Michael leads Starburst’s US east coast operations based in Arlington, VA.
Michael is an international commercial aerospace, defense & space executive experienced in working with disruptively innovative start-ups across numerous commercial aerospace, defense & space domains as their banker, consultant, acquirer and employee since before it became popular.
Michael’s formative experiences include intelligence operations and combat service with the 82nd Airborne Division for Operation Desert Storm, with Task Force 118 for then-classified Operation Prime Chance, and missions with the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne) (Tactical Exploitation) supporting the XVIII Airborne Corps, the JFK Special Warfare Center & School and national level agencies.
Since graduating from the Wharton School, Michael worked in strategy consulting (McKinsey & PricewaterhouseCoopers), Fortune 500 corporate development (Rockwell Collins & Thales) and investment banking (PCE Investment Bankers & The McLean Group) roles. More recently, he served as Strategy, Business Development & Sales VP at AI start-up SparkCognition and as the VP of Strategic Partnerships at Israeli offensive cyber counter-UAS start-up D-Fend Solutions.
Michael is the founder of senior executive association Wharton Aerospace and its 1492 Club. He is also a board director at the National Defense University Foundation.
Felix Eid is a result-driven aerospace enthusiast with 4 years of experience scaling innovation and driving growth through strategic and financial planning.
As Chief of Staff at Starburst, Felix facilitates key initiatives by aligning priorities between C-suite leadership and Country Managers, while consolidating financial data to provide actionable insights for the CEO, Head of Strategy, and CFO.
Felix began his career in engineering, earning both an Engineering Diploma and an M.Eng. Seeking new challenges, he transitioned into technology consulting at Accenture and Capgemini, where he led agile teams of experts and developed critical performance metrics to enhance project outcomes.
His desire to influence technology adoption drove him to strategy consulting at Starburst, culminating in his current role as Chief of Staff, where he contributes to achieving Starburst’s mission at a global level.
Cécile Josse is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with expertise in branding, digital strategy, and event management, particularly within the aerospace and defense sectors.
At Starburst, she leads the development and execution of global communication strategies, focusing on PR, content creation, social media management, and strategic event planning to enhance the company’s position in the industry.
She works closely with international teams and major stakeholders such as Thales, Safran, the French Space Agency, the European Space Agency, and the European Commission, driving initiatives that foster innovation and strengthen relationships with start-ups, corporate partners, and industry leaders.
Her contributions have helped elevate high-profile events, such as Demo Days, selection committees, and investor networking sessions, amplifying visibility and opportunities for emerging aerospace innovators.
Chris Barchak is a Managing Partner at Starburst Ventures Europe, bringing a strong technology background and deep investment experience across multiple stages and geographies.
Chris holds an M.Eng./S.B. in Computer Science from MIT. He began his career in various types of operational, customer-facing roles within the enterprise software sector, including pre-sales consulting, software development, implementation, and product marketing.
After earning his MBA from INSEAD, Chris launched his 20-year venture investing career at Index Ventures in Geneva, working as an Associate under firm founder Neil Rimer. As Principal at Fidelity’s Growth Partners Europe, he led their Series A round in Neo4j (now valued at over $2 billion). He has also held senior investment roles at Conor Venture Partners, Next47, and Valo Ventures.
A dual Finnish/US citizen and current UK resident, Chris identifies, supports, and invests in high growth, transformative technology ventures.
Íñigo Estébanez de la Mata leads Starburst’s activities in Spain, driving collaborations between local institutions, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs. He played a key role in launching Spain’s first space-dedicated startup accelerator, the New Space Catalonia Accelerator, and has supported major aerospace and defense corporations in their open innovation strategies.
With a background in aerospace engineering, Íñigo studied at Universidad Europea de Madrid and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Before joining Starburst, he contributed to the design of a small satellite launcher and a nanosatellite, gaining hands-on experience in both engineering and procurement.
Curt Bilby is an experienced executive with over two decades of leadership in scaling technology companies and driving shareholder value. Currently serving as Chief Financial Officer at Starburst, Dr. Bilby has successfully led strategic financial restructuring and optimized global operations across Europe and the United States.
