Solvers drew from across the globe, representing 11 countries, and include a number of partnerships between the non-profit and private sector.

Launched in October by the Partnership for Freedom, Rethink Supply Chains called upon innovators to submit concepts for technological solutions that identify and address labor trafficking in global supply chains for goods and services. The finalist solutions are now poised to impact the lives of 14.2 million victims of forced labor worldwide, who generate $150 billion in profits per year.

In April, the panel of expert judges will select one winner and one runner-up to receive $250,000 and $50,000, respectively. Sign up for the Challenge newsletter to be the first to know!