Rice Business Plan Competition announces 2022 teams

The world's largest and richest student startup competition will bring together the most promising student ventures from top universities across the U.S. and Europe to compete for more than $1 million in prizes and funding.

The 2022 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC), hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and the Jones Graduate School of Business, will be back in person and on campus April 7-9.

After two years of virtual competition, the Rice Alliance expects an exceptionally engaged community of over 250 judges, mentors and investors from the Houston community and beyond to turn out for the competition.

"As we come out on the other side of a long and challenging two years, we're feeling a sense of renewal and energy looking to the future and finding inspiration from the next generation of entrepreneurs who are building a better world," said Catherine Santamaria, director of the RBPC.

"This year's competition celebrates student founders with a strong sense of determination - founders who are ready to adapt, build and grow companies that can change the future," Santamaria said. "We hope their participation will provide guidance and inspiration for our community."

This year's startups were chosen from more than 400 applicants and will compete in five categories: energy, clean tech and sustainability; life sciences and health care solutions; consumer products and services; hard tech; and digital enterprise. With students from four countries, the 42 startups represent 31 universities, with 11 universities represented by two different teams. This year's competition also features eight universities competing for the first time as well as three teams from European universities.

A number of Rice student startups participated in the internal RBPC qualifier pitch event to secure two spots in the RBPC. The 2022 qualifier saw the largest number of applicants, judges and participants in the internal competition's history, demonstrating Rice's continued success in fostering an entrepreneurial focus among its students. Rice Alliance awarded a total of $5,000 in cash prizes to the top three teams from the internal qualifier: EpiFresh, Green Room and Anvil Diagnostics. EpiFresh and Green Room received invitations to compete in the 2022 RBPC.

Not only do the startups pitch to a growing community of investors, entrepreneurs and partners, but the teams are also able to network and receive real-time feedback, advice and mentorship during the April event.

Past competitors have raised more than $3.57 billion in capital and more than 259 RBPC alumni have successfully launched their ventures. Most are still in business today, including 40 startups that have had successful exits through acquisitions or trading on a public market.

2022 Rice Business Plan Competition invited teams: