Catherine Santamaria

Catherine is the Director of the Rice Business Plan Competition at the Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship at Rice University. The business plan competition is the world’s richest and largest graduate-level student startup competition awarding more than $1 million in prizes each year to 42 university teams. In this role, Catherine will enhance and expand the competition globally and widen its visibility and economic impact. Prior to the Rice Alliance, Catherine was Head of Science & Innovation at the British Consulate-General in Houston, where she developed and delivered impactful multi-stakeholder research and innovation collaborations and opportunities for the UK and SW US; identified and supported emerging science and technology opportunities for the UK; and supported UK policy development with US insights and identified best practices. She also spent some time in the health & fitness field when a career change took her to the Jewish Community Center of Houston to serve as the Health & Fitness Coordinator and interim Fitness Director in their fitness center. There she managed the adult group exercise program and staff, designed health and wellness programs, and expanded the fitness center’s social media presence. Catherine Santamaria is a fourth-generation Houstonian, graduating from The Colorado College in Colorado Springs with a B.A. in German and History.

For inquiries about the RBPC, contact Catherine at rbpc@rice.edu.