News

Kennedy Space Center, Fla. – September 22, 2026 -- The International Space Station National Laboratory's Orbital Edge Accelerator has expanded its second-year cohort to eight startups, up from six in 2025, while raising available per-startup funding to a range of $500,000 to $750,000, up from a prior cap of $500,000.

Investment partners drive higher funding ceiling for space startups

A network of global investment partners -- CIRI, Context Ventures, Draper Associates, Draper University, E2MC, and Stellar Ventures -- backed the increased capital pool, according to the ISS National Lab. The expanded funding and cohort size reflect strengthened investor engagement in space-enabled technology ventures targeting low Earth orbit.

Aurora, Colo. – September 22, 2026 -- University of Colorado Anschutz has received an anonymous $50 million gift, one of the largest in campus history, to expand its CSF Leak Program into a world-leading center for diagnosis, treatment and research of cerebrospinal fluid leaks.

Patient survey reveals systemic diagnostic failures across the field

CU Anschutz researchers, working with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, conducted the largest patient survey ever done on the condition. Nearly 80% of patients reported being misdiagnosed, seeing a median of more than six clinicians before an accurate diagnosis. More than 60% said long waitlists blocked access to specialized care, forcing many to travel across state lines for treatment.

Newark – September 22, 2026 -- Medscape has expanded its strategic partnership with the Brazilian Society of Clinical Oncology (SBOC) under a new two-year agreement to widen access to global oncology insights for physicians across Brazil.

Two-year deal targets Portuguese-language oncology content for Brazilian clinicians

The agreement will focus on developing and publishing Portuguese-language educational and medical content aimed at supporting the day-to-day clinical practice of oncology professionals in Brazil. It builds on an editorial partnership first announced in 2022 to combat misinformation in online health content.

Delray Beach – September 22, 2026 -- The global modular data center market is projected to grow from $41.0 billion in 2026 to $93.6 billion by 2031, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 18.0%, according to a new MarketsandMarkets report. The market stood at $34.9 billion in 2025, underscoring an accelerating pace of adoption driven by AI workloads and cloud infrastructure buildouts.

Solution segment dominates as AI deployment demand climbs

The solution segment is set to command $29.85 billion of market value by 2026, the largest share among segment categories. All-in-one modular data centers, which integrate IT racks, power distribution, cooling, fire suppression and security into a single prefabricated enclosure, are forecast to post the highest CAGR at 19.6% through 2031. Skid-mounted systems will grow even faster, at 21.2% annually, as operators seek compact, self-contained infrastructure for rapid rollout in remote and edge locations.

Atlanta – September 22, 2026 -- IPitomy Communications LLC, a subsidiary of Clarion Communications LLC, has released Resolvix, a new suite of AI-powered voice and chat agents built for its proprietary Unified Communications-as-a-Service (UCaaS) platform.

Resolvix delivers round-the-clock call and chat coverage for SMB clients

The tool set provides 24/7 coverage for phone calls and website live chat, automated lead qualification with accurate intake, and scheduling and next-step automation. Resolvix also supports natural, business-specific dialogue with multilingual capability, targeting small and mid-sized business customers across North America.

"Our customers are looking for practical ways to use AI to improve their customer experiences and employee productivity without adding complexity," said IPitomy CEO Joseph Haines, Sr., adding that the strategy centers on a unified platform combining communications, customer engagement and AI.

Noida – September 22, 2026 -- Scanova, the QR Code platform operated by Trycon Technologies India, has released the largest update in its history, shifting its product from measuring scan counts to tracking the business outcomes that follow a scan.

Conversion tracking now follows visitors past the scan

The update extends conversion tracking onto a brand's own website, reporting pages opened, links clicked and actions completed after the code is scanned. This lets businesses distinguish codes that generate traffic from codes that generate action, placing QR performance on comparable terms with other marketing channels. Scanova integrates with 14 marketing and sales tools, feeding this data directly into systems companies already run.

Dallas-Plano, Texas – September 22, 2026 -- Sportball is opening its first corporate-operated location in the United States in Dallas-Plano this fall, marking a shift from a two-decade-old franchise-only U.S. model to direct company operations. The Canadian youth sports company will also add a new franchise in Frisco-McKinney, expected to open in early 2027.

Fremont, Calif. – September 22, 2026 -- THINK Surgical, Inc. has appointed Rick McDowell as Vice President, Sales, tasking him with leading the orthopedic robotics maker's national sales organization as it scales commercial operations.

McDowell reports directly to Executive Vice President Chris Marrus

McDowell will drive market strategy and growth for THINK Surgical's commercial team, reporting to Chris Marrus. He arrives with more than 20 years in medical device commercialization, clinical strategy, and capital sales across the surgical robotics sector.

St. Louis – September 22, 2026 -- The Gateway Business Health Coalition (Gateway BHC), which represents roughly 70 employers nationwide including Fortune 500 companies and public sector organizations, has partnered with Rezilient Health to expand employer access to a hybrid primary care model.

Gateway BHC members gain same-day access to Rezilient's hybrid CloudClinic model

The partnership pairs Rezilient's same-day primary and urgent care with specialty consults and care navigation, aiming to reduce total healthcare spending for self-funded employers. Rezilient's CloudClinic format combines an in-person clinical medic with a provider joining remotely via secure video, supported by connected diagnostic devices for physical exams, labs and basic imaging during the same visit.

London – September 22, 2026 -- The Natural Diamond Council has rebranded as The Diamond Collective, launching a new global strategy to rebuild consumer demand for natural diamonds amid rising competition from synthetic alternatives.

New CEO shapes strategy after six months of industry consultation

Amber Pepper, who took over as CEO, developed the strategy following talks with producers, retailers, brands, creatives and consumers. The plan responds to shifts in how people discover and buy luxury goods, aiming to convert consumer desire into sustained purchasing demand.