Venture Studio Program
Ignite Batch 11
Application Period ended
Batch12 application will open in May 2024
Unlock Your Ideas with World-Class Tech
Venture Studio, the gateway to the world of early-stage innovation.
With unparalleled access to cutting-edge technology and support from our experienced team, you can not only bring your ideas to life but also create products that will ignite customer excitement.
For Early-Stage Entrepreneurs
Turn Your Idea
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. Throughout Elev X!, your startup isn't just built, it's empowered!
What We Provide
Hands-on Support & Mentorship
- Hands-on co-working with innovators
- Mentorship by industry experts
Product Engineering Support
- Product development and engineering resources available
Technology & Research Support
- Access to NEC's advanced technology
Workshops &
Learning Contents
- Workshops by world-class lecturers
- Structured online sprint
Funding
- $20,000 for Customer Discovery
- Up to $400,000 for Customer Validation
Network
- Access to network of ecosystem partners
Bring your game-changing startup ideas from any industry.
While we actively seek ideas in the following sectors,
we warmly embrace startups that leverage technology in any other field.
Agriculture
Marketing
Public Safety
Healthcare
Advisors
Agri/Food
Public Safety
"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
"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
★DECISION GATE
★DECISION GATE
★DECISION GATE
Application
Selection
Pre-Customer Discovery
(4 weeks)
Customer Discovery
(8 weeks)
Customer Validation
(6-8 months)
Customer Discovery
Mar 18 - May 8
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
Customer Validation
(Duration and contents to be tailored for each team)
Validate the solution
- Online sprint focusing on product-market fit
- Workshops and guest speaker sessions
- Coaching and mentoring
- Hands-on product and engineering support
- Support for incorporation & fundraising
- Perks
Pre-Customer Discovery
Feb 5- Mar 1
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
Selection
Nov 27 - Jan 12
Refine business ideas and presentation
- Online sprint focusing on business model design
- Pitch presentation and Q&A sessions with experts
* Flight and hotel expenses will be covered for 1 person per team.
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
- Being legally capable of incorporating OR already incorporated in North America
Let's Ignite
Your Breakthrough
application@nec-x.com