The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) is Rice University’s nationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship education, and the launch of technology companies. The Rice Alliance is a catalyst for building successful ventures through education, guidance and connections. Its mission is to support the creation of technology-based companies and the commercialization of new technologies in the Houston community and Southwest. Since inception, over 2,675 startups have raised more than $21.5 billion in funding. More than 52,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem have attended over 200 programs hosted by the Rice Alliance The Rice University Business Plan Competition is the World’s Richest and Largest, awarding more than $1.3 million in prizes in the first virtual edition of the event in June 2020. Past competitors have raised more than $2.675+ billion in funding, with 237 past competitors still in business today or having had successful exits.