ASTRA Accelerator Cohort 8 Applications Are Now Open
Early-stage founders in aerospace, defense, space, and dual-use know the gap between a strong concept and a deployed solution is where most momentum is won, or lost. It’s not just about building the technology. It’s about finding the right validation partners, accelerating business development, and proving real-world value quickly.
That’s exactly where ASTRA comes in.
Applications for ASTRA Cohort 8 are now open. Powered by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Starburst, ASTRA is Israel’s leading program for early-stage startups building next-generation technologies across these strategic domains. The goal is simple: help startups move from concept to reality with capital, customer access, and global market reach.
A program designed for real outcomes
ASTRA is built around one core advantage: unmatched access to the industry. Selected startups don’t just receive mentorship—they gain pathways to co-development, pilots, and validation with major players.
Founders join a 7-month deep-dive program designed to accelerate both technical maturity and commercial traction, supported by hands-on engagement from the ecosystem that matters most.
Funding plus strategic support
Cohort 8 startups can receive up to $100K in cash funding, alongside $100K in strategic in-kind support. That support includes practical help with fundraising, outreach, and business development—the work that turns a product into a pipeline and pilots into partnerships.
Work directly with IAI and leading OEMs
One of ASTRA’s defining features is direct collaboration with IAI and aerospace OEMs. For startups, this means the opportunity to pilot, validate, and co-develop with real customers—moving beyond pitch decks into tangible deployment pathways.
Global exposure and market access
ASTRA also plugs founders into Starburst’s global network of VCs, corporates, and ecosystem leaders, opening doors to partnerships and markets well beyond Israel. For teams building dual-use and strategic technologies, that exposure can be a catalyst for international scaling.
Who ASTRA is looking for:
ASTRA is designed for startups building technology with edge, vision, and scale potential, including:
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Aviation: supersonic, hybrid, eVTOL, STOL, UAV, hydrogen/fuel cell, UAS/UTM, autonomy, avionics
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Space: satellites, launch, data communications, remote sensing, Earth observation
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Defense: integrated systems, UAV, UAS & counter-UAS, data comms, optical, cybersecurity
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Enabling technologies: materials, energy, robotics, AI, connectivity, autonomy
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Dual-use technologies: solutions applicable across defense and civilian markets
Deadline and application
Deadline to apply: February 1, 2026
