Startups and Space Investment Take Center Stage at ISSRDC

Innovation is the cornerstone of space exploration and expanding commerce in low Earth orbit (LEO) cannot happen without it. Several sessions at the 12th annual International Space Station Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC) focus on building sound business models for entrepreneurs within this growing commercial frontier.

On Day 1, representatives from leading venture capital and private equity firms will share perspectives on investment landscape expectations over the coming year. In “Building Startups During Market Volatility,” panelists will explore funding and growth strategies suitable for early-stage companies to navigate the current environment. The discussion, which will be moderated by Carie Mullins, director of analytics at BryceTech, includes panelists from AE Industrial Partners, Generation Space, In-Q-Tel, Marlinspike Partners, and Morgan Stanley.

A plenary session on Day 2, called “Innovating in the Space Landscape,” focuses on new companies that have entered the space market to advance technologies and commercialize space in unique ways. Each featured panelist is the leader of a startup (Gravitics, Space Forge, Stoke Space, Privateer, and Xplore), that brings a unique perspective to the industry. Attendees can hear how these individuals forged a path toward space, as well as the challenges they have overcome and the opportunities they see ahead.

ISSRDC will take place July 31 through August 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Seattle. The conference brings together leaders from the commercial sector, U.S. government agencies, and academic communities to foster innovation and discovery onboard the International Space Station. ISSRDC will showcase how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and enables a robust and sustainable market in LEO.

The conference is hosted by the ISS National Laboratory, managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS); NASA; and the American Astronautical Society (AAS). Additional announcements on keynote speakers and various sessions will be forthcoming.