Friday, 30th of November 2007 at 04:57:04 PM
The Rice Business Plan Competition is one of the largest and richest intercollegiate new venture competitions in the world. Thirty-six of the top MBA and Graduate Schools from around the world will compete for over $345,000 in prizes at Rice University in Houston. The event is judged by over 150 venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs, and leaders from the technology entrepreneurship community.
The competition is open to all graduate level teams from any university. Both U.S. and international teams can apply to compete. EVERY team that is accepted is guaranteed to win a cash prize. All applicants will receive a copy of Business Plan Pro – Premier Edition software.
If you know of a graduate team or university that should compete, please encourage them to apply. ALL university teams that submit an intent to compete will receive a free copy of Business Plan Pro – Premier Edition software from Palo Alto Software. More information click here.
- Intent to Compete Deadline: Friday, February 1, 2008
- Executive Summary is Friday, February 22, 2008, 5:00 PM (Houston Time)
Competition Prizes – Over $345,000 in total prizes
- $175,00 Grand Prize – including $100,000 equity investment + $20,000 cash + $55,000 in services
- Over $240,000 in total cash prizes, plus over $100,000 in services awarded
- EVERY team accepted into the Rice competition is guaranteed to win at least e cash prize
Special Cash Prize Categories include:
- $20,000 – Dow Sustainability Award – sustainability & clean technology cash award
- Life Sciences Cash Award
- Energy Cash Award
- Information Technology Cash Award
- Intellectual Property Cash Award
- Hispanic Business Plan Cash Award
Other Benefits include:
- Multiple opportunities to receive individual feedback & mentoring
- Largest, most-experienced judging panel
- Over 150 VC’s, early-stage investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders
- More leaders from the entrepreneurship community than any other competition
- Multiple Presentation Opportunities
- All teams are guaranteed to have at least four presentation opportunities
- Best facilities and hosting of any competition
- World-class Jones Graduate School of Management building at Rice
- Over 100 Rice student volunteers will act as hosts and guides
- Low-cost travel, centrally located
- Houston is serves as hubs for Continental & Southwest Airlines with 2 major airports
- Discounted hotel rates & all meals provided for competitors
Who Is Eligible
- Full- or part-time graduate students: includes MBA, Masters, PhD, and MD candidates from all disciplines
- Teams with 2-5 team members (at least 1 team member must be a graduate student)
- Ventures must be “for profit” entities seeking outside equity capital
- Teams must be university-affiliated and have endorsement of a faculty member
- Ventures must have no revenues or outside equity capital PRIOR to the start of current academic year
For information about the Competition, sponsorship opportunities, or awards banquet information, please contact Philana Diaz, the Competition Director, at: rbpc@rice.edu or 713-348-3190.
Online information: www.alliance.rice.edu/rbpc
[...] really like venture contests. I’ve been a judge of several (this year I’ll be doing Rice, University of Oregon, University of Texas (Moot Corp), and Notre Dame). I believe most of them, [...]