Jeh Aerospace Nets $11M to Scale India’s Commercial Aircraft Supply Chain

Indian startup Jeh Aerospace, founded by former Tata Group executives Vishal Sanghavi and Venkatesh Mudragalla, has secured $11 million in Series A funding. The company aims to alleviate global supply chain bottlenecks by significantly scaling the production of critical metallic components for the commercial aircraft sector in India.

Sanghavi and Mudragalla bring nearly two decades of experience from the Tata Group, where they worked on projects involving major global aerospace players like Boeing, Sikorsky, and Lockheed Martin. This deep industry insight has fueled their mission to unlock India’s manufacturing potential for Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers.

The aerospace industry is currently facing significant production challenges. Global air traffic demand has rebounded strongly, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 3.8% in 2024 according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). This surge has led airlines to expand fleets, increasing orders. However, the industry grapples with talent shortages and production bottlenecks. Deloitte notes extended lead times for Tier 1 suppliers, with the commercial aircraft backlog reaching an all-time high of nearly 15,700 units, as reported by McKinsey.

Jeh Aerospace is addressing this by leveraging technology to enhance the production of metallic components for aero engines and aerostructures. Their state-of-the-art, 60,000-square-foot facility in Hyderabad, India, utilizes precision machinery, robotics, and IoT devices. This software-based approach has drastically reduced product introduction lead times from the industry’s traditional 15 weeks down to just 15 days.

“At Tatas, we unlocked India’s potential for these large OEMs, Boeing, Airbus, Sikorsky, and GE, but we wanted Jeh Aerospace to unlock India’s potential for the large Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers in the supply chain,” stated Sanghavi, CEO of Jeh Aerospace.

The company’s software-defined manufacturing methodology ensures predictability and dynamic scheduling, enabling consistent supply to customers without compromising quality. Jeh Aerospace’s primary focus is on serving U.S.-based Tier 1 suppliers who are integral to major aircraft manufacturers.

The $11 million Series A round was led by Elevation Capital, with participation from General Catalyst. This funding brings Jeh Aerospace’s total capital raised from institutional venture capital firms to approximately $15 million. The investment follows a recent undisclosed strategic investment from IndiGo Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Indian carrier IndiGo.

Ashray Iyengar, principal at Elevation Capital, commented on Jeh Aerospace’s approach, stating that the company “built a truly differentiated approach to aerospace manufacturing.”

Jeh Aerospace, headquartered in Atlanta to facilitate access to its U.S. customer base, currently serves half a dozen paying customers, including Vermont-based GS Precision and Ohio-headquartered RH Aero. Sanghavi emphasized a strategy of cultivating “deep and meaningful relationships” with a select group of customers, believing this approach allows for faster and more efficient scaling.

Since its seed funding round last year, Jeh Aerospace has delivered over 100,000 flight-critical components and tools on time, establishing a machine capacity exceeding 250,000 hours annually. In the last fiscal year, the startup achieved $6 million in annualized recurring revenue (ARR) and became profitable. The company projects a significant 3x to 4x increase in ARR this year and holds an order book valued at $100 million.

The founders envision strengthening India’s position in the global aerospace sector. India is already a growing hub, with Airbus sourcing $1.4 billion worth of components annually and targeting $2 billion by 2030. Boeing aims for a $1.3 billion annual spend and is investing $200 million in a new center in Bengaluru. Jeh Aerospace aims to fill the gap in large-scale aerospace component manufacturing.

The startup is backed by an advisory team with significant industry ties, including former Boeing India President Pratyush (Prat) Kumar and former Airbus India CEO Dwaraka Srinivasan.

The newly acquired $11 million will be deployed to enhance manufacturing and inspection capabilities, focusing on investments in next-generation digital production technologies.

While few Indian startups operate in this specific niche, Jeh Aerospace identifies its primary competition among U.S.-based tier-2 suppliers.