SAMPE Carolinas Announces 2026 Scholarship Program Supporting Future Leaders In Composites And Advanced Materials

CHARLESTON, S.C .— April 17, 2026 — The SAMPE Carolinas Chapter has announced the launch of its 2026 SAMPE Carolinas Scholarship Program, continuing its long‑standing commitment to supporting higher education and developing the next generation of professionals for the composites and advanced materials industries.

The scholarship program is open to high school seniors, undergraduate students, and graduate students who are either members of a SAMPE Carolinas student chapter or are children, grandchildren, or step‑children of active SAMPE Carolinas members. A broad range of academic disciplines will be considered, including engineering, business, marketing, design, accounting, and other fields supporting the composites and advanced materials industries.

Up to three merit‑based scholarships will be awarded for the 2025–2026 academic year, with a maximum single award of $5,000. Candidates will be evaluated based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and a personal essay describing how this scholarship will support their educational and career objectives within the composites industry.

In addition to financial support, the top scholarship recipient will be invited to attend the SAMPE Carolinas Materials Expo in Charleston, South Carolina, at no cost, including lodging. They will also be given the opportunity to speak at the event about their studies and professional interests.

Scholarship funds may be applied toward tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to the recipient’s actual out‑of‑pocket educational expenses.

The application deadline is Friday, June 26, 2026. Application materials and submission instructions are available through the SAMPE Carolinas Chapter.

Please direct any questions or requests for application materials by sending an email to theSAMPECarolinas@gmail.com

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) – Carolinas Chapter

Kornit Digital Acquires PrintFactory To Accelerate The Industry’s Transition To Digital, On-Demand Production

ROSH-HA’AYIN, Israel — April 12, 2026 — Kornit Digital Ltd. (“Kornit Digital”, “Kornit” or the “Company”), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand, digital fashion and textile production, today announced its acquisition of PrintFactory, a global Netherlands-based technology leader of cloud- native workflow, color management and production automation software. The acquisition represents a strategic step in Kornit’s mission to accelerate the digital transformation of the global fashion and textile industry.

By integrating PrintFactory’s automation capabilities into its platform, Kornit strengthens its ability to connect demand generation, production workflow and fulfillment into one continuous digital ecosystem.

Digitizing the Global Screen-Printing Market

The global screen-printing market represents one of the largest production segments in apparel decoration, yet it remains heavily dependent on analog processes.

While demand for digital production continues to accelerate, many large producers still face significant operational barriers when transitioning from traditional production processes to digital manufacturing, including managing complex workflows, the need to coordinate multiple technologies, streamlining connectivity within IT environments, and overcoming the challenge of maintaining consistent production output across different production lines. PrintFactory’s technology addresses these gaps.

PrintFactory’s platform enables unified production workflow management and consistent output across mixed technology environments, allowing producers to operate with predictable results regardless of the technologies deployed on the production floor. By simplifying the transition to digital production, the acquisition supports Kornit’s strategy to penetrate the massive screen-printing market and unlock significant growth opportunities.

Driving Efficiencies, Industrial Quality and Consistency at Scale

For global brands and large-scale production networks, workflow automation, production visibility, and consistent output are not just technical features, they are business requirements. The ability to run efficient operations and maintain repeatable results across multiple production sites and technologies is fundamental to operating distributed manufacturing environments.

PrintFactory’s platform helps producers streamline operations — from file preparation through final output — reducing media and ink waste, while enabling production environments that run faster, leaner and more consistently. These efficiencies are essential for producers transitioning from craft- based production environments to industrial digital manufacturing.

PrintFactory is currently deployed across thousands of production sites worldwide, supporting over 3,500 different models of printing and cutting devices. Its workflow and color management capabilities enable producers to maintain reliable quality across different locations, technologies, and production environments. These capabilities significantly enhance Kornit’s ability to support global brands and industrial producers operating large-scale on-demand manufacturing networks.

Strengthening Customer Engagement and Market Reach

PrintFactory brings more than technology. The company contributes an established global install base, a community of more than 10,000 active users, including several of Kornit’s largest customers, strong industry credibility, and a talented team with decades of expertise in production workflow and color management.

By combining workflow automation, color management infrastructure and production technology, Kornit can better support customers designing and operating scalable digital manufacturing operations.

