Alchemy Geopolymer wins $50,000

Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions, a cleantech spin-out of Louisiana Tech University, has won the inaugural LA Startup Prize, worth $50,000.

The competition was set up to better connect young companies to investors and foster a culture of entrepreneurship in northwestern Louisiana – LA denotes the state’s acronym, not the city of Los Angeles.

Alchemy won out against four other finalists. The company is working on a novel concrete which is made entirely of out fly-ash, a by-product of coal-burning. The material is more environmentally friendly than the traditionally used Portland cement. It also has a higher chemical and thermal resistance and it is more cost-effective.

Carlos Montes, chief technology officer at Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions and research scientist at Louisiana Tech’s Trenchless Technology Centre, said: “Competing in the LA Startup Prize was incredible, but also very demanding. It was especially challenging for me, since I do not come from a formal business background. I am used to being in the lab producing formulations, so this was a great opportunity to step into new territory. 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.”