Join us as we dive deep into the aftermath of the competition and catch up with our teams to hear about their experiences and discover what lies ahead. Did any of the participants secure investors or unearth new opportunities? Are they venturing into other competitions for greater financial rewards, or have they decided to take a break from the high-pressure world of pitching? We’ll also reconnect with some familiar faces: Brad Burke, one of the organizers, and Mitra Miller, one of the esteemed judges, to gain exclusive insights into their reflections on this year's competition results. Get ready for a captivating episode filled with exciting updates and valuable perspectives!

In Episode 7 of "This is Small Business: Next Generation," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert bring you to the thrilling final day of the Rice Business Plan Competition. As anticipation reaches its peak, they reveal the teams that have advanced beyond the semi-finals and emerged as winners. Andrea and Mitch also highlight all the improvements made by each team within this short timeframe and engage in conversations with the teams that won and lost to uncover the invaluable lessons learned and what they plan on doing differently in future pitch competitions. Were they disheartened by the outcome? Relieved that the competition is over? Most importantly, did any of our teams win the grand prize? And remember the 60 second elevator pitches at the start of the competition? – did any of our teams win that? Join Andrea and Mitch as they answer all these questions and offer key takeaways from each team's unique journey and some advice on navigating the challenges of dealing with loss.

In Episode 6 of "This is Small Business: Next Generation," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert guide you through the first round of eliminations at the Rice Business Plan Competition where the teams compete for a spot in the semi-finals. As the pressure intensifies, each team strives to make significant improvements in order to stand a better chance of winning. They work tirelessly, tweaking their strategies, and refining and honing their pitches to perfection. It's a race against time as they push themselves to the limits. Andrea and Mitch also talk to Dean Peter Rodriguez to uncover some important insights when it comes to pitching at the Rice Business Plan Competition like the importance of navigating stress in an entrepreneur's life, and articulating risks and opportunities in your pitch. By the end of this episode you’ll find out who’ll make it to semi-finals and what’ll happen to the teams that get left behind. Join Andrea and Mitch as they point out all the key takeaways and learnings from our teams that’ll give you a leg up at any pitch competition you try to compete in. 

In Episode 5 of "This is Small Business: Next Generation," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert take you through the first day of the Rice Business Plan Competition along with the four competitors. Andrea and Mitch take you behind the scenes and share the nerves, worries, and excitement that each team faces as they enter and leave the first practice round of pitching with a TON of feedback (that you get to hear) from the judges. The competitors also go through another competition where they get the chance to win more money if they ace their 60 second elevator pitch. With less than a day to incorporate all the feedback they’ve been given, the drama (and lack of sleep) intensifies. Join Andrea and Mitch as they point out all the key takeaways the competitors received from the judges and offer valuable insights that’ll help you navigate some of the challenges all business owners have. 

In Episode 4 of "This is Small Business Next Generation," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert offer a glimpse into the days leading up to the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC). With just a few days left before the big event, the pressure is mounting, and the teams are feeling the intensity, especially after receiving some anonymous feedback from the judges. These dedicated entrepreneurs face the challenge of balancing the demands of running their businesses while perfecting their pitches. Mitch and Andrea dig deeper into some of their challenges like the importance of injecting emotion into pitching, even when delivering seemingly dry and technical information, and what to do when you receive feedback that may not align with your expectations. As the countdown to the competition continues, the burning question remains: Will these dedicated teams be able to perfect their pitches in time? Join Andrea and Mitch as they follow the teams closely and provide essential takeaways that will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in your own pitch competition journey.Leave us a voicemail HERE!By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

In Episode 3 of "This is Small Business Next Generation," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert uncover the dos and, more importantly, the don'ts of pitch presentations by speaking directly with RBPC judges. They provide insights into the key differences between various pitch formats, offering advice on how to adapt and make a significant impact within the given time constraints, while also emphasizing the importance of demonstrating your business's investability. Andrea and Mitch also introduce you to two additional teams we'll be following throughout the RBPC: Sloane Tilley and Julio Fredin co-founders of Dia, and Shiv Bhakta and Richard Swartwout co-founders of Active Surfaces. Get a glimpse into the worries and aspirations of these teams as they prepare for the competition by meeting with mentors, and rewriting and practicing their pitches. Join Andrea and Mitch as they equip you with the essential knowledge and skills to succeed in your business plan competition journey, enabling you to confidently impress judges and investors and secure the support your business truly deserves.Leave us a voicemail HERE!By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

In Episode 2 of "This is Small Business Next Generation," hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert break down the various stages of the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) and explain how the competition will unfold over three days. They talk about the mentorship and extensive feedback the RBPC offers their competitors (talk about a major advantage!) and give you a little insight into what the judges are looking for in a winning pitch. Mitch and Andrea also introduce you to two of the four teams we’ll be following throughout the competition: Kevin Long and Alex Duncan, co-founders of Outmore Living, and Bilal Issifou, the founder of Unchained Inc. You get to hear them talk about their plans and worries as they prepare for the RBPC. Join hosts Andrea Marquez and Mitch Gilbert as they discuss some of the issues entrepreneurs face like learning to prioritize and offer valuable takeaways on how to get your business plan ready for a pitch competition.Leave us a voicemail HERE!By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

On Episode 1 of “This is Small Business Next Generation”, host Andrea Marquez gets you acquainted with her new co-host Mitch Gilbert, founder of OYA Femtech Apparel, a past winner of the Rice University Business Plan Competition and one of the first 200 Black women to raise over $1M in venture capital. Mitch and Andrea get you up to speed with the RBPC by talking to some of the organizers and judges and they also introduce the four diverse teams that we’ll be following throughout the competition. Mitch shares valuable lessons that they learned from competing in the RBPC like making sure your business is solving a problem, getting an advisor, and possibly the most important in any pitch competition: practice, practice, practice. Join hosts Andrea and Mitch as they guide you through the exciting world of pitching and share valuable takeaways and insights that could help you polish up your business plan.Leave us a voicemail HERE!By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.

Are you ready to witness the ultimate battle of wits and innovation as entrepreneurs compete for up to $3M in prizes in one of the largest and richest intercollegiate startup competitions? Look no further than "This is Small Business Next Generation" - a podcast miniseries brought to you by Amazon that follows the Rice University Business Plan Competition (RBPC). Join Andrea Marquez, a future small business owner, and her co-host Mitchella Gilbert (or Mitch), founder of OYA Femtech Apparel and an ex-RBPC winner, as they take you behind the scenes and follow four teams as they prepare to pitch their business ideas in front of some of the world's leading venture capitalists and investors. Can they handle the pressure? Will their business ideas stand out? Will they have what it takes to win? Join Andrea and Mitch as they follow the intense journey of the Rice University Business Plan Competition and offer valuable insights and learnings for entrepreneurs looking to succeed in the world of business pitch competitions. And make sure you’ve got your small business playbook ready because we’ll be pointing out key learnings from each episode so you feel ready to take on the challenge of pitching your business.Leave us a voicemail HERE!By submitting your voicemail, you’re granting us permission to use the recording in episodes of This is Small Business. Please note, voicemails will not receive direct responses. For help with other questions to Amazon unrelated to this show, you can reach out to Amazon’s customer service team at amazon.com/contact-us.