The acquisition further supports Kornit’s strategic shift toward consultative, solution-oriented engagement with customers across the production value chain.

Building the Digital Infrastructure for Fashion and Textiles

The acquisition represents another milestone in Kornit’s broader platform strategy. The Company is building a connected digital infrastructure that spans the entire fashion and textile production value chain.

Within this enhanced architecture:

  • KornitX enables demand generation, order orchestration and global fulfillment
  • PrintFactory provides the production workflow and color infrastructure connecting directly to the manufacturing floor
  • Kornit’s printing technologies, inks and data platforms power the manufacturing layer itself

Together, these capabilities create a continuous digital value chain connecting consumer demand to production and fulfillment through a single integrated infrastructure.

The global fashion and textile industry is moving in this direction, away from isolated production tools and toward connected digital manufacturing environments. Kornit intends to lead this transition.

“This acquisition is about more than workflow or color management,” said Ronen Samuel, Chief Executive Officer of Kornit Digital. “It is about building the digital infrastructure the fashion industry needs to move from analog production to agile, on-demand manufacturing. By connecting demand generation, production workflow and manufacturing through one integrated platform, we are accelerating the industry’s transition to a new production model.”

Erik Strik, CEO of PrintFactory, added, “For more than three decades, PrintFactory has focused on solving real workflow and production challenges for professional print operations. Joining Kornit opens an exciting new chapter. Kornit’s global reach, innovation culture and platform vision will accelerate our roadmap and significantly expand the value we deliver to customers worldwide.”

Transaction Details

Upon closing, expected in the second quarter 2026, PrintFactory will continue to operate from its headquarters in the Netherlands and will maintain its commitment to an open, technology‑agnostic platform, serving its existing global customer base and partners across all markets — including those outside textile and apparel printing, as well as those operating mixed technology environments. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, and the acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on Kornit’s near-term revenue or earnings.

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: Kornit Digital

Sentire Brings Objective Measurement To Technical Textiles: BTMA Members At Techtextil And Texprocess Guide

MANCHESTER, UK— April 15, 2026 — Technical textiles must adhere to strict performance standards and specifications, and for many of these engineered products, fabric handle characteristics correlate directly to their technical performance.

The feel of a fabric, however, has historically relied on subjective human judgement, challenging consistency, scalability and sustainability across global supply chains, but as the industry faces the loss of seasoned specialists and rising demands for sustainable practices, a shift towards quantifiable, standardised methodologies is needed.

This is something BTMA member Roaches International is directly addressing with its new Sentire system which will be demonstrated at the forthcoming Techtextil exhibition in Frankfurt from April 21-24.

“No two people will describe how a fabric feels in the same way, so Roaches recognised the need to develop for a universal common language to describe fabric tactility challenges across complex supply chains,” says Roaches marketing executive Seth Seagraves. “Being able to translate the fabric handle and objectively measure qualities like softness, smoothness, creasability and stiffness into communicable data that can be compared between batches and to other fabrics, is key to ensuring the consistency of how these fabrics handle and perform. Sentire performs the testing and analyses the data that enables this to ensure technical fabrics are consistent from product to product. ”

The Sentire uses four precise test methods to mimic human touch and quantify key tactile properties. The collected data is analysed through established principles of fabric physics, delivering objective, reproducible results and enabling real-time quality monitoring in the production stages, enhancing responsiveness and minimising costly rework. In addition, its capacity to detect variations due to finishing, coatings or laundering provides manufacturers with actionable insights into product performance and durability.

Sentire Evaluation System

The new Roaches International Sentire.

Roaches worked with specialists at the University of Leeds to develop the new evaluation system which defines the tactile properties of fabrics– similar, for example, to the way colour charts are digitally defined for colour palettes, or Tog values rate warmth.

Fabric samples are introduced into the Sentire system, where a series of controlled tests are conducted to evaluate their tactile properties through analysis of the acquired data, akin to a fingerprint for the fabric, which can then be compared against other samples and communicated digitally to partners across different locations.

“This technology has the potential to impact the technical textiles supply chain in a similar way to the spectrophotometer for the communication of colour,” says Seagraves. “We believe its possibilities are huge, especially as communication becomes increasingly digitised.”

