• CERAWEEK 2025 | March 10-14, 2025
  • CERAWEEK
  • March 10 - 14, 2025

Brad Burke

Rice University

Associate Vice President for Industry & New Ventures, Office of Innovation & Executive Director, Rice Alliance

Brad Burke is the Associate Vice President for Industry and New Ventures at the Office of Innovation. He supports new technologies created by Rice faculty, students and alumni. In addition to supporting Rice-affiliated technology company growth, Burke leads the strategy and development of new and existing corporate collaborations, community partnerships and marketing strategy for the Office of Innovation. His responsibilities extend to the Ion, driving programming to enhance its position as a premier hub for startup activity in Houston. Brad, as the Executive Director, has led the Rice Alliance since 2001. During that time, Rice’s graduate entrepreneurship program has achieved the #1 ranking in the U.S. (having been previously unranked). The Rice Alliance’s Rice Business Plan Competition has become the world’s largest and richest student startup competition in the world. Previously, Brad founded and managed the Houston office of Viant Corporation, a premier internet consulting firm, that went public via IPO in 1999, before being acquired in 2002. Prior to Viant, Brad was a Principal with CSC Index, the former management consulting division of Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). Before CSC, Brad held executive management positions with Exxon. He received his M.B.A. from Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School of Management as an Austin Scholar and his B.S. from Vanderbilt University.

Sessions With Brad Burke

Wednesday, 20 March

  • 01:00pm - 05:00pm (CST) / 20/mar/2024 06:00 pm - 20/mar/2024 10:00 pm

    Houston Energy Initiative Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition

    Join The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the Houston Energy Transition Initiative and the Texas Entrepreneurship Exchange for Energy (TEX-E) for the third annual Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition at CERAWeek. The pitch day will feature more than 40 energy ventures driving efficiency and advancements toward the energy transition. The fast-paced competition is designed to connect energy startups with venture capitalists, corporate innovation groups, industry leaders, academics and service providers. 

    Ventures will be showcased across three industry tracks, spanning materials to clean energy. Industry experts and investors will judge the pitches, and the top three ventures from each track will be named at the conclusion of the event. The pitches from energy ventures will include a university track, the TEX-E Prize, highlighting the innovation of five Texas student-led energy startups. With mentorship leading up to the competition, these student startups will compete for $50,000 in cash prizes.