Interested in venture capital, technology, and startups? Come learn about how they are all intersecting with Lilie and K2I!Read More »
Upcoming Events
How has the “new normal” impacted startups and investing? Hear from Rice alumni on how they’re navigating these unprecedented times.Read More »
Have a tech venture or are currently developing one? Want to discuss it with a VC? Apply for time with Sunil of Ubiquity Ventures.Read More »
Join us for Ladies who LaUNCH #9 with Monica Pal – CEO, CMO, Investor, Advisor, Entrepreneur, and Founding LP!Read More »
Using the Lean Canvas to Start Up Your StartupRead More »
Save the date for a community workshop on diversity and inclusion, and the importance of using these concepts to create a lasting impactRead More »
Join us to learn how to create a prototype with no coding experience and $0Read More »
Having worked with IBM, Amazon, and Tencent Cloud, Davy Wang will share his insights into the future of cloud computing.Read More »
Past Events
Join us in our first convening of the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) Speaker Series, “Lillie Lectures,” to hear from Aimee Woodall, Founder of Black Sheep Agency. Black Sheep Agency is a cause -driven brand shop focused on amplifying messages, accelerating impact, and making positive things happen …Read More »
***Open to the public*** This documentary gives a new face to the popular image of the tech entrepreneur: a female face. Following five women over two years as they pitch VCs, build teams, bring products to market, fail and start again, SHE STARTED IT takes viewers on a global roller coaster ride from …Read More »
Join us for a discussion with Rice alumni Rakesh Agrawal, SnapStream’s founder and CEO. Snapstream is a DVR and search engine for businesses. It enables organizations to monitor television to find exact mentions of certain phrases or ideas. SnapStream’s clients include ESPN, the NFL, and shows like The Colbert Report …Read More »
Generation Startup is a documentary that follows 6 college graduates who put everything on the line to start their own business. Acclaimed as one of the most realistic film depictions of what it’s like to start a business as a millennial, the film has achieved raving reviews from viewers and …Read More »
Please join us for the first Rice Launch Challenge, Rice’s newest entrepreneurship competition. Rice affiliated teams are competing for $30,000 in prize money and a three-month Revolving Membership to Station Houston. Students and alumni are competing in one of two categories: high growth and small business ventures. The guest emcee …Read More »
Please join us for our discussion with Dr. Soleimani, the Associate Director of the TMC Biodesign Innovation Fellowship, who applies his extensive experience and leadership in health care entrepreneurship to ushering in the next generation of innovative startups Dr. Soleimani has served as the founding CEO of telemedicine company eTherapi, …Read More »
Please join us for our discussion with Tawfik Jarjour, who will speak about forecasted trends in high tech for the coming decades, and potential implications for startups and large corporations. Tawfik, a Rice alumni, has worked across the healthcare, high tech, and the M&A space during his tenure at Accenture. …Read More »
Please join us for a conversation with Mark Cover, CEO & Senior Managing Director atHines Southwest Region, who will be speaking to questions about innovation and entrepreneurship in the large corporation. Mark will discuss how various business units interact at Hines and opportunities to lead through entrepreneurial strategies and skillsets. Hines …Read More »
In this talk, we learn with Steve Rader about new forms of collaboration, focusing on NASA crowd-sourced challenges as a means to solve difficult problems in space exploration. Steve is Director of NASA Open Innovation and Deputy Manager of the Center for Excellence for Collaborative Innovation (CoECI). Refreshments to follow! Join us. Read More »
Please join us as we talk with Casper Mattress co-founder and CEO, Phillip Krim. Three and a half years after launching, Casper is redefining e-commerce and the sleep industry and has grown to a company valued at $750 million. Most recently, the company raised $170 million in a round led by …Read More »
Guest: Nadia Morris, Director, AT&T Foundry for Connected Health Join us as we speak with Nadia Morris who will be discussing innovation and entrepreneurship inside a large organization. Nadia will share how AT&T has innovated beyond a telephone service company, and how various business units work together to keep the company relevant …Read More »
