IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst)
Defense & Space · Run by IAI North America (Israel Aerospace Industries), powered by Starburst · Herndon, VA
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Sep 28, 2026- Terms model
- Equity for cashInvests cash in your company and takes equity (an ownership stake) in return.
- Investment
- $100,000 cash investment (optional, structured as a SAFE) plus $100,000 in in-kind technical support
- Equity taken
- Not publishedTwenty-week hybrid accelerator run by IAI North America, the U.S. arm of Israel Aerospace Industries, and powered by Starburst, for U.S. pre-seed and seed startups and mature research projects in aerospace and dual-use technology. Selected companies can take a $100,000 cash investment structured as a SAFE in exchange for equity, plus $100,000 of in-kind technical support, with the aim of a pilot project with IAI. There is no participation fee. About two of the twenty weeks are in person (a kickoff week and a Demo Day in Washington, DC), and participants can use IAI North America's innovation center in Herndon, Virginia. Cohort 5 took applications March 15 to June 7, 2026 and kicked off September 23, 2026, with Demo Day on March 9, 2027. Cohort 6 applications are open; the site counts down to a close on December 30, 2026 but prints no date. The program also appears in the Starburst Aerospace record's list of Starburst-run programs; it has its own application, so it has its own record.
- Program length
- 20 weeks
- Format
- Hybrid
- Location
- Herndon, VA
- Cohorts per year
- Not published
- Cohort size
- Not published
- Stage focus
- pre-seed and seed startups and mature research projects
- Sub-vertical
- aerospace, defense and dual-use technology
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- IAI North America, Starburst
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Twenty-week hybrid accelerator run by IAI North America, the U.S. arm of Israel Aerospace Industries, and powered by Starburst, for U.S. pre-seed and seed startups and mature research projects in aerospace and dual-use technology. Selected companies can take a $100,000 cash investment structured as a SAFE in exchange for equity, plus $100,000 of in-kind technical support, with the aim of a pilot project with IAI. There is no participation fee. About two of the twenty weeks are in person (a kickoff week and a Demo Day in Washington, DC), and participants can use IAI North America's innovation center in Herndon, Virginia. Cohort 5 took applications March 15 to June 7, 2026 and kicked off September 23, 2026, with Demo Day on March 9, 2027. Cohort 6 applications are open; the site counts down to a close on December 30, 2026 but prints no date. The program also appears in the Starburst Aerospace record's list of Starburst-run programs; it has its own application, so it has its own record.
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Terms in plain English
IAI CATALYST offers selected companies a $100,000 cash investment, structured as a SAFE in exchange for equity (the FAQ says taking it is optional), plus $100,000 of in-kind technical support from Israel Aerospace Industries' North American arm. There is no fee. The aim is a pilot project with IAI, moving from exploratory talks through proof-of-concept demonstrations toward a co-development scope of work.
Who this is actually for
U.S.-based pre-seed and seed startups, and mature research projects, in areas such as space and satellites, quantum, advanced materials, AI and autonomy, and energy, that want a large aerospace and defense company as a pilot partner. Plan for about five to ten hours a week, plus a four-day kickoff and a Demo Day in Washington, DC.
IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) application deadlines
Cohort 5 (program September 23, 2026 to March 9, 2027): Opens Mar 15, 2026, closes Jun 7, 2026.
Verified Sep 28, 2026SourceCohort 6 (applications open now; the site's countdown ends December 30, 2026, but no close date is printed): Timing expected, exact dates not yet confirmed.
Verified Sep 28, 2026Source
Frequently asked questions
- When is the next IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) application deadline?
- Applications for IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) are open now, and a close date is not yet published.
- How much does IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) invest?
- IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) lists an investment of $100,000 cash investment (optional, structured as a SAFE) plus $100,000 in in-kind technical support.
- How much equity does IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) take?
- IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) does not publish the equity it takes, so we record it as not published.
- Where is IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) located and is it in person?
- IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) is based in Herndon, VA and runs a hybrid program.
- Is IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) still active?
- As of our last check on Sep 28, 2026, IAI CATALYST (powered by Starburst) is active.
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Sep 28, 2026.