The Rice University Business Plan Graduate-level Student Startup Competition, entering its 24th year, gives collegiate entrepreneurs real-world experience to pitch their startups, enhance their business strategy and learn what it takes to launch a successful company. Hosted and organized by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship—which is Rice University’s internationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of entrepreneurship—and Rice Business. Over 23 years it has grown from nine teams competing for $10,000 in prize money in 2001 to 42 teams from around the world competing for more $1 million in cash and prizes. It is the largest and richest student startup competition in the world.
Eligibility Requirements
YOU ARE INITIALLY ELIGIBLE FOR RBPC 2024 IF YOUR STARTUP:
is student-driven, student-created and/or student-managed
has at least two current student founders or management team members, and at least one of those students is a current graduate degree-seeking student
are from a college or university anywhere in the world
has not raised more than $250,000 in equity capital prior to July 1, 2023
has not generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period prior to July 1, 2023
is seeking funding or capital (or will be in the next 12 months)
is a potentially viable investment opportunity
Sectors
Energy, Cleantech, and Sustainability
Hard Tech
Life Sciences and Healthcare Solutions
Digital Enterprise
Consumer Products and Services
Prizes:
Each of the 42 startups will walk away from the 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition with at least $950 in prizes, no matter how you place in the competition. We have prizes ranging from no-equity, cash, investment prizes from active investors, invitations from Houston accelerators with contingent investment prizes—and in-kind prizes to provide you with the expertise to grow your startup.
Mentoring
Business Plan Feedback Before the Competition
All startups submit a business plan or investor pitch deck for the competition, and judges in your first round are able to offer feedback on the business plan or investor deck before the competition begins. Feedback is given to the startups, and they may use to refine their plan or deck to consider how they may pitch in the competition.
Pre-Competition Mentorship
The RBPC partners with the Entrepreneur Futures Network, or EFN (full details below), to match competing startups to one or more of the 120 EFN pre-qualified participating mentors for conversations to answer questions, review business plan or deck, give feedback, and help teams practice their pitches. Startups get pre-competition pitch training and coaching with EFN experts, and engage with RBPC alumni who give one-on-one advice. Past RBPC winner pitches are reviewed.
Practice Round
The day before the competition practice your full pitch followed by a feedback session with RBPC judges on how to improve and be successful at the competition
