Indian startup Jeh Aerospace, founded by Vishal Sanghavi and Venkatesh Mudragalla, has a unique vantage point on the commercial aircraft sector and its mounting production challenges. Both former Tata Group executives, they bring nearly two decades of experience, having worked on projects involving global aerospace giants like Boeing, Sikorsky, and Lockheed Martin.
With $11 million in Series A funding, the duo aims to alleviate global supply chain bottlenecks by scaling the production of metallic components for aero engines and aerostructures. These components are supplied to U.S.-based Tier 1 suppliers, which serve major aircraft manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing. Their broader vision includes positioning India as a key hub for aerospace component manufacturing.
Sanghavi, who also serves as Jeh Aerospace’s CEO, explains that while their work at Tata helped unlock India’s potential for large OEMs, Jeh Aerospace is now focused on enabling Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers in the supply chain.
Headquartered in Atlanta for closer access to its U.S. customers, Jeh Aerospace operates a 60,000-square-foot precision manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, India. The startup leverages advanced machinery, robotics, and IoT to drastically reduce product lead times—from the industry standard of 15 weeks to just 15 days. Their software-defined manufacturing approach ensures predictability, dynamic scheduling, and consistent quality for customers.
Investors have shown strong interest in Jeh Aerospace’s model. The Series A round was led by Elevation Capital, with participation from General Catalyst, bringing total institutional funding to $15 million. Recently, IndiGo Ventures also made a strategic investment in the startup. Ashray Iyengar of Elevation Capital praised the company for its innovative approach to aerospace manufacturing.
The aerospace industry faces significant bottlenecks as global air traffic demand surges. According to the International Air Transport Association, 2024 saw a 10.4% year-over-year increase, surpassing 2019 levels by 3.8%. Airlines are expanding fleets, but production delays persist, with Tier 1 suppliers struggling to meet record backlogs of nearly 15,700 commercial aircraft orders.
Jeh Aerospace’s strategy centers on using technology to scale production of critical components, targeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers rather than directly engaging with OEMs. This segment accounts for 60-70% of aircraft production, compared to OEMs’ 30%. The startup currently serves six paying customers, including U.S.-based GS Precision and RH Aero, with plans to deepen these relationships rather than expand its client base rapidly.
The company has also built an advisory team with deep industry ties, including former Boeing India President Pratyush Kumar and ex-Airbus India CEO Dwaraka Srinivasan.
Since its $2.75 million seed round in early 2023, Jeh Aerospace has delivered over 100,000 flight-critical components on time and built an annual machine capacity exceeding 250,000 hours. The startup achieved $6 million in annualized recurring revenue (ARR) and profitability in the last fiscal year, projecting a 3x to 4x ARR growth this year. Its order book stands at $100 million.
The new funding will be used to enhance manufacturing and inspection capabilities through next-gen digital production technologies. The founders also see an opportunity to bolster India’s aerospace manufacturing sector, mirroring its success in iPhone production.
While India’s aerospace manufacturing footprint is growing—Airbus sources $1.4 billion in components annually, targeting $2 billion by 2030, and Boeing aims for $1.3 billion—large-scale success remains elusive. Jeh Aerospace is among the few startups addressing this gap, with competitors like JJG Aero also in the space. However, Sanghavi views U.S.-based Tier 2 suppliers as the primary competition.
With a clear focus on technology-driven precision manufacturing, Jeh Aerospace is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the global aerospace supply chain while strengthening India’s position in the industry.