Leverage the Space Economy for a Competitive Edge
Space-Edge is an educational pre-accelerator that helps entrepreneurs explore how space can strengthen their business. Whether you’re scaling a startup or refining your research, we’ll help you build a space-enabled strategy for competitive advantage.
Program Overview
Build Your Strategy for Space‑Powered Innovation
Space-Edge is an educational pre-accelerator that helps entrepreneurs understand and leverage the space economy for a competitive edge. It’s a wrap‑around complement for those already on their entrepreneurial path who are new to space—not a traditional business accelerator.
Participants join a structured, 12-week experience that combines expert lessons, mentorship, peer collaboration, and access to space industry resources. You’ll leave with a clear-eyed strategy for how space-based assets, like microgravity, satellite data, or orbital platforms, can support your business.
Who It’s For
Space-Edge is designed for innovators who are new to space, but not new to building.
Participants typically include:
Startups exploring new markets or applications
Applied researchers with technologies that could benefit from space-based environments
Established companies looking to expand their R&D or innovation strategy
What they share is curiosity about how space-based tools, platforms, or environments might offer an advantage, and how to explore that without wasting time or resources.
What You’ll Gain
A clear understanding of how space might support your work
Strategic guidance from experts in space, business, and technology
Exposure to relevant funding pathways (no equity required)
Support in developing a space-related strategy or use case
A network of peers and partners exploring similar questions
Access to university and industry collaborators
Why Space?
The space economy is rapidly becoming a major part of the global tech and innovation landscape. Analysts estimate its value could hit $1 trillion to $2 trillion by 2040, with McKinsey projecting $1.8 trillion by 2035. Space-enabled services—like data, materials testing, or new manufacturing pathways—are already creating impact across industries.
Space-Edge focuses on helping you understand where space fits, and how to make it part of your growth strategy.
What Participants Say
“This program changed the way we think about our product. We’re now actively pursuing microgravity testing.”
Join the Next Cohort
Applications for the Spring 2026 Space-Edge cohort open soon.
Ready to explore what space can offer? We’d like to hear from you.
collaboration
Space-Edge is a collaboration between Arizona State University, Blue Origin, Space Foundation, University of Central Florida, and Vanderbilt University.
SPACE-EDGE 2025
ADVANCED MATERIALS
The second Space-Edge program offered in Fall 2025 will focus on advanced materials that can benefit from the space environment or help grow the space sector.
The program is designed for innovators and businesses who are interested in accessing the unique space environment for R&D and/or developing advanced materials for the space environment. Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, early-stage venture, or established business, this program will support you in developing an actionable space strategy.
GAIN A COMPETITIVE EDGE
BY ACCESSING SPACE
For the Fall 2025 program, you can participate through one of four hubs located at Arizona State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Florida or Vanderbilt University.
MATERIAL SCIENCE INNOVATION
Earth Applications and Space Exploration and Utilization
Material science innovations enable safer, more sustainable, and longer-term exploration and utilization of space environments. The unique conditions of microgravity also unlock new material properties and processes, which, when translated back to Earth, lead to superior products, manufacturing techniques, and medical advances—demonstrating a powerful synergy between space research and terrestrial benefit.
FOCUS AREAS
Medical applications
Manufacturing
Electronics, sensors, batteries
Consumer products
WITH SPACE-EDGE, YOU WILL:
Gain a comprehensive understanding of how space can boost commercialization.
Understand the upstream and downstream capabilities relevant to products and services in the materials science sector.
Gain a practical view from both a user’s and industry’s standpoint, helping you plan your roadmap for accessing space.
Determine the specific actions needed to activate your space strategy such as designing proof-of-concept experiments for space, assessing technical feasibility and risks, and conducting customer discovery interviews.
Have access to the experts and resources you need to execute your space strategy.