With the introduction of the Orbital Edge Accelerator program, the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory is making a significant advancement in supporting upcoming space entrepreneurs. The goal of this ambitious project is to bring innovative entrepreneurs and investors into the quickly growing space industry. Six trailblazing startups will be chosen through the accelerator to receive up to $500,000 in investment each, from global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures. They will also receive mentorship and the chance to begin an investigation sponsored by ISS National Lab. The Orbital Edge Accelerator program seeks to establish new economic opportunities in low Earth orbit and unlock discoveries that can benefit humanity by bridging the gap between early-stage firms and space-based innovation.
The ISS National Lab has made it a strategic priority to engage the entrepreneurial community. Entrepreneurs are able to push the limits of science and technology, create innovative goods, and launch new companies thanks to the special space environment. Through the ISS National Lab, numerous entrepreneurs have been given flying opportunities throughout the years to further research and development in a variety of fields, ranging from new materials and biology to communications and remote sensing. Research conducted through the ISS National Lab has a significant impact; entrepreneurs awarded flight projects have generated a total of around $2.4 billion in funding after flight, proving the importance of space-based research and development in speeding up commercialisation.
The ISS National Lab hopes to capitalise on this momentum and support the upcoming generation of innovators who will influence the space economy of the future with the launch of the Orbital Edge Accelerator.
The ISS National Lab is collaborating with TechConnect, which has over 25 years of experience matching innovators with high-value commercialisation opportunities, to implement the accelerator program. In order to showcase the accelerator and talk about how space-based research and development might result in innovation that isn’t feasible on Earth, officials from the ISS National Lab, CIRI, E2MC, Stellar Ventures, and TechConnect will meet with interested businesses at conferences and networking events in the upcoming months. AWS will also be a corporate partner for the Orbital Edge Accelerator program, contributing their vast experience and network to the scouting and mentoring of the program’s first round of businesses.
An informative webinar will be held by TechConnect on April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EDT offers more information about the benefits of using the orbiting laboratory and the extent of this possibility. Please go to the webinar registration page to sign up. In addition, TechConnect will provide two office hours where prospective participants can ask questions on the accelerator program. Visit the accelerator website to find out more about these chances.
Applications for the Orbital Edge Accelerator program must be submitted by May 19, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Up to 20 finalists will be chosen to pitch virtually after the application window closes after each submission has been reviewed by ISS National Lab and investment partners.
The 14th annual ISS Research and Development Conference will take place in Seattle from July 28–31, 2025, and the six chosen startups will be attending. Visit the Orbital Edge Accelerator website to find out more about the accelerator program, networking opportunities, and application procedure.
