The 2025 Orbital Edge Accelerator program exceeded expectations, demonstrating the power of pairing bold startups with private capital and access to low Earth orbit for in-space validation. Six high-impact companies each received $500K in venture investment, an ISS flight opportunity, and hands-on business and technical mentorship, advancing breakthrough technologies from concept to orbit.
KMI is advancing in-space logistics and orbital relocation for sustainable in-orbit operations. The company is testing Asteria, a technology designed to securely attach to unprepared surfaces of objects in orbit, to validate its performance and durability outside the ISS.
“Orbital Edge provided the access to partners at a deeper level of engagement than we’d had previously, even with folks we’d been meeting with already. From opportunities with technical experts and policy professionals to experienced entrepreneurs and insightful investors, Orbital Edge has given an edge to the next steps of KMI expanding missions, customers, and capabilities for in-space logistics.“
– Troy M. Morris, Co-Founder & CEO, Kall Morris Inc (KMI)
Magma Space is developing ultra-stable, agile, and autonomous satellite control systems. The company is leveraging the ISS to demonstrate the longevity of its Magnetically Levitated Reaction Wheel, a vibration-reducing technology for next-generation spacecraft.
Melagen is creating a lightweight, high-efficiency, patent-pending radiation shielding material. The company will mount the material outside the ISS to validate radiation attenuation and perform postflight material characterization.
Olfera is pushing the boundaries of neurodegenerative research with its olfactory brain-on-a-chip (OChip) platform. By leveraging accelerated aging in microgravity, the company is observing disease processes and testing therapeutic interventions in weeks instead of years.
Quantum Qool is innovating thermal management through ultrafast laser surface structuring. The company is testing laser-structured materials outside the ISS to evaluate thermal performance and long-term durability in space conditions.
Raptor Dynamix is building smart, autonomous systems that integrate real-time data and edge computing. The company is leveraging the ISS to demonstrate ShadowSentinel™, an AI-enabled Space Domain Awareness solution for autonomous operations and selective downlink.
“When we applied to Orbital Edge, we had a vision for autonomous AI in space. When we finished, we had a roadmap to MVP and a seat on a rocket. The program compressed years of progress into months and gave us the platform to show the world what trusted autonomy in orbit looks like with our revolutionary ShadowSentinel™ Pathfinder. For any deep tech company serious about reaching orbit, Orbital Edge is the accelerator.“
Joel Nelson, Founder, Raptor Dynamix
The success of the 2025 cohort directly shaped the expanded 2026 Orbital Edge Accelerator program, unlocking new opportunities for startups ready to innovate at the edge of possibility.
