Rice Business Plan Competition

Grant Overview

Donor: Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice Business

About: The Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) is the largest and richest student startup competition globally, providing collegiate entrepreneurs with 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 and Rice Business, the competition has grown from nine teams competing for $10,000 in prize money in 2001 to 42 teams from around the world competing for more than $1 million in cash and prizes.

Key aspects of the competition:
-Purpose: To provide collegiate entrepreneurs with real-world experience in pitching startups and enhancing business strategies.
-Scope: Global competition for university startups.
-Application Process:
–Applications open on November 4, 2024.
–Applications are due by January 27, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
–Startups must be student-driven, student-created, and/or student-managed.
–Startups must have at least two current student founders or management team members, with at least one being a graduate degree-seeking student.
–Startups should be seeking funding or capital.
-Benefits:
–Funding: Over $1 million in cash and prizes.
–Mentorship: Access to experienced mentors and judges.
–Connections: Networking opportunities with investors and industry experts.

Focus: Technology, Entrepreneurship, Startups, Innovation, Business Strategy

Region: Global

Eligibility:
-Startups must be student-driven, student-created, and/or student-managed.
-At least two current student founders or management team members.
-At least one graduate degree-seeking student.
-Seeking funding or capital.
-Not have raised more than $250,000 in equity capital prior to July 1, 2024.
-Not have generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period prior to July 1, 2024.

Benefits: Over $1 million in cash and prizes

Terms:
-Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship: Rice University’s initiative devoted to supporting entrepreneurship.
-Rice Business: The business school at Rice University.
-RBPC: Rice Business Plan Competition.