Abhi Kumar

Aerospace Industry Operator, Advisor, and Investor

LinkedIn | X

About

Versatile Leader Specializing in autonomy + emerging tech in the Space + Aerospace Industry Strategic Mindset | Industry Understanding | Product and Partnerships | Leadership

Work Experience

Tech and Strategy Lead

Archer Aviation

Dec 2025 - Present

  • Leading all technical and strategic aspects of autonomous technologies
  • Managing multiple government contracts ($3.5M+) to accelerate technology demonstration
  • Working with C-suite, finance, and product to create technology roadmaps (2-, 5-year horizon)

Manager, Strategic Programs

Planet Labs

Dec 2025 - Present

  • Managed strategic programs and stakeholders (across Middle East, APAC, North America)
  • Nurtured strategic partnerships with government agencies and other commercial players (15+)

Education

Finance, Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Wharton School of Business (UPenn)

Jan 2025

Aerospace Engineering Sciences

University of Colorado at Boulder

Jan 2014

Certificates

New Space Economy - Professional Certificate Program

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jan 2024

LEAD Business Program

Stanford University

Jan 2023

System Architecture - Professional Certificate Program

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jan 2020

Projects

Wharton Clubs: Entrepreneurship, VC, and Aerospace & Defense

Founding member for the West Coast chapters

Caltech Space Challenge

Received 1st place award. An intensive and selective one-week residential challenge for space mission design is conducted every two years at the California Institute of Technology.

Maseeh Entrepreneurship Prize Competition

Pitched a virtual reality headset concept to investors and reached the last round in Los Angeles

NASA Great Moonbuggy Race

Led a team to design a human-powered lunar rover

Defense Research & Development Organization

Led a team to design an unmanned aerial system for defense surveillance