OwlSpark

• This page is referenced in Rice Entrepreneurship

About

Founded in 2013, OwlSpark is a program that allows Rice students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni to launch their own companies.

The program is as follows:

• a 12-week summer program for up to 10 startup teams, including:

1. curriculum
2. collaborative working space
3. monthly living stipend
4. industry mentorship

• Following the summer program, startup teams participate in the Bayou Startup Showcase to showcase their businesses

OwlSpark also works in collaboration Houston’s startup community to promote entreneurship and innovation at the city and state levels.

Apply

Eligibility

• Open to all Rice undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff, and alumni (up to 5 years after graduation)
• Startup teams of 2-5 people, one of whom must be affiliated with Rice

Program Requirements[1]

• Completing pre and post-assessment surveys
• Setting and reporting performance tracking metrics
• Actively engaging in 60+ sessions, workshops, events, as well as weekly meetings with peers, mentors, and leadership teams
• Conducting a minimum of 100 customer interviews
• Developing basic marketing materials (i.e. logo, executive summary, website or landing page, etc.)

Team

Board of Directors

• Brad Burke, Managing Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
• Kaz Karwowski, Executive Director, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership
• Tom Kraft, Director of Technology Ventures Development, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
• Ray Simar, Professor in the Program, Rice Center for Engineering Leadership
• Kerri Smith, Director of Programs, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and Acting Managing Director, OwlSpark

For more detailed information, see OwlSpark's of Directors website

Leadership

• Kerri Smith, Managing Director
• Noy Shemer, Assistant Managing Director, Operations
• Jessica Fleenor, Assistant Managing Director, Marketing and Communications
• Ben Baldazo
• Andy Zhang

For more detailed information, see OwlSpark's website

Contact

Subscribe to the | listserv For general information: Official Website For specific questions about OwlSpark: Direct Questions