Starburst and UCLA Awarded $1.4 Million Grant to Support New Aerospace Accelerator

Starburst and UCLA have been awarded a 2020 Venture Challenge grant of $1.4 million by the U.S. Economic Development Administration to create a new accelerator for pre-seed and seed stage startups, it was announced.

The new collaborative accelerator, called SCALE Aerospace Ventures, is an expansion of Starburst’s presence in California and fosters startups in aerospace technology and engineering.

Starburst is considered the first and only global aerospace and defense accelerator and is headquartered in Los Angeles.

Applications for SCALE’s summer cohort are open. The 13-week intensive program runs from May 10 through August 6 and includes lectures, workshops, special events, and mentorship, all working together to help startups mature technology, raise capital, and push products into the market. The program is open to all pre-seed and seed stage companies working on technology or supporting systems with aerospace applications.

Interested entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors are encouraged to visit the website at ScaleAero.LA to learn more. SCALE is designed to inspire entrepreneurs and investors to pursue the advancement of novel technologies with aerospace applications and build the next generation of aerospace startups in the Los Angeles area. The accelerator will build on the region’s existing aerospace ecosystem, connecting engineering graduates, academics, government research labs, investors, and industry leaders.

“There is no better geography in the world to capitalize on the growth of engineering talent spinning out break-through technologies backed by record breaking investments than here in Southern California. Starburst and UCLA will continue to raise the bar for businesses to emerge and compete in a rapidly changing market,” said Van Espahbodi, co-founder and managing partner of Starburst.

Starburst’s global influence as a pioneer throughout the aviation and aerospace industry and long track record accelerating high-tech startups, from pre-seed through Series A and beyond, will ensure the effective development of these technological advancements into successful commercial ventures.

SCALE will expand Starburst’s ability to support aerospace startups at all stages of growth, from ideation through investment. Starburst has half a dozen accelerators globally and more in development, playing a key role in technological advancement and commercialization across the industry.

Starburst has offices in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich, London, Seoul, Singapore and Tel Aviv.