DEFENSE AND SPACE, COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Starburst Ventures Launches New Pre-Seed & Seed Fund Focusing on Aerospace & Defense Innovation

Starburst Ventures | September 22, 2022 | Read time : 02:36 min

Starburst Ventures Launches New Pre-Seed & Seed Fund Focusing
Starburst Ventures, the first venture capital fund dedicated to investing across aviation, space, and defense, today announced the launch of its new early-stage fund. Focusing on aerospace, defense, security, as well as enabling sciences and technologies, Starburst Ventures is investing in the next generation of industrial, software and hardware companies.The fund's team will be led by Starburst Ventures' Founder and General Partner, François Chopard.  A widely respected industry veteran, Francois founded Starburst in 2012, before A&D became the venture investment category it is today. François is joined by Benjamin Zeitoun as Investor. Together they hold a significant track record of securing investment and building startups from the early stage to IPO. Joining them in an advisory capacity is Jacqueline Tame, startup founder and former Deputy Director of the United States Department of Defense Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, and Natalya Bailey, Head of Strategy at Bloom Energy and former founder of Accion Systems, who was named top 15 most influential women in Space per Business Insider. Both will serve as hands-on advisors to provide unrivaled support in selecting investments and developing Starburst Ventures' portfolio companies.

"The Starburst Ventures fund will be an imperative resource in developing the next generation of aerospace & defense companies,Having the opportunity to lead and oversee something so impactful is a true honor. I look forward to working with some of the brightest minds across aerospace innovation and business development."

François Chopard, General Partner at Starburst Ventures

Starburst Ventures' existing investments include participation in a recent $7.1 million seed round for Outpost, a sustainable satellite & Earth return company founded by Jason Dunn and Mike Vergalla, and backed by Moonshot Ventures & Draper Associates, as well as Strong Compute, a startup that recently completed its $7.8 million seed round and helps developers speed up machine learning training pipelines. Strong Compute is led by Ben Sand and backed by prolific investors including Sequoia Capital India, Folklore, Blackbird; and Skip Capital (led by Principal Kim Jackson). Other investments include companies wishing to stay under the radar, working on mapping the 27,000+ objects jamming Earth orbit to pave the way for space infrastructure, Open Source Intelligence platforms, and a revolutionary optical sensing payload. All five of these companies are at the cutting edge of aerospace innovation. We're excited that our thesis drives our investment in both deeptech and tech companies that have the potential to make a real impact in our sector and beyond,said Benjamin Zeitoun, Investor, Starburst Ventures. The Starburst Ventures fund's portfolio is a reflection of its leadership's unique ability to imagine the next wave of innovation in space, aviation, and defense systems. Starburst Ventures is an independent US venture capital firm owned by its General Partners with a deep commitment to  building the future of aerospace and defense.

About Starburst Ventures
Starburst Ventures is the first venture capital fund exclusively dedicated to investing across aviation, space, and defense to build the future of Aerospace & Defense. The team is made up of Aerospace & Defense specialists, former founders, and accelerator operators who are on a mission to help early-stage founders accelerate their business development efforts across government & industry.

About Starburst
Starburst is an innovation catalyst in the aerospace industry. They are the first and only global aerospace accelerator, connecting startups with corporates, investors and government, while providing strategic growth and investment consulting services for all. With offices in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich, Singapore, Seoul, Tel Aviv, and Madrid, the team has built an ecosystem of key players with 15000+ of startups in its network. Starburst's accelerator program helps startups scale their business in aviation, space, and defense with access to the largest group of corporate stakeholders to help startups win their first contracts.

Spotlight

Auburn University recently launched a new Aviation and Aerospace ID Lab that will focus on emerging technologies to provide supply chain solutions for the two industries.

Spotlight

Auburn University recently launched a new Aviation and Aerospace ID Lab that will focus on emerging technologies to provide supply chain solutions for the two industries.

Related News

DEFENSE AND SPACE

COCESNA Signs Contract with Aireon for Space-based ADS-B Data

Aireon LLC | March 13, 2023

Corporación Centroamericana de Servicios de Navegación Aérea (COCESNA), a Central American air navigation service provider (ANSP), has recently signed a contract for three years with Aireon for its top space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, validating the region's exceptional operational and safety advantages. For COCESNA, which has been evaluating Aireon's data for the last 18 months, the Aireon data will allow the regional ANSP to gain complete situational awareness of its air traffic over the Pacific Oceanic airspace in real time. In addition, it aims to utilize the data to offer more efficient routes to airspace operators, including reduced separation minima. COCESNA's region incorporates over 2.6 million square kilometers of terrestrial airspace and broad oceanic areas in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, spanning the Central American flight information region (FIR). It also provides air traffic surveillance services to Belize, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. COCESNA is the major air traffic control provider at the crossroads of the Caribbean, South, North, and Central America due to its central location in the Americas. Vice President of Customer Affairs at Aireon, Peter Cabooter, said,"As the aviation community emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we at Aireon are seeing more and more ANSPs look to data solutions to safely and efficiently manage the next phase of air traffic growth." He added, "We are looking forward to continuing the great relationship with COCESNA to support their operational and safety goals." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About Aireon LLC Founded in 2012 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Aireon, an air traffic management provider, has deployed a worldwide space-based air traffic surveillance system for aircraft equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). As a result, the company is leveraging ground-based, next-generation aviation surveillance technologies and, for the first time, expanding its global reach to significantly improve safety and efficiency, reduce emissions, and provide cost savings to all stakeholders. Space-based ADS-B surveillance extends to oceanic, polar, and remote regions, complementing ground-based systems limited to terrestrial airspace.

