At the ISS National Laboratory®, we’ve long believed that great ideas aren’t limited by gravity—and neither should their potential be. That belief is at the heart of our new Orbital Edge Accelerator program, launched in partnership global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc., E2MC, and Stellar Ventures, and powered by TechConnect.
This program is more than an accelerator—it’s a launchpad for the next generation of innovation. Together, our investment partners have committed up to $3 million, to be awarded across six forward-thinking startups (each receiving an investment up to $500,000). In addition to capital, these selected teams will gain something far rarer: the opportunity to send their concepts to the space station (through ISS National Lab sponsorship), leveraging its novel environment to refine breakthrough technologies and bold new business models.
Why startups? Because their pursuit of transformative opportunities combined with their agility, curiosity, and risk tolerance make them ideal partners in space-based R&D. Over the years, close to 100 startups have flown investigations through the ISS National Lab. Collectively, these companies have raised over $2.4 billion in private investment following their spaceflight projects. That’s not just a proof point—it’s a trend.
The commercial space sector is evolving fast, and now is the time for startups to stake their claim in low Earth orbit. Whether you’re working in biomedical solutions, advanced materials, artificial intelligence, or dual-use technologies—space offers a frontier to accelerate, differentiate, and inspire.
But time is short. The application deadline for the Orbital Edge Accelerator program is Monday, May 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET. If you’re a startup ready to push the boundaries of what’s possible, we encourage you to apply—and take the first step toward making space part of your growth strategy.
Together, we can advance research for the benefit of life on Earth—and beyond.
