The competition, having completed 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 than $1 million in cash and prizes. It is the largest and richest student startup competition in the world.
Rice University Information
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.
Eligibility Criteria
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
Offered Benefits
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
- 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
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.