The Rice Business Plan Competition is rapidly approaching. This year’s competition will be held from April 16-18. I’m judge again this year, and I wanted to share with you the most up-to-date information I have.
If you would like to be one of the 36 teams selected to compete in April, the deadline to submit your Intent to Compete form with your executive summary is Friday, March 6th at 5:00pm CST.
Teams can compete in any industry including the following:
– Energy & Clean Technology
– Sustainability
– Social Ventures & Social Entrepreneurship
– Life Sciences (diagnostics, medical devices, therapeutics, biotech, drug development)
– Information Technology (including Web 2.0, software, hardware, internet, RFID, etc.)
– Nanotechnology
– Advanced Materials (including coatings, sensors, etc.)
– Consumer Products
The RBPC continues to be the largest and richest business plan competition in the world! This year $800,000 will be awarded including the $350,000 grand prize. This year’s prize breakdown is below:
Competition Prizes – $800,000 in total prizes, including:
Every team that is accepted to compete is guaranteed to win cash awards
- $125,000 Investment Grand Prize – Sponsored by The GOOSE Society of Texas
- $100,000 Life Sciences Investment Prize
– Sponsored by Opportunity HoustonSM and Greater Houston Partnership - $100,000 Technology Investment Prize
– Energy/Clean Technology, IT, Nanotechnology, and Aerospace/Aviation
– Sponsored by Opportunity HoustonSM and Greater Houston Partnership - $100,000 DFJ Mercury Tech Transfer Investment Prize
Special Cash Prize Categories include:
- $20,000 Dow Sustainability Award
– Best plan to address world challenges for affordable housing, food,
clean water, health & safety, and alternative/sustainable energy - $20,000 NASA Earth/Space Life Science Award
– Best life science plan with application in earth and space - $60,000 NASA Earth/Space Engineering Innovation Prizes – (3 – $20,000 prizes)
– Best engineering plan with application in earth and space - $10,000 Sheafor-Lindsay Social Venture Award
– Best business plan for a Social Venture will win $10,000
Special Cash Prizes to the best teams in the following categories:
- $2,500 – Life Science
- $2,500 – Medical Devices
- $2,500 – Energy
- $2,500 – Information Technology
- $2,500 – Intellectual Property
- $2,500 – Hispanic Business Plan
- $2,500 – International Team
Other Special Cash Prizes:
- $2,500 – Best Sales & Marketing Plan
- $2,500 – Best Written Business Plan
- $2,500 – Best Executive Summary