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Napier Rice Launch Challenge
Also known as: NRLC, H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge, Rice Launch Challenge
Rice University · Houston, Texas
Quick fit check
- Currently active
- Verified by research
Key numbers
Funding range
—
Equity
Unknown
Application
Annual; multi Round (Zoom Round 1, in Person Round 2, Championships in April)
Student
Last activity
2026-04-21
High confidence
Known startups and winners
Competition winners and notable student ventures from our research.
Bionostic
$50,000
prize won
Rice University
Personalized cancer diagnostics; Napier Rice Launch Challenge 2026 1st place ($50K); Alexandria Carter, Innovation Fellow.
Kairos
$15,000
prize won
Rice University
AI dental intake platform; Napier Rice Launch Challenge 2026 3rd place ($15K) and audience choice.
The H. Albert Napier Rice Launch Challenge (NRLC) is Rice's flagship student venture competition, offering $100,000+ in equity-free prizes. Undergraduate, graduate, and MBA students pitch through multi-round selection to a live championship audience. Lilie provides one-on-one pitch coaching. The 2026 winner was Bionostic (Alexandria Carter, $50,000) for personalized cancer diagnostics; total 2026 awards reached $115,000.
News & articles
News articles and official sources documenting Napier Rice Launch Challenge at Rice University.
1 source
