THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
NEW DELHI,
FEBRUARY 3, 2026
Boeing on Tuesday announced the
opening of applications for the fifth edition of its Boeing University
Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) program for 2025–26, reaffirming its
commitment to nurturing India’s next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs,
and early-stage startups. Over the last five years, BUILD has rapidly evolved
into a nationally recognised platform that transforms university-led innovation
and early entrepreneurial ideas into scalable, market-ready business solutions.
Launched in 2019, the BUILD program
enables graduates and early-stage startup founders from across the country to
pitch, refine, and develop their ideas by connecting them with leading
incubators, investors, and Boeing’s deep industry expertise. By creating a
structured ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, incubators, and
investors, BUILD helps de-risk early-stage innovation, strengthens startup
readiness, and accelerates the journey from concept to commercial deployment.
Over its five editions, BUILD has
supported thousands of graduates and startups nationwide, catalysing innovation
across sectors such as aerospace, defence, advanced technology, sustainability,
and social impact, and contributing meaningfully to India’s vibrant startup
ecosystem.
“For over a century, Boeing has led global
aerospace innovation by turning bold ideas into solutions that improve lives,”
said Bill McSherry, Vice President, State Advocacy and Global Engagement,
Boeing. “We understand what it takes to transform an idea into a real-world
solution and the passion that drives innovators. With BUILD’s proven track
record in shaping students’ and entrepreneurs’ dreams and ambitions, we are
proud to support the next leap this program is set to take.”
Highlighting the depth of India’s
innovation talent, Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India and South Asia, said,
“India’s startup community brings bold thinking and deep technical capability.
Over the past five years, BUILD has nurtured this capability by giving wings to
ideas, offering mentorship, industry expertise, and opportunities to scale. The
program has enabled thousands of students to convert promising concepts into
tangible capabilities. We deeply value the partnership of our incubator
ecosystem, which has been integral to this journey of nurturing innovators and
entrepreneurs.”
Boeing continues to collaborate with
seven leading incubators across the country, including the Society for
Innovation at IIT Mumbai, the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer
at IIT Delhi, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at IIT Gandhinagar,
the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, the Society for Innovation and Development at
IISc Bengaluru, T-Hub Hyderabad, and the Technology Business Incubator at KIIT
Bhubaneswar, to organise and scale the BUILD program in India.
Applicants are invited to submit ideas
across aerospace and defence, technology, sustainability, and social impact
domains. Shortlisted teams will compete at regional-level boot camps, with
finalists pitching their ideas to subject-matter experts during Boeing
Immersion Day and the BUILD finals scheduled for July 2026. Winners will
receive grants of INR 10 lakh each to support the development of their ideas,
along with close mentorship from Boeing’s experts to help refine concepts into
viable business offerings.
Interested students and entrepreneurs
can apply through Boeing India’s website, with submissions open until April 4,
2026.
