Metadata
Title
Lilie Lab
Category
graduate
UUID
df8af8920ffe49e7b6bd2fa577b735fd
Source URL
https://business.rice.edu/lilie-lab
Parent URL
https://business.rice.edu/admissions-blog/a-message-from-our-dean
Crawl Time
2026-03-23T20:03:14+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Lilie Lab

Source: https://business.rice.edu/lilie-lab Parent: https://business.rice.edu/admissions-blog/a-message-from-our-dean

The Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Lilie) is the student home for entrepreneurship and innovation at Rice University. Our mission is to equip Rice students with both the entrepreneurial skills and mindset to prepare them to be innovators in whatever industry they choose, be it a technology startup, government, civic group, non-profit, small business, or large corporation.

About Lilie

Founded in 2015 through a generous gift from Houston entrepreneur and alumnus Frank Liu and his family, via their private foundation, Lilie programming consists of experiential courses, co-curricular opportunities, a state-of-the-art on-campus lab space, and an array of resources to support student learning. Lilie’s offerings are complemented by our university partners such as Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship which hosts of the annual Rice Business Plan Competition and other exceptional startup events in the Houston community.

Lilie Courses

At the curricular level, Lilie has launched eight interdisciplinary undergraduate courses and as well as a suite of graduate courses in high demand each semester. Lilie also administers a minor in entrepreneurship designed and executed in collaboration with Rice Business, George R. Brown School of Engineering, and the School of Social Sciences.

Lilie Programs & Events

In addition to its curricular offerings, Lilie has developed robust co-curricular offerings and special events that foster a growing university wide entrepreneurship community. Check out just a few below!

Lilie Alumni Program

To continue to serve our talented students post-graduation and foster a Rice entrepreneurial ecosystem that spans beyond the borders of Houston, Lilie launched the Rice Alumni | Entrepreneurs + Innovators (RAEI) network in coordination with Rice’s Alumni office. The network operates through a regional hub model, and launched in Houston in and the Bay Area in May 2020. We anticipate expanding into other cities as the program grows. RAEI offers facilitated workshops, networking events, lecture series, digital educational content, and other resources that continues to engage our exceptional Rice talent after they depart campus.

Lilie Space

We are housed in a beautiful 5,000 square foot flexible coworking space in the Cambridge Office Building, but our programming spans beyond those walls, bringing together all disciplines at Rice.

Learn more about Lilie on our website or just stop by anytime!

Explore Lilie Idea Lab

Our Team

Taylor Anne Adams

Venture Acceleration Program Manager, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship\ Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

Rafael Serrillos Barboza

LILIE Faculty Success Manager

Al Danto

Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

Yael Hochberg

Head of Rice Entrepreneurship Initiative and Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship\ Ralph S. O’Connor Professor in Entrepreneurship – Finance

Cherise Johnson

Communications and Marketing Manager, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Kyle Judah

Executive Director, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship\ Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

Hesam Panahi

Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship\ Director of Strategic Initiatives and Programs, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Sophie Randolph

Clinical Faculty & Summer Program Manager, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship\ Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

Patrick Ray

Lecturer in Entrepreneurship

Douglas A. Schuler

Professor of Business and Public Policy

Maddie Thorud

Program Coordinator, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Nicholaus Tucker

Senior Associate Director of Operations, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Upcoming Events

Apr 8 - Apr 9

Veterans Business Battle

12:00am to 11:59pm

McNair Hall

Apr 24

Rice Business Healthcare Conference

8:00am to 2:00pm

McNair Hall

See All Events