The Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) Program is the annual flagship aerospace innovation, leadership, and talent development program by Boeing India. Launched in 2019 and designed for university graduates and early-stage startup entrepreneurs across the country, the program aims to support India's robust startup ecosystem by providing a platform for students and startups to innovate in India, for India, and the world.

In 2024, BUILD embarks into its fourth year with its continued partnership with seven incubators: IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Madras, IISC Bangalore, T-Hub Hyderabad, and KIIT Bhubaneshwar to run this program in the country. The BUILD team and incubators are inviting applications until October 15, 2024. You will hear from the BUILD team and incubators by November 15, 2024, in case you are selected for the next round. Click on the respective incubator’s link to apply.

All university graduates and early start-up entrepreneurs in India can apply.

The BUILD program is open for students who are either graduating or would have graduated in 2024. Early startup entrepreneurs at the pre-seed idea/conceptualization stage with no funding can apply too.  

The finalists will be mentored by the subject matter and industry experts as part of an intensive learning program. The team of experts will work with the innovators to convert and shape raw ideas into minimum-viable product propositions. The selected teams will also get access to Boeing’s knowledge library and opportunities to refine and pitch their final propositions to Boeing and its connected ecosystem of investors, incubators, and entrepreneurs.  

Are you eligible to apply to the BUILD program? If you and your team (maximum 3 members) qualify under any of the categories below, go right ahead!

Students: If you have graduated or are graduating in 2024 from the engineering stream for a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and/or enrolled in a Ph.D. program or are a postdoctoral researcher. Applications from professors are also accepted. 

Entrepreneurs: If your startup is in an ideation stage, with a proof of concept, but without funding or an associated product and customers. You can apply too. Note: Team sizes are limited to 3 members per team only with no more than a professor per team, if any. 

Fasten your seatbelts and travel with us for the next 12 months.

The BUILD program offers extensive support to new graduates and early-stage start-ups with a chance to get grant amount of Rs.10,00,000 in the BUILD 4.0 finals. The duration of the program from application to idea maturity is 12 months.

The process to keep you busy in flight.

The Boeing incubator partners from leading educational institutes in India will work with Boeing and subject matter experts to judge the applications and select finalists for the BUILD boot camp. The incubators will partner with the selected teams to shape their ideas into market-ready viable products. Teams shortlisted for the BUILD program get to:

The program is open for the smartest, brightest, and most passionate innovators set to redefine the future of aerospace, defense, technology startups, sustainability, manufacturing, healthcare, and many other industry verticals. We are looking for teams that have an appetite to not just solve challenges but also set new trends of growth and success in industries.

Just a reminder to ensure you don’t miss application dates and timelines.

Applying to BUILD is easy.

• Click on any of the following links below on the basis of your region (where you study or work).
• Fill out the form at our incubator partner sites before submitting your idea.
• The application submission window is between August 5, 2024 to October 15, 2024.
• If selected, you will hear from us by November 15, 2024.

Grid 1 IIT Delhi, New Dehli
Grid 2 IIT, Gandhinagar
Grid 3 IIT, Bombay, Mumbai
Grid 4 IISC, Bangalore
Grid 5 IIT Madras, Chennai
Grid 6 T Hub, Hyderabad
Grid 7 KIIT, Bhubaneswar

For more information on the program and for any queries download the FAQs here – or reach out to nanditha.aroor@boeing.com or shweta.mangalampalli@boeing.com

1. Which region should we select?

   Answer: If you are a student graduating this year, choose the region in which your college is located. If your team has a group of graduating students from more than one college in more than a region, please choose a region where most of your team attends college

   If you are a start-up, choose the region where you live and work.

2. We are not sure our idea fits into one of the BUILD themes. Should we still apply?

   Answer: Yes! We encourage you to apply. Applying is simple and we are looking for teams that are passionate about solving real-life problems. Problems that can be solved in innovative ways that may be related to one of our themes.

3. What are you looking for in our application?

   Answer: We are interested in two things – What problem are you trying to solve and how? Why should we work with your team?

   Since we will process a large number of applications, here are some tips to make your application stand out:

   • Respect the word limit for the application.
   • Be clear and concise.
   • Avoid the marketing speak, instead sell how well you understand the problem.
   • Tell us why you picked this problem, what needs to be done to solve the problem, and how your team members stand out.
   • Tell us what motivates you to solve the problem.

