ISS Orbital Edge Accelerator Raises Startup Funding to $750,000
Image
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.