Shoukat Dhanani, CEO, Dhanani Group Please join us as we speak with Shoukat Dhanani about the Dhanani Group: from its origins as a small family business to now being the third largest restaurant franchise in the U.S. — with more than 800 restaurants under operation and a valuation of more …Read More »
Please join us for the H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge Startup Competition. Rice affiliated teams – students and recent alumni – are competing for $60,000 and other prizes. The guest emcee for the evening will be John Reale, CEO of Station Houston. He will be joined by a judging panel …Read More »
What is driving disruption in American healthcare today? What are the traditional economics of the American healthcare system, and where are we headed? Specifically, how will artificial intelligence transform the patient experience, from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up? In this talk, Professor Stephen Wong will provide insight through the lens …Read More »
Secret Weapon Skills to Build Like a Startup Founder Learn how to walk the talk of innovation and entrepreneurship. If you’ve been daydreaming about a big idea, think you’ve got the winning biz plan competition pitch or just want to learn how to drive innovation inside a large company, there …Read More »
What can we expect from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how can we harness its power today? Join us for a lecture by Ajay Agrawal, author of Prediction Machines and founder of the University of Toronto’s Creative Destruction Lab – which boasts the greatest concentration of AI start-ups of any program globally. …Read More »
Rice Students, Are you looking for a partner? Do you want to debate your business idea with like-minded people? Are you looking for your next opportunity? Do you feel like entrepreneurship is your way? You want to change the world. If only you had:someone to partner withsomeone to obsess over …Read More »
There is a myth in Silicon Valley that product-market fit comes from inspiration that strikes a magical person who then designs something wonderful, releases it to the public, and it takes off. This isn’t true for the vast majority of products. Finding product-market fit takes time and diligent work. It …Read More »
Have a technology or a business idea and want to find team members and co-founder? Don’t have a business idea but want to work on a startup idea? Join us for a two part event that will bring together the Rice community to form interdisciplinary teams to start new ventures. …Read More »
Save the date for an interactive workshop on how to develop a winning go-to-market strategy. Roberto Moctezuma is an entrepreneur, board member, advisor and angel investor with over 20 years of senior executive experience in the tech industry. Roberto is the CEO of Fractal River, an advisory firm that helps organizations thrive through …Read More »
Want to pitch your idea well? Give a compelling elevator pitch? How would you communicate your idea with someone at a party who you aren’t sure of their level of interest? Come to Beth O’Sullivan’s workshop on messaging and strategy and you’ll be ready to knock any pitch out of …Read More »
What is unit economics and why is it so important for my startup? The terms “customer acquisition cost” and “lifetime value” may confuse or bore you, but don’t be fooled. By understanding your company’s unit economics, it is possible to project how profitable the company may or may not be, …Read More »
Fireside Chats with John Reale, Jr. and Michael Sklar Join us on Thursday, January 24th for an open, intimate conversation with two of Houston’s most successful serial entrepreneurs. They will share their ‘why’, their stories, challenges, successes, tips and answer your questions. Hosted by Jamie Jones, Executive Director of Lilie …Read More »
Join us for a lecture from Laura Spanjian, the senior public policy director for Airbnb for the US West. She will be speaking on Airbnb’s responsibilities as a global citizen. Laura Spanjian is the senior public policy director for Airbnb for the US West. Doing business in 191 countries and …Read More »
Please join us for the H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge Startup Competition. Rice affiliated teams – students and recent alumni – are competing for $60,000 and other prizes. The guest emcee for the evening will be Rassul Zarinfar, founder of Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co., will be joined by a judging …Read More »
Calling all Rice entrepreneurial and innovative alumni that are hustling in Houston. Join us for the launch of the new Rice Alumni Entrepreneurs & Innovators network (RAEI). Forge new connections, engage with old friends, enjoy great food and drinks, and discuss what YOU want this network to be. As a global powerhouse in …Read More »
