The Jack Gill Innovation and Entrepreneurship Excellence Award honors the co-founder of Vanguard Ventures and GOOSE Capital and retired professor in the practice at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business, where he launched the Ignite Entrepreneurship Silicon Valley Trek. This award will be presented annually to a full-time faculty member in recognition of the development of research leading to technology that can be commercialized and has a significant impact on society.

Both nominations and self-nominations are encouraged. However, this is a solo award and teams will not be considered. Nominations can be made here.