Cultivating students who change the world.
The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the home of experiential learning and co-curricular activities in entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University.
Right now @ Lilie
Check out Spring 2027 Lilie courses!
LEAD:
ENTR 361, The Human Edge: People Skills for Founders
Most ventures don’t fail on the product. They fail on the people. This highly experiential course covers building trust, influencing without authority and leading a team.
INVEST & LAUNCH:
ENTR 369, New Enterprises
Have an idea you can’t let go of? Find out if anyone actually wants it. You’ll interview real customers, run real experiments, and test your riskiest assumptions before you build.
FEATURED COURSES
EXPLORE:
ENTR 220, Intro to Design and Innovation
Not sure where to start with your design? This course guides your work by uncovering human needs, making sense of what you hear in the field, and testing ideas fast.
BUILD:
ENTR 365, Design Build Ship
Ready to make something? Over two-week sprints, you’ll build prototypes, put them in front of real users, and decide whether to persevere, pivot or stop. Apply now.
Turn your ideas into action.
Join Lilie’s 2-week residential program for high school students!
#1 Graduate Entrepreneurship Program - 7 years and counting!
Lilie’s mission is to equip Rice students with both entrepreneurial skills and the entrepreneurial mindset to prepare them to be innovators in whatever industry they choose.
Since its inception in 2015 with a generous gift from Houston entrepreneur and alumnus Frank Liu and his family, through their private foundation, Lilie has been the home of experiential learning and co-curricular activities in entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University.
Our achievements have gained us the honor of being ranked
#1 Entrepreneurship Program in the country by Princeton Review 7 years in a row!
It’s time to…
Dream it
>
Build it
>
Grow it
>
Dream it > Build it > Grow it >
Lilie offers a full stack of courses, programming, personalized mentorship, equity free funding, co-working space and the resources Rice entrepreneurs need to go from idea to real world impact.
Lilie Courses
Taught by world-class faculty and industry practitioners, Lilie courses empower students to understand the mechanics of entrepreneurship while cultivating the mindset that fuels it.
Lilie Programs
Lilie’s co-curricular programs are designed to meet students at every stage of their founder journey, from idea to launch and beyond. Our programs offer hands-on experience, expert mentorship, and a safe place to take risks.
Lilie Events
At Lilie, we don’t just teach entrepreneurship—we celebrate it. Through high-energy events, we create moments that spark curiosity, open doors, and showcase our incredibly talented students.
FIESTA Week
Student organizations thrive in our space, building leadership skills, launching new ideas, and creating grassroots momentum for innovation across campus.
Rice Entrepreneurship Club (E-SHIP)
Rice Entrepreneurship Club or E-SHIP offers access to career fairs, internships, and real startup experiences building a tight-knit community of future entrepreneurs at Rice.
Rice Apps
A student-led software studio developing custom web apps for campus and community clients giving students real-world coding experience while delivering tech solutions that matter.
Rice Women In Entrepreneurship
A welcoming community for undergraduate women exploring innovation, startups, and leadership connecting them with mentorship, resources, and peer support.
GenShe
Empowers women, transfeminine, and nonbinary students to explore entrepreneurship through inclusive events, mentorship, and community focused on leadership and innovation.
Rice DECA
A professional development group where students sharpen leadership, networking, and business skills through national competitions, community service, and collaborative learning opportunities.
Rice Design
A creative community supporting students interested in graphic, product, and UI/UX design through workshops, mentorship, and project-based learning across disciplines.
HackRice
Host of Rice’s annual hackathon, HackRice brings 400+ students together to build tech solutions and showcase their creativity, coding skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Rice Student Venture Fund
An undergraduate-run venture fund where students learn by investing supporting Rice startups while gaining hands-on experience in venture capital and startup evaluation.
Lilie Space Requests
Are you a Rice student group looking for event space? Use of the Liu Idea Lab for events is considered on a one-by-one basis. If you would like your request considered, please complete the Lilie Space Request Form.
The space is available Tues-Fri between 5:30-9:00 pm, Sat & Sun 8:00 am-9:00 pm unless otherwise booked. Events must be related to innovation or entrepreneurship.
Should your request to use the Liu Idea Lab be approved, we will provide you with additional information including the Lilie Policies & Procedures documents in advance of your event.