Starburst Accelerator, the largest aerospace startup incubator, today announced its U.S. expansion. Starburst Accelerator, originally from Paris, launched its program in El Segundo, California, driven by the global demand of startups in the aerospace market seeking access to industry leaders and venture capital. 

"Our expansion to El Segundo is simply a reflection of the tremendous innovation we are seeing within the aerospace industry across the globe—the future is now - and we are thrilled to be able to curate opportunities to invest in next generation technology disrupting the current approach to product development," said Starburst Accelerator founder Francois Chopard. "We are changing the way the established players are innovating."

The accelerator program offers startups an opportunity to showcase their business to leading corporations in the aerospace, aviation and defense industries. American sponsors for the Starburst USA program so far include: Boeing, Panasonic Avionics, Millennium Space Systems, Raytheon and Booz Allen.

"Working with Starburst Accelerator allows us to think differently about product development, pushing the frontiers of new technology and gaining insight to global talent bringing presenting ideas from the lab into the market," said Erik Daehler from Boeing, who oversees Network & Space Systems new product innovation. 

The initial group of startups invited to pitch the Starburst Selection Committee range from new space, future aviation, connectivity, cabin, more electric aircraft, drone technology, simulation, artificial intelligence and VR, additive manufacturing, sensors, nano tech, new materials, and data analytics. 

"The future of the aviation industry is predicated on innovation and Starburst Accelerator brings together an excellent mix of promising startups to showcase potentially groundbreaking technologies across multiple domains in aerospace," said Christopher Lundquist from Panasonic Avionics. 

The program has received wide political support from the city, state, and federal level support. Mayor Suzanne Fuentes comments, "The City of El Segundo has a proud tradition of innovation in Aerospace. With The LA Air Force Base, The Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon, just to name a few, all located in El Segundo, the city is a well-established aerospace hub that is recognized as the aerospace capital of the world. Starburst Accelerator is a catalyst for innovation in the aerospace industry. We're excited about providing emerging aerospace companies the opportunity to locate in El Segundo and grow alongside the world's most prestigious aerospace corporations."

"Our new El Segundo location is allowing us to expand our footprint to identify new opportunities to bring new startups into our ecosystem," said Van Espahbodi, Co-Founder of Starburst Accelerator. "The mix of established suppliers, new industry players, the largest concentration of engineering and manufacturing talent in the world, coupled with the growing venture community, makes this environment ideal to launch our unique program."