The Georgia Tech venture team, Torex International, won $250,000 in funding for placing third at the 2003 Carrot Capital Business Plan Challenge. Torex, one of 20 finalists, was selected out of 740 submitted business plans. The Challenge was held April 26 in New York City and awarded a total of $3 million in funding.

Torex International offers steel fiber designed for the international construction industry. The product enables customers to create safer structures at a lower cost with revolutionary, patented Steel Fiber Reinforced Cement (SFRC) composite technology.

The Torex International team includes DuPree College of Management MBA students Alicia Benyard, Mike Bliss, David Devine, Luke Pinkerton, and Andy Warner and Chemical Engineering graduate student Chris Power. Dr. Pat Dickson, assistant professor, DuPree College of Management serves as faculty adviser to DuPree's venture teams.

In March, Torex International won third place and received $2,500 in funding at the 2003 Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition. They also received a $45,000 service package for being the most fundable venture team.