Next Batch Application Will Open in November 2024.

Elev X! Ignite

Customer Discovery & Validation

Ideal Candidates: Entrepreneurs and founding teams in the ideation or prototyping phase.

Our pledge to You: We’ll provide vital resources and hands-on support to help transform your vision into a seed-ready startup, creating a scalable product through intensive collaboration.

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Elev X! Boost

Technology & Growth Acceleration

Ideal Candidates: Seed stage startups with a proven MVP and revenue potential, ready to scale.

Our pledge to You: We’ll integrate your innovations with NEC’s industry-leading technology, rapidly accelerating your product development and scaling efforts.

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Putting Our Expertise to Work for You

Elev X! is committed to fostering innovation. Together we help you redefine the future, leveraging breakthrough ideas to solve real-world challenges. Sectors and technological frontiers where we thrive include:

Climate & Agriculture

Marketing

Public Safety

Digital Health

B2B Software & SaaS

Learn more about NEC’s breakthrough technologies here.

Elevate your Venture:
Our Comprehensive Startup Support

At the heart of innovation and growth, our suite of services empowers your venture to reach new heights. Tap into our dynamic support ecosystem:

Funding to Grow

Access up to $200K in equity funding customized for your growth phase.

Revolutionary NEC X's Product Engineering

Speed up your product’s journey from idea to market, leveraging our development prowess and state-of-the-art tools to build a customer-oriented MVP fit for market.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Delve into AI/ML, analytics, and more, with solutions shaped by NEC’s top researchers to meet your startup’s specific needs.

Unparalleled Partner Network

Connect with elite partners and unlock opportunities for strategic collaborations and industry visibility, including Alchemist Accelerator, ERA, SVG Ventures | THRIVE and NEC groups.

Hands-on Support & Mentorship

Benefit from direct guidance from innovation leaders, personalized support, and comprehensive services designed to accelerate your success.

Exclusive Workshops & Learning

Participate in workshops and sessions by industry pioneers, engaging in targeted sprints to hone your skills and stay ahead in your field.

Perks that Propel

NEC X offers a unique suite of perks to help fuel a startup’s growth, innovation, and success at every stage.
Here’s a glimpse of the exclusive advantages we offer and partners we work with:

Cloud & Tech Development

AWS, GitHub, NVIDIA Inception Program for Startups

Marketing & CRM

Hubspot, DocSend, Canva, and more

Finance (Equity Management and Corporate Card)

Carta, Ramp, NEC
Financial Services

Educational & Training Resources

LEANSTACK, Design Thinking by Stanford d.School lecturers, and more

Discover Insights & Innovations

Explore, learn, and be inspired to elevate your startup journey with our latest insights, stories, and tips.

08/09/24

Innovation And Growth: Insights From NEC X And QI 

In a joint interview, Shintaro Matsumoto, President and CEO of Silicon Valley’s NEC X, and JD Rico, CEO of Qualitative Intelligence, reveal their transformative work in tech and marketing. Explore how NEC X’s Elev X! programs and QI’s advanced AI tools are reshaping startup growth and marketing strategies. Gain exclusive insights into their collaboration and discover how they’re driving innovation in today’s fast-evolving digital […]

08/08/24

Introducing ServiceBot: Making Communication Effortless with Lag-Free Conversion and Translation  

Effective communication across languages and accents is more vital than ever in our increasingly interconnected world. As globalization brings together diverse linguistic backgrounds in workplaces and communities, the risk of misunderstandings and reduced efficiency grows. ServiceBot, a recent Elev X! Ignite graduate and standout from our Batch 9 cohort, is tackling these challenges head-on.  ServiceBot’s […]

07/30/24

How Japan’s NEC Adjusted Its Silicon Valley Strategy

We talked with Naoto Mizuguchi, NEC X CFO about the evolution of its startup accelerator program, now called Elev X! Mizuguchi describes the updated venture studio model, success stories, focus areas, and long-term goals for the program. Read the full interview here.

07/24/24

Chekable Debuts Generative AI Platform for Patent Professionals, With Investment From NEC X

Palo Alto, CA – July 24, 2024 – NEC X, the Silicon Valley innovation accelerator backed by NEC’s advanced technologies, has proudly announced the graduation of Chekable from its prestigious Elev X! Ignite venture studio program, in addition to a new investment from NEC X to help scale Chekable’s transformative AI solution for inventors and […]

07/18/24

“Startup, Pitch, Invest, Network by Elev X!” – A Night of Unparalleled Innovation and Top Angel Investor Insights 

On June 28, 2024, NEC X ignited Silicon Valley with its “Startup, Pitch, Invest, Network by Elev X!” event. Drawing over 200 registrations, this extraordinary gathering brought together a dynamic group of nearly 80 early-stage entrepreneurs and investors for an unforgettable evening of pitching, networking, and invaluable insights