Calling all Rice entrepreneurial and innovative alumni that are hustling in San Jose. Join us for the launch of the new Rice Alumni Entrepreneurs & Innovators network (RAEI). Forge new connections, engage with old friends, enjoy great food and drinks, and discuss what YOU want this network to be. As a global powerhouse …Read More »
Calling all Rice entrepreneurial and innovative alumni that are hustling in San Francisco. Join us for the launch of the new Rice Alumni Entrepreneurs & Innovators network (RAEI). Forge new connections, engage with old friends, enjoy great food and drinks, and discuss what YOU want this network to be. As a global powerhouse …Read More »
Interested in joining a RAEI Roundtable or are you a current member? Join us for light bites and drinks on Thursday, May 16th for our Roundtable kick-off. Topics Covered:-How Roundtables Work-Agenda and Methodology-New Speaker Bank-How to Access Mentors-Best Practices-Meet Other Business Owners Directions & Parking: Easiest: Google Maps – “Liu Idea …Read More »
Recently join an RAEI Roundtable? Join us for light bites and drinks on Thursday, June 20th for our Roundtable Mock Session to see how your table will run and what to expect from your monthly meetings. Directions & Parking: Easiest: Google Maps – “Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship” Lilie …Read More »
After our visit in May, we heard that our Bay Area alumni wanted more opportunities to get to know other entrepreneruial peers in the area. Please join us for a casual happy hour to connect with old friends and meet new ones. We have met man inspiring entrepreneurs and innovators …Read More »
Join us for the inaugural Science and Engineering Entrepreneurial Boot Camp Industry Mixer on Thursday, August 15th at 5:15 p.m. at the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie). Enjoy light bites and beer and wine while engaging with the inaugural boot camp cohort and help expand Houston’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. …Read More »
Rice alumni and current students, join us for our first reverse pitch. Instead of companies pitching to investors, Rice affiliated funds are pitching to the community. Come hear from our alumni on who they are currently investing in and what types of companies they are looking to partner with. Stay …Read More »
Here’s our pitch: Free Tacos. Beer. Fast Pitch. Fun. What is yours? Want to hear new business ideas from the Rice community? Have the skills to help other entrepreneurs launch their ventures? If so, join us for the year’s first entrepreneurship event! We invite the Rice community to come watch …Read More »
Entrepreneurs can find new venture ideas in a variety of places – including everyday life. Chances are that a great idea won’t come to you thinking very hard in a vacuum. So how can you come up with a fantastic venture idea? Join us for a lecture from David Schonthal, the …Read More »
The global economy is powered by 125 million business and payments between those businesses transacted over a variety of technologies. In the US, $2 trillion of the $58 trillion in payments generated by small business are “other” – new digital payment technologies including cryptocurrency and blockchain created by fintechs, banks and large players like Facebook and JP …Read More »
In the second part of the series learn how to turn your idea into the next big idea by understanding your users. There’ll be interactive activities and networking opportunities with people from Lilie, Rice Ventures and Design For America. Snacks will be provided! Co-hosted by Rice VenturesRead More »
Rice has many assets, one being its diverse community – even our alumni group is a mix of diverse perspectives, diverse skillsets, and diverse demographics. Research has proven repeatedly that diversity leads to stronger outcomes and higher returns on investments, but diversity can also lead to more tension. In order …Read More »
Venture For America has helped over 1,000 recent grads find jobs in startups across the country. We’re excited to share our tips and tricks to land a startup job that can propel your career forward. Join VFA alums Brian Barr (Rice ‘17 & VFA Detroit ‘17) and Millie Price (VFA Providence ’17) …Read More »
Celebrate the beginning of fall weather in Houston with fellow Roundtable members at Southern Yankee. We will enjoy SoYank brews and artisan pizza and hear from Alex Porter (Rice MBA ’18) about his journey launching SoYank. This is a great opportunity for your Roundtable family to meet your loved ones. We would love …Read More »
Save the date for a student workshop on diversity and inclusion. This will be held Saturday, October 26th from 1:00-5:00 pm at Lilie. While this is an exclusive opportunity for current Rice students, spots are limited. Reserve your seat today. We believe that equitable organizations and equitable opportunities stem from …Read More »
