Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the home of experiential learning and co-curricular activities in entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University. Our mission is to equip Rice students with both entrepreneurial skills and the entrepreneurial mindset to prepare them to be entrepreneurs and innovators in whatever industry they choose, be it a technology startup, government, civic group, non-profit, small business, or a large corporation. Lilie is comprised of experiential courses, co-curricular opportunities, a state-of-the-art on-campus lab space, and an array of resources to support student learning.

What Does This Mean for Students?

There is no better place to launch your entrepreneurial journey than at Rice University with Lilie. Whether you want to start a business or stand apart from your peers at your next job, Lilie has first-class resources to support you. Lilie is available to help you develop the mindset and skillset that will give you the edge needed to launch that next unicorn company or to solve some of our society’s most pressing problems.

Lilie's frameworks ensure you can wade through ambiguity with purpose, you can think creatively and innovatively, and you can communicate effectively. And don't just take our word for it, but look at your predecessors to see the impact they have been able to have, like these superstars: Brian Armstrong (Founder of Bitcoin), Claire Shorall (Founder of TopKnot), Robyn O'Brien (Co-Founder of RePlant Capital), and Mohit Aaron (Founder of Cohesity).

Lilie invites you to partake in our experiential courses and newly minted Entrepreneurship Minor, take advantage of Lilie's founder resources, and meet life-long friends and co-founders through Lilie events. We encourage you to raise your hand and sign up for the Lilie newsletter to learn about events and resources.

Rice's Graduate Entrepreneurship Program is Ranked #1 in the US, for the 2nd Consecutive Year

The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie) has been ranked the No. 1 graduate entrepreneurship program in the US for the second year in a row, according to the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine. This is the 12th year in a row Rice has been ranked in the top 10. This ranking is a testament to Lilie's commitment to students, faculty, and alumni – all of which constitute our vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Read more about the rankings and the depths of Rice’s entrepreneurial programming, and check out the Princeton Review article!