Sangdawn Kim, Managing Director of Starburst Korea, has 25+ years of experience in aerospace & defense engineering and marketing, with a focus on aerospace & defense technology analysis and R&D strategy.
Kim received an Aerospace Engineering Bachelor of Science & a Master of Science from Seoul National University before working in Flight Dynamics Engineering and Jet Trainer Marketing at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). He also was the VP of Business Development at Rolls-Royce Korea (gas turbine) for more than seven years, overseeing various sectors such as aircraft, naval marine, and energy.
Kim’s passion for exploration and cultural exchange is evident in his experiences across Europe, the Middle East, Korea, and the United States. Having lived and worked in three countries – Korea, France, and the USA – he has gained a deep understanding of various markets and global perspectives.
Currently residing in Korea, Kim leverages his multicultural background to foster innovation and collaboration on an international scale.
Noemie Alliel is the Starburst Israel Managing Director, with over 15 years of experience in strategy consulting, operations, entrepreneurship and business development, at organizations ranging from the world’s biggest professional services firms to her own startups.
As a French expat, Noemie lived in the US for 9 yrs where she started her career advising companies in distressed at KPMG in NYC before relocating to Israel 10 years ago.
In her current role at Starburst, the world’s first and only accelerator focused on aerospace and defense, she is building bridges between startups and large corporates via Starburst’s accelerator programs, solving industry gaps via the strategic consulting arm and investing the next big thing in Aerospace & Defense via Starburst Israel Ventures. Passionate about flight & space, Noemie obtained a private helicopter pilot license in 2010. Noemie holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Management from the University of Florida.
Lukas leads Starburst’s operations in the U.S. while also overseeing strategic operations in Europe. Previously, he headed Starburst’s Germany office in Munich.
With over seven years of experience in strategy consulting, startup support, and investment, Lukas specializes in deep tech, aerospace, defense, and dual-use technologies. His expertise spans multiple countries across Europe and North America, with a strong focus on the U.S. market. Additionally, he drives Starburst’s international and transatlantic dual-use initiatives, including its engagement with NATO DIANA.
Lukas has a proven track record in program and project execution, strategy development, business development, sales, and key account management. His strategic leadership has been instrumental in advancing multinational projects and driving significant growth within the aerospace and defense sectors.
Before joining Starburst, Lukas contributed to the future of air mobility as part of Lilium Aviation’s early engineering team focusing on battery management.
François Chopard is the Founder & CEO of Starburst. A distinguished aerospace engineer, strategy advisor, founder, and venture capitalist, he has played a pivotal role in shaping today’s global Aerospace and Defense (A&D) industry and bringing aerospace to the forefront of conversation. With over 20 years of experience in strategy consulting, entrepreneurship, and business development, Chopard specializes in Aviation, Space, and Defense, featuring high stakes technologies.
In 2012, Chopard founded Starburst, an aerospace management consultancy and the first global accelerator designed to guide aerospace startups from ideation to growth. Starburst specializes in three core areas with a focus on helping A&D stakeholders innovate, navigate and invest in the dynamic ecosystem: strategy and innovation consulting for corporate and government industry majors, tailored maturity-based startup acceleration programs, and investment support. In 2022, Chopard launched Starburst Ventures, an independent US-based venture capital fund exclusively dedicated to investing across Aviation, Space, and Defense.
As a widely respected industry veteran, Chopard has been asked to lend his aerospace expertise on a range of issues such as urban mobility, the future of transportation, and investing in aerospace. He is a renowned speaker, having been featured at major conferences like the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he offers insights into the future of aerospace innovation. Chopard’s current endeavors surround future trends, product strategy, and open innovation.
Prior to establishing Starburst, Chopard served as a Partner at Oliver Wyman France. He also founded and was the CEO of Arendi Consulting. He began his career as an Airbus Engineer before spending two years in the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). Chopard holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from CentraleSupélec in Paris, France.