With a proven track record in corporate development, Dr. Bilby has previously raised significant capital through private equity, venture funding, public financing, government grants and debt financing, totaling well over $100 million. He has spearheaded multi-national partnerships, negotiated complex contracts, and implemented robust governance frameworks for high-growth startups and established organizations.
Dr. Bilby has engineering degrees from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Auburn University and conducted his PhD work in aerospace engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was a USRA/NASA fellow. Of note is the selection of Dr. Bilby for the Career Achievement Award at Rose-Hulman, where he was also awarded an honorary doctorate.
Ilan Rozenkopf is the global Head of Strategy and New Ventures at Starburst.
After graduating with a master’s degree in development economics from the London School of Economics and an engineering degree from École Centrale de Paris, he joined McKinsey & Company. During more than 13 years as a Partner at McKinsey & Company, he specialized in strategy and corporate finance for aviation, defense, and space corporates (with a focus on growth and innovation).
His distinctiveness within the sector lies in three main areas: expertise in strategy and corporate finance, space industry specialization, and experience with startups and scale-ups. Ilan has substantial knowledge in strategy and corporate finance, serving numerous heads of strategy, M&A, CFOs within the industry, as well as private equity investors. In space expertise, he led McKinsey’s space practice in Europe, working closely with major European space players and the European Space Agency. Additionally, he brings significant experience working with startups and scale-ups, particularly in urban air mobility and the emerging “new space” sector.
Ilan is driving Starburst’s strategic development and accelerating the creation of venture capital funds focused on dual-use technologies worldwide.
With over 10 years of experience in the aerospace industry, Matthieu Chartier is currently Managing Director of Starburst France. He specializes in Aerospace & Defense (A&D) with a focus on Tech & Deeptech.
Prior to joining Starburst in the spring of 2023, Chartier was the Project Leader at BCG Paris. His career began at ArianeGroup (former Airbus Defense & Space), where he spent 5 years designing and building Space ground infrastructures (including the Ariane 6 assembly Line, Kazakhstan Space center, and more).
In 2018, he joined Microsoft’s Strategy Consulting team, where he focused on the A&D French market to support the growing needs in the Digital & Tech verticals of the industry. He developed several strategic partnerships with major European players (for example, Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, and Naval Group) and led the elaboration of Microsoft France’s Space strategy, supporting the launch of Azure Space & Azure Orbital products in France.
Bertram Gorlo leads the Starburst Germany office. A seasoned aerospace executive with nearly three decades of experience in the aerospace industry, with a decade dedicated to the commercial aviation world and nearly two decades in the military aviation sector.
Throughout his career, Bertram has navigated various facets of the aerospace industry, including aero engines, civil and military aircraft, industrial gas turbines, UAVs, and civil and military service solutions. His repertoire also includes expertise in program and project execution, strategy development, business development, sales, and key account management, with firsthand experience with commercial and institutional customers.
In his role as Managing Director for Starburst, Bertram focuses on expanding the company’s presence in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Drawing upon his expertise and industry connections, he is pivotal in connecting promising startups with governments, institutions, and industry leaders.
Benjamin Zeitoun is an Investing Partner at Starburst Ventures (SV). He focuses on early-stage companies building category-defining products for industrial and government customers.
Prior to his current role with SV, Benjamin helped build and operate Starburst Accelerator, the world’s first startup accelerator focused on national security and Aerospace & Defense, which has thus far supported more than 120 companies—who have raised a total of $1.7Bn in capital (as of 01/2024).
He has also worked with large corporations executives across the US and Europe, as well as government agencies, to promote an innovation culture and new business opportunities, sparking dozens of collaborations and direct investments in startups.
Prior to this, he studied software and hardware engineering in Montreal, Stockholm and Paris, and began his career in the CIO advisory practice of Fortune 500, before deciding to continue his studies in finance, strategy and management in France and Singapore.
Benjamin holds an MS degree in Computer Science & Systems from Ecole Centrale d’Electronique Paris and a Postgraduate Junior MBA in strategy from ESSEC Business School.
