Skip to main content

Five Houston-Area Competitions for Startups

Published Jan 26, 2022 by Brina Morales

Houston Skyline cropped

Startup competitions can help build momentum and raise awareness as well as capital for emerging companies. 2021 was a banner year for early-stage venture capital funding across the U.S., with over $80 billion raised, according to financial database Pitchbook. 

Here are five startup competitions happening soon:

1.    Houston Community College Business Plan Competition – Deadline to apply: Jan. 28

The competition is for proposed, startup and existing entrepreneurs to develop focused plans to launch or grow their businesses. The program begins in February, and involves six virtual training sessions. It concludes with an awards ceremony in June. Last year the HCC competition awarded $26,000 in seed money to the top five teams in addition to in-kind prizes and support services. Click here to apply.

2.    Rice Business Plan Competition – Deadline to apply: Jan. 31

This  is the largest and richest intercollegiate startup competition in the world. Last year 54 teams from around the world competed for more than $1.6 million in cash and prizes. The competition will be hosted in-person at Rice University on April 7-9. Click here for eligibility and how to apply.

3.    Texas A&M New Ventures Competition – Deadline to apply: Feb. 27

This competition recognizes Texas-based companies with high-growth potential and provides seed funding to help startups execute their ideas and advance product development. Last year’s prize pool was nearly $500,000 and TNVC will announce the 2022 prize pool soon. Houston represents 41% of the competitor teams. The competition is May 18-19. Click here for competition rules.

4.    Black Girl Ventures' Change Agent Fellowship – Deadline to apply: Feb. 15

The fellowship is a nine-month leadership skills development program created to help early-stage Black and Brown female entrepreneurs grow. It includes a $10,000 stipend and the opportunity to select eight to 10 Black and Brown women founders to receive capital through the BGV Pitch Competition. Click here for more information. 

5.    First Annual MarMo Pitch Competition – Deadline to apply: Jan. 31

The competition is for life sciences and biotech-based pitches. Five teams will be chosen to pitch original ideas to a panel of business experts and an audience of entrepreneurs, small business owners and potential investors. The prize pool is $20,000 in cash prizes. Click here for rules and eligibility.

Houston’s startup ecosystem is thriving. There are more than 50 incubator and accelerator programs and startup development organizations in the region. In 2021, Houston startups raised more than $2 billion in funding, a record high for the area and a 610% increase compared with 2016, according to Pitchbook.
 

Related News

Economic Development

Houston Region Asserts Biotech Excellence at BIO International Convention

6/25/25
The Greater Houston Partnership and regional partners showcased Houston’s thriving life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem at the 2025 BIO International Convention in Boston. As the premier annual biotechnology conference in the United States, BIO 2025 drew nearly 20,000 global attendees, offering a powerful platform to highlight the region’s momentum, innovation, and growing opportunities in the sector.    BioHouston, Galveston EDP, Partnership Lake Houston, Pearland EDC, the Sugar Land Office of Economic Development and Tourism and The Woodlands EDP presented the many assets and unique benefits the region offers to biotechnology companies from startup to full-scale, including 8 million square feet of life sciences space, strategic workforce and educational initiatives, as well as an overall favorable approach to incentives and permitting.    "Working alongside the different members of our region and telling the story of the amazing product that Greater Houston has to offer is invigorating," Galveston EDP Executive Director Joshua Owens said. "Being able to showcase our ecosystem to a worldwide audience is an exceptional step toward creating opportunities for the people of Houston."    Recent wins, such as Bionova Scientific's move to The Woodlands and United Therapeutics’ move to Generation Park, serve as testaments to the variety of options for life science businesses in our region. With pronounced capabilities in research and development, manufacturing and innovation, life sciences companies of all kinds can find a welcoming home in the Houston region.    To learn more about our life sciences and biotechnology ecosystem, visit our life sciences page. 
Read More
Digital Technology

Houston Advances Global Growth Strategy at VivaTech 2025

6/17/25
As Houston continues to expand its role as a global center for innovation and investment, the Greater Houston Partnership and Rice University led a strategic trade mission to Paris, France, to elevate the region’s presence at Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2025, the largest technology and innovation summit in Europe.  With 180,000 international attendees, VivaTech offered direct access to global business leaders, policymakers and investors exploring high-growth markets. Houston’s activation sparked opportunities for potential partnerships and drew attention from notable leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Vanessa Wyche, Acting Administrator of NASA.   “They see Houston as one of the cities of the future, and they’re backing that up with their resources and attention,” stated John Cypher, the Partnership’s Vice President of International Investment and Trade. “We saw a lot of potential for partnerships that could bring more international startups to Houston and connect founders to new European markets.”  Beyond VivaTech, the delegation met with key players in France’s innovation and finance sectors, including Banque Publique d’Investissement France, Mouvement des Entreprises de France, and Station F.   The week-long trade mission also highlighted Houston’s global academic leadership with a guided visit to Rice University’s Global Paris Center, the university’s first international campus. “It’s a remarkable moment where Rice shows the world that we are an entrepreneurial-, science- and engineering-based tech accelerator,” said Caroline Levander, Rice’s Vice President for Global Strategy. The center represents a broader vision to connect Houston’s educational and entrepreneurial resources to Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The mission culminated with a reception at the former embassy of the Republic of Texas, celebrating the enduring ties between Texas and France and reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation and growth.   Houston’s role at VivaTech 2025 highlights the city’s innovation and role as a major hub for foreign direct investment. Strengthening international business ties remains a significant part of our growing economy and a way to spur further investment and advance innovation for our region.   Learn more about Houston’s growing role in the global economy.  
Read More

Related Events

Executive Partners