FOUNTAINBuild it.
Pitch it live.
FOUNTAIN is a Bay Area hardware startup challenge for builders who'd rather ship than slide-deck. Submit a written application, become one of 10 finalists, then present live in under 3 minutes on June 6 in Stanford campus.
Who we are.
FOUNTAIN is a Physical AI accelerator and venture studio bridging Silicon Valley and Shenzhen.
We invest in and help build early-stage startups bringing AI into the physical world — consumer robotics, embodied intelligence, smart wearables, and the next generation of hardware that makes AI tangible.
Our thesis: pre-seed consumer (B2C) and pro-sumer (B2B2C) hardware companies led by strong technical founders with a prototype or a clear path to one. We'll consider exceptional B2B teams. We don't fund pure software, post-seed rounds, or hardware without an AI/intelligence layer.
The prizes.
§02 / RewardsAll-inclusive trip to Shenzhen
Tour the world's hardware capital with the FOUNTAIN crew. Flights, lodging, and on-the-ground tours covered.*
* Covers two members of the winning team.
Bambu Lab 3D Printers
Production-grade machines to build your next prototype.
Even Realities G2 Smart Glasses
Lightweight everyday smart glasses with a built-in micro-LED HUD — translation, navigation, and AI at a glance.
Gift cards & smart rings
Creative awards for standout submissions that didn't crack the top 3.
The format.
§03 / How it runsA team-based competition for early-stage hardware startup ideas. Submit a written application. We pick ~10 finalist teams. Finalists present live in under 3 minutes — articulating the problem, the user, the technical concept, and a real path to building it.
Key dates.
§04 / CalendarFinal day to submit your written application.
We notify selected teams. Finalists get a couple of days to prep a full deck.
Live finals in Stanford campus. Pitch the judges. Win the prizes.
What to show.
§05 / SubmissionFive things every submission needs. Everything else is bonus.
The essentials
- ▸The problem — what's broken and why it matters
- ▸The hardware idea — what you're building
- ▸Who it's for — the user or customer
- ▸Why your team — what makes you the right people
- ▸A visual — sketch, CAD, mockup, or photo
Extra credit
- +Rough prototype or functional demo
- +CAD model, system diagram, or BOM
- +Customer/expert interviews or validation data
- +Competitive landscape & differentiation
- +Market size or business model thinking
- +Risks, open questions, and next steps
Not for this one
- ×Ideas with no hardware component
- ×Pure software/app concepts
- ×Submissions with no problem framing
- ×Vague brainstorms with no user or technical grounding
- ×Direct copies of existing products
- ×Unrealistic concepts with no prototyping plan
How we judge.
Six dimensions. Equal weight. Strong evidence beats slick decks.
- 01Problem importance
Is this a real and meaningful problem worth solving?
- 02Hardware innovation
Is there a novel or compelling hardware component?
- 03Feasibility
Could this realistically be built with available resources?
- 04Customer insight
Does the team understand the user and the market?
- 05Business potential
Could this become a viable startup or product?
- 06Execution quality
How strong is the team's presentation and evidence?
Four steps. No fluff.
- 01Sign up
Create an account in under a minute. We'll save your progress automatically.
- 02Tell us about it
A short application: your team, your hardware idea, the problem you're solving.
- 03Submit & wait
Send it in by the deadline. We review every application.
- 04Live finals
10 finalists get 1–2 weeks to prep, then present live in under 3 minutes on June 6.
Eligibility.
- Open to the Bay Area. Students, builders, engineers, designers, dropouts, hobbyists. No affiliation required.
- Teams, no max size. Bring as many people as you want — only 2 may present on stage.
- Solo? Show up. We don't match online, but solo applicants are welcome at the event to find a team.
- Hardware required. Prototype optional, but the idea must be hardware-enabled.