Rice Business Plan Competition 2018

42 Teams.

$1.5 million in prizes.

3 days of competition.

Are you ready?

Apply to compete in the world's largest and richest business plan competition on April 5-7, 2018 in Houston, Texas!

Applications are now open! https://rbpc.rice.edu/  

This is the world’s richest and largest graduate-level startup competition, hosted at Rice University on April 5-7, 2018 comprised of 42 select teams pitching their business ventures and vying for $1.5 million in prizes.

 

The competition, now in its 18th year, is designed to give collegiate entrepreneurs a real-world experience to present their startups to investors, receive mentoring, network within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, enhance their business strategy, and learn what it takes to launch a successful company. 

 

We provide an intense, immersive experience over the three-day event for student startup founders to pitch to investors, receive multiple rounds of feedback and advance their startup. There is also significant time designated for interaction with our judges and prize sponsors, the majority of whom are from the investment community.

 

Past competitors have received over $20 million from investors they met at the Rice Business Plan Competition. Alumni from the RBPC have raised more than $1.6 billion in funding and have generated more than 25 successful exits, valued at nearly a billion dollars.

 

RBPC judges act as early-stage investors to evaluate the startup teams based investment potential. The majority of our judges are from the investment community; 84% of the judges at the 2017 RBPC said they were considering investing in a startup that pitched at the 2017 RBPC or referred a startup to an investor in their network.

The RBPC is unique in its statue, size, format and participants—due in no small part to the quality of our competitors. Startups at the 2017 RBPC competition said:

 

“The RBPC is the best thing to happen to a student-driven startup!”

 

“The involvement from real-world investors and the advice they provide you is unparalleled.”

 

“Challenging, exhausting, competitive…but hands down the most valuable and rewarding competition I have participated in.”

 

“The best business competition in the world for serious startups seeking serious capital and serious feedback.”

 

All teams will participate and present on all three days

  • Thursday: Practice Round and Elevator Pitch Competition
  • Friday: First Round and Feedback Session
  • Saturday: Semi-Final Round, Challenge Round and Final Round

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, entrepreneurs and industry leaders
  • Opportunities to receive individual feedback during three separate sessions
  • 2017: $1.5 Million + in prize money was awarded with all teams winning at least one cash award

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.

The deadline for submissions is 5:00 PM CST February 9, 2018.