RecycleMatch Named One of the Most Promising I.T. and Web 2.0 Companies at the Rice Alliance Venture Forum

HOUSTON – (December, 15 2009) - RecycleMatch was named one of the Most Promising I.T. and Web 2.0 Companies at the 7th annual Rice Alliance for Technology & Entrepreneurship I.T. and Web 2.0 Venture Forum in Houston last week. I.T. and Web 2.0 companies showcased their new ventures for an audience of more than 400 attendees, including investors, venture capitalists, industry representatives, business leaders, advisors/mentors, service providers, and entrepreneurs.

RecycleMatch, based in Houston, is an online market for transforming commercial waste into value. Using a web-based marketplace, RecycleMatch helps companies reduce costs and environmental impact by matching waste streams from one company into useful materials for another company. At the back-end of supply chains, companies are spending billions of dollars a year to put materials, waste, and by-products into landfills.

“We started RecycleMatch because we saw an opportunity to help businesses reduce waste and lower environmental impacts," said Chad Farrell, Co-Founder of RecycleMatch. "The Rice Alliance Venture Forum was very valuable for our company since we were able to get important feedback from veteran entrepreneurs and investors. We were also able to meet several strategic partners and customers. ”

The one-day event culminated in an announcement of the Most Promising I.T. and Web 2.0 Companies chosen from more than 50 presenters and judged by the Rice Alliance I.T. and Web 2.0 Advisory Board, based on the companies’ business plan or elevator pitch presentations. Rice Alliance managing director Brad Burke, announced the winners of the Most Promising I.T. and Web 2.0 Company awards at the event. “Every year the quality of companies improves. This year we had variety from planning your evening activities to learning English. Many of the companies at this year’s event have developed prototypes, obtained proven results and are on their second round of funding. This makes them more appealing to investors, who have also expressed appreciation for the quality of the companies.”

The Forum was supported by Andrews Kurth, Austin Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds, Trailblazer Capital and Rice University with supporting organizations Houston Technology Center and Opportunity Houston and media sponsors Houston Business Journal and the BusinessMakers Radio Show.

About The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship (Rice Alliance) is Rice University’s nationally-recognized initiative devoted to the support of technology commercialization, entrepreneurship education, and the launch of technology companies. It was formed as a strategic alliance of three schools: the George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management. Since inception, the Rice Alliance has assisted in the launch of more than 250 start-ups which have raised more than half-a-billion dollars in early-stage capital. More than 750 companies have presented at the 100+ programs hosted by the Rice Alliance.

Recent recognition:

2009 #5 U.S. Graduate Entrepreneurship Program Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine 2009 Outstanding Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership & Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education GCEC - 2009 Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship Program USASBE - 2008 Houston’s Greatest Economic Development Ally Greater Houston Partnership 2007 Outstanding Enterprise Creation Award – GCEC

For more information about the Rice Alliance, visit www.alliance.rice.edu