IIMA Ventures Aerospace & Defence Acceleration Fund

• Startups building products in aerospace, defence or advanced manufacturing.

About this scheme

The Aerospace & Defence Acceleration Fund is a strategic initiative by IIMA Ventures in partnership with Jaivel Aerospace, designed to support and scale early-stage startups operating in India's critical aerospace and defence sectors. The program aims to strengthen India's technological self-reliance and global competitiveness by enabling startups working on high-impact, dual-use deep technologies.

This fund focuses on accelerating the journey of startups from early-stage prototypes to market-ready solutions by combining financial capital with deep ecosystem support. Each selected startup receives USD 400,000 in pre-seed or seed funding, aimed at addressing early capital constraints that often limit deeptech innovation. Beyond funding, the program offers structured support including access to advanced development facilities, global manufacturing networks, and industry partnerships.

A key objective of the fund is to reduce time-to-market for complex technologies by providing startups with hands-on mentorship from global experts in aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, and product development. This ensures that founders not only build technically sound solutions but also develop scalable and commercially viable products.

The program is also designed to build a strong portfolio of 8, 10 high-impact startups that contribute to India's strategic capabilities in areas such as autonomy, propulsion, advanced materials, and secure systems. By fostering innovation in these sectors, the fund plays a critical role in enhancing national security, export potential, and technological leadership.

Who can apply

• Stage: Startups must be at pre-seed or seed stage seeking early institutional investment
• Legal Entity: Must be registered in India or actively in the process of incorporation
• Sector Focus: Aerospace, defence, and space-tech domains with deeptech orientation
• Technology Areas: Includes autonomy, propulsion, AI, advanced materials, manufacturing, and secure systems
• Founder Profile: Teams must demonstrate strong intent to leverage mentorship and industry networks for scaling
• Innovation Scope: Solutions should have dual-use potential, export scalability, and measurable national impact

Eligible entity types: LLP, Private Limited

Benefits & funding

• Selected startups receive USD 400,000 in pre-seed or seed funding.
• The program offers deep ecosystem support, access to advanced development facilities, global manufacturing networks, and industry partnerships.
• Founders get hands-on mentorship from global experts in aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing, and product development.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with IIMA Ventures, in your own name.

1. 1

   Applications are evaluated by IIMA Ventures and Jaivel Aerospace on the startup's technology depth, dual-use relevance to aerospace and defence, and potential for commercial scale.

2. 2

   Shortlisted startups undergo detailed diligence before being offered pre-seed or seed funding of USD 400,000.

3. 3

   Selected startups become part of a portfolio of 8, 10 high-impact ventures with structured ecosystem support.

Frequently asked questions