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.
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.
Data center location decisions focus on cost and proximity, not job centers, study shows
Recent electricity outages and the surge in artificial intelligence-driven computing have made data center siting decisions more consequential than ever, especially as energy and water constraints tighten. Communities invest public dollars on the promise of jobs and growth, while firms weigh long-term commitments to land, power and connectivity.
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.
Pattern Materials makes its mark in Houston
A Rice graduate student has launched a company aiming to make graphene production faster, cheaper and more scalable. Alex Lathem founded Pattern Materials in January to commercialize his proprietary laser-induced graphene and flash graphene technologies, which create graphene and carbon nanotube-like patterns in a single, rapid step. He believes these materials, known for their exceptional electrical conductivity, flexibility and strength, could significantly enhance the performance of sensors and other electronic devices.
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.
The 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) announced today the 42 startups invited to compete for more than $1 million in prizes April 10-12 at Rice University and the Ion in Houston.
Rice Business named presenting sponsor for the 2025 Rice Business Plan Competition
The world’s largest and richest intercollegiate student startup competition, the RBPC is hosted and organized every spring by the Rice Alliance. Each year, the RBPC brings together the best student ventures from top universities across the world to compete for more than $1 million in prizes in front of more than 350 venture capital, angel and corporate investors as well as members of the Houston business community.
Protein ice cream company wins 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition
Ice cream company Protein Pints took home the grand prize at the 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) April 6 as the best student ventures from top universities across the world competed for prizes in front of nearly 350 angel, venture capital and corporate investors and members of the business community.
Rice Business Plan Competition announces 2024 student startups
The 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) has announced the 42 startups that will compete for more than $1 million in prizes Apr. 4-6 at Rice University in Houston, Texas.
Brad Burke, managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, received the Outstanding Contributions to Advancing Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education Award at the 2023 Deshpande Symposium for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Higher Education.
Magnetic gear tech company wins 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition
FluxWorks from Texas A&M University, a magnetic gear technology company, took home the grand prize at the 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC). The RBPC, hosted annually by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is the world’s largest and richest student startup competition. This year’s edition saw 42 startups competing for $3.4 million in prizes – the highest in the 23 years of the event. More than 80 prizes were awarded and every team took home cash.
Largest intercollegiate student startup competition announces 2023 teams
The 2023 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC), hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Jones Graduate School of Business, will be held on Rice University campus May 11-13. The competition brings together the most promising student ventures from top universities across the world to compete for prizes in front of active investors, entrepreneurs and the Houston business community.
Semiconductor technology startup wins 2022 Rice Business Plan Competition
LIDROTEC, a student startup from RWTH Aachen University in Germany that aims to increase production in the semiconductor industry, took home the grand prize at the 2022 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC).
Smartphone app for convenience store owners wins 2021 Rice Business Plan Competition
An application that allows convenience store owners to remotely manage and monitor their businesses from their smartphones took home the grand prize during the 2021 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC).
