The Rice Alliance hosts both large-scale and more intimate events to bring together investors, corporations, startups and technology ventures for deal-flow, networking and discussions. These programs incorporate company pitches, private investor dinners and personalized one-on-one investor/startup office hours. Our goal is to be a facilitator to quickly accelerate the growth and adoption of promising tech ventures. Since launch, our energy venture programs have included ventures raising $6.6 billion in funding—and our life science programs saw companies that raised more than $8.1 billion in funding, including 385 successful companies with 62 exits. 

Through top-tier curriculum and intentional mentorship, the Rice Alliance hosts multiple programs to quickly accelerate startups, from idea-stage to later-stage companies. IdeaLaunch is a learn-by-doing startup bootcamp designed for thinkers and doers to solve problems and turn ideas into potential businesses. OwlSpark is Rice University's startup accelerator founded in 2012 and  provides hands-on startup experiences and a roadmap from innovation to commercialization for tech startups. The Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator, founded in 2021, increases the likelihood of success for early-stage global startups advancing solutions for a cleaner, more efficient and sustainable future. The newest accelerator, BlueLaunch is Rice University small business accelerator and delivers hands-on training and mentoring designed to help scale small ventures. 

The world's largest and richest intercollegiate student startup competition, the Rice Business Plan Competition offers an educational program mirroring real-world experience through this multi-day event for student startups from across the world. Student founders pitch to investors, receive feedback and advance their startup. More than 730 teams have competed since 2001 and raised $4.6 billion in funding. 

A membership to the Rice Alliance secures your ability to have access to exciting new businesses and technologies in the areas of life science, energy and clean technology, and information technology. This is an opportunity to show your support of our community of entrepreneurs and network with investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders and leading researchers.