Read More

AIR TRANSPORT

VIAVI's AVX-10K Test Set Gains Approval for Boeing Aircraft Use

VIAVI Solutions | March 15, 2023

On March 14, 2023, a global network test, monitoring and assurance solutions provider, VIAVI Solutions, announced approval for the AVX-10K Flight Line Test Set for use on all Boeing commercial aircraft previously approved for the IFR4000 and IFR6000. During installation, maintenance, and biannual inspections, the AVX-10K is utilized for performance verification and troubleshooting of airborne systems. The device combines the navigation, communication, and surveillance test capabilities of the VIAVI IFR4000 and IFR6000 into a single unit. With test capabilities ranging from a rapid system auto-test to in-depth troubleshooting, the versatile AVX-10K will be used for cockpit and exterior aircraft maintenance. With the IFR4000 and IFR6000, the AVX-10K has met Boeing's requirements for equivalency and assigned 'AVX-10K' as the part number of AMM listing. Avionics, airframe manufacturer and avionics, Fixed-base operator (FBO), or maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) installations can request VIAVI AVX-10K specification comparison documents on VIAVI Solutions’ website. VIAVI has offered a wide portfolio of avionics test solutions, offering reliable R&D, factory, flight line, and return-to-service test solutions to the avionics market for over 40 years. The new 'AVX-10K Flight Line Test Set' video includes other details about the solution and flight line testing. Director of Avionics Test Products for VIAVI, Guy Hill, said, "With the AVX-10K, VIAVI has combined multiple avionics tests in a single, easy-to-use device, reducing the cost of ownership and maximizing technicians' productivity." He also said, "We are pleased that it has been recognized for its intuitive design, comprehensive test capability and seamless integration with our cloud-based VIAVI StrataSync system for asset and report management, and that our customers can see immediate benefit for their aircraft maintenance needs." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About VIAVI Solutions VIAVI offers solutions to hyperscalers, equipment manufacturers, enterprises, government, avionics, and commercial service providers. The company is based in Chandler, Arizona and is one of the leaders in light management technologies for 3D sensing, consumer electronics, anti-counterfeiting, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. Its technologies are instrumental in the success of a diverse group of clients, ranging from major mobile network operators and government entities to providers of enterprise networks and applications, as well as contractors involved in installing fiber and constructing telecommunications towers that enable connectivity.

Read More

AIR TRANSPORT

Airspace Link Announces Airhub® Portal to Enhance Drone Integration Workflows

Airspace Link, Inc. | February 07, 2023

On February 6, 2023, Airspace Link, Inc. announced the AirHub® Portal, the next generation of the AirHub® Platform. Airspace Link has kept innovating in their mission to assist stakeholders in boosting safe drone integration in national airspace and communities at scale since the launch of their UAS Integration Framework last fall. The announcement combines Airspace Link's AirHub® technology with their UAS Integration framework approach, making AirHub® Portal a common platform for the UAS industry and government stakeholders. AirHub® Portal simplifies workflows for users involved in drone integration, such as state, national, and local government planners, managers, and drone operators, as well as recreational and certified pilots seeking to benefit from airspace for private and commercial use cases. AirHub® Portal is a progressive web application that allows users to download it directly on their desktop or mobile device, or access it via the web, based on their preference. The application lets users prepare and organize for, manage, and conduct drone operations within a unified system. As the drone industry grows, fragmentation due to specific applications created for particular use cases has increased, leaving users dependent on various applications to meet their needs. AirHub® Portal brings together users to facilitate all future use cases and functions. Airspace Link is announcing the addition of numerous new features to the AirHub® Portal App, including Airspace Awareness, Fleet Management Integration, Mission Planning including Routing, UAS Traffic, Authoritative & Enterprise Advisories (Constraints), Risk Analysis and Situational Awareness, and much more to come. Michael Healander, President & CEO at Airspace Link, shared, "In the past, our government customers were focused on enabling and supporting operators – but now, government customers are also operators themselves, buying and operating their own drones for public safety, infrastructure inspection, surveying, and other use cases designed to make work safer and more efficient. Having tools to help them understand their airspace, communicate with pilots, and provide the functions necessary to help them operate and manage their own drone fleets has become increasingly important to them. The AirHub® Portal application will begin to serve all of those needs in one place." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About Airspace Link, Inc. Airspace Link, Inc. is a provider of safe and scalable drone solutions headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. Through digital infrastructure, strategic partnerships, and thought leadership, the company aims to facilitate the secure integration of drones at scale into the national airspace and communities. The AirHub® Platform is the sole cloud-based, digital geospatial infrastructure integrating the requirements of state and local governments to prepare for, plan, create, and manage their drone community per FAA regulations and Drone Operator considerations.

Read More