Alumni Napier Rice Launch Challenge

The H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge (NRLC) is Rice’s new venture competition, where undergraduate, graduate, MBA students and alumni pitch their business ventures to win a share of $65,000 in equity-free funding, all while launching their venture on the biggest stage of the year.

Application

We will not be holding an Alumni NRLC for 2023. Applications for 2024 will open in early March 2024.

Alumni from all areas of study are encouraged to apply, along with alumni from any graduating year. If you are a Rice student who will graduate by May 2024, you can apply to the alumni track competition.

Solo founders and founder teams are welcome to apply. If applying as a team, members or partners do not need to have a Rice background. However, the co-founder pitching is required to be a Rice alum. Additionally, if applying as a team, please submit only one application. You will have an opportunity to list all team members on the application.

Requirements to Apply

• One application per team
• A maximum of 5 members per team. You may also apply as a solo founder.
• You must submit a 5-minute video of your pitch.
• The venture must be alum founded, with the alum pitching
• The venture doesn’t have to be fully launched to apply but must be more than an idea

Championships

How it Works

In your application, you will submit a 5-minute video of your venture’s pitch. We will then reach out with decisions in early June about who will move on to the championships.

The alumni championships will be virtual on Zoom late June. The 6 finalist teams will present a 5-minute pitch, followed by a 7-minute Q&A from our judges.

Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors and Supporters!

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of our community. For their sponsorship and support in fostering entrepreneurship at Rice, we’d like to thank:

Dacia and Lanham Napier, in honor of Al Napier

Runsi Sen, MBA 2004

The Liu Family, in honor of Frank Liu, Jr.