Six Businesses with Roots at Rice Business

Great ideas need the right place to grow, and at Rice Business, entrepreneurs find more than inspiration — they find structure, support and a community that believes in rolling up its sleeves. Whether students arrive with a clear business plan or just a hunch that something could be better, the entrepreneurial mindset of a Rice MBA helps them build, test and launch.

From the heat of a kitchen to the frontiers of virtual reality, here are six businesses that took root at Rice Business — and are making their mark far beyond campus. 
 

1. ChopnBlok

Founder: Opeyemi “Ope” Amosu ’14

Ope Amosu turned his passion for food and community into ChopnBlok (pronounced “choppin block”), a fast-casual restaurant that brings the vibrant flavors of West Africa to Houston. Starting with pop-up dinners and leveraging everything from pitch competitions to faculty feedback, Amosu launched his restaurant in 2021. It quickly earned acclaim — including two James Beard semifinalist nods in 2024 and 2025. Since being featured in national magazines like The New Yorker and Texas Monthly, ChopnBlok has become more than a restaurant: It’s a cultural movement centered on flavor, heritage and inclusion. Hear about Amosu’s culinary passion and entrepreneurial journey.

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2. Cart.com

Founder: Omair Tariq ’16

When Omair Tariq co-founded Cart.com, he wanted to help brands scale without losing focus. The company offers end-to-end e-commerce infrastructure — everything from fulfillment to digital marketing — and has since grown into a leader in the space, supporting thousands of brands. Cart.com’s rapid rise reflects a core Rice Business principle: solve real problems at scale, and growth will follow. During his Rice Business commencement address in 2023, Tariq credited his MBA with shaping his systems-level thinking and preparing him to lead fast-growth teams. 

3. Friedkin Group

Founder: Dan Friedkin ’92

As chairman and CEO of the Friedkin Group, Dan Friedkin oversees a diverse portfolio that spans auto distribution, luxury hospitality, aviation and movie production (including award-winning films like “Killers of the Flower Moon”). Anchored by flagship companies like Gulf States Toyota and Auberge Resorts Collection, the Group also includes interests in conservation and global philanthropy — from protecting endangered wildlife to supporting education initiatives. Friedkin’s work reflects the broader vision of a Rice Business grad: building businesses that are not only profitable, but purposeful.

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4. Sallyport Investments

Founder: Doug Foshee ’92

Doug Foshee founded Sallyport Investments after leading El Paso Corporation as CEO and building a reputation as one of the energy industry’s most thoughtful strategists. Sallyport focuses on private equity and venture capital, backing companies with strong fundamentals and the capacity to scale — particularly in energy, infrastructure and industrial tech. Foshee’s career is a study in what it means to pair business acumen with steady, values-driven leadership.

5. Virtuix 

Founder: Jan Goetgeluk ’10

Jan Goetgeluk came to Rice Business with an idea and left with a company. His startup, Virtuix, created the Omni — a virtual reality treadmill that lets users walk and run in 360-degree virtual spaces. Used for gaming, fitness and military training, Virtuix is a rare example of a successful hardware venture in the VR space. What began as a niche concept for gamers quickly drew attention from investors and technologists eager to expand what immersive tech could do. Today, Virtuix is changing how people move through virtual worlds — and it all started on campus. Hear directly from Goetgeluk on Owl Have You Know as he shares his journey and experience co-founding the Rice Energy Finance Summit (REFS) as a MBA student in 2009 — and how the student-led conference continues to drive important discussions on financial factors affecting the global energy industry today.
 

6. 3 Men Movers

CEO: Jacky Fischer ’11

3 Men Movers began in 1985 as a one-truck operation founded by Jacky Fischer’s father, John. When she came on board in 2003, she brought fresh energy and big ideas — and a year later, she bought the company. With help from her Rice Business MBA, Fischer expanded operations beyond Houston, introduced new services like portable storage and packing, and modernized the company’s logistics and marketing. Today, 3 Men Movers has more than 100 trucks, 400 employees and locations across Texas and Florida. It’s a story of generational growth powered by entrepreneurial thinking and strategic leadership. 

These six businesses are just a glimpse of how Rice Business alumni turn ideas into impact — and are supported by a community that champions innovation at every stage.

Continue reading about how our Rice MBA builds an entrepreneurial mindset and why we are recognized consistently as the #1 graduate program for entrepreneurship.
 

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