Meet Massi Genta

At NEC X, driving innovation forward is our mission. We realize that to accomplish such a significant goal, we must rely on our people. Our entrepreneurs are some of the most dynamic, tech-savvy and self-motivated individuals you will find, not just in Silicon Valley, but in the world.

Together, we combine the leading talents of our NEC Lab technical researchers with our business growth-minded entrepreneurs, to join together and develop new business concepts using these technologies that will benefit society. 

To properly recognize our team of dynamic EIRs, we will be posting profile features, so be on the lookout for new updates. 

We would like to introduce you to Massi Genta, a self-described serial entrepreneur. 

How has working at NEC X in the high-tech industry changed your life?

NEC X has provided me with an incredible opportunity to work on exciting cutting-edge technology, working very closely with outstanding researchers and mentors. I have learned important lessons that are extremely valuable for my career. Because of NEC X’s unique structure of keeping a fast pace and innovating like a high-growth startup, I’ve had the chance to learn about workflow and execution of a big corporation like NEC. 

What accomplishment are you most proud of since becoming an EIR with NEC X?

Through my journey as an EIR, I am very proud to have worked with an extremely talented team of researchers at NEC Labs. Together, we are successfully converting their long years of committed research on groundbreaking technologies into a tangible product that is capable of solving existing unmet needs.

Tell us more about the current technology you are working on and how it positively impacts society.

Our product, artificial-intelligence-assisted code reviewer, helps developers improve their workflow and makes programming more accessible. In doing so, it will drive innovation within society, and create various opportunities by bringing a further sense of freedom to the population. Our end goal is to democratize software development and make it more accessible to more people.

How and when did you decide to become an entrepreneur? 

I have always dreamed of being an entrepreneur, because I want to have control over my future. I strive to be in charge of pursuing my vision and achieving my own goals. Since childhood, I constantly looked for creative ways to improve our quality of life and to solve everyday problems. Additionally, I love a challenge, and as an entrepreneur, every day you find yourself dealing with a problem to solve. To me, it’s extremely motivating and exciting. 

Tell us more about your entrepreneurship background. Describe past accomplishments that shaped the entrepreneur you are today.

While my journey as an entrepreneur started very early, the first real company I founded was Swayup. It is a platform that allows micro-influencers to profit from their influence on social media. That experience gave me valuable insight, and it was quite successful as we secured and gained popularity on social media. 

After a long successful run with Swayup, and a few experiences in the private equity space, I founded my second startup, Smartphlex (now Snstk, representing SensTek), with a world-renowned researcher at University of Texas, Arlington. Smartphlex began as a sensor platform company, founded to commercialize low-cost, highly accurate, flexible and easy-to-integrate sensor platforms for medical, agriculture and cosmetic applications. 

Through Smartphlex, I participated in the K-Startup Grand Challenge. The first few rounds of the competition took place in Silicon Valley, while the final round took place in Seoul, Korea, in August 2016. Thousands of startups applied for this competition, and Smartphlex was chosen as one of the winners, and selected among the top startups to be part of the accelerator program sponsored by the government.

Smartphlex has been growing since its inception; however, I moved to part time so I could pursue another project of mine, Clyste. Clyste is a user-owned, -governed and open-sourced blockchain-based ecosystem that allows its open-source contributors and content creators to monetize their contributions. Clyste is fully open-source and actively running. 

Lastly, I created a program called “Future Entrepreneur Challenge.” It is an educational program currently running in several school districts and institutions in California, targeted at middle school and high school students from underserved communities. Participating students receive instruction and mentorship from experienced tech professionals who help them develop real products, which they pitch to a panel of Silicon Valley investors. Being able to give back to the local community and offer guidance on what the life of an entrepreneur looks like has been an incredible experience. We’ve seen the students grow significantly because of the program. 

What inspires you to be successful?

My greatest inspiration is knowing that the more people I can positively impact through our startup efforts, the more we are contributing to the greater good of society. To me, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing people use what you created and knowing that your product is making a positive impact on their lives. My goal has always been to make some contribution to the community by helping as many people as I can to achieve their goals and to ultimately gain financial independence.

Share some of your best advice for anyone looking to become an entrepreneur.

The best advice I have for aspiring entrepreneurs is to work hard, master your skills and focus on something you are truly passionate about. Many people want to become an entrepreneur to become their own boss or to make their own schedule. However, the reality is that if you want to make a living as an entrepreneur, you need to be willing to work 18 hours a day 7 days a week. Once you succeed, the long hours are worth it.

The best advice I have for aspiring entrepreneurs is to work hard, master your skills and focus on something you are truly passionate about. Many people want to become an entrepreneur to become their own boss or to make their own schedule. However, the reality is that if you want to make a living as an entrepreneur, you need to be willing to work 18 hours a day 7 days a week. Once you succeed, the long hours are worth it.

The world is full of very talented and hardworking entrepreneurs, and if you want to compete with them, you need to be willing to work more than anybody and to know everything about your industry, your product and your customers. Another very big challenge is to find the right co-founder and the right team. Make sure that the people you are bringing in are irreplaceable and that they bring in skills nobody in the company currently has.