Resiliency

BTMA CEO Jason Kent

“From the careful handling of ultra-high value yarns to the forensic inspection of finished fabrics, the BTMA members at Techtextil and Texprocess this year collectively represent a complete chain of innovation spanning processing, monitoring and quality assurance,” says BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “Whether through reducing yarn waste, extending component lifetimes, enabling novel polymer development, automating inspection or refining testing efficiency, each company is contributing to a more resilient and resource-efficient technical textiles sector.”

BTMA members at Techtextil and Texprocess:

  • Airbond Hall 12.0, stand E31
  • Ascotex Hall 12.0, stand C75
  • Dent Instrumentation Hall 12, stand E61A
  • FET Hall 12.0, stand A78
  • James Heal Hall 12.0, stand B66
  • Roaches International Elmatex Pavilion, Hall 12.0, stand D05
  • SDC Enterprises Hall 12.0, stand B65
  • Shelton Vision Hall 12.0, stand E86
  • VeriVide Hall 8, stand B79.

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA)

Lower CO2, Stronger Bonds: Indorama Ventures Enables Customers’ Performance At Techtextil

BANGKOK, Thailand — April 15, 2026 — At this year’s Techtextil in Frankfurt/Main (Germany), Indorama Ventures focuses on three key customer requirements shaping material innovation across the textile and nonwovens industries:

  1. Textile- and Packaging-recycled staple fibers and filament yarns, driving the industry’s shift toward circularity
  2. Bio-based offerings enabling significant reduction in CO2 emissions as drop-in solutions
  3. High-performance binder fibers for superior bonding efficiency and reduced cost-in-use

Backed by established regional supply chains, Indorama Ventures continues to support customers with reliable, scalable solutions.

This is particularly critical in today’s disrupted global markets. At the same time, the company enables customers to achieve sustainability targets without compromising performance.

  • deja™ is Indorama Ventures’ product brand family supporting customers to reduce carbon emissions at virgin-like performance. Fibers and yarns made from pre- and post-consumer textile and packaging waste are available in a wide range of colors, cross-sections, and functionalities for application in sportswear, footwear, automotive interiors, workwear, and more.
  • strongaTM is Indorama Ventures’ product brand family supporting customers’ needs for strength in highly demanding applications, such as construction, filtration, automotive, and industrial end-products. Among a broad portfolio of bicomponent staple fibers are those for use in air-laid and air-lay processes forming thermal bonded absorbent structures and flexural or hard compressed composite structures.

Meet the team in hall 9.0, booth A80/A82

Visitors to Techtextil on April 21-24 are invited to connect with Indorama Ventures’ commercial and technical teams in hall 9.0, booth A80/A82 to discuss sustainability roadmaps and material selection for end-consumer needs ahead.

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: Indorama Ventures PCL

Techtextil 2026 Recognition For The UK’s Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET)

MANCHESTER, UK — April 15, 2026 — Fibre Extrusion Technology (FET) will receive the Techtextil 2026 New Production Technology Innovation Award at next week’s Techtextil in Frankfurt (April 21-24).

UHMWPE produced in the new FET-500 to be introduced at Techtextil 2026.

The Leeds-based member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) has developed the FET-500, a new toxic solvent-free gel small scale system for the production of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE).

UHMWPE is regarded as one of the most high-performance fibre materials for technical textiles due to its extreme strength. Being up to 15 times stronger than steel, it is used to manufacture a variety of high performance products ranging from surgical sutures and cut-resistant gloves to body armour and high-strength offshore ropes.

Production, however, has so far had an environmental drawback – in the traditional gel spinning process, UHMWPE is mixed with oil to form a gel-like mass to be processed into fine strands. The oil is then washed out again with toxic solvents such as hexane or dichloromethane. The consumption is enormous – around 100 kilograms of these solvents are required per kilogram of yarn.

Supercritical CO2

FET’s system replaces these harmful solvents with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) – a non-toxic medium that is often a by-product of industrial processes and is already used in the textile industry for waterless dyeing.

“The current systems for manufacturing UHMWPE filament yarns are on a huge scale, with very complex processing routes,” says FET Research and Development Manager Jonny Hunter. “This means the supply chain is currently very inflexible with minimal opportunity for new product development. These disadvantages have been fully addressed in the development of our new FET-500 series lab and small scale gel spinning system.”

