The 2017 winner of the Rice University Business Plan Competition — Forest Devices from Carnegie Mellon University — rang the Nasdaq Stock Market closing bell Oct.

Eight businesses based in the Houston area were among the 10 most-promising energy and clean technology venture companies announced by the Rice Alliance.

Rice University’s and the University of Houston’s student startup accelerator programs have jointly leased space in downtown's 1600 Smith building to host, in tandem, their immersive 12-week summer programs that provide participating teams with firsthand experience launching a tech startup. The accelerators began May 22 and will conclude Aug. 11.

HOUSTON – (April 8, 2017) – Forest Devices from Carnegie Mellon University emerged as the top startup company tonight in the 2017 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business.