ASME ISHOW Hardware Accelerator
By ASME
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Quick Answer
Up to US$10,000 (about ₹95,000) in equity-free seed grants plus expert design reviews for pre-seed hardware startups solving social or environmental problems.
About this grant
ISHOW (Innovation Showcase) is the accelerator of ASME, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, for hardware-led social ventures. Awardees can receive up to US$10,000 (about ₹95,000) in equity-free seed grants, plus design reviews and mentoring. Applications are accepted year-round with cut-off dates for each regional event, and one of those regional events is held in India.
What the program offers
Awardees receive equity-free seed grants of up to US$10,000 (about ₹95,000), meant for design and validation work, so no ownership is given up. The multi-month accelerator runs virtually and includes a design and engineering audit, one-on-one mentoring, workshops on manufacturing, regulation and impact measurement, check-ins against product development milestones, and direct support from a partner product design consultancy. Awardees join the ISHOW alumni network, which offers continued access to experts, visibility and possible follow-on funding. There are no fees to apply or take part. Every venture that attends a regional event, selected or not, gets written feedback from the experts.
Who can apply
ISHOW is for hardware-led social ventures that tackle a social or environmental challenge with an innovative hard-technology solution. Health, energy, water, agriculture and other impact fields are all in scope. You need at least a functional prototype. Idea and concept-level products are directed to ASME's IDEA LAB incubator instead. You should be a pre-seed startup, and you should have a legal entity or be in the process of forming one. Applying with at least one co-founder or full-time team member is recommended.
You do not have to live in the host country of an event. Ventures from outside the regions are placed at the best-fit regional event. For an Indian founder this is good news: there is a regional event in India, and applications can also be sent for the other regions. It suits a founder with a working physical prototype and a clear social purpose. It does not suit pure software ventures, purely commercial hardware with no social aim, or ideas without a prototype.
How to apply
Read the eligibility requirements on the ISHOW apply page. Register through the interest form with a short overview of your solution and its development level. You then receive the full application by email, which you submit by the cut-off for your region. A practical tip: apply as early as you can, since the source advises ventures outside the listed regions to do so, and a late application is automatically considered for the next cohort. The source does not give the language or format of the full application.
How applications are judged and what happens next
ASME staff and industry experts review the applications and invite finalists to a regional ISHOW, with pre-event materials and coaching about two weeks before. The regional event lasts two to three days, virtual or in person. Each venture gives a five-minute pitch and meets expert teams. Experts assess ventures against five pillars: customer and user insight, product design and validation, development and manufacturing, implementation, and impact on people and planet. They select three teams per region to join the global ISHOW Accelerator. A global cohort announcement is held at the end of the year.
For 2026, the India event was held in Chennai alongside IMECE India, with a cut-off of 31 March 2026. The Africa and Americas cut-offs were in May. The source says applications received after a cut-off roll into the next cohort, but it does not publish the next dates.
About ASME
The ISHOW page describes the program as ASME's accelerator, supported by the ASME Foundation, and draws on ASME's hardware network and conferences. ASME is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The page says little more about the organisation.
Things to check before you apply
- The 2026 India cut-off has passed, so a new application will likely go to the next cohort. The source does not give those dates, so check the apply page.
- The source does not say whether finalists' travel to an in-person event is paid for.
- Seed grants go to awardees only, not to every venture that attends an event.
- The source does not state the payment method or currency for the seed grant.
Eligibility
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Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Grant
- Equity
- Equity-free
What You Get
Each ISHOW awardee receives up to US$10,000 (about ₹95,000) in equity-free seed grants to support design and validation. The virtual multi-month accelerator adds a detailed design and engineering review by experts, one-on-one mentoring on technical, business and impact questions, workshops on manufacturing strategy, regulatory pathways and impact measurement, milestone check-ins, and direct design support from a partner product design consultancy. Alumni keep access to ASME's Expert Cohort, visibility through ASME media and conferences, and follow-on opportunities.
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Full applications are reviewed by ASME staff and industry experts. Finalists attend a regional ISHOW, pitch for five minutes and are assessed on five pillars. Experts select three teams per region for the global accelerator, and every venture at the event gets written feedback.
Application Process
- 1
Register interest
Complete the interest form with an overview of your solution.
You - 2
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How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to the ASME ISHOW Hardware Accelerator?
Hardware-led social ventures with at least a functional prototype, in fields such as health, energy, water and agriculture. They should be pre-seed and have, or be forming, a legal entity.
Can Indian startups apply to ASME ISHOW?
Yes. There is a regional ISHOW in India, held in Chennai in 2026 alongside IMECE India, and ventures from any region can apply. Ventures from outside the listed regions are placed at the best-fit event.
How much funding do ISHOW awardees receive?
Up to US$10,000 (about ₹95,000) in equity-free seed grants, plus a design and engineering review, mentoring and workshops.
How is the ISHOW seed grant paid?
The source does not describe the payment method, currency or schedule. It says the grants are equity-free and tied to the multi-month accelerator, so ask ASME before relying on the timing.
Is there a deadline for ASME ISHOW, and what if it has passed?
Applications are accepted year-round, with a cut-off for each regional event. The 2026 India cut-off was 31 March 2026. Applications received after a cut-off are automatically considered for the next cohort.
Is ISHOW a grant or equity?
The seed grants are equity-free, so ASME takes no ownership. The source does not mention any equity from the program.
What do I need to apply to ISHOW?
You register through the interest form with an overview of your solution and its development level, then complete the full application you receive by email. The source does not list other documents.
Do I have to travel for ASME ISHOW?
Regional events can be virtual or in person. In 2026 the India event was held in Chennai, and the Africa and Americas events were virtual. The source does not say whether travel is paid for.
Is it free to apply to ASME ISHOW?
Yes. The source says there are no fees to apply or participate.
When are ISHOW results announced?
Regional events end with a closing ceremony, and experts select three teams per region. A global cohort announcement is held at the end of the year.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