“The FET-500 is in its first commercial phase and Techtextil 2026 is the first textile trade fair worldwide we are presenting it at,” adds FET Managing Director Richard Slack. “We have supplied many extrusion systems to the biomedical market, most notably for the production of both resorbable and non-absorbable sutures and in exploring what else we could do to assist these customers, it became clear that there was a need for smaller quantities of UHMWPE fibres in bespoke sizes. We are proud that the Techtextil Innovation Award has recognised our intensive work ahead of the exhibition. This shows that we are at the forefront of technological developments supporting the textiles of tomorrow.”

Vibrancy

BTMA CEO Jason Kent

“This award illusttrates the current vibrancy of the UK’s textile technology sector,” says BTMA CEO Jason Kent. “From the careful handling of ultra-high value yarns to the forensic inspection of finished fabrics, the BTMA members at Techtextil and Texprocess this year collectively represent a complete chain of innovation spanning processing, monitoring and quality assurance. Each company is contributing to a more resilient and resource-efficient technical textiles sector.”

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: The British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA)

INDA 2026 Supply Report Highlights Resilient Growth And Sustainability Focus In North American Nonwovens Industry

CARY, N.C. — April 15, 2026 — INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, today released its 13th annual North American Nonwovens Supply Report, offering a comprehensive look at the industry’s performance, challenges, and strategic evolution.

The report reveals a complex landscape shaped by global trade uncertainty, including tariffs and geopolitical tensions, which are expected to influence industry growth and performance in the coming years. Production output slowed again in 2025, reflecting a cautious, “wait-and-see” environment across the sector.

Despite these headwinds, the industry demonstrates resilience. Key trends include moderated production levels paired with cautious optimism, as companies adapt to shifting market conditions. Sustainability and environmental stewardship remain central priorities, driving innovation and long-term strategic investments.

Report Based on Extensive Producer Input

Developed through extensive research, including producer surveys and in-depth interviews with industry leaders, the 2026 report offers a comprehensive view of the nonwovens landscape, spanning composites, roll goods, and finished products. This report provides an in-depth analysis of capacity, production, operating rates, and regional trade across North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

“As part of INDA’s role as the industry’s trusted data source, this report delivers valuable insights for benchmarking, strategic planning, and decision-making,” said Tony Fragnito, INDA President and CEO. “This year’s findings highlight a resilient industry that continues to expand capacity through ongoing investments across all regions and sectors. We are also seeing a clear shift toward sustainable, durable products, alongside continued innovation to meet evolving demand across North America.”

The full report is provided at no cost to participating producers. INDA members receive the report’s Executive Summary on a complimentary basis as part of their membership. Data from the Supply Report also informs INDA’s biennial Global Nonwoven Markets Demand Report, most recently published in November 2024.

“INDA remains committed to enhancing the quality and depth of our industry data and insights,” said Mark Snider, Chief Market and Industry Analyst. “Strong participation from suppliers is essential to that mission. As global supply chain pressures intensify, this report examines the key dynamics shaping the market and influencing future direction.”

For more information or to purchase the report, visit inda.org/market-intelligence/

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) Publishes Guide To Protect Workers From Heat Stress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 17, 2026 — Today, the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), published its AAFA Guide to Protecting Workers from  Heat  Stress.

The guidance is intended to provide practical and actionable recommendations that can be operationalized in supply chains to implement policies and procedures to both mitigate and prevent excessive heat days and to protect workers when excessive heat days do occur.

Protecting workers in the apparel, footwear, and travel goods industry from extreme heat is becoming increasingly important as global temperatures and the incidence of heat stress in the workplace continue to rise. The International Labor Organization estimates that 18,970 deaths and 22.87 million occupation injuries are linked to excessive heat in the workplace. The guidance details how to mitigate the effects of occupational heat stress on workers, based on international standards, government policies, and academic research. Key recommendations include that factories:

  • Set maximum thresholds for workplace heat;
  • Implement structural mitigation strategies to help prevent and/or lower the incidence of a heat stress environment;
  • Adjust workloads, water, and bathroom breaks in accordance with heat conditions;
  • Establish heat stress education and medical monitoring programs to help workers, supervisors, and health staff identify and prevent heat-related illnesses;
  • Implement a regular discussion mechanism between buyers and suppliers to work together not only to reduce the incidence of heat stress but share responsibility for the impact of heat stress and extreme heat days on the workers, suppliers, and buyers; and
  • Improve adherence to regional and national labor and public health codes regarding workplace temperature, ventilation, humidity, and room capacity.

