Your Idea,
Our Technology, Together a Startup
Program Application
Deadline Extended to Sun. July 23, 2023
NEC X
Venture Studio
Program
batch10
For Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
Turn Your Vision into Reality
NEC X - more than a venture studio, your co-pilot in innovation. We fuse your game-changing ideas with NEC's groundbreaking technology, accelerating startups from inception to launch.
Pitch your idea and start your remarkable journey with us today. With NEC X, your startup isn't just built, it's empowered!
What We Provide
Hands-on Support & Mentorship
- Hands-on co-working with supporters
- Mentorship by industry experts
Product Engineering Support
- Product development and engineering resources available
Technology & Research Support
- Access to NEC's advanced technology
- Collaboration with NEC researchers
Workshops &
Learning Contents
- Workshops by from world-class coaches
- Structured online sprint
Funding
- $20K for Customer Discovery
- Up to $400K for Customer Validation
Network
- Access to network of ecosystem partners
Technology Track
Bring your game-changing startup ideas from any industry.
We will match your idea with NEC's technology to bring your solution to life!
Industry Track
Tap into our extensive industry experience and network of domain experts.
Agriculture
Marketing
Public Safety
Advisors
Agri/Food Track
Public Safety Track
"As a top-tier, global agrifood investment and innovation platform, THRIVE’s partnership with NEC-X offers current and aspiring entrepreneurs a truly exciting opportunity to build successful ventures. With NEC’s technology expertise and scale, THRIVE’s global ecosystem and industry expertise, and both organizations’ experience incubating new ventures, we are uniquely positioned to collaborate with entrepreneurs and bring new solutions to the market. We look forward to building the future of food and agriculture with you!"
Sean Paquet
Director of Corporate Innovation
SVG Ventures | THRIVE
Eugene Le Roux
Vice President, Digital Government & International Operations
Advanced Recognition Systems
NEC Corporation of America
"I believe digital identity is an emerging area with untapped potential. It's crucial we figure out how a decentralized identity could be used in verification services, especially within the public safety sector. Drawing on my experience leading NEC's Biometrics division, I am eager to guide entrepreneurs in this Venture Studio Program to explore this innovative frontier."
Marketing Track
"At Dentsu Innovation Studio, part of the Dentsu Group, we leverage cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence in business and product development. As a mentor, I bring deep knowledge and networks in marketing and media. I'm eager to meet entrepreneurs leveraging NEC's novel technologies to revolutionize the marketing industry."
President & CEO
Dentsu Innovation Studio Inc.
Yu Hirayama
"As CEO of a PR/marketing agency, I’m always after the next big thing enabling us to do our jobs bigger, better, smarter, faster. With AI unleashed, paradigm shifts are on the horizon and the race is on for who will make it happen. Bringing my industry background and business savvy to the table, I’m eager to serve as an advisor for martech entrepreneurs accepted to NEC X’s Venture Studio Program."
Amanda Foley
Co-founder & CEO
Kiterocket
Technology
NEC's World Class Technology
Computer
Vision
Robotics
Multi-model
Analysis
Decision Modeling
Data Analytics
Simulator Optimization
Large Language Model
Localization
Program Process
Application
★DECISION GATE
★DECISION GATE
★DECISION GATE
Selection
Pre-Customer Discovery
(4 weeks)
Customer Discovery
(8 weeks)
Customer Validation
(6-8 months)
Selection
Jul 21 - Aug 11
Refine business ideas and presentation
- Online sprint focusing on business model design
- Pitch presentation and Q&A sessions with experts
Pre-Customer Discovery
Aug 21 - Sep 15
Understand the customer and the problem through inverviews
- Online sprint focusing on problem understanding
- Workshops and guest speaker sessions
- Coaching and mentoring
- Access to domain experts
- Perks
Customer Discovery
Sep 25 - Nov 18
Refine the idea and prototype the solution
- In-person workshops and guest speaker sessions*
- Cohort network building
- Online sprint focusing on solution-customer fit
- Coaching and mentoring
- Access to domain experts and tech researchers
- Hands-on engineering support
- Perks
*
Flight and hotel expenses will be covered for 1 person per team.
Customer Validation
(Duration and contents to be tailored for each team)
Validate the solution
- Online spring focusing on product-market fit
- Workshops and guest speaker sessions
- Coaching and mentoring
- Hands-on product and engineering support
- Support for incorporation & fundraising
- Perks
Testimonials
“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 (Graduated in 2021)
“What I find most valuable about working with NEC X is their proactive approach to providing the support you need - even after completion.”
- Manny (Graduated in 2022)
“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 (Graduated in 2023)
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 intensive workshops in San Francisco Bay Area
- Having US work authorization or already incorporated your startup in the US
Email
application@nec-x.com
social
Let's Ignite Your Breakthrough
Watch the intro webinar and apply for our program!
