Starburst Accelerator and Leonie Hill Capital are Pleased to Announce their Strategic Collaboration in Creating the First Global Venture Fund Dedicated to Aviation and Aerospace Startups: Starburst Venture

SINGAPORE, Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Starburst Accelerator and Leonie Hill Capital are pleased to announce their strategic collaboration in setting up the first global venture fund dedicated to aviation and aerospace startups. The venture fund is sized to 200M$ which will allow for investment globally over a period of 3 years.

The new fund focuses on investments in early and growth stage companies. The fund will be led by three general partners including Francois Chopard founder of Starburst, and Leonie Hill Capital.

Operations and first investments are expected as early as first quarter of 2017. 

"We appreciate the vote of confidence that Leonie Hill Capital, our anchor investor has placed in Starburst Accelerator, a testament to the immense amount of work and focus that our entire team has contributed to the business over the last few years," said Francois Chopard, CEO and Founder of Starburst Accelerator. "As we move into this next phase of expansion, we look forward to continuing to work with our highly valued portfolio of companies and industry leaders to usher in the next generation of aerospace."

The fund will be focused on deep-tech startups addressing the aviation and aerospace industry. The investment team will be mainly based in San Francisco but Starburst Venture will leverage Starburst Accelerator's 4 existing operations, located in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich and Singapore, that have already demonstrated a consistent deal flow of investments for its first round of investment. The company has succeeded in bringing on board over thirty aerospace corporate partners around the globe to support the current accelerator program. More than 100 startups have joined the program with companies ranging from new space, future aviation including flying car and supersonic jets, passenger experience, connectivity, cabin, more electric aircraft, drone technology, simulation, artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing, sensors, nano tech, new materials, data analytics and cyber security.  

"This funding is indicative of the underlying strength of Starburst Accelerator, a well-managed and operationally strong company that has already achieved a great deal and is now well positioned to enable startups future growth to the Aerospace industry," said Arun Kant, CEO of Leonie Hill Capital. "We are thrilled to have helped Francois and his team secure the new capital that will allow them to fully realize the potential of what we can do in the sector. The Starburst structure is the first of its kind, setting the pace to a new model of venture fund and Leonie Hill Capital is proud to support that trend."

"By providing companies support in recruitment and talent management, building strategic relationships, as well as expertise in operations, marketing and communications, Starburst Venture furthers the growth and success of its portfolio companies. The portfolio companies will benefit from the Starburst partners including Thales, Panasonic Avionics, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Gruman, Safran, GE Aviation, Eutelsat, Paris Airport, Air France KLM, etc." added Chopard. 

For more information on the Starburst Accelerator program please visit www.starburst.aero

About Starburst Accelerator
Starburst is an innovation catalyst in the Aerospace industry. It is the first and only global Aerospace Accelerator, connecting corporates with startups and providing innovation and growth consulting for startups and corporations alike. With offices in Los Angeles, Paris, Munich, and Singapore, the team has built up an ecosystem of key players in the Aerospace industry as well as 1000+ startups. Every year Starburst hosts numerous international and national events bringing together aerospace innovators and puts innovation in the spotlight at international air shows. With growth and innovation consulting Starburst supports its clients to acquire and maintain leadership in new markets and identify and fend off disruptive threats.

About Leonie Hill Capital 
Leonie Hill Capital is an exempt fund manager under paragraph 5(1) of the Second Schedule to the Securities and Futures (Licensing and Conduct of Business) Regulations of Singapore.
Leonie Hill Capital takes pride in being an alternative investment vehicle to the traditional passive and enhanced indexing strategies. Founded in 2007 to take advantage of extraordinary opportunities in Asia, the firm has since expanded to South Korea, Japan and the United States.
Leonie Hill Capital is an independently-run organization and is composed of a management team with more than 60 years of combined international experience. Joining hands with strategic partners, Leonie Hill Capital is dedicated to dynamic approaches within an intensive competitive market.

http://www.leoniehillcapital.com/

Contact
Renee Rossi
Corporate Communications 
(908) 872-3452
[email protected]

SOURCE Starburst Accelerator

Related Links

http://www.starburst.aero