IIM Mumbai and Starburst Aerospace Forge Strategic Collaboration to Boost Aerospace, New Space, and Defence Startups in India

IIM Mumbai and Starburst Forge Strategic Collaboration to Boost Aerospace, New Space, and Defence Startups in India

Mumbai, India – March 27, 2024

In a landmark move set to redefine the landscape of the Aerospace, New Space, and Defence (ASD) industry in India, the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai), one of India’s premier business schools, has entered into a strategic collaboration with Starburst Aerospace, the leading European Aerospace, New Space, and Defence (ASD) accelerator. This strategic partnership aims to cultivate an ASD ecosystem centered around IIM Mumbai, providing vital support and resources to ASD startups across the nation.

The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment as India experiences unprecedented growth and transformation within the ASD sector. Recognizing the immense potential and significance of fostering innovation in this domain, Prof. Manoj K Tiwari, Director of IIM Mumbai, and Mr. Francois Chopard, representing Starburst, have formalized this partnership through a signing ceremony held at IIM Mumbai on March 26, 2024.

The event witnessed the presence of esteemed guests including Mr. Rajinder Bhatia, Chairman, Defence Business, Kalyani Group & SIDM President, and Mr. Anil Verma, Executive Director and CEO at Godrej & Boyce, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor respectively.

“This strategic collaboration between IIM Mumbai and Starburst signifies a crucial step towards nurturing and empowering the burgeoning ASD startup ecosystem in India,” remarked Prof. Manoj K Tiwari. “By leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions, we aim to provide unparalleled support to ASD startups, enabling them to thrive and contribute significantly to India’s ASD industry.”

Starburst, known for its global network and deep industry knowledge, brings invaluable experience to the collaboration.

“We are excited to partner with IIM Mumbai to foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the Aerospace, new Space, and Defence sector in India.” stated Mr. Francois Chopard, Founder and CEO of Starburst. “Through this collaboration, we aim to catalyze the growth of ASD startups by providing them with access to mentorship, funding opportunities, and international networks.”

By offering a conducive environment for innovation and entrepreneurship, the partnership aims to strengthen India’s position as a hub for ASD innovation on the global stage.

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About IIM Mumbai 

IIM Mumbai erstwhile known as NITIE was established by the Government of India in 1963 with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labor Organization (ILO). IIM Mumbai has been consistently ranked among the top B-schools in India. IIM Mumbai is ranked 9th in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings for 2022 among Management Institutes across India. IIM Mumbai is committed to creating skilled professionals in diverse functional areas like Operations Management, Analytics, Finance, Marketing, Project Management, HR, Information Technology, and Sustainability Management. More information about IIM Mumbai can be found at https://iimmumbai.ac.in/.

About Starburst Aerospace

Founded in 2012, Starburst Aerospace is an innovation catalyst in the global Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry. Combining three complementary activities–accelerators, consulting, and ventures–they help stakeholders innovate, navigate and invest in the dynamic ecosystem. With offices in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich, Singapore, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Madrid, and Washington DC, the team has built a robust community with 60+ partners and a portfolio of 140+ startups. Starburst’s leading Flagship Accelerator program helps startups scale their business in aviation, space, and defense with access to the largest group of corporate representatives, government stakeholders, and private venture investors in the world to help startups win their first contracts. More information about Starburst can be found at www.starburst.aero.

Media Contact: marketing@starburst.aero