MOBILITY ENGINEERING Produced by SAE Media Group
MOBILITY ENGINEERING
Magazines
Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Magazine cover

Current Issue

Archives

Techstars and Starburst Start New Space Technology Business Accelerator

The accelerator program is backed by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, U.S. Air Force, and a corporate consortium.

With an unprecedented number of breakthrough space technologies like reusable rockets, additive manufacturing (AM) or “3D printing,” advanced materials, and miniaturization of satellites or “smallsats,” analyst groups like Bank of America Merrill Lynch  predict the space economy will be worth more than $3 trillion by 2045. In order to help the next generation of entrepreneurs enter that market, Boulder, Colorado-based Techstars  and Paris-based Starburst Aerospace  have joined forces to start a new Los Angeles-based business accelerator for space technology companies.

The new mentor-driven Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator  program is currently accepting applications and will officially begin in July 2019 with the focus of developing new business models and uses cases for space and related frontier technologies in fields such as energy, communications, robotics, and autonomy.

“The space industry is massively exciting but also quite complex,” says Matt Kozlov, managing director of the Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator. “We are bringing together vital industry leaders, both public and private, who will help entrepreneurs navigate the industry and provide unprecedented commercial support and mentorship. We will help founders achieve two years of commercial traction in three months. Given the pedigree of our sponsors, I expect this program will very quickly become a vital resource for entrepreneurs building frontier tech.”

“The list of incredible companies just keeps growing,” says Van Espahbodi, co-founder and managing director of Starburst. “The broader aerospace industry has finally embraced the notion of ‘open innovation’ by partnering with entrepreneurs to co-develop products, with a compelling business plan to match. Starburst is excited to advise the program to ensure early-stage businesses have the appropriate tools to compete in this emerging marketplace.”

Espahbodi will be advising Kozlov and the broader program, applying his experience of accelerating over 300 aerospace startups. Kozlov previously led the Cedars Sinai Accelerator Powered by Techstars in Los Angeles and has invested in over 30 companies. Techstars’ accelerator track record includes 150 programs around the world with both government entities and Fortune 500 corporations.

The Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator program has formal sponsorship from the NASA  Jet Propulsion Laboratory  (JPL), Lockheed Martin Corporation  , Maxar Technologies Inc.  , Science Applications International Corporation  (SAIC), Israel Aerospace Industries  (IAI), and the U.S. Air Force  , with support from nonprofit The Aerospace Corporation  .

Startup companies in commercial space or that are developing related technologies are encouraged to apply. Startup companies looking to connect with program staff prior to applying or to get feedback on their companies are welcome to request Office Hours  with Techstars staff.

William Kucinski  is content editor at SAE International, Aerospace Products Group in Warrendale, Pa. Previously, he worked as a writer at the NASA Safety Center in Cleveland, Ohio and was responsible for writing the agency’s System Failure Case Studies. His interests include literally anything that has to do with space, past and present military aircraft, and propulsion technology.

Topics:
Aerospace Aircraft Aircraft Automotive Aviation Defense Electrification Expendable launch vehicles Hypersonic and supersonic aircraft Launch vehicles Military Ground Vehicles Military vehicles and equipment Propulsion Reusable launch vehicles and shuttles Satellite/Spacecraft Communications Satellites Spacecraft Spacecraft Vehicles

More From SAE Media Group

    Transcript

    00:00:03 [Music] welcome to Texar you guys are in the top 1% of entrepreneurs around the globe which is amazing now the real work begins techar is a 3-month mentorship driven accelerator we surround our companies with the best mentors in the communities that we operate in and we provide funding we think it's the gold standard for accelerators I'm going to

    00:00:23 run through the background of Tech Stars really quick so you understand this amazing Network that you're part of it started in Boulder Colorado in 2007 with 10 small companies as an experiment with David Cohen you guys are part of a Global Network of people which is programs across the world which includes some pretty massive Partnerships with companies like RGA Kaplan Sprint and

    00:00:44 Disney and in addition to that there are over 400 companies that are part of the tech Stars Network and you guys are members of that club as I kind of roam around the world I get to see all these different offices and all these different people and I have this extended Network everywhere that I go Texar is not just about the 3 months that you're in the program it's

    00:01:02 something that will continue to be with you forever it was really instrumental in helping build a support network so as questions or challenges came up we had the right people that we could ask those pressing matters who had experience in that specific field so we think about Tex stars in thirds the first month of the program you're going to meet a ton of mentors so you're going to try to

    00:01:24 figure out who your lead mentors are you're getting a ton of feedback the idea is is that this first month is going to be a lot of trying to figure out the direction the arrow should be pointing at the end of the first month now that the arrow was pointing the right direction we want to step on the guess so your goal this first month is figuring out your lead mentors having as

    00:01:41 many meetings as possible getting as much feedback from both mentors and potential customers the second third of the program is basically execution we're going to have a lot less events we're going to have a lot less speakers you're going to have a lot less meetings and then the third phase is really all about the money strategy right are you going to raise Capital what does your Revenue

    00:01:59 strategy look like how are you going to make this business like really have money in it and still doing customer acquisition then comes demo day demo day is a real high for the founders that go through Tech Stars it's a really unique opportunity to get in front of so many investors and so much media all at once becoming part of Tech Stars on my third startup that P fuel on fire a lot of

    00:02:18 people who haven't been through Tech Stars wonder if it's highly competitive and really it's the opposite Tech Stars is very much a bonding experience There's real opportunities to create lifelong and Lasting friendships Tech Stars is for life we have 1500 plus mentors across the system over a thousand alumni now really growing quickly and that's really the power of

    00:02:38 it is it it's a long-term Advantage it really opens doors for your company

    Top Stories

    INSIDERManned Systems

    Feature Image New Copper Alloy Could Provide Breakthrough in Durability for Military Systems

    Technology ReportAR/AI

    Feature Image SkillReal Signs Tier 1 Supplier for NVIDIA-Powered AI Inspection

    INSIDERRF & Microwave Electronics

    Feature Image Metamaterials Antenna Makes Generational Leap in Multi-Band Connectivity

    INSIDERCommunications

    Feature Image Boeing to Develop New Space Force Nuclear Communications Satellites

    INSIDERUnmanned Systems

    Feature Image Regulation and Technology Changes Needed for Drone Detection, Mitigation in US...

    INSIDERDesign

    Feature Image Venus Aerospace’s Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Completes First Flight...

    Webcasts