The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is now accepting applications for the ISHOW accelerator, a program designed to scale hardware-driven solutions to critical global challenges. ISHOW is open to individuals and ventures developing physical products with social and environmental impact.
The program targets hardware solutions addressing humanitarian needs, habitat challenges, water, food, energy, and human health. Applicants should have a working prototype and an interest in receiving technical guidance, financial support, and access to expert networks that can assist in taking their product to market.
Each year, hundreds of applicants compete for spots in three regional ISHOW events. Since 2015, the accelerator has engaged with innovation ecosystems in India, Africa, and the Americas. The 2025 cohort will share $100,000 in seed grants, along with in-kind support, design expertise, and business development resources.
“Through the vision and creativity of these talented entrepreneurs and the guidance of expert mentors, ASME ISHOW is transforming groundbreaking ideas into market-ready products that improve lives,” ASME Executive Director and CEO Tom Costabile says. “This program is a key component of ASME’s support for the future of energy and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Application deadlines
- ISHOW India (applications have closed)
- ISHOW Africa: April 1
- ISHOW India virtual event: April 24-25
- ISHOW Americas: May2
- ISHOW Africa virtual event: June 10-12
- ISHOW Americas virtual event: July 29-31
Three ventures selected at each event will join the ISHOW 2025 cohort. Coming up, ISHOW Africa applications close April 1, and ISHOW India will take place April 24-25 at T-Hub, Hyderabad, Telangana, with an awards ceremony on April 25 at 6 pm local time. Registration for the awards event is available at https://konfhub.com/ishowindiaawards2025.
“Hard-tech innovators addressing urgent social and environmental challenges must be better equipped to overcome significant obstacles,” says Iana Aranda, ASME’s managing director of sustainability. “We are dedicated to building on a decade of experience to ensure that social ventures realize their vision for a better world, for everyone.”
Finalists will also participate in the ISHOW Bootcamp, an intensive design and engineering review. At Bootcamp, finalists gain one-on-one access to experts curated to support them as they take the next steps to scaling their innovations. Finalists also integrate into the ISHOW alumni network, an international community of hardware innovators, mentors, and resources.
Experts with experience in product development and scaling hardware-led social ventures are encouraged to join as mentors. ASME matches up to 30 ventures each year with industry experts to ensure their solutions are sustainable across technical, environmental, cultural, and financial dimensions. Judges and advisors include entrepreneurs, academics, engineers, designers, investors, and industry leaders. The ASME Expert Cohort provides strategic guidance across ISHOW’s five core pillars: customer/user knowledge, hardware design and validation, development and manufacturing optimization, implementation strategy, and impact.
To date, ASME has supported over 250 startups from 35 countries, addressing critical issues such as clean combustion, crop threshing, fetal health, food waste prevention, health diagnostics, and safe drinking water. These efforts directly advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
ASME acknowledges its global implementation partners, including The Lemelson Foundation, which has provided long-term support to ISHOW and ASME’s broader efforts to strengthen hardware impact innovation. Explore ISHOW’s global influence through its dynamic dashboard.
Follow the journeys of ISHOW alumni including GenH, PlenOptika, Himalayan Rocket Stove, SAYeTECH and others here.
Apply to ISHOW at https://thisishardware.org/current-competitions.
ASME is the parent organization of which Engineering for Change is a part. The information in this article is from an ASME ISHOW press release.
