Application
Applications for alumni are now closed.
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 2022, you can apply to the alumni track competition.
Solo founders and founder teams are welcomed 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 student or alumnus. 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 Rice alumni founded, with the alumni pitching.
- The venture doesn’t not have to be fully launched to apply but must be more than an idea.
Office Hours
We’ll sit with you one-on-one and walk through any hesitations you may have about the “readiness” of your venture. Office hours are virtual. Grab a time slot here >>
How to Prepare
- Sample pitch video to give you an idea of what a good pitch sounds like
- Sign up for our email based course “How to Deliver a Winning Pitch at NRLC”
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 about who will move on to the championships.
The alumni championships will be virtual on Zoom. The 6 finalist teams will present a 5-minute pitch, followed by a 7-minute Q&A from our judges.
Judges will deliberate and select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. The audience will also have a chance to choose a venture to receive the Audience Choice Award.
How We Help You Prepare
Lilie will help you refine your venture and prepare you to give an award-winning pitch by:
- Pairing your team with a coach who will conduct a dedicated deck review session
- Providing your team with mentorship sessions with seasoned entrepreneurs to provide feedback on your pitch and help develop your delivery
- Hosting working sessions in the Liu Idea Lab where you can collaborate directly with Lilie staff
RSVP TO ALUMNI CHAMPIONSHIPS
Join us and support Rice University alumni startups at the NRLC Championships on Wednesday, June 29th! Six alumni finalists will pitch their ventures for the chance to win a share of equity-free funding!
RSVP HERE!