AWS, venture capital firm launch space startup accelerator

Amazon Web Services and a venture capital firm have jointly put out a call for space startups to join an accelerator and mentoring program run by the cloud computing giant.

Submissions are due April 21, after which AWS and its partner in U.K.-headquartered Seraphim Capital will choose an initial 10 companies to participate in the four-week program lined up for June.

“AWS and Seraphim are accepting applications from innovative startups at all stages of maturity working with space technology or space-derived data who have a clearly defined and unique mission,” Sandy Carter, vice president of partners and programs for AWS’ worldwide public sector business, wrote in a blog post to announce the program.

“Qualifying missions can include, but are not limited to, earth observation, electronics and robotics, spacecraft launch and delivery, spacecraft hardware and software, launch manufacturing and launch operations, and more.”

Applications will be evaluated for the innovative and unique nature of the project, overall value a solution can bring to industry, how the AWS cloud offering is applied and a team’s ability to deliver on an identified opportunity.

In addition to mentoring, the 10 chosen startups will receive up to $100,000 in AWS technical services offered under the business’ Activate program.

The accelerator program’s launch is the latest foray by AWS into the space sector and comes nearly a year after the unveiling of its aerospace and satellite business, which works with government agencies and space companies to further incorporate cloud capabilities into systems on the ground and in-orbit.