LA New Product Development Team (LA NPDT) is across-functional organization of talented engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs that evolved from a student organization at Louisiana Tech in 2014. Based in Shreveport, the company aims to identify, develop, and deliver results that benefit the overall economic development of Louisiana.
The firm’s latest project is the development of a low-cost alternative to precious metals-based EMI shielding coatings. Called Grapheno, based on graphene, the product is a conductive coating. This type of product is used by various government entities and industrial companies such as telecommunications providers, electric power distributors, medical equipment manufacturers, and oil and gas firms.
The startup recently received a grant from the Innovation Enterprise Fund that will be used, along with the team member’s technical skills, to develop a multimillion dollar firm that deals with the manufacturing and commercial distribution of graphene-based products.
Company founders Avery Lorenzato and Konstantin Dolgan are also currently participating in the Louisiana Startup Prize, an entrepreneurial competition held in Shreveport.
“We are seeking partners, investors and early adopters for conducting full-scale product testing, obtaining permits and certificates as well as developing a Louisiana-based manufacturing facility,” says Dolgan.