By Ryoko Hirano, Director, Venture Studio and Marketing

Even 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 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, you’ll gain access to hands-on support, mentorship, workshops, learning content, and funding. We also leverage these NEC X features to provide a unique fusion of leading researchers and cutting-edge technologies.

NEC X has already provided support to more than 50 projects to date, out of which 10 startup businesses have been launched.

This comprehensive program spans six to nine months and encompasses various phases such as customer discovery and customer validation, which elevate your entrepreneurial or 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 incorporation and further.

It is also important to know each stage undergoes a meticulous Go/No Go review process and it is quite competitive. However, with NEC X’s support, teams that successfully complete these steps and graduate from the program are taking a steady step on the success path including participation in other accelerator or government grant programs, or getting external funding for growth.

Program Overview

▼ THEME

Industry Truck 

• Agriculture
• Marketing
• Public Safety

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.

Technology Track

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

▼ TIMELINE

Application deadline: July 16, 2023
Selection: July 21, 2023 – August 11, 2023
Pre-Customer Discovery: August 21, 2023 – September 15, 2023
Customer Discovery: September 25, 2023- November 17, 2023
Customer Validation: Starting November 20, 2023. Duration and contents to be tailored for each team.

If you are considering applying, or even if you are thinking of dropping out of it, our info session is absolutely worth the watch! In this session, you will get information about the support team and learn more about 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 intensive workshops in San Francisco Bay Area
• Having US work authorization or already incorporated your startup in the US
• 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 (Graduated in 2023)
“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)
“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)

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

Click here to apply. The application deadline is July 16, 2023. Don’t miss it!