If you’re filled with passion and have an amazing idea to disrupt or improve an industry, making it come true is no walk in the park. If you are an entrepreneur or startup team with a burning passion and a great idea, but you’re uncertain about how to make it a reality, NEC X is the perfect partner for you.

NEC X is part of NEC, a large multinational technology company that has been in business for 125 years, investing over $1 billion annually in research and development. NEC’s research teams have taken numerous world No.1 titles, particularly in areas such as AI, machine learning, video and image processing and analysis, biometrics, cybersecurity, and network communications.  

Throughout our Venture Studio Program “Elev X!”, you’ll gain access to hands-on support, mentorship, workshops, learning content and funding. We also provide access to world-class cutting-edge technologies.  

NEC X has provided support to more than 50 projects to date, out of which 14 startups and new businesses have been launched.  

This comprehensive program called “Elev X! Ignite” spans six to nine months until graduation, and encompasses various phases, such as customer discovery and customer validation to elevate your startup team’s idea to the level of commercialization with paid customers or external funding. Our team supports you throughout the process from day zero to product launch, customer acquisition, fundraising  and further. 

It is also important to know each stage undergoes a meticulous milestone review process to determine which teams will make it to the next phase, and it is quite competitive. However, with NEC X’s support, teams that successfully complete these steps and graduate from the program are taking strides on the path to success including participation in other accelerator or government grant programs, or getting external funding for growth. 

Program Overview 

PROGRAM FOCUS

  • Agriculture 
  • Marketing  
  • Public Safety  
  • Healthcare

You will have access to the industry experts from our program partner, such as a renowned global AgriFood investment and innovation platform, an innovation arm of one of the largest global marketing and advertising agencies, a trailblazing PR and marketing agency committed to tackling societal challenges alongside its clients, the esteemed Advanced Recognition Systems team from NEC Corporation of America and many other remarkable entities. 

We also welcome game-changing ideas from any industry, not limited to those listed above. Our team will match your idea with our technology to bring your solution to life!

TIMELINE

  • Application deadline: December 17, 2023 
  • Notification: by January 19, 2024
  • Pre-Customer Discovery: February 5 – March 1, 2024
  • Customer Discovery: March 18 – May 8, 2024
  • Customer Validation: Duration and contents to be tailored for each team

If you are considering applying or looking for additional information, our information session is absolutely worth the watch! In this session, you will get details about the support team and learn more about technology and funding. Register here.

ELIGIBILITY 

  • Solo entrepreneur or a team of founders 
  • Working on a new business idea, developing problem-solution hypotheses, interviewing customers, or prototyping an MVP 
  • No need to have generated revenue or raised funds at this point 
  • Being able to attend in-person workshops in San Francisco Bay Area and online sessions in the Pacific Time
  • Having U.S. work authorization or already incorporated your startup in the U.S. 
  • Those who have a strong desire to change the industry and make the world a better place. 

TESTIMONIALS – WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY 

“A very well thought out program, run by a talented interdisciplinary team. If done with depth and agility the upside is exciting to say the least.” – JD, QI, 2023 Graduate
 

“What I find most valuable about working with NEC X is their proactive approach to providing the support you need – even after completion.”– Manny, Flyhound, 2022 Graduate  
 

“NEC X has provided me with an incredible opportunity to work on exciting cutting-edge technology, working very closely with outstanding researchers and mentors.”– Massi, Metabob, 2021 Graduate

“Through NEC X, with the resources, with the team, with the mentors, and with everything they teach us, I was able to get the idea and turn it into something tangible and real to be able to find my real customers.“ -Laura, Ignite Batch10

“When I joined the Elev XI Program, I quickly realized that the way the Elev XI is structured with Pre-Customer Discovery, Customer Discovery, and Customer Validation made perfect sense for me to think about how I could find a market that would be extremely profitable for business.” -Nipun, Ignite Batch10

Let us help you shape your brilliant ideas and make the world a better place!  

Click here to apply. The application deadline is December 17, 2023. Don’t miss it!