Napier Rice Launch Challenge

The Napier Rice Launch Challenge

The H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge Startup Competition is Rice’s internal startup competition, awarding cash prizes to Rice-affiliated teams. Students and alumni enter business ideas (high growth ventures or small business ideas) to compete in their track’s championships hosted in the Spring.

Apply to compete yourself or come out to network with Rice’s entrepreneurship community and support Rice students and alumni as they pitch their business ideas for a chance to win cash prizes. Attendance is open to Rice students, Rice alumni, and friends of Rice.

Student and Alumni Track Competitions

To better serve our entrepreneurial community, we’ve designed dedicated student and alumni NRLC competitions. With two tracks, we are able to offer more finalist spots (and $$$) to Rice startups. So, what can you expect if you decide to compete?

Student Track

Application Deadline: March 6th

Round One: March 24th

Championships: April 20th

Alumni Track

Application Deadline: Late May – Date TBD

Round One: Early June – Date TBD

Championships: Late June – Date TBD

Application

Applications for current students are now open and close by the date listed above. Students 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 will have the option to apply for both the student and alumni track competitions.

Team members or partners do not need to have a Rice background, however, the competitor pitching is required to be a Rice student or alumni.

Requirements to Apply

Less than $1 million in funding raised
Less than $500k in annual revenue
Already launched and operating, or incorporated with the intent to launch the product/service within the next 6-9 months
For students, the venture must be founded and/or lead by a current Rice undergraduate or graduate student
For alumni, the venture must be alum(na) founded, with the alum(na) pitching
All backgrounds and areas of study are welcome to apply

Round One

Competitors will prepare a 5-minute pitch and accompanying presentation for review by a panel of judges. Teams moving on to the Championships will be announced within 24 hours after your track’s Round One date mentioned above.

Championships

Before the final round, Lilie will help you refine your venture and prepare you to give an award-winning pitch, with:

Mentor sessions with seasoned entrepreneurs to develop your ideas
Pitch training workshops to polish your presentation

During the Championships, your 5-minute presentation will be followed by a 10-minute Q&A from our judges. Judges will select the winners and audience members will vote for the Audience Choice Award.

This year we’re excited to offer the first ever side car prize for Social Entrepreneurship, sponsored by MBA alumna Runsi Sen ’04.

APPLY NOW

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

Chevron Technology Ventures

Interested in sponsoring?

Are you looking to gain exposure to Houston’s newest and most promising startup ventures, as well as first-class entrepreneurial talent? Or are you looking to partner with potential long-term clients? Contact our team at lilie@rice.edu to see how you can support this experience and join us in the transformation of Houston’s innovation ecosystem.