The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory has launched the Orbital Edge Accelerator program, aimed at fast-tracking startup innovation in low Earth orbit (LEO). Six pioneering startups will each receive up to $500,000 in funding, provided by Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures, along with tailored mentorship and an opportunity to conduct a space-based investigation sponsored by the ISS National Lab.
Engaging the startup community is a strategic priority for the ISS National Lab. Having access to the unique space environment allows entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of science and technology, develop novel products, and build new businesses. Over the years, dozens of startups have been awarded flight opportunities through the ISS National Lab to advance R&D in diverse areas, from communications and remote sensing to advanced materials and biotechnology. The impact of conducting research through the ISS National Lab is notable, as startups awarded flight projects have cumulatively raised nearly $2.4 billion in funding postflight, demonstrating the value of space-based R&D in accelerating commercialization. With the launch of the Orbital Edge Accelerator, the ISS National Lab aims to build on this momentum and fuel the next wave of innovators that will shape the future space economy.
To deliver the startup accelerator program, the ISS National Lab has partnered with TechConnect, a firm with more than 25 years of experience linking emerging technologies with commercialization opportunities. In the coming months, representatives from the ISS National Lab, CIRI, E2MC, Stellar Ventures, and TechConnect will meet with interested startups at conferences and networking sessions to highlight the accelerator and discuss how space-based R&D can lead to innovation not possible on Earth. AWS has also signed on as a corporate partner, providing their extensive expertise and reach toward scouting and mentoring the inaugural cohort of startups.
TechConnect will host an informational webinar on April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EDT providing additional details on the scope of this opportunity and the advantages of utilizing the orbiting laboratory. To register, please visit the webinar registration page. TechConnect will also host two office hours for potential respondents to ask questions about the accelerator program. Learn more about these opportunities on the accelerator webpage.
Startups interested in the Orbital Edge Accelerator program must submit an application by 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2025. Once the application window closes, the ISS National Lab and investment partners will evaluate each submission and select up to 20 finalists to pitch in a virtual setting. From there, reviewers will invite six startups to join the Orbital Edge Accelerator cohort. Each startup will receive a $500,000 investment and the opportunity to submit an official proposal to utilize the ISS National Lab in a future spaceflight mission.
The six selected startups will be joining attendees at the 14th annual ISS Research and Development Conference in Seattle July 28–31, 2025. To learn more about the accelerator program, networking events, and application process, please click here.
About the ISS National Lab
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory enabling research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to access its unique microgravity environment to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, and grow a sustainable market in low Earth orbit. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) manages the ISS National Lab through a cooperative agreement with NASA.
Source/Photo Credit: ISS National Lab
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