Save the date for a community workshop on diversity and inclusion. This will be held Sunday, October 27th from 1:00-5:00 pm at The Cannon. While this is open to the community, spots are limited. Reserve your seat today. We believe that equitable organizations and equitable opportunities stem from a community …Read More »
What do the many Kardashian brands, SoulCycle, and Rent The Runway have in common? They are extremely valuable companies all run by a team of kick-ass females who decide daily to support each other. So, if you have any inkling to be entrepreneurial, we invite you to join us for …Read More »
What does it take to be a successful tech entrepreneur? Based on Brad’s Silicon Valley experiences in creating or growing four successful startup tech companies and advising many other startups, he will share the top ten (or so) tips that entrepreneurs use to win. Brad Husick is a serial entrepreneur and …Read More »
For the second event in our series, we are excited to announce that Allie Danziger, founder and president of Integrate, will be sharing her experiences. Allie will speak about her entrepreneurial journey to creating Texas’ first fully-integrated digital and traditional marketing agency, Integrate. She will also speak to the value …Read More »
Join us for the next RAEI event where you will get an exclusive sneak peek at the new Railway Heights Market – not yet open to the public! This new development is one of the latest campaigns running on the NextSeed platform, which was co-founded by alumnus Abe Chu. In addition to …Read More »
For the third event in our series, we are excited to announce that Stephanie Campbell (MBA ’17), founder of the Artemis Fund and director of the Houston Angel Network, will be sharing her experiences. As a female working in the venture space, she has learned a thing or two about …Read More »
Rice Entrepreneurship Students, We are thankful for you! Let’s celebrate the end of the fall semester together over lunch. PLEASE RSVP. PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RICE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.Read More »
Join us for the next RAEI event where you will hear from NextSeed managing director, JP Yorro, who will be sharing insight into the due diligence process that NextSeed uses to evaluate deals. He will be using a case study on Blue Top Brand to teach us how to dig into …Read More »
Rice Entrepreneurship Students, Welcome to 2020! Let’s celebrate the beginning of the Spring semester as well as a new decade together over lunch. Please RSVP below to reserve your spot. (This event is by invitation only.) PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS OPEN ONLY TO CURRENT RICE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS.Read More »
For the fourth event in our series, we are excited to announce that Samantha Lewis of the GOOSE Society and Kim Raath of Topl will be joining us. Samantha Lewis is a serial entrepreneur and is the head of the GOOSE Society. Kim is the co-founder and President of Topl. …Read More »
In this hands on workshop, learn how to quickly generate and validate a startup idea with zero dollars, limited time, and real customers. Students will become comfortable with: Talking with people early to generate or validate an idea Figuring out the most important thing to test Building a pretotype very cheaply …Read More »
For the fifth event in our series, we are excited to announce that Ashley Arciero (Rice MBA Alumna 2019), will be sharing her experiences. Ashley is a trained aerospace engineer who led safety and mission assurance for NASA for many years before coming to Rice for her MBA. During her …Read More »
For entrepreneurs and small business owners, business results and people strategy are top of mind. Predictive Index is a highly effective, science-based assessment that provides a simple framework for understanding the workplace behaviors of leaders and their team. When leaders and employees understand this information, they are equipped to minimize …Read More »
In response to the interest in our Trek to Austin, we will be holding a Product Management Lunch Panel at Lilie. We will provide lunch and a panel to discuss the different aspects of tech product management, explore the nuances within the role at different companies, and learn about what …Read More »
For the sixth event in our series, we are excited to announce that Abbey Donnell (Rice MBA Alumna 2017), will be sharing her experiences finding a problem area, how to help companies retain female talent, how she designed comprehensive and accommodating spaces, and many other great topics. Abbey is the …Read More »
