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Veterans Business Battle (VBB) connects veteran entrepreneurs with investors, advisers, and resources to help their businesses succeed. It's our goal to lead as many veteran-owned businesses to success as possible. Each year, invited veterans pitch their startup businesses to investors and lenders for a chance to raise capital and win $30,000 in non-dilutive prize money split between the top three winners.
The 2026 competition will be held April 8–9 at Rice University in Houston, TX. Finalists will pitch their businesses before attendees and judges, attend workshops tailored for early-stage ventures, refine their business plans with expert feedback, and network with investors, many of whom have earmarked capital specifically for this event.
Launched in 2015 as a partnership between the Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Houston and the Rice Business Veterans Association at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, Veterans Business Battle has helped veteran-owned businesses nationwide secure more than $10 million in investment offers, making it the largest veterans-only business competition in the country.
The 2026 competition will be held April 8–9 at Rice University in Houston, TX. Finalists will pitch their businesses before attendees and judges, attend workshops tailored for early-stage ventures, refine their business plans with expert feedback, and network with investors, many of whom have earmarked capital specifically for this event.
Launched in 2015 as a partnership between the Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Houston and the Rice Business Veterans Association at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, Veterans Business Battle has helped veteran-owned businesses nationwide secure more than $10 million in investment offers, making it the largest veterans-only business competition in the country.
The Competition Process
The Veterans Business Battle is a three-stage competition.
Phase I - Applications
Early Applications open September 2nd, 2025, and close November 10th, 2025. Early applicants will receive feedback from our partner VCs and have the opportunity to refine and resubmit their application during the regular application period. Regular Applications open November 11th, 2025, and close January 31st, 2026, at 11:59 pm. In early February 2026, a Veterans Business Battle student ambassador from Rice University (Jones Graduate School of Business) will contact you. They will conduct an initial screen on your business and evaluate your suitability for the competition.
Phase II - Finalist Selection
The strongest applicants will become Veterans Business Battle contestants. Contestants will be presented by the student ambassadors before the Veterans Business Battle Investor Selection Committee. The best contestants (approximately 16) will be selected as Veterans Business Battle Finalists. Your student ambassador will work with you to ensure that the presentation to the committee is as prepared as possible.
Phase III - Veterans Business Battle Event
Finalists will be invited to Rice University to participate in the final pitch competition on April 8-9, 2026. Along with the competition will be the opportunity to network with investors and fellow veteran entrepreneurs. Also, there will be education panels and resources focused on supporting and promoting veteran entrepreneurship.
Phase I - Applications
Early Applications open September 2nd, 2025, and close November 10th, 2025. Early applicants will receive feedback from our partner VCs and have the opportunity to refine and resubmit their application during the regular application period. Regular Applications open November 11th, 2025, and close January 31st, 2026, at 11:59 pm. In early February 2026, a Veterans Business Battle student ambassador from Rice University (Jones Graduate School of Business) will contact you. They will conduct an initial screen on your business and evaluate your suitability for the competition.
Phase II - Finalist Selection
The strongest applicants will become Veterans Business Battle contestants. Contestants will be presented by the student ambassadors before the Veterans Business Battle Investor Selection Committee. The best contestants (approximately 16) will be selected as Veterans Business Battle Finalists. Your student ambassador will work with you to ensure that the presentation to the committee is as prepared as possible.
Phase III - Veterans Business Battle Event
Finalists will be invited to Rice University to participate in the final pitch competition on April 8-9, 2026. Along with the competition will be the opportunity to network with investors and fellow veteran entrepreneurs. Also, there will be education panels and resources focused on supporting and promoting veteran entrepreneurship.
Veterans Business Battle Timeline
September 2, 2025: Early Applications open
November 10, 2025: Early Applications close
November 11, 2025: Regular Applications open
January 31, 2026: Regular Applications close
February 28, 2026: Finalists selected
April 8-9, 2026: Veterans Business Battle Event
November 10, 2025: Early Applications close
November 11, 2025: Regular Applications open
January 31, 2026: Regular Applications close
February 28, 2026: Finalists selected
April 8-9, 2026: Veterans Business Battle Event
Questions about the application?
Contact kelvin.searose-xu@rice.edu or michael.hart@rice.edu