Rice Business has been named the nation’s No. 1 graduate program for entrepreneurship for the eighth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. This recognition reflects a university-wide ecosystem that connects rigorous entrepreneurship education with hands-on venture creation and helps students turn ideas into companies and impact.
“We could not be prouder of our community,” said Jeff Fleming, interim dean of Rice Business. “This ranking represents more than what happens in the classrooms of McNair and Virani Hall. It recognizes Rice Business’ commitment to personalized student experience and incredible networking and experiential opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
Rice Business offers an entrepreneurship specialization within its MBA program, featuring coursework that develops practical skills with an entrepreneurial mindset across the full venture life cycle. Students can apply what they learn through experiential programs, competitions and connections to founders, alumni, investors and industry partners across Rice, Houston and the university’s global network. Together, these resources support entrepreneurial pathways across all stages of the entrepreneurial journey.
The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the home of entrepreneurship education and programs at Rice. Its mission is to equip Rice students with both the entrepreneurial skills and mindset necessary to innovate in any industry. Courses are taught by world-class faculty and real-world practitioners, while the co-curricular programs are designed to meet students at every stage of the founder journey.
“Every team member is passionate about providing mentorship and practical applications for what the students learn in the classroom. Our ecosystem allows Rice students to gain connections or funding from almost any industry, including medical devices, AI, climate tech and consumer,” said Yael Hochberg, the Ralph S. O’Connor Professor in Entrepreneurship and Finance at Rice Business. She serves as head of Rice’s Entrepreneurship Initiative and Lilie.
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is the university’s nationally recognized initiative dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build and grow high-impact companies. As the organization powering the Ion District, the Rice Alliance connects the venture ecosystem to accelerate innovation, commercialization and company growth through the Houston Venture Advantage Platform. At the heart of this work is the Ion District, a 16-acre innovation district with a shared ambition to position Houston as a global leader in solving mission-critical problems that shape and drive the physical world, building on the region’s strengths in manufacturing, energy and logistics. Since 2001, more than 3,500 companies have participated in Rice Alliance programs, collectively raising over $27.8 billion in capital. The Rice Alliance is home to the world’s largest student startup competition, the Rice Business Plan Competition.
“The advantage for Rice students is that entrepreneurship doesn’t stop at the classroom door,” said John “JR” Reale, executive director of the Rice Alliance, associate vice president for industry and new ventures and lecturer at Rice Business. “Through Rice Alliance and the Ion District, students can work alongside founders, researchers, investors and industry leaders who are tackling real problems. We want them to have the opportunity not just to study entrepreneurship but to help turn promising ideas into enduring companies that create lasting impact.”
Beyond the classroom, students connect with entrepreneurs across Rice and beyond at workshops, lectures, mentor office hours and other events, such as:
- Shark Tank, Rice style
- The Rice Business Plan Competition brings student startups together with investors, successful entrepreneurs and experts to help launch their businesses. Startups launched during the event have raised more than $6.9 billion and have seen 66 successful exits.
- Acquiring minds
- Startups aren’t the only path to entrepreneurship. The Rice Entrepreneurship Acquisitions Lab gives students the opportunity to assess existing business ventures, explore financing options and develop plans to scale the venture. By connecting with mentors, investors and a sounding board of peers, the lab helps jump-start the learning process while students are enrolled and supports them through acquisition and beyond. The Texas Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference is also hosted annually by Rice Business.
- Startups aren’t the only path to entrepreneurship. The Rice Entrepreneurship Acquisitions Lab gives students the opportunity to assess existing business ventures, explore financing options and develop plans to scale the venture. By connecting with mentors, investors and a sounding board of peers, the lab helps jump-start the learning process while students are enrolled and supports them through acquisition and beyond. The Texas Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference is also hosted annually by Rice Business.
- Houston as a thriving startup ecosystem
- Houston offers Rice students a powerful environment in which to learn, experiment and build. The Ion District connects entrepreneurs with the right resources at the right time through the Houston Venture Advantage Platform. Here, students and alumni connect with fellow creators and investors to bring ideas to life.
- Houston offers Rice students a powerful environment in which to learn, experiment and build. The Ion District connects entrepreneurs with the right resources at the right time through the Houston Venture Advantage Platform. Here, students and alumni connect with fellow creators and investors to bring ideas to life.
- Driving the physical world
- Houston’s strengths in energy, manufacturing and logistics create opportunities for entrepreneurs addressing consequential challenges in the physical world. Rice Alliance convenes ventures, investors and industry leaders through initiatives including the Rice Alliance Energy Venture Forum, helping connect emerging technologies with expertise, customers and capital.
- Houston’s strengths in energy, manufacturing and logistics create opportunities for entrepreneurs addressing consequential challenges in the physical world. Rice Alliance convenes ventures, investors and industry leaders through initiatives including the Rice Alliance Energy Venture Forum, helping connect emerging technologies with expertise, customers and capital.
- The Virani Undergraduate School of Business
- In addition to entrepreneurship programs for graduate students, Rice launched a business major in 2021, which has quickly become one of the most popular majors at the university, and named the Virani Undergraduate School of Business in 2026.
As a global powerhouse in entrepreneurship education, Rice has a world-class community of alumni who are engaged in entrepreneurial and innovative pursuits. Rice alumni have transformed industries through the creation and funding of game-changing startups, as well as established first-in-class entrepreneurial ecosystems around the globe.
Learn more about all MBA programming at Rice Business.