The guidance was composed with representatives from the entire supply chain – retailers, brands, manufacturers, and material suppliers – and with consultation with key stakeholders representing both the industry, academia, MSIs, international organizations, NGOs, and more.

The AAFA Guide to Protecting Workers from Heat Stress will be regularly reviewed  to incorporate new or updated information regarding heat related illness, best practices, or global standards to reflect the most up to date and accurate guidance. The guidance is open to all industry stakeholders for widespread sharing of best practices and will be updated annually.

Today’s publication builds on AAFA’s long-standing efforts to support fair labor practices for garment workers worldwide and specifically its work since 2024 to develop protections against heat stress in the supply chain. AAFA encourages the global industry to adopt the publicly available AAFA Guide to Protecting Workers from Heat Stress as a key resource in keeping laborers safe across the globe.

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

U.S. Textile Industry Demonstrates Resilience Amid Global Disruptions, Secures Major Policy Wins, Delivers State Of The U.S. Textile Industry Address

WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 16, 2026 — National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) Chairman Chuck Hall delivered the trade association’s State of the Industry overview at NCTO’s 22nd Annual Meeting on April 16.

Mr. Hall’s speech outlined (I) the U.S. textile industry’s major challenges and policy achievements last year, (2) the strategic importance of the U.S. textile supply chain to the economy and national security, and (3) NCTO’s 2026 policy priorities for domestic textile manufacturers.

A link to the NCTO chairman’s remarks as prepared for delivery are included  here  along with a link to a data infographic prepared by NCTO illustrating the current economic status of the U.S. textile industry.

Mr. Hall is President and CEO of Barnet, a technical textile manufacturer headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

NCTO’s annual meeting was held April 14-16 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO)

VDMA Members At Techtextil: Smart Technologies For Technical Textiles

FRANKFURT, Germany — April 16, 2026 — At Techtextil 2026 in Frankfurt, the members of VDMA Textile Machinery underline their key role as global technology leaders for technical textiles and textile processing. With a strong presence of more than 50 members they will highlight how engineering excellence, innovation strength and sustainability expertise from Germany and Europe are shaping the future of the textile industry. Seven companies will be present at the VDMA group stand in the centre of hall 12.0.

VDMA member companies are internationally recognised for their high‑performance production technologies, enabling advanced technical textiles for a wide range of applications – from mobility, construction and filtration to medical and protective textiles. At Techtextil 2026, they present solutions that combine maximum productivity, precise process control and resource efficiency, meeting the rising demands of global markets.

A key focus is digitalisation and automation. Smart machines, data-driven process optimisation and integrated system solutions enable textile producers worldwide to increase efficiency, ensure consistent quality and remain competitive in a challenging economic environment. These technologies are essential for transforming textile manufacturing into a more resilient and future-proof industry.

Sustainability is another central pillar of textile machinery innovation. Equipment and systems from VDMA members support energy-efficient production, lower emissions and the responsible use of raw materials. In addition, the machinery manufacturers are pioneers in textile recycling and circular economy solutions, providing the technological foundation for closing material loops and complying with increasingly strict environmental regulations worldwide.

The strong presence of VDMA member companies at Techtextil 2026 reflects the significance of Germany and Europe as a competence centre for textile machinery engineering. Acting as partners to textile producers around the globe, the machine manufacturers combine decades of mechanical engineering know-how with advanced digital solutions and application-specific expertise.

“We are looking forward to Techtextil 2026, as it serves as an important platform for international dialogue, business development and technological exchange.” says Dr. Harald Weber, Managing Director of VDMA Textile Machinery.

At its group stand (hall 12.0, C55/56), VDMA will be hosting several events for member companies and trade fair visitors:

Panel discussion: Technical textiles – quo vadis?