Have a startup idea or something you are working on? Join MassChallenge at Lilie for an information session to learn about their zero-equity accelerator programs in Houston and Austin. Are you an early-stage startup that wants the opportunity to win a piece of up to $750k in equity-free cash? @MassChallengeTX is …Read More »
Join the Ken Kennedy Institute and the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) for a view into how our inherent biases have shaped and will continue to shape our lives. From discussions in Congress to articles in Science, the issue known as “algorithmic bias” – intelligent technologies that reflect and reinforce societal biases – has …Read More »
At the start of each semester, Rice Ventures sources the most promising student startup founders from Rice’s campus and invite them to pitch their ventures to students like you. Come hear our founders pitch their companies and get the chance to network with the founders that interest you. After the …Read More »
We regret to inform you that given the current situation with the coronavirus and all the preemptive measures being taken at Rice, and around the country, we will be canceling the Napier Rice Launch Challenge until further notice. This was a very hard decision on our part but given the …Read More »
CANCELLED: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to social distancing guidelines. We hope to hold this event in coming semesters, stay tuned for updates.Read More »
Rice has moved online, and now Lilie will too. In this first-ever virtual Lilie workshop, we will build upon the themes covered in the From Wild Idea to First Steps event and show participants how to create low fidelity prototypes without spending a dollar or knowing how to write a …Read More »
Join us for this virtual workshop as Emily Keeton, the COO of GoodFair.com, takes participants through an overview of Software as a Service models and also covers key metrics founders should be using to measure success. Open to the general public. Link to follow. Read More »
Through this series, we have been navigating this fluid business landscape as a community by addressing immediate implications such as SBA loans, legal implications/contracts, tax tips, etc. Now we are starting to look forward to possible opportunities for our alumni to grow from this situation. There is an opportunity that …Read More »
Join Lilie for a conversation with alumna Robyn O’Brien (MBA 1998) on her inspiring journey to change the American food industry, where she will speak candidly about her experiences. She always knew she wanted to create impact, and was unfilled with her corporate career. However, she intentionally leveraged each career …Read More »
If you are a current Rice alumni entrepreneur (acting c-suite execs, founder) or looking to launch or acquire a company within the next year, this information session is for you. Join us to learn more about the Houston Chapter of the Rice Alumni Entrepreneurs and Innovators (RAEI) Roundtables, a place …Read More »
Hear from experts on the legal implications and available resources for businesses when returning to work during COVID-19Read More »
TLDR: Join Lilie to learn about how you can partake in our newly offered Entrepreneurship Minor. We will share about the courses, the pathway, and what the minor can do for you. More details: While we are all reeling from the many changes this COVID19 induced “new normal” brings, we have …Read More »
Lilie and RAEI are excited to launch our Virtual Roundtables! Join us to learn more and ask questions about our upcoming program.Read More »
Come learn about the resources available to MBAs through Lilie.Read More »
Hear Jay Steinfeld’s story on taking his small retail chain to launching the internet’s first blinds website, Blinds.comRead More »
Date/Time TBD – Join the discussion and learn about recent developments to the Paycheck Protection Program and HEALS ActRead More »
Join us for Ladies who LaUNCH #8 with Joanna Nathan (MBA ’19)Read More »
Hear from A.I. expert, CEO, and best-selling author, Dr. Kai-Fu Lee! In collaboration with Rice’s Chao Center for Asian StudiesRead More »
Do you have a spark for entrepreneurship, but not sure how to get involved? Learn how RWE can support you personally and professionally!Read More »
Join us and Baker Tilly to learn about recent developments to the PPP and HEALS Acts – and what these mean for your businessRead More »
Join us for the first Rice entrepreneurship event of the school year!Read More »
Pour a cup of joe (or a latte, tea, or hot cocoa) and join us for a quick coffee break for this industry chat!Read More »
Join us to learn how to take your first steps to entrepreneurship.Read More »
Students, staff, and alumni! Join us for Plug and Play’s University Pitch Session – featuring Rice University!Read More »