42 graduate-led startups selected to compete at Rice Business Plan Competition
The 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition announced today the 42 startups invited to compete for more than $1 million in prizes April 9-11 at Rice University and in the Ion District.
The Collectiv Foundation, in collaboration with Rice, today announced the creation of the AI Native Dual-Use Sports, Health & Wellness Accelerator powered by The Collectiv in Houston’s Ion District, a 16-acre innovation hub in Houston’s Midtown developed by Rice. The accelerator platform is designed to support early stage founders building artificial intelligence technologies validated in sports and scaled across health, enterprise and consumer markets.
After nearly 25 years of leadership that helped shape Rice’s role in entrepreneurship, Brad Burke will conclude his tenure leading the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and programming in the Ion District, Houston’s transformational innovation district, June 30.
Texas Life Science Forum showcases medtech, biotech and health care innovation
More than 600 investors, entrepreneurs and industry leaders gathered at Rice Business Nov. 11 for the 14th annual Texas Life Science Forum, co-hosted by BioHouston and the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. The event highlighted Houston’s growing leadership in life science innovation, commercialization and venture investment.
Now in its 26th year, the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) presented by Rice Business has officially opened applications and is calling on the next generation of world-changing graduate student founders to compete on the global stage. This is where tomorrow’s industry leaders get their start.
Top university programs announced at Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers conference
The Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC), headquartered at the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, brought leading programs together to celebrate creativity and innovation in university-based entrepreneurship education for its annual conference Oct. 2-4 and announced the top programs in higher education.
Rice, Houston Methodist launch NSF-funded program to build Texas’ digital health workforce
Rice’s Office of STEM Engagement, the Houston Methodist-Rice Digital Health Institute and Houston Methodist are launching a three-year program that equips Houston-area high school and community college students and the teachers who serve them with practical skills in biomedical hardware and artificial intelligence for health.
Houston’s energy ecosystem elevates 11 ventures tackling innovative technology
The 22nd annual Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum saw 50 ventures pitch their companies to a full crowd of investors and corporate leaders Sept. 18 with nearly 100 startups participating in the investor-startup office hours.
Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week begins Sept. 15 and exemplifies how Houston is developing and scaling real solutions for the challenge of meeting growing global energy demand while reducing carbon emissions.
Twin founders: How 2 sisters are building health innovations at Rice
Rice's OwlSpark accelerator's newest cohort included twin founders with projects aiming to solve overlooked problems in patient care.
Meant to inspire: New speaker series at the Ion District to build community through stories of space
Rice helped launch a new speaker series at the Ion spotlighting the human side of space exploration.
12 startups selected to join Class 5 of the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship has announced the 12 startups chosen for Class 5 of its Clean Energy Accelerator, a program designed to propel early stage ventures advancing the global energy transition. These companies from both the Houston-region and across the U.S. and Canada are addressing carbon management, energy storage, materials, energy efficiency, wind and hydrogen.
OwlSpark announces students, alumni and staff selected for its 13th cohort
OwlSpark, Rice’s startup and small business accelerator for Rice-affiliated ventures, brings together 11 companies in the program’s 13th year who represent a new wave of entrepreneurs tackling challenges across technology, consumer products, health care and more. Since 2013, the accelerator has supported 229 founders and launched 104 ventures with participants collectively raising more than $116 million in funding.
Intero Biosystems from University of Michigan wins Rice Business Plan Competition
Intero Biosystems — a life science company that has developed the first cell-derived human “minigut” replicating cell types, spatial structure and function of the human intestine — took home the grand prize at the 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition.
Energy Venture Day at CERAWeek selects 9 ‘most promising’ startups
Nine companies were named most promising at the annual Rice Alliance Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition at CERAWeek March 12, co-hosted with the Houston Energy Transition Initiative and TEX-E. The event showcases energy ventures driving efficiency and advancements toward the energy transition through fields such as carbon management, advanced manufacturing, hydrogen, grid technology and more. This year’s competition was a qualifying event for the Startup World Cup, powered by Pegasus Ventures. The top-scoring venture is invited to compete in the grand finale and a $1 million investment prize.