Moderated by Dr Harald Weber (VDMA), Lutz Walter (Textile ETP), Hagen Lotzmann (Karl Mayer) and Prof. Dr Holger Erth (Textilausrüstung Pfand) will discuss current trends, challenges and requirements for technical textiles, new fields of application, further developments, sustainability and recycling, as well as the implications for manufacturing technology. Date: Tuesday, 21 April, 3 pm. (Language: English).

Walter Reiners-Foundation Awards Ceremony

The 60th anniversary of VDMA’s Walter Reiners-Foundation marks sixty years of commitment to the next generation of engineers – and VDMA will celebrate this at Techtextil!

During the event, VDMA will look back on this history through the careers of Foundation award winners from different decades. Afterwards, visitors will have the chance to meet the 2026 award winners and learn about their work. A total of five graduates will be presented with awards for their bachelor and master theses by the foundation’s chairman, Peter D. Dornier. Date: Thursday, 23 April, 4 pm. (Language: German).

Delegations from India

At Techtextil, several delegations from the key market of India will be welcomed at the VDMA stand.

VDMA is looking forward to seeing numerous member companies and visitors at these events.

Posted: April 17, 2026

Source: VDMA

Material-Tech Startup BRCĒ From Michigan State Takes Home Grand Prize At Rice Business Plan Competition

HOUSTON — April 14, 2026 — BRCĒ is a material-tech startup replacing failure-prone textiles with polymer composites engineered for strength, fire resistance and intrinsic stability. Its patented Lattice-Grip technology enables directional grip and controlled tension at the yarn level, eliminating slippage and performance loss under extreme conditions. The recent “Shark Tank” participant won over judges during the Rice Business Plan Competition (RBPC) and walked away with 11 prizes totaling $611,500.

BRCĒ, a material-tech startup from Michigan State University, won 11 prizes at the annual Rice Business Plan Competition in Houston, Texas.

In his winning remarks, BRCĒ’s co-founder and CEO Madhav Aggarwal credited watching a fellow Michigan State University alum win the 2024 RBPC as the spark for his own entrepreneurial journey. After seeing that, the team began competing in smaller competitions to sharpen their pitch and build momentum with the goal of ultimately making it to the “Super Bowl of Student Entrepreneurship” at Rice.

This year’s RBPC saw 42 startups compete for more than $1.3 million in investment and nondilutive cash prizes and an additional $110,000 in in-kind value April 9-11 at Rice University and in Houston’s Ion District. The RBPC is the world’s largest and richest intercollegiate graduate student startup competition, hosted annually by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and presented by Rice Business. The event serves as a global stage for emerging ventures from leading universities — this year’s invited startups represented 39 universities from four countries.

The 26th annual competition brought together more than 300 angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate leaders and entrepreneurial ecosystem partners, creating an unmatched environment for investment, mentorship and connection. Teams pitched their cutting-edge solutions in categories, including energy, cleantech and sustainability; life sciences and health care; hard tech; digital enterprise; and consumer products. Read more about the competing startups.

“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, as well as a catalyst for building the Houston entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Brad Burke, associate vice president of Rice Innovation and executive director of Rice Alliance. The 2026 competition marks Burke’s final RBPC, capping nearly 25 years of leadership and impact on the global startup ecosystem.

“The level of talent and ambition we see each year continues to raise the bar,” said Catherine Santamaria, director of the RBPC. “What makes RBPC truly special is the depth of engagement from our judges and partners, who provide meaningful feedback and connections that help founders move their companies forward.”

The student entrepreneurs gain real-world experience pitching their startups, enhancing their business strategy and learning what it takes to launch and scale successfully. The competition always includes an elevator pitch competition, practice round, semifinals and wildcard and final rounds. Between pitches, RBPC teams enjoyed networking and mentorship opportunities, gaining applicable knowledge for their startups. In addition to competing for investments, cash and in-kind prizes, these graduate students gain invaluable advice from investors on how to secure funding, raise awareness and launch a successful venture. To learn more about the 2026 RBPC, visit rbpc.rice.edu.

