Registration for the 2025 challenge is now closed.
See previous winners!
Competition Details
Students from all areas of study are encouraged to apply, as a solo founder or as a team. If registering 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. If registering as a team, please submit only one registration form. You will have an opportunity to list all team members on the registration form.
Requirements
- One registration form per team
- A maximum of 5 members per team; you may also register as a solo founder
- The venture must be founded and/or lead by a current Rice undergraduate, graduate, or MBA student
- The venture doesn’t have to be fully launched but must be more than an idea.
NRLC Prizes
In celebration of Rice’s rich diversity of entrepreneurial endeavors, we are proud to offer a variety of prizes including:
- First Place — $50,000
- Second Place — $25,000
- Third Place — $15,000
- Outstanding Undergraduate Award — $2,500
- Audience Choice Award — $2,000
- Frank Liu Jr. Prize for Creative Innovation in Music, Fashion, & the Arts — $1,500
- Outstanding Achievement in Artificial Intelligence Prize — $1,000
- Outstanding Achievement in Climate Solutions Prize — $1,000
- Outstanding Achievement in Consumer Goods Prize — $1,000
REGISTER NOW
Submit by March 2, 2025
How It Works
NRLC Round 1
Venture teams will present a 5 minute pitch on Zoom, followed by a 5-minute of Q&A from a panel of judges from across the Rice startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
To accommodate different spring break schedules, MBAs will give their Round 1 pitches on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Undergraduates and non-MBA grad students will give their Round 1 pitches on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
NRLC Round 2
Round 2 will follow a similar format to Round 1. However, in Round 2, teams will pitch live, in-person at the Liu Idea Lab. NRLC Round 2 will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
NRLC Championships
The five finalist teams will present a five-minute pitch, followed by Q&A from our judges, live, on-stage, in front of the whole Rice entrepreneurship community. Judges will deliberate and select 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Additional prizes will also be awarded. NRLC Championships will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Grand Hall in the Rice Memorial Center.
How to Prepare
Lilie Resources
Need additional support? We got you. Sign up for one-on-one pitch coaching with us!
Lilie will help you refine your idea and prepare you to give an award-winning pitch by:
- Walking you through any questions you may have about the readiness of your venture
- Conducting a dedicated deck review
- Providing feedback on your pitch and helping develop your delivery
Self-Service Resources
