Fully funded three-day workshop to help startups enter the defense and aerospace industry

Get access to the Indian and U.S. industry stalwarts

9th - 11th December, 2021
Hyderabad, Telangana

The Defense and Aerospace Workshop (DAW 2021) is designed to support ambitious and innovative young entrepreneurs hailing from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha by enabling them to transform their business venture into a sustainable enterprise and connect with the leading American and Indian corporates operating in the Defense and Aerospace Industry. The program will enhance the entrepreneurial and managerial skills of these entrepreneurs leading early stage ventures.

The program consists of a three-day workshop organized in Hyderabad for 25 entrepreneurs, with a focus on startups led by women and youth (under 35).

Our curriculum is designed to equip the participants to enter this challenging industry, grow their business and attract outside funding. Besides the business training, the program will provide peer to peer learning, collaboration opportunities, mentor-mentee connects and networking among the participants, all in a supportive atmosphere run by the premier startup incubator in India.

The DAW 2021 is being conducted by ACIR in partnership with the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, and Nexus.

FAQ

Structure of the Workshop

This workshop will be a half-day of networking followed by two days of presentations, industry meetings, and best practices training specifically focused on the defense and aerospace sector.

Who should apply?

This workshop is for startups that are working on (or providing) dual-use products/services. This is NOT for startups working on military-specific technologies or anything that is subject to ITAR restrictions.

The following criteria will be used for the final selection:

DEFENSE AND AEROSPACE WORKSHOP 2021 (DAW 2021)

For startups supporting U.S. - India Defense Cooperation

9th - 11th December, 2021

Hyderabad, Telangana

Innovative. The startups must have some kind of innovative process or products that they are introducing to the market. Traditional SMEs that do not have an innovative product/technology that can be protected are not a good fit for this workshop.

Have intellectual property rights protected or have a solid plan for their protection.

Should be registered in India. Startups must be registered or have a significant interest in working in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, or Odisha for their defense and aerospace-related technologies. Startups led by women and youth (under 35) will be preferred.

Past the idea stage in development: at least a TRL 4, preferably a TRL 5 and above.

In accordance with Startup India's definition, a startup must be less than 10 years old and have an annual turnover of less than 100 crore (US$14 million).

Can I attend virtually?

DAW 2021 is an in-person workshop. Participants should be vaccinated and we will follow all social distancing and masking protocols for safety.

How much does the workshop cost?

The workshop is free, but by application/invitation only.

My startup is located outside Hyderabad. Can I attend?

The U.S. government has made limited funds available to help cover the travel costs of startups from outside Hyderabad who are selected to attend the workshop. More details can be found in the application.

Will I receive a certificate of completion or diploma?

Yes, each startup that completes the workshop will receive a certificate.

When is the deadline to apply?

The application deadline is November 21, 2021.

Selected startups will get access to the big players within the defense and aerospace sector.

Selected startups will also get a chance to learn from :
- industry experts
- government agencies
- successful startups

Our partners will provide additional opportunities to collaborate and work directly with the defense manufacturers.

Benefits for Startups?

The following companies/departments have been invited for the workshop:

Lockheed Martin, Pratt & Whitney (owned by United Technologies, merged with Raytheon), Boeing, NVIDIA, Tata Aerospace and Defense, Hindustan Aeronautics, Adani Defense, Innovations for Defense Excellence (iDEX), Society of Defense Manufacturers (SIDM).