ACCELERATE
SPACE & DEFENSE
TECHNOLOGIES &
RESEARCH in
AEROSPACE

About Astra

ASTRA is Israel’s inaugural Aerospace & Defense Accelerator—designed to drive the next generation of space technology ventures. Powered by Starburst, the world’s first and only global aviation and space accelerator, and delivered in close collaboration with IAI, Israel Aerospace Industries (the national leader in space tech), ASTRA is uniquely positioned to transform Israel from a startup nation into a true spacetech powerhouse.

This 7-month intensive accelerator program is meticulously crafted to support early-stage startups across various space technology verticals. ASTRA’s core objectives are to:

• Increase the likelihood of successful fundraising by equipping startups with the critical tools and expertise needed for their next investment round.
• Significantly reduce time to market through strategic guidance and accelerated go-to-market (GTM) planning.
• Enhance GTM strategy and ensure product-market fit by leveraging industry-leading coaching, expert mentorship, and deep-dive technical support.

Participants in the program benefit from:

A structured bootcamp that includes hands-on technical support, senior coaching, and access to IAI’s state-of-the-art testing infrastructure.
A comprehensive suite of in-kind services valued up to $100K, including pilot development, corporate introductions, and business development resources.
Direct engagement with Starburst’s global network of over 100 mentors and industry experts, leading to invaluable commercial partnerships and strategic investor introductions.
An innovation hub nurtured by key stakeholders from the aerospace and defense sectors—corporates, governments, and investors—both locally and globally.

ASTRA calls on visionary innovators and entrepreneurs to join this groundbreaking venture, enabling them to secure proof-of-concept validation, refine commercialization strategies, and ultimately contribute to the disruption and advancement of space technology. Together, we will push the boundaries of human exploration and build a resilient, competitive spacetech ecosystem in Israel.

Two cohorts per year

100

Expert mentors and advisors

Portfolio companies

Total # of paid Pilots

294

Global Outreaches

13.12

Raised (no incl. grants $M)

Space Earth Economy

ASTRA focuses on technologies solving global challenges for the space-earth economy and looks for solutions that can also have dual application: not only to explore the commercial markets here on earth but that are also critical to space missions.

Space Exploration

ASTRA seeks to progress and develop ideas and technologies that tackle the difficulties in transportation to and within space, all for the sake of providing stronger connectivity to off-planet activities.

Space Commercialization

ASTRA will support companies that target commercialization of services and operations that take place in space, from situational awareness to in-space servicing & other Infrastructure for frontier space economy.

Founded in 2012, Starburst 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 one of the largest groups of corporate representatives, government stakeholders, and private venture investors in the world.