   Don’t worry about how unique your idea is – we are interested more in your approach to solving a problem and are open to working with teams who are trying to solve the same problem or develop the same idea.

4. Can we include links with our application?

   Answer: Sure. Links to videos or demo websites that substantiate your application/entry are permitted. However, links that are added just to fill more space and have no correlation with the application will not be counted,

5. Are there any course fees?

   Answer: No. Application is free of cost and no fees will be charged for the BUILD coursework. We will arrange for limited travel for teams selected for the workshop but you may have to pay for day-to-day expenses.

6. We are a startup but are not sure if we qualify for applying. Should we apply?

   Answer: We are looking to work with pre-seed / early-stage startups to develop their business skills. Typically, such startups are in the conceptual stage and have no funding, no revenue, no Minimum Viable Product (or only the outlines of one), and limited customer validation.

7. If selected, what can I expect in terms of help for my team or startup?

   Answer: If your team is selected, we offer learning opportunities and a chance to connect with experienced professionals in the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem. We will provide you with learning resources to help you refine your business proposition and sharpen your investor pitches. We offer a chance for you to compete with your peers. We don’t offer a guaranteed number of winners nationally and we don’t offer any funding. However, if your team is good enough, you will have a chance to win INR 10,00,000 in prize money that you are free to use as your team decides.

8. What is my time commitment for BUILD?

   Answer: The boot camp will be scheduled for a duration of 3-4 days (exact details may vary by region). You are expected to attend the full duration of the boot camp in person. At the end of the boot camp, you will be invited to deliver your pitch to a jury in a process that may require a full day on campus.

   If selected, some teams will travel to Bangalore for 1-2 days to participate in the Boeing Innovation Day for the final pitch competition at the Boeing campus in Bangalore. The teams are expected to take complete ownership in refining their pitches in time to compete effectively.

9. We have more than one idea. Can we submit more than one application?

   Answer: No. We are looking to work with you, and the team, and not on the idea itself. Submitting more than one application is counterproductive.

10. Will I get a chance to work at Boeing or at our partner Incubators?

    Answer: No – BUILD is not associated with recruitment at Boeing or at any of our partners. However, BUILD offers you a chance to build your network and showcase your and your team’s passion, enthusiasm, and business acumen.

11. Are there more specific dates available for the events?

    Answer: Some of the dates will be specified as we get closer to the milestones. Refer to the timeline for the latest information.

12. We have a great idea but are not technical. Can we still apply?

    Answer: Of course! We are looking to work with a diverse range of teams. But we do look for how well your team’s qualifications fit your idea.

Riding on the success of the past editions, the Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development Program (BUILD) in its third edition attracted a record number of entries with than 1200 ideas submitted by more than 2200 students and start-up participants from all over the country.

Following a stringent evaluation process, 75 shortlisted teams entered the regional boot camp, of which regional and national finalists received guidance from start-up ecosystem experts, incubator partners, and Boeing engineers to incubate ideas. Participants further received access to Boeing’s innovation ecosystem.

The seven winning teams are Abyom SpaceTech and Defence Pvt. Ltd. and Green Aero Propulsion Pvt. Ltd. from Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FIIT) – IIT Delhi, Glovatrix Pvt. Ltd. from Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) – IIT Mumbai, dVerse Technologies Pvt. Ltd. from IIT Madras Incubation Cell, Backyard Creators Pvt. Ltd., BONV Technology Private Limited and Coratia Technologies Pvt. Ltd. from Technology Business Incubator (TBI) – KIIT, Bhubaneswar.

Each of these seven teams received INR 10 lakh as a financial grant, and their ideas covered solutions for community development, the defence and space industry, and sustainability.

The program offered opportunities to applicants to incubate ideas and access Boeing’s innovation ecosystem. applying from tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 cities across India.

Boeing launched BUILD with an aim to nurture and support the start-up ecosystem in the country. Over the years, Boeing has strategically invested in developing talent for the Indian aerospace sector and inspiring the next generation of engineering talent in India. Through its programs such as the HorizonX India Innovation Challenge, the Accelerated Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Apprenticeship, and the National Aeromodelling Competition with IIT, Boeing has made a significant impact in creating a skilled frontline workforce and empowered entrepreneurs in India.

Read more about BUILD 3.0 in the news here.