Eligibility

Are you eligible to apply to the Rice Business Plan Competition? Let's see!

You are initially eligible for RBPC 2024 if your startup:

  • is student-driven, student-created and/or student-managed
  • has at least two current student founders or management team members, and at least one of those students is a current graduate degree-seeking student
  • are from a college or university anywhere in the world
  • has not raised more than $250,000 in equity capital prior to July 1, 2023
  • has not generated revenue of more than $100,000 in any 12-month period prior to July 1, 2023
  • is seeking funding or capital (or will be in the next 12 months)
  • is a potentially viable investment opportunity

If you can answer all those questions with "Yes," then your startup appears eligible! Please read the full details on eligibility and what we will be looking for an application—this will help you submit the best application possible!

Apply for the RBPC here!

2024 Competition Sectors

Solar panels in field

Energy, Cleantech and Sustainability

(including but not limited to): Agriculture/Agtech, Batteries & Storage, Decarbonization/Climate Tech, Energy Infrastructure, Oil & Gas Technologies, Renewable/Alternative Energy, Recycling, New and Non-Carbon Fuels, Transportation/Electric Vehicles, Water

man wearing VR goggles

Hard Tech

(including but not limited to): Advanced Manufacturing, Advanced Materials, Aerospace/Spacetech, AR & VR (augmented & virtual reality), Autonomous Vehicles, Drones, Machine Learning and AI (Artificial Intelligence), Quantum Computing, Robotics, Smart Sensors

Medical device iPad leg exam

Life Sciences and Healthcare Solutions

(including but not limited to): Aging/Gerontology, Biotech, Diagnostics, Digital Health, Disease Management, Public Health, Medical Devices, Personalized Medicine, Pharma & Therapeutics, Prevention

Big Data or blockchain screen with graphs

Digital Enterprise

(including but not limited to): Big Data, Blockchain, Cyber/IoT Security, Cloud & Edge Computing, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Media & Advertising, SportsTech, Supply Chain/Logistics, Workforce

2019 Rice Business Plan Competition with their prototype

Consumer Products and Services

(including but not limited to): Analytics, Consumer Web, Education/EdTech, Food & Drink, Gaming, Mobile, Personal Devices, Social Impact, Subscription Services, Wearables & Clothing

Apply for #RBPC24

If you've reviewed eligibility and are ready to apply, visit the competition portal! 

Important Dates for #RBPC24 Applicants

Date Event or Deadline
December 13, 2023

8:00 AM CST - Applications for #RBPC24 open: https://rbpc.poetic.io

January 31, 2024

11:59 PM CST - Applications close; deadline to submit applications 

February 21, 2024

Noon CST - 42 teams invited to participate via video live stream, social media, emails and phone calls 

February 26, 2024

5:00 PM CST - Invited teams confirm commitment to compete via written confirmation on application and last day to withdraw without penalty