The annual Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC), presented by Rice Business, will bring together top graduate student-run startups from around the country to compete for more than $1 million in cash, investments and in-kind prizes April 10-12 in Houston.
In its 25th year, the competition has grown from just nine teams competing for $10,000 to what’s now the largest and richest intercollegiate competition of its kind. Past competitors have raised nearly $7 billion in funding, and 307 are still in business or have made a successful exit. With access to mentors and investment opportunities, the RBPC helps graduate student founders from any university sharpen their plans and realize their potential. Meet this year’s cohort of 42 selected startups here. They are competing in five industry sectors: energy, cleantech and sustainability; hard tech; life sciences and health care solutions; digital enterprise; and consumer products and services.
The events kick off with the elevator pitch competition April 10 at the Ion — Houston’s innovation hub powered by Rice University. Round one, the semifinals and a wildcard round will take place April 11-12 with only registered judges attending.
The final round takes place April 12 at Rice’s McNair Hall, home of Rice Business. The awards celebration will conclude the competition where the winners, as voted on by judges, and main prizes will be announced along with a dozen more sponsored prizes. The elevator pitches and final round will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Organized for 25 years by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, an internationally recognized initiative devoted to the support of entrepreneurship, RBPC offers an educational program mirroring real-world experience through this multiday event for student startups from across the world.