Rice University’s 2025 Graduate-Level Student Startup Business Plan Competition

Now in its 24th year, the competition provides collegiate entrepreneurs with hands-on experience in pitching their startups, refining business strategies, and understanding the essentials of launching a successful company. Hosted and organised by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship—an internationally acclaimed initiative by Rice University dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship—and Rice Business, the competition has seen remarkable growth over its history.

From its inception in 2001, with nine teams competing for $10,000 in prize money, it has expanded to feature 42 teams from across the globe, competing for a prize pool exceeding $1 million in cash and awards. This makes it the largest and most prestigious student startup competition in the world.

Benefits of Rice University Startup Competition

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
• Paediatric Device Prize by the Southwest National Paediatric 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
• Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN) Mentor Cash Prize – $1,500

Individual Prizes (investment)

• Goose Capital Investment Prize – $200,000 Investment
• The OWL Investment Prize—$100k+ Investment
• Houston Angel Network (HAN) Investment Prize – $100,000 investment
• The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Angels Texas Investment Prize – $100,000 investment
• New Climate Ventures Sustainable Investment Prize – $25,000 Investment
• nCourage Courageous Women Entrepreneur Prize – $25,000 investment
• Dream Big Ventures Latino Entrepreneur Investment Prize – $25,000 Investment
• UCN Diversity Award in Partnership with South Loop Venture—$25,000 Investment

Individual Prizes (In-kind)

• TMC Innovation Healthcare Accelerator Bootcamp Invite
• Baker Botts In-Kind Legal Services Prize—$75,000 in kind for three top startups
• Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Prize
• LSA Global/Latinx Startup Alliance Advisory Services for the Top Latino-led Startup(s)
• New York Technology Capital Partners CFO Consulting Prize

Prizes for All Competitors (in-kind)

• EFN Mentoring In-kind for all competitors
• Amazon Web Services In-kind for all competitors

Requirements for Rice University Startup Competition

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

Selection Process

Application Timeline:

• January 27, 2025: 11:59 PM CST—Applications close; deadline to submit applications. 
• February 18, 2025: Noon CST—42 teams invited to participate via video livestream, social media, emails, and phone calls. 
• February 24, 2025: 5:00 PM CST – Invited teams confirm commitment to compete via written confirmation on application and the last day to withdraw without penalty. 

Application Deadline

January 27, 2025

How to Apply

For more details, visit the RBPC webpage.