Rice University Business Plan Competition

The Rice University Business Plan Competition (RBPC) has become the premier intercollegiate business plan competition in the world.  The RBPC gives away the most money, has the largest judging panel, and is the best executed competition.  The three-day event is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms.  The Competition is hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.

Forty-two teams from top MBA programs will be selected to compete at Rice University, in Houston Texas, for more than $800,000 in prizes; including an investment opportunity of $125,000 for the grand prize winner, $100,000 investment for best Life Science Technology company, $100,000 investment for the best Energy/IT/Nano/Aerospace company, $150,000 in cash distributed among all 42 teams, and the opportunity to advance to the international finals of the MOOT CORP® competition. 

Teams attending RBPC have the opportunity to meet and network with over 170 experienced venture capital principals, early stage investors, successful entrepreneurs and/or senior business leaders who will serve as judges for the competition. The judges function as venture capital investors deciding on which business venture they would most likely fund.  They are hand picked by the Rice Alliance and participate by invitation only.  These judges are selected based on their expertise in investing and entrepreneurship and their interest in supporting early stage entrepreneurs.  Last year 150 judges participated in the Competition, the most of any business plan competition; and 76% of judges surveyed considered investing in a team that presented at the 2008 RBPC or referred a team to a third-party investor.

We provide an unparalleled experience for the participants by designing a diverse program over the course of three-days; with significant time designated for feedback and interaction with the judging panel.

Highlights of the Competition include:

• Real-world opportunities to learn what’s required to successfully launch a new business
• Chance to receive mentoring from investors and experienced entrepreneurs
• Scheduled opportunities to network with potential venture capitalists and other investors for three days
• High caliber of judges, all senior level investors and industry leaders
• Opportunities to receive individual feedback during 3 separate sessions

• $800,000 in prize money with all teams winning at least one cash award (2009 prizes)

  • First Place: $225,000, including a $125,000 investment offer, $20,000 cash and over $80,000 in services
  • Second Place: $20,050, including a $15,000 cash prize
  • Third Place: $12,550, including a $7,500 cash prize
  • Best Life Science Technology Company:  $100,000 investment (relocation to Houston required)
  • Best Energy/IT/Nano/Aerospace Company:  $100,000 investment (relocation to Houston required)
  • Dow Sustainability Award:  $20,000 cash prize
  • NASA Earth/Space Life Science Innovation Award:  $20,000 cash prize

• All teams will participate and present on all 3 days

  • Thursday: Practice Round and Elevator Pitch Competition
  • Friday: Preliminary Round and Feedback Session
  • Saturday: Wildcard Round, Challenge Round, and Final Round
• World-class facility at the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University
• Large pool of MBA-student volunteers  
• Recognized as being one of the most effectively run business plan competitions
• Low-cost travel into Houston and discounted hotel rates

The goal of the RBPC is to provide the best overall educational and entrepreneurial experience of any business plan/new venture competition and we were very gratified by the feedback we have received from past competitors and judges.  (Testimonials)

For more information about the Rice University Business Plan Competition, please review the website, email us, or contact the Competition Director at 713-348-3190.

About the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship

The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is Rice University's flagship initiative devoted to the support of entrepreneurship. The Rice Alliance's mission is to provide entrepreneurship education and to support the commercialization of technology innovations and the creation of new companies in the Texas and Houston region. Since its inception in 1999, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch of more than 230 new technology companies, which have raised more than half a billion dollars in early stage funding. Of these, approximately 30 companies have been launched based on technology developed by Rice faculty and researchers and licensed from the Rice Office of Technology Transfer.

Unique among many entrepreneurship centers, the Rice Alliance was formed as a strategic alliance of three schools at Rice University: the George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management.

In 2009, the Rice Alliance was named the Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program for technology entrepreneurship in the U.S. by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Houston’s Greatest Economic Development Ally by the Greater Houston Partnership.

In 2008 and 2007, Rice University was recognized as having one of the top 25 graduate entrepreneurship programs in the U.S. by The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine (No. 16 in 2008). In 2007, the Rice Alliance was recognized as the No. 1 university entrepreneurship center in the U.S. for enterprise creation by the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers.

Information about the Rice Alliance can be found at alliance.rice.edu

About the Jones Graduate School of Business

The Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University is one of the world's leading business schools.  Founded in 1974, it is already among the top ten percent of business schools.

The mission of the Jones School is to educate business leaders.  The Jones School is one of two business schools that require every student to work with real businesses as part of their education.  And the MBA communications program is an integral part of the two years of education.

The Financial Times 2003 ranks the Jones School No. 1 in U.S. and No. 6 in the World for Career Progress:  "The degree to which alumni have moved up the career ladder three years after graduating.  Progression is measured through changes in level of seniority and the size of the company in which they are employed."  It was ranked No. 2 in "Aims Achieved."  In "Leagues of Their Own: The Top Ten Schools" the Jones School was ranked among the top ten for finance for the fourth straight year and in the top ten for entrepreneurship for the second time in four years.  U.S. News & World Report 2003 ranked the school No. 1 in employed at three months.

For more information: jonesgsm.rice.edu.