Applications are open for the Rice Business Plan Competition 2023 for Student Startups, which provides real-world experience and cash prizes to student entrepreneurs.
Run by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the competition has evolved from nine teams competing for US$10,000 in prize money in 2001 to 42 teams from around the world competing for more than US$2 million in cash and prizes over the last 20 years.
Aside from the cash, winners benefit from an intense, educational experience over the multi-day event for student startup founders to pitch to investors, receive feedback and advance their startup. There is also significant time designated for interaction with judges and prize sponsors, the majority of whom are from the investment community.
A mentoring programme helps founders make their startups stronger, better, more equipped to fundraise and excel in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Applicant startups should be student-driven, student-created or student-managed, and have at least two current student founders or management team members. Students from any college or university anywhere in the world can apply. Startups in the energy, hard tech, healthcare, digital enterprise, and consumer products and services sectors are invited to apply here by February 28.
