The “Next Cool Idea” 2011

The Next Cool Idea is back! Plus it’s bigger and better than last year. What happens when your host a business incubator workshop for three days with Rice Alumni, Rice MBAs, and Rice PhD and Master students. Did we mention that there will be successful entrepreneurs, outstanding professors and a high-energy, world-class facilitator in a room for 3 days to brainstorm, incubate, and prototype new ideas? You will get invaluable knowledge on starting a new business poised to make a positive social impact on our future.

There are several experienced entrepreneurs amongst us in the Rice community, but there are even more budding entrepreneurs who have ideas that can be converted into businesses. However, due to the hectic nature of the EMBA program, there is little time for focused new business creation activities during the class schedule. The vibrancy and long term success of any business school depends heavily on the knowledge and the enterprises that are created within its walls.

We believe the ‘Next Cool Idea’ program is a critical requirement to complete the Jones School Entrepreneurship offerings and to eventually grow into a fully-fledged Business Incubator program based at Rice University. Whether participants are excited about entrepreneurship or just want to spend an intense weekend with creative people trying to bring ideas to life, this program will benefit the Jones School and the Rice.

The attendees will evaluate business problems, develop innovative creative solutions and understand how best to take them to market around five themes.

The themes for 2011 are:

• Energy (Oil/Gas, renewable fuels) • Clean Technology • Information Technology/Web 2.0/Internet • Social Entrepreneurship • Nanotechnologies