New Delhi, February 04, 2026: Boeing has announced the opening of applications for the fifth edition of its Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) programme for 2025–26, continuing its efforts to support student innovators and early-stage startups across India.
Launched in 2019, BUILD has evolved into a national platform that connects university graduates and early-stage entrepreneurs with incubators, investors and industry mentors, helping ideas progress from concept stage to market-ready solutions. The programme focuses on strengthening startup readiness by de-risking early innovation through structured mentoring and ecosystem partnerships.
Over the past five editions, BUILD has supported thousands of students and startups nationwide, accelerating innovation across sectors such as aerospace and defence, technology, sustainability and social impact.
Bill McSherry, Vice President, State Advocacy and Global Engagement, Boeing, said, “For over a century Boeing has led global aerospace innovation, turning bold ideas into solutions that improve lives. We understand what it takes to turn an idea into a solution and the passion behind it. With BUILD’s proven track record in helping shape students’ and entrepreneurs’ dreams and ambitions, we are proud to support the next leap this program is set to take.”
Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India and South Asia, added, “India’s startup community brings bold thinking and deep technical capability. Over the past five years, BUILD has nurtured this capability – giving wings to ideas, offering mentorship, industry expertise, and opportunity to scale up – to thousands of students, and enabled concepts to mature into capabilities.”
Boeing continues to partner with seven incubators across India to deliver the programme, including Society for Innovation – IIT Bombay, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer – IIT Delhi, IIT Madras Incubation Cell, Society for Innovation and Development – IISc Bengaluru, T-Hub Hyderabad, and Technology Business Incubator – KIIT Bhubaneswar.
Applicants are invited to submit ideas across aerospace and defence, technology, sustainability and social impact domains. Shortlisted teams will participate in regional boot camps, followed by final pitching sessions during Boeing Immersion Day and BUILD finals scheduled for July 2026.
Winning teams will receive grants of ₹10 lakh each to support further development of their ideas. Selected finalists will also work closely with Boeing mentors and industry experts to refine concepts and explore pathways to commercialisation.
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