Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
University fund · Rice University · Houston
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is Rice University’s initiative devoted to supporting technology commercialization, entrepreneurship education, and the launch of technology companies.
About
Founded in 2000 in Houston, the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship operates as Rice University's university fund initiative. Operating with a team of one, the organization is devoted to entrepreneurship education, technology commercialization, and launching technology companies. It supports founders from any sector and stage, with specialized program tracks and events dedicated to seed-stage ventures, climate and energy, biotech, and deeptech.
What they run
The organization has held 19 events since 2021, focusing heavily on Houston with 17 gatherings there. Their programming spans eight conferences, five demo days, and several pitch nights. Core recurring fixtures include the Rice Business Plan Competition, Energy Venture Day, the Texas Life Science Forum, and the Energy Tech Venture Forum. Future plans include editions of the Rice Business Plan Competition scheduled for November 2026 and April 2027 in Houston.
Who attends
The audience centers on university-linked entrepreneurs, early-stage founders, and teams preparing for competitive pitch nights and demo days. Because the programming covers sector-agnostic competitions alongside deeptech, biotech, and climate ventures, attendees include seed-stage innovators working on decarbonization, life sciences researchers commercializing technology, and investors who track university spinouts and venture forums.
Upcoming events
Past events
- 23rd Annual Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum — 2026-09-16 · Houston
- Register Now for the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship 23rd Annual Energy Tech Venture Forum – Sept 16 – Sept 17, 2026 – Houston, TX - Upstream Calendar — 2026-09-16
- Rice Business Plan Competition — 2026-04-09 · Houston
- World’s largest, richest intercollegiate student startup competition opens call for graduate founders to compete for $1M-plus in prizes | The business school at Rice University (Rice Business) — 2026-04-09
- Energy Venture Day at CERAWeek 2026 — 2026-03-24 · Houston
- Texas Life Science Forum 2025 — 2025-11-11 · Houston
- Energy Venture Day at CERAWeek 2025 — 2025-03-11 · Houston
- Texas Life Science Forum 2024 — 2024-11-07 · Houston
- Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum 2024 — 2024-09-12 · Houston
- Rice Business Plan Competition 2024 — 2024-04-04 · Houston
- Energy Venture Day at CERAWeek 2024 — 2024-03-20 · Houston
- Energy Venture Day Pitch Preview 2024 — 2024-03-19 · Houston
- Texas Life Science Forum 2023 — 2023-11-07 · Houston
- Rice Alliance Energy Tech Venture Forum 2023 — 2023-09-21 · Houston
- Rice Business Plan Competition — 2023-05-11 · Houston
- Texas Life Science Forum 2022 — 2022-02-24 · Houston
- Energy Venture Day at OTC 2021 — 2021-08-16 · Houston
More events in Houston
- Tech Founders & Investors: Pitch & Connect I Houston — 2026-10-29 · Houston · Pitch nights
- AI Tech & Startup Night — Houston — 2026-10-29 · Houston · Pitch nights
- AI Startup Pitch & Investor Networking I Houston — 2026-10-29 · Houston · Pitch nights
- Houston Startup Founders, Innovators & Investors ... — 2026-11-02 · Houston · Mixers
- StartUps, Founders, Investors, Talent Networking & Pitch Houston — 2026-11-02 · Houston · Mixers