BRCE, a Michigan State University material-tech startup, captured $611,500 in total prizes at the 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) in Houston, Texas. The company develops polymer composites engineered to replace failure-prone textiles. Its patented Lattice-Grip technology delivers directional grip and controlled tension at the yarn level. BRCE collected 11 prizes, including the competition's grand prize.
How BRCE's Polymer Composites Technology Works
BRCE engineers polymer composites for strength, fire resistance, and intrinsic stability. The Lattice-Grip technology eliminates slippage and performance loss under extreme conditions. Traditional textiles often fail under high stress, and BRCE's yarn-level approach offers a durable alternative.
Co-founder and CEO Madhav Aggarwal credited a fellow Michigan State alum's 2024 RBPC win as the spark for his own startup journey. The team competed in smaller events to sharpen their pitch before reaching the RBPC. BRCE also appeared as a recent participant on "Shark Tank."
Inside the 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition
The 26th annual RBPC featured 42 startups competing for more than $1.3 million in investment and nondilutive cash prizes. An additional $110,000 in in-kind value was available. The event ran April 9–11 at Rice University and Houston's Ion District.
Startups represented 39 universities from four countries. More than 300 angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate leaders, and ecosystem partners attended. Teams pitched in categories including energy, cleantech, life sciences, hard tech, digital enterprise, and consumer products.
"The Rice Business Plan Competition has grown into far more than a competition — it's a proving ground for founders and a catalyst for real company formation," said Brad Burke, associate vice president of Rice Innovation and executive director of Rice Alliance. The 2026 event marks Burke's final RBPC after nearly 25 years of leadership. Catherine Santamaria, RBPC director, highlighted the depth of engagement from judges and partners who provide meaningful feedback and connections to founders.
Top Finalists and Prize Winners
Judges ranked seven finalists based on overall scores:
- BRCE, Michigan State University — $611,500 (first place, $200,000 Goose Capital Investment Grand Prize)
- Legion Platforms, Arizona State University — $535,500 (accessible 3D online gaming platform)
- Imagine Devices, University of Texas at Austin — $111,000 (multifunctional nasogastric feeding tube)
- Altaris MedTech, University of Arkansas — $16,000 (spray-based pediatric diagnostics)
- Routora, University of Notre Dame / UT Austin — $15,500 (AI inspection management)
- DialySafe, Rice University — $15,500 (AI remote patient monitoring)
- Arrow Analytics, Texas A&M University — $16,000 (autonomous baggage tracking)
BRCE's polymer composites innovation earned these additional awards:
- $100,000 The OWL Investment Prize
- $100,000 Houston Angel Network Investment Prize
- $75,000 TiE Texas Angels Investment Prize
- $50,000 nCourage Courageous Women Entrepreneur Investment Prize
- $25,000 New Climate Ventures Sustainable Investment Prize
- $20,000 Aramco Innovator Cash Prize
Legion Platforms also earned the $200,000 Goose Capital, $100,000 OWL, and $100,000 TiE Texas Angels Investment Prizes. Pearland EDC awarded $25,000 Spirit of Entrepreneurship Prizes to both Imagine Devices and Legion Platforms. Additional winners included Imagine Devices ($25,000 Eagle Investors Prize), BiliRoo ($25,000 Pediatric Device Prize), BeamFeed ($25,000 Space Technology Prize), and Grapheon ($20,000 Aramco Innovator Prize). NerView Surgical received the TMC Innovation Healthcare Accelerator Bootcamp invitation.
All finalists shared $75,000 in in-kind legal services through the Baker Botts Prize. The grand prize winner also received a $40,000 CFO consulting prize. For the full winners list, visit rbpc.rice.edu. Stay updated on technical textile innovations through Textilezon's textile news section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BRCE's Lattice-Grip technology?
Lattice-Grip is BRCE's patented polymer composites technology. It enables directional grip and controlled tension at the yarn level, eliminating slippage and performance loss under extreme conditions.
How much did BRCE win at the 2026 RBPC?
BRCE won 11 prizes totaling $611,500. Awards included the $200,000 Goose Capital Investment Grand Prize, the $100,000 OWL Investment Prize, and the $100,000 Houston Angel Network Investment Prize.
How many startups competed in the 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition?
A total of 42 startups from 39 universities across four countries competed. They vied for more than $1.3 million in investment and nondilutive cash prizes plus $110,000 in in-kind value.
BRCE's commanding performance at the RBPC signals strong investor confidence in advanced polymer composites for technical textile applications. As Lattice-Grip technology moves toward commercialization, B2B textile professionals should monitor its potential impact on performance-critical markets. The startup's trajectory highlights the growing intersection of material science innovation and the global textile industry.
