What will each member of the cohort receive?
- $500,000 US investment in their operation from a combination of Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures
- Technological guidance from experts at the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab
- Assistance with proposal preparation to secure a sponsored flight with the ISS National Lab
- Access to and mentoring from space-focused business experts
- Networking opportunities with additional venture capital firms
- $100,000 in AWS credits
Are applications from companies outside the United States eligible for consideration?
Eligible companies must be incorporated in the US. International companies may participate, if they currently operate a subsidiary inside the US and propose work to be completed by that subsidiary.
Are applications from academic researchers eligible for consideration.
Companies spun out of academic labs are eligible, provided that a private entity has been or soon will be formed.
My company is licensing technology from a university in order to bring it to market. Am I eligible to participate?
Yes. If a private commercial venture is utilizing technology licensed from an academic lab, that is potentially of interest.
My company is incorporated in the US, but I’m not a US citizen. Can I apply to the Accelerator?
Otherwise eligible companies led by an individual who is not a US citizen or permanent resident must designate a Primary Investigator (PI) who meets the citizenship requirement. This PI will be the primary point of contact for all Accelerator communication and engagement. The suitable PI must be identified in application information.
Since the ISS National Lab is an orbiting US national lab, do I need to register my company with the US federal government?
Members of the cohort must have an official registration with the United States federal government though Sam.gov (https://sam.gov/). A valid registration is not required at the time of application but participants are encouraged to begin the process early to ensure eligibility for the cohort. Companies already registered with Sam.gov do not need to register a second time.
Can I get a copy of the term sheet from the investors?
The official terms for the investment will be shared with finalists upon notification to pitch. The terms will be favorable compared to terms offered by other accelerators.
Can I get a copy of the term sheet from the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab?
The official terms and conditions for the flight proposal will be shared with finalists upon notification to pitch.
Will cohort companies receive the full investment amount at the start of the Accelerator?
Cohort members will receive investment funds in two installments: half ($250,000 US) at the beginning of the Accelerator program and half ($250,000 US) upon successful completion of the Accelerator.
How soon could my technology fly to the International Space Station?
Flight readiness and launch windows will be based on the technology and its overall readiness. The ISS National Lab commits to preparing cohort companies for flight as soon as feasibility permits.
What kinds of support will be offered to the cohort through the Accelerator?
While the Accelerator programs will provide insight and guidance into proposal development, business operations, technology commercialization, and more, the exact nature and format of the content will be customized based upon the needs of each cohort member company.