Ice cream company Protein Pint was among the nearly 350 angel, venture, and talented student ventures from top universities around the world at the 2024 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) held on April 6th. They competed for awards in front of capital, corporate investors and members and won the grand prize. of the business community.
Paul Rees, founder and CEO of Protein Pint, said in his acceptance speech: I and the other students here will never forget it. ”
Organized annually by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Rice University's Jones School of Business, RBPC is the world's largest and most well-funded student startup competition.
RBPC provides a real-world opportunity to learn what it takes to successfully launch a new business. In addition to large cash, investment and in-kind prizes, the competition centers around mentorship from investors and experienced entrepreneurs. RBPC alumni have raised more than $6.1 billion and 288 are in business or have successfully exited businesses.
Winners were announced at the conclusion of a three-day pitching, coaching, and networking event that included an elevator pitch contest, practice rounds, semifinals, wildcards, and final rounds.
RBPC Director Katherine Santamaria said in her welcome speech at the awards ceremony on April 6th, “We will be awarding each contestant a $1 million cash prize, which will serve as the foundational capital to launch their startup.'' ” he said.
“This is so many prizes, but the biggest thing our startup will leave behind is the generosity and sense of community from this room. This community is always ready and willing to invest time and money. We will also provide resources for these student innovators, who will assist our founders and support our vision for the competition.” ”
The 42 competing startups represent 35 universities from four countries. They were selected from his more than 450 applicants and competed in one of his five categories: energy, clean technology, and sustainability. Life science and healthcare solutions. Consumer products and services. hard technology. and digital enterprise. Learn more about all startups here.
The seven finalists based on the judges' overall scores are:
Michigan State University Protein Pint – 1st Place Winner of GOOSE Capital Investment Award of $150,000.
- Protein Pints are high-protein, low-carbohydrate ice cream products designed for people who would benefit from access to functional ice cream and tastier, more enjoyable protein options.
Somnaire at Johns Hopkins University – 2nd place and $100,000 investment award sponsored by David Anderson, John Finger, Anderson Family Fund, Finger Interests, Greg Novak and Tracy Doles .
- Somnair is a new non-invasive neurostimulation device for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.
Power2Polymers, RWTH Aachen University – 3rd place, $50,000 investment to Rice University provided by Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and sponsored by Finger Interests, Anderson Family Fund of Greater Houston Community Foundation, Greg Novak and Tracy Druce .
- Power2Polymers is addressing the pressing issue of “forever chemicals,” which are linked to more than 6.5 million deaths in the United States alone, by providing safe alternatives that are free of forever chemicals.
Informuta, Tulane University – 4th place, $5,000 prize. Sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Shell Ventures.
- Informuta's proprietary technology uses DNA sequencing to predict whether bacteria will respond to different antibiotics or whether they will develop resistance for the first time in the future, causing treatment failure.
University of Kansas Icorium Engineering Company – 5th place, $5,000 prize, sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Shell Ventures.
- Icorium Engineering Company is a chemical engineering startup and spinout of the University of Kansas developing sustainable circular economy technologies for refrigerants and other complex chemical mixtures.
EndoShunt Medical, Harvard University – 6th place, $5,000 prize. Sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Shell Ventures.
- EndoShunt is transforming trauma surgery with a rapid and targeted blood flow control device.
D. Sole, Carnegie Mellon University – 7th place, $5,000 prize, sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright, EY, Chevron Technology Ventures, Shell Ventures.
- D. Sole is developing remote patient monitoring in podiatry using foot insoles designed for early detection and monitoring of diabetic foot complications such as ulcers and deformities.
Other important awards and winning teams this year include:
- $200,000 Goose Capital Investment Award – Osphim, RWTH Aachen University
- $250,000 OWL Investment Award – MesaQuantum, Harvard University
- $100,000 OWL Investment Award – Icorium Engineering Company, University of Kansas
- $100,000 Houston Angel Network Investment Award – Somnaire, Johns Hopkins University
- $100,000 Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Texas Angels Investment Award – Protein Pint, Michigan State University
- $60,000 nCourage Courageous Women Entrepreneurial Investment Award – MesaQuantum, Harvard University
- $40,000 nCourage Courageous Women Entrepreneurial Investment Award – Icorium Engineering Company, University of Kansas
- $40,000 Pearland EDC Spirit of Entrepreneurship Prize – Informuta, Tulane University
- $25,000 New Climate Venture Sustainable Investment Award – Oxylus Energy, Yale University
- $25,000 nCourage Investment Group's Courageous Women Entrepreneur Investment Award –
- $25,000 Dream Big Ventures Latino Entrepreneur Investment Award – Dendritic Health AI, Northwestern University
- NOV Energy Technology Innovation Prize $25,000 – LiQuidium, University of Houston
- $25,000 Urban Capital Network Diversity Investment Award in partnership with South Loop Venture Investment Award – Touchstone, University of California, Berkeley
- $25,000 Southwest National Pediatric Device Consortium Pediatric Device Prize – EndoShunt Medical, Harvard University
- $25,000 Jacobs, Intuitive Machines, WRX Corporate Rising Star Space Technology and Commercial Aerospace Gold Award – Mesa Quantum, Harvard University
