Beyond CAD software: How Onshape’s Startup Program is helping hardware founders (Sponsored)

For hardware startups, every dollar and minute counts. Success often depends not just on great ideas, but on having the right tools, guidance, and flexibility to bring those ideas to life—fast. That’s where the Onshape Startup Program comes in.

More than just access to CAD software, the program offers a powerful suite of tools and resources tailored to the unique needs of hardware founders. From design and manufacturing to simulation, mentorship, and marketing, it’s a comprehensive toolkit to help early-stage teams build, grow, and scale with confidence. Let’s have a closer look to it.

What’s in it for you:

Professional-Grade Design Tools:  At the core of the program is Onshape Professional, an enterprise-grade CAD platform built for modern, distributed teams. Being cloud-native, it enables real-time collaboration from anywhere in the world, eliminating the traditional challenges of complex software management and rigid IT infrastructure.

Manufacturing Capabilities with CAM Studio: The recent addition of CAM Studio marks one of Onshape’s most significant platform expansions to date. This powerful feature brings full manufacturing capabilities directly into the design workflow, enabling users to generate machine-ready geometry without ever leaving the Onshape environment. It’s a major leap for teams aiming to streamline production from design to manufacturing.

Simulation Made Simple: The program also includes built-in tools for linear static, frequency, and analysis. Additionally, members receive access to SimScale’s cloud-native simulation suite, enabling advanced multiphysics analysis—from computational fluid dynamics to nonlinear structural mechanics. These tools help startups validate and optimise their designs early, reducing the number of costly prototype iterations.

Growth & Advisory Network: Onshape connects program participants with a curated network of accelerators, incubators, and industry veterans. This advisory network provides valuable guidance on challenges unique to hardware startups, including fundraising, go-to-market strategies, and scaling internationally.

Marketing Momentum: To help startups gain visibility, the program offers co-marketing opportunities. Member companies may be featured in case studies, blog content, and social media campaigns. Onshape also supports visibility through speaking engagements and introductions to potential partners, customers, and investors.

Training & Support: Participants receive priority access to Onshape’s team of technical experts, as well as tailored learning resources. From live training sessions to on-demand courses, startups are equipped with everything they need to maximise team efficiency. The program also includes access to AI Advisor, an intelligent assistant that delivers real-time, context-aware guidance on design and manufacturing tasks, helping users work faster and smarter.

Success Stories

• Lal Bikes evolved from a basement project into a partnership with German bike manufacturer Nicolai. Founder Cedric Eveleigh shares: “The startup program is awesome because we’re a young company trying to survive, like almost any startup, and it’s been incredibly helpful.”

• Makelab, a 3D printing innovator, found unexpected advantages. “It shattered my biases on what to expect from browser-based CAD,” says co-founder Christina Perla. “Being cloud-based and accessible has transformed how we work.”

• Verdi, an agtech pioneer, uses Onshape to streamline collaboration. CTO Roman Kozak explains: “New team members can be online designing in a minute, compared with traditional systems that require complex setup and file management.”

• Kionnali, a sustainable housing innovator, pushes boundaries with the platform. Co-founder Corrin Fox says, “Onshape enables people to work at the speed of thought.”

Join the Innovation Community

The application process is straightforward, and approved startups gain immediate access to all program benefits. Ready to accelerate your hardware startup’s journey? Apply now to join the Onshape Startup Program!

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