Based on the judges’ overall scores, the seven finalists were:

  • BRCĒ, Michigan State University — first place and the $200,000 Goose Capital Investment Grand Prize with a total of $611,500 in prizes.
  • Legion Platforms, Arizona State University — second place and the $100,000 Investment Prize sponsored by Jon Finger, Finger Interests; David Anderson, the Anderson Family Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation; and Nancy Chang, with a total of $535,500 in prizes.
    • Legion Platforms is building accessible 3D online games designed to run seamlessly on low-powered devices and slow internet connections. Powered by its proprietary game engine, users can instantly access games via browser or mobile without downloads.
  • Imagine Devices, University of Texas at Austin — third place and the $50,000 Investment Prize sponsored by Jon Finger, Finger Interests; David Anderson, the Anderson Family Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation; and Nancy Chang, with a total of $111,000 in prizes.
    • Imagine Devices is developing Trinity Tube, a multifunctional nasogastric feeding tube. By consolidating multiple devices into a single integrated solution, Trinity Tube enhances respiratory monitoring, reduces device burden and supports safer, more efficient care for premature infants in the NICU.
  • Altaris MedTech, University of Arkansas — fourth place and the $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright with a total of $16,000 in prizes.
    • Altaris MedTech is improving pediatric diagnostics. The first product, Strep-Detect, replaces traditional throat swabs with a spray-based method that causes infections to fluoresce under blue light.
  • Routora, University of Notre Dame and University of Texas at Austin — fifth place and the $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Chevron Technology Ventures with a total of $15,500 in prizes.
    • Routora is an AI-powered platform transforming how cities and small businesses manage inspection operations. Its software automates scheduling, assignment and route optimization, replacing inefficient manual planning tools.
  • DialySafe, Rice University — sixth place and the $5,000 cash prize sponsored by ExxonMobil with a total of $15,500 in prizes.
    • DialySafe is an AI-powered remote patient monitoring platform designed to detect peritonitis in home dialysis patients earlier and more accurately. Its proprietary magnetic induction spectroscopy sensor clips onto existing tubing to identify infection biomarkers without fluid contact.
  • Arrow Analytics, Texas A&M University — seventh place and the $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Shell Ventures with a total of $16,000 in prizes.
    • Arrow Analytics is improving air travel efficiency with an autonomous baggage tracking, counting and sizing platform. Using depth cameras and spatial AI at airport gates, the system helps airlines reduce boarding delays, optimize cabin storage and enhance the passenger experience.

Additional significant prizes and the winning teams are:

  • $200,000 Goose Capital Investment Prize — Legion Platforms, Arizona State University
  • $100,000 The OWL Investment Prize — BRCĒ, Michigan State University
  • $100,000 The OWL Investment Prize — Legion Platforms, Arizona State University
  • $100,000 Houston Angel Network Investment Prize — BRCĒ, Michigan State University
  • $100,000 The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Texas Angels Investment Prize — Legion Platforms, Arizona State University
  • $75,000 The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Texas Angels Investment Prize — BRCĒ, Michigan State University
  • $50,000 nCourage Investment Network’s Courageous Women Entrepreneur Investment Prize — BRCĒ, Michigan State University
  • $25,000 New Climate Ventures Sustainable Investment Prize — BRCĒ, Michigan State University
  • $25,000 Pearland EDC Spirit of Entrepreneurship Cash Prize — Imagine Devices, University of Texas at Austin
  • $25,000 Pearland EDC Spirit of Entrepreneurship Cash Prize — Legion Platforms, Arizona State University
  • $25,000 Southwest National Pediatric Device Consortium Pediatric Device Cash Prize — BiliRoo, University of Michigan
  • $25,000 Amentum and WRX Companies Rising Stars Space Technology and Commercial Aerospace Cash Prize — BeamFeed, City University of New York
  • $25,000 The Eagle Investors Investment Prize — Imagine Devices, University of Texas at Austin
  • $20,000 Aramco Innovator Cash Prize — BRCĒ, Michigan State University
  • $20,000 Aramco Innovator Cash Prize — Grapheon, University of Pittsburgh
  • TMC Innovation Healthcare Accelerator Bootcamp Invitation Prize — NerView Surgical, McMaster University

A total of $75,000 in in-kind legal services were awarded to all finalists with the Baker Botts Prize. The grand prize winner receives a chief financial officer consulting prize worth $40,000. The full list of winners and prizes can be found at rbpc.rice.edu.

Posted: April 14, 2026

Source: Rice University

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