Rice eXperiment Fund Grant

LILIE RICE EXPERIMENT FUND FOR ALL CURRENT STUDENTS

The Rice Experiment Fund is a program designed to enable you to get straight to testing the assumptions in your student venture. Open to any current Rice Student, RXF provides equity-free fast-grant funding to get you started with your experiments..

Applications for the Lilie Rice Experiment Fund will open on January 16, 2024. Any current Rice University undergraduate or graduate student can apply for up to $100 per semester in equity-free funding to develop and implement an exceptional idea, innovation, discovery, or entrepreneurial undertaking. Working on a janky but working prototype? Trying to start the next great YouTube channel or TikTok following? Maybe you’ve got an idea for a new fashion brand, food product, or the next great consumer app. It’s all a fit for RXF.

THE HIGHLIGHTS

RXF is an annual pool of funds dedicated to removing friction and financial barriers to early-stage undergraduate and graduate student makers, creators and future founders.
Recipient(s) may be awarded up to $100 per semester to develop and implement an exceptional idea, innovation, discovery, or entrepreneurial undertaking.
RXF fast grants claim no IP ownership, and are always equity-free.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate Rice University students.
Any major or discipline is welcome to apply.
For profit and non-profit ventures are equally welcome, as are ideas of all kinds. There is no such thing as too early or too crazy for RXF.
Students can apply individually or as part of a team. There is no limit to the size of your team.
All applying individuals and team members must be in good academic standing.

What are some examples that RXF could support?

Conducting in person or virtual focus groups or customer development interviews.
Creating a prototype of the proposed product or service to better articulate and test the solution.
Running small dollar ad campaigns to gather data to test and hone customer acquisition channels.
Setting up a Shopify or other e-commerce implementation to test demand.
Recording and distributing content, or filming videos for Kickstarter campaigns.

If you have other ideas, needs, or are unsure if you qualify, please reach out to RXF Program Manager Patrick Ray at PBR2@rice.edu with any questions.

What to expect:

Application and Funding Approval: The student submits a simple application form outlining their venture and the intended use of the initial $100 funding. Once approved, the student receives the $100 funding to kickstart their venture. Ongoing mentoring and support are available but not required.
Venture Development: The student begins working on their venture, utilizing the funds to conduct market research, prototype development, or other essential activities. They have the freedom to navigate their venture’s growth and make progress at their own pace.
Launchpad Opportunity: If the student wishes to continue their entrepreneurial journey and explore further opportunities, they can choose to apply to Launchpad, which provides a platform for mentorship, community, self-paced learnings and experimentation. The student becomes eligible for an additional $400 per semester through the Rice Experiment Fund (RXF) in conjunction with their participation in Launchpad.

LILIE RICE EXPERIMENT FUND FOR ALL CURRENT STUDENTS

THE HIGHLIGHTS

WHO CAN APPLY?

What are some examples that RXF could support?

What to expect:

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