Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions, an innovative concrete technology company that emerged from geopolymer research conducted at Louisiana Tech University, has won the inaugural LA StartUp Prize.
Presented as “the most amazing entrepreneurial competition on the planet,” LA StartUp Prize seeks to connect entrepreneurs with investors and to create “a culture of entrepreneurship” in northwestern Louisiana. The competition consisted of two qualifiers and the Startup Prize Weekend Grand Finale. Five finalists competed for $50,000 in cash and services and the possibility of startup funds from a panel of investors and judges.
“Competing in the LA StartUp Prize was incredible, but also very demanding,” said Carlos Montes, chief technology officer for Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions and a research scientist at Louisiana Tech’s Trenchless Technology Center. “It was also a great growth opportunity for the company to be able to receive invaluable advice for improving our business model and strategic planning.”
Montes and Erez Allouche, the T.L. James Eminent Scholar Chair in Civil Engineering at Louisiana Tech and CEO of AGS, have been working on this technology at Louisiana Tech for several years.
Montes said AGS’ geopolymer product, which uses 100 percent fly-ash, a by-product of coal-burning power generation, has better properties than traditional Portland cement.
Montes and his team at AGS are continuing to refine and improve their geopolymer products and see a bright future for the company.
“We already have a few major contracts signed with companies in the U.S. and China, and we expect to have more in the next few months,” said Montes.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/local/2014/10/04/green-concrete-technology-earns-la-startup-prize/16609461/
