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2006 Rice University Business Plan Competition - Intent to Compete

I wanted you to know that The Rice University Business Plan Competition (RBPC) is accepting registrations for its 2006 intercollegiate contest. *The deadline for submitting an “Intent to Compete” is **Friday, February 3, 2006*. I would appreciate if you would put our competition dates on your event calendars *(March 31 – **April 1, 2006**)* and encourage your MBA and graduate students to participate.

In only its sixth year, the RBPC has become one of the premier new venture business plan competitions in the world. Register Online. Here are only three reasons why you should encourage your students to send a team:

*Start-up Funding*
We will award over *$200,000* in cash and prizes in 2006, this includes over $30,000 of in-kind services. Last year The Grand Prize team received a $100,000 investment offer, took home $20,000 cash, plus a comprehensive package of services that included free office space, web site & hosting services, and free roundtrip air travel on Continental Airlines. The winner of the RBPC competition also qualified to compete for an additional $100,000 at the 2005 MOOT CORP^® competition.
* *
*Judging Panel*
The RBPC has the largest judging panel of any competition. In 2005, over 130 judges were hand-picked to participate in the three-day event. The large number of judges allows for much more interaction and coaching for the student teams, providing them a superior educational experience.
As much as possible the judges are matched with the competitors by industry, and students benefit from the contacts and knowledge they gain from the Rice competition to help them launch their new businesses. Nearly 60% of the judges at the 2004 RBPC said they met companies that they would consider as a potential investment opportunity.
(Testimonials)

/“We were at another university business plan competition and found that there was no comparison with the number of VCs gathering at Rice.”/
/ /
/Piyush Sinha
Clinical Nanotechnologies Corporation
The //Ohio// //State// //University/

*Competition Format*
The RBPC was designed to provide unsurpassed opportunities for participants to receive feedback and coaching on their plans and to help them launch their new business venture. Design elements include:
· Two separate Feedback Sessions for student teams to receive one-on-one coaching on their business plan presentation.
· Three different presentation formats to hone their skills: Business Plan Presentation, Elevator Pitch Competition and Challenge Round.
· Written Feedback after each round.
· Networking opportunities on all three days of the competition at the Feedback Rounds, Company Showcase, Finalist Reception, and Awards Banquet.

*Only 36 teams will be selected to compete in **Houston**, based on the quality of their business plans - which are due by February 17, 2006.* In 2005, we received over 200 full plans for consideration from over 90 graduate programs.

*MBA and other graduate students who are interested in participating in the 2006 RBPC may review our 2005 competition DVDs*, which provide valuable feedback from the judges as well as examples of Finalist presentations (with Q&A session) and Elevator Pitches.

They may also visit the RBPC website www.alliance.rice.edu/rbpc or contact me for additional information.

Thank you again for your help and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Best Regards,

*Liz Crawford
Rice **Alliance** for Technology & Entrepreneurship*
*Rice University**, **MS**#531*
P O Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892
713.348.6354
713.348.3110 fax
www.alliance.rice.edu/rbpc
rbpc@rice.edu