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ISS National Lab Launches Orbital Edge Accelerator Program to Propel Startups Into the Growing Space Economy

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CIRI, E2MC, and Stellar Ventures will invest in six startups for projects leveraging the ISS National Lab

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory is taking a giant leap in fostering new space innovators with the launch of the Orbital Edge Accelerator program. This bold initiative is designed to integrate cutting-edge startups and investment partners into the rapidly expanding space economy. Through the accelerator, six pioneering startups will be selected to receive an investment of up to $500,000 each—which is being provided by global investors Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), E2MC, and Stellar Ventures—along with mentorship and the opportunity to launch an ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation. By bridging the gap between early-stage companies and space-based innovation, the Orbital Edge Accelerator program aims to unlock discoveries that can benefit humanity and drive new commercial opportunities in low Earth orbit. 

Engaging the startup community is a strategic priority for the ISS National Lab. Having access to the unique space environment allows entrepreneurs to push the boundaries of science and technology, develop novel products, and build new businesses. Over the years, dozens of startups have been awarded flight opportunities through the ISS National Lab to advance R&D in diverse areas, from communications and remote sensing to advanced materials and biotechnology. The impact of conducting research through the ISS National Lab is notable, as startups awarded flight projects have cumulatively raised nearly $2.4 billion in funding postflight, demonstrating the value of space-based R&D in accelerating commercialization. With the launch of the Orbital Edge Accelerator, the ISS National Lab aims to build on this momentum and fuel the next wave of innovators that will shape the future space economy. 

To deliver the accelerator program, the ISS National Lab is working with TechConnect, which has more than 25 years of expertise connecting innovators with high-value commercialization opportunities. In the coming months, representatives from the ISS National Lab, CIRI, E2MC, Stellar Ventures, and TechConnect will meet with interested startups at conferences and networking sessions to highlight the accelerator and discuss how space-based R&D can lead to innovation not possible on Earth. Additionally, AWS will serve as corporate partner for the Orbital Edge Accelerator program, providing their extensive expertise and reach toward scouting and mentoring the inaugural cohort of startups.

TechConnect will host an informational webinar on April 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EDT providing additional details on the scope of this opportunity and the advantages of utilizing the orbiting laboratory. To register, please visit the webinar registration page. TechConnect will also host two office hours for potential respondents to ask questions about the accelerator program. Learn more about these opportunities on the accelerator webpage.

Startups interested in the Orbital Edge Accelerator program will need to submit an application by 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 19, 2025. Once the application window closes, the ISS National Lab and investment partners will evaluate each submission and select up to 20 finalists to pitch in a virtual setting. From there, reviewers will invite six startups to join the Orbital Edge Accelerator cohort. Each startup will receive a $500,000 investment and the opportunity to submit an official proposal to utilize the ISS National Lab in a future spaceflight mission. 

The six selected startups will be joining attendees at the 14th annual ISS Research and Development Conference in Seattle July 28-31, 2025. To learn more about the accelerator program, networking events, and application process, visit the Orbital Edge Accelerator webpage.

Download an image for this release: Orbital Edge Accelerator

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

About CIRI:
Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI) is a dynamic and forward-focused Alaska Native regional corporation, recognized as one of 12 land-based corporations established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). Since its incorporation on June 8, 1972, CIRI has expanded beyond its Southcentral Alaska roots—where its regional boundaries align with the traditional Dena’ina homeland—to become a global enterprise. Today, CIRI operates in 45 states and seven countries, driving growth, innovation, and opportunity for its more than 9,500 Shareholders who reside in Alaska and around the world. 

About E2MC:
E2MC (Earth-to-Mars Capital) is a pioneering venture capital firm dedicated to advancing the space economy by financing early-stage space-related startups globally. Our leadership team not only has a combined over 100 years’ of space experience, but is also comprised of former entrepreneurs, and has extensive institutional investment experience. We leverage our specialized expertise and extensive global network to provide tangible support for our portfolio companies (over 20 so far). E2MC’s mission, “From Earth into Space, for Earth,” underscores our dedication to paving the way for humanity’s expansion into space, and to harnessing space technology for global advancement and development. We are based in Arlington, VA.

