By: Michele Marcotte
• Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions won the inaugural Louisiana Startup Prize
• Each finalist had interest from investor judges to continue discussions on potential investments. Team LASP will facilitate those meetings.
Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions took home the top prize at the Louisiana Startup Prize today.
Chief technology officer Carlos Montes said he was excited to be a part of a growing opportunity in Shreveport-Bossier. "We're so excited to be here," he said after thanking his partners before a packed brunch announcement at the Robinson Film Center.
The Ruston-based startup specializes in low calcium, high corrosion and temperature resistant geopolymers that offer the purest, highest quality geopolymer products on the market.
"It's incredibly inspiring to see so much thinking and so much passion come to one place," Startup Prize Executive Director Gregory Kallenberg said. "Something incredibly magical happened here this year."
Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions was among the five finalists showcasing products, services and solutions to a host of investor judges this weekend during the Startup Prize's FINAL FINAL.
The five finalists — which also included Patho RADAR, StopFlood Appliance Systems, Lynxus and SELN —competed for a grand prize of cash and services equaling more than $70,000. The winner walked away with $25,000 cash, $10,000 worth of marketing services from Williams Creative Group, $10,000 of accounting services from Heard, McElroy and Vestal, one free year of office space provided from American Tower (valued at $20,000) and a $5,000 corporate video provided by Fairfield Studios.
But Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions was not the only company considered a winner today.
The investor judges of the inaugural entrepreneurial competition had the opportunity to invest further into any of the final projects. And each finalist had interest from at least one investor.
Kallenberg said it "blows his mind" to learn all five of the startups had investor interest. Prior to announcing the winner, he handed each finalist an envelope with the number of investors wanting to continue discussions. Kallenberg said his team will facilitate those meetings between finalists and investors.
"The Louisiana Startup Prize has differentiated itself by nurturing and evolving our startups and connecting them with investors," he said. "By doing this, we have created a beacon for indie business leaders and we look forward to seeing how the Startup Prize grows in 2015." "
Get ready for 2015,"Kallenberg said. "We're going to be open for business."
The finalists
1. Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions
Specializes in low calcium, high corrosion, and temperature resistant geopolymers that offer the purest, highest quality geopolymer products on the market. Mechanical strengths that are normally achieved by standard cementitious construction materials in several weeks can be reached in as little as 30 minutes.
2. Lynxus, Nicholas Spinazze
Lynxus is a request-driven social news app providing access to world events through first-person, unfiltered media shown in real time. Lynxus is a revolutionary app that fills that need by providing news without spin. We offer a platform for users to share and request first-person, unfiltered videos of world events, making Lynxus a product of its users and not corporate agendas. From sporting events to concerts to warzones, Lynxus delivers the news you want.
3. PathoRADAR, Varun Kopparthy
PathoRADAR is developing a fast, low-cost, portable pathogen detection system. This instrument will be easy to use, requires no skilled labor, and can detect disease-causing germs in samples taken from our food, water, and environment. Typical food-processing companies need 24 hours to test for a single type of pathogen contamination. PathoRADAR's technology can operate at the same cost in only 40 minutes and accurately tests for multiple pathogens at once.
4. SELN, Leonardo Hudson
Seln (Celine) is the innovative language fluency app designed to make you fluent in any language guaranteed within 12 months. Seln stands for "Simple Enough to Learn Now." With a mission of connecting the world through languages, Seln seeks to be the global standard in language fluency.
5. StopFlood Appliance Systems, Brent Singley
StopFlood is a device that inexpensively and effectively eliminates looming flood liability caused by inadequate water distribution to appliances. This is achieved by relieving water pressure on water delivery hoses, fittings, and components. StopFlood significantly reduces insurance costs and homeowner distress and provides a streamlined design that reduces the cost to appliance manufacturers.
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