Business Competitions

Rice Business Plan Competition

Top Prize: $175,000 (includes $100,000 investment, $55,000 in services, and $20,000 cash)
Host: Rice University Jones Graduate School of Management in Houston

While only a small portion of the $175,000 prize is awarded in cash, previous winners have found that Rice's competition meets their startup needs. For 2007, the in-kind amount of the business plan competition prize package increased by $27,500. Among the perks: airline tickets, office space, Web site services, and marketing advice. But this prominent competition also gets attention from investors ready to take on the next new thing. As a result of winning the 2005 prize Auditude, a Los Angeles media and music software company, managed to also get a million-dollar investment.