About Stellar Ventures:
Stellar Ventures is a woman-led venture capital firm founded by aerospace industry leader Celeste Ford to back the next generation of space entrepreneurs. The firm invests in early-stage, mission-driven space technology companies and brings unmatched technical depth and industry connections to help founders build the world-changing businesses of tomorrow.

About TechConnect:
With 25+ years of experience connecting emerging technologies with unique funding and partnership opportunities, TechConnect boasts the most robust research and innovation network in the world, coupled with the nation’s largest funder of innovation through its parent company, Advanced Technology International. It employs a broad scope of tools to deliver top technologies, including open innovation programs, conferences, and accelerators. Each year, TechConnect scouts, vets, and connects thousands of emerging technologies with corporate, investment, municipal, and national defense clients techconnect.org.

Media Contact:            

Patrick O’Neill 

904-806-0035

PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org  

 

International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory
Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®)

1005 Viera Blvd., Suite 101, Rockledge, FL 32955 • 321.253.5101 • www.ISSNationalLab.org

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SOURCE International Space Station National Lab

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SiriusXM Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

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NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SiriusXM (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share of common stock. This regular quarterly dividend is payable in cash on August 26, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on August 10, 2026.

About Sirius XM Holdings Inc.
SiriusXM is the leading audio entertainment company in North America with a portfolio of audio businesses including its flagship subscription entertainment service SiriusXM; the ad-supported and premium music streaming services of Pandora; an expansive podcast network; and a suite of business and advertising solutions. Together, SiriusXM reaches a combined monthly audience of approximately 255 million listeners. SiriusXM offers a broad range of content for listeners everywhere they tune in with a diverse mix of live, on-demand, and curated programming across music, talk, news, and sports. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.

Source: SiriusXM

Investor contacts:
Jennifer DiGrazia
investor.relations@siriusxm.com 

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SOURCE Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

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Shutterstock Announces Capital Allocation Update

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NEW YORK, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shutterstock, Inc. (NYSE: SSTK) (the “Company”), a family of brands delivering scalable creative and GenAI solutions to help customers fuel great work, today announced that at a meeting held on July 20, 2026 its Board of Directors (the “Board”) resolved to suspend the Company’s future quarterly cash dividend.

The Board’s determination reflects its ongoing review of the Company’s capital-allocation priorities and its focus on deploying capital to support long-term value creation for shareholders, including reducing debt, minimizing related interest expense and strengthening financial flexibility.

The Board will continue to evaluate the Company’s capital allocation priorities as part of its regular governance process. Any future declaration and payment of dividends, and the amount thereof, will remain subject to the discretion of the Board and will depend upon the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, applicable law, and such other factors as the Board deems relevant.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may discuss intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations or financial condition, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as predictions of future events, as there can be no assurance that the events or circumstances reflected in these statements will occur. Forward-looking statements can often, but not always, be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including “believes,” “could,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “ongoing,” “plans,” “seeks,” “should,” “will,”  or the negative of these words and phrases, other variations of these words and phrases or comparable terminology, but not all forward-looking statements include such identifying words. Forward-looking statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release relate to, among other things, the Company’s capital allocation strategy, the suspension of the Company’s quarterly cash dividend, the Company’s plans with respect to debt reduction, interest expense management and financial flexibility, and any future declaration and payment of dividends. For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking statements, see the sections captioned “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. While those factors are considered representative, no list of risk factors should be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, and the Company disclaims any such obligation, except as may be required by law.

About Shutterstock
Shutterstock is in the business of turning ideas into impact. Powered by a global network of millions of creators and our cutting-edge technology, we provide businesses, creatives, and brand leaders with the essential, universal ingredients to make their work more effective. Shutterstock offers access to one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections of high-quality licensable assets, specialized training datasets, evaluation tools, and end-to-end strategic partnerships for the full model training lifecycle, as well as advertising and distribution solutions, exclusive editorial content, and full-service studio production—delivering unparalleled resources to fuel great work.

Discover our impact at www.shutterstock.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, X, Facebook and YouTube.

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SOURCE Shutterstock, Inc.

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ICI Welcomes Bipartisan Sponsors of Bill to Stop States from Seizing Long-Term Investors’ Savings

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WASHINGTON, July 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Investment Company Institute released the following Viewpoints blog. To learn more about why this issue matters and how the SAFER Act would help protect American investors, watch our video on LinkedIn.

Millions of American investors have adopted the advice given by financial advisors to invest for the long term and then leave those savings alone. In some states, however, following this guidance can get your account seized. That was the warning sounded at an event featuring the sponsors of the bipartisan SAFER Act, Representatives Sam Liccardo (D-CA) and Mike Lawler (R-NY), who joined ICI leaders to make the case for a federal solution to the problem of state unclaimed property laws that can treat buy-and-hold investors as though they have disappeared. 

ICI President and CEO Eric Pan opened the event by outlining the nature of this growing threat. More than 128 million Americans invest in regulated funds, many with the intention of holding them for years, following the advice of many financial educators to “stay in the market, invest for the long term.” They put their money away and go about their lives, confident that the savings will be there when they need it. But under some states’ laws, an account that shows no activity can be declared abandoned and taken into state custody through a process called escheatment.

Pan walked through what seizure means in practice. When a state escheats an investment account, it typically liquidates the holdings — so even an investor who eventually recovers the money gets back only what the account was worth at seizure, with no credit for years of market gains. For retirement accounts, the forced liquidation can also trigger unforeseen tax consequences. And recovering the money at all can take years of paperwork and persistence. Meanwhile, some states are moving in the wrong direction, loosening their rules to make it easier to capture assets. 

“This is where the leadership of Congressmen Lawler and Liccardo is so important,” Pan said. “They’ve introduced the SAFER Act, a federal solution to a problem that exists across the United States. This patchwork of different legal standards, and the fact that the legal standards change constantly, creates a lot of confusion and creates this risk and harm that we’re so worried about.” 

In a panel discussion, the two lawmakers described the issue as an obvious place for Democrats and Republicans to find common ground, given Americans’ widespread use of investment accounts for saving.

“We are, for the most part, a group of Americans who sit on our investments, which is more or less the right strategy,” Liccardo said, noting that this is exactly the approach that inactivity standards put at risk. 

Liccardo pointed to the widely reported case of Walter Schramm, an investor who bought Amazon shares in the late 1990s and then did what many long-term investors do: leave the account be. Delaware deemed the account abandoned and liquidated the shares in 2008, when they worth about $8,000. By the time Schramm discovered what happened years later, the position would have been worth roughly $100,000.

The financial incentives driving state behavior are a concern, Liccardo noted. Unclaimed property has become one of Delaware’s largest sources of revenue, bringing in more than half a billion dollars a year — a powerful reason for states to loosen their standards rather than tighten them. 

Lawler contrasted legitimate unclaimed property programs and what some states are doing now. “It’s one thing to get an asset because it’s truly abandoned,” he said. “It’s another to basically target a group of investors who have a long-term strategy of just not touching the asset and being passive.”

The right standard, Lawler argued, is the obvious one: before seizing investment assets, a state should have to prove the owner is actually deceased. He posited that most Americans would be shocked to learn how little protection they have. “You think you have ownership of this asset, but the state, under current law, can just take it.”

The SAFER Act would establish federal guardrails ensuring that inactivity alone cannot be the basis for escheatment and that states confirm the death of an owner and that no estate or beneficiary has claimed the assets before escheating investment accounts. It would also require states to leave unclaimed investments in place, rather than liquidating them, until they can prove abandonment.

Both lawmakers said the path to fixing the problem is through public awareness of the threat some state laws pose to Americans financial security. “Ultimately the American people will rise up,” Liccardo said. “It may take a little while. We just have to get the information to them.”

Contact: media@ici.org 

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SOURCE Investment Company Institute

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