Rice’s new Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to celebrate opening Oct. 22

MEDIA ADVISORY

David Ruth
david@rice.edu
713-348-6327

Jeff Falk
jfalk@rice.edu
713-348-6775

Rice’s new Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to celebrate opening Oct. 22

HOUSTON – (Oct. 17, 2017) – A new chapter in Houston’s entrepreneurship history begins Oct. 22 at Rice University with the opening celebration of the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie).

Credit: Shutterstock.com/Rice University

Lilie features new and expanded entrepreneurship courses as well as a variety of co-curricular activities and resources with the goal of supporting Rice students in entrepreneurial endeavors. The celebration will be preceded by a “Three-Day Startup” program, a 72-hour experiential-learning exercise that teaches entrepreneurial skills and mindset to students in a hands-on environment, with input from mentors throughout the weekend. The program will culminate with pitches to a panel of experts and the public.

Hosted by Rice’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, the event is free and open to the public but registration is required.

Who: Rice students and members of the Houston entrepreneurship community. Speaking will be Rice Provost Marie Lynn Miranda and Yael Hochberg, head of the Rice Entrepreneurship Initiative and the Ralph S. O’Connor Professor of Entrepreneurship at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business.

What: An event celebrating the opening of Rice’s Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

When: Sunday, Oct. 22, 4:30-8:30 p.m. Students will present their “Three-Day Startup” projects from 4:30 to 5:30.

Where: Rice University, Cambridge Office Building, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (first floor), 6100 Main St.

Houston entrepreneur and Rice alumnus Frank Liu and his family, through their philanthropic foundation, made a $16.5 million gift in March 2016 to launch Lilie.

Rice’s entrepreneurship curriculum efforts were highlighted in a 2015 New York Times article, “Universities Race to Nurture Start-Up Founders of the Future.”

The public must RSVP for the event at https://entrepreneurship.rice.edu/rsvp.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

For a map of Rice University’s campus with parking information, go to www.rice.edu/maps. Media are advised to park in the Founder’s Court Visitor Lot.

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