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.
Established in 1891, Rice University is a non-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Houston (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Texas. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Rice University is a medium-sized (uniRank enrollment range: 7,000-7,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. Rice University offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as pre-bachelor degrees (i.e. certificates, diplomas, associate or foundation degrees), bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 128 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 10-20% making this US higher education organization a most selective institution. International applicants are eligible to apply for enrollment.