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.
Eligibility
You are initially eligible for RBPC 2025 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, 2024
has not generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period prior to July 1, 2024
is seeking funding or capital (or will be in the next 12 months)
is a potentially viable investment opportunity
2025 Competition Sectors
Energy, Cleantech and Sustainability
Hard Tech
Life Sciences and Healthcare Solutions
Digital Enterprise
Consumer Products and Services
Prizes:
Prizes for Placement in Competition
1st Place Overall – given by the GOOSE Capital – $150,000 investment
2nd Place Overall – given by Rice University – $100,000 investment
3rd Place Overall – given by Rice University $50,000 investment
4th – 7th Place Overall – $5,000 cash each
Semi-Final Round Prizes
Wildcard Round Prizes
Mercury Elevator Pitch Competition Prizes $3,500 divided among winners
Anbarci Family Company Showcase Prize – $5,000 cash
Individual Prizes (cash, equity-free)
Pearland Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Spirit of Entrepreneurship Prize $40,000 cash
Pediatric Device Prize by the Southwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium (SWPDC) – $25,000 cash
Jacobs – Rising Stars Space Technology and Commercial Aerospace Prize – $25,000 cash
NOV Energy Technology Innovation Prize – $25,000 Cash
