Jagmeet Khangura, IgniteX startup scout and innovation leader at Black & Veatch, is one of our top 50 Rising Stars in corporate venturing for 2025.
Jagmeet Khangura has been part of Black & Veatch’s IgniteX’s accelerator since the programme’s inception in 2019, but her career with the global engineering and construction company spans nearly 20 years.
A chemical engineer by training, Khangura was hired full-time after a year as an intern and held numerous roles before moving to the innovation team. She believes her technical background and natural curiosity helped make the transition seamless.
Khangura enjoys being at the forefront of a growing and changing energy industry. “I love learning about new technologies, how people are trying to solve problems in ways that maybe a company such as ours that has been around 100 years would not have thought of.”
“I love learning about new technologies, how people are trying to solve problems in ways that maybe a company such as ours would not have thought of”
Part of her role includes evaluating the submissions to BV IgniteX, a programme designed to empower startups by offering scalable solutions for critical human infrastructure. Khangura also serves as a mentor, guiding the startups through the process that gives them access to Black & Veatch’s industry network, product testing opportunities, pitch development coaching and investor introductions. Participants receive non-diluting grant funding and in-kind services and potential equity investment.
The latest IgniteX programme focusing on viable climate change solutions counselled developers of technologies involving capturing airborne carbon dioxide and permanently storing it below ground. Last year marked the fifth year of the programme in which Black & Veatch has partnered with more than 40 companies and has made more than $2m in investments, grants and in-kind services.
Key to the programme’s success, Khangura has also sourced partnerships with traditional infrastructure companies, such as electricity and gas utilities, as well as government agencies that often have limited direct engagement with early-stage startups.
See the full list of Rising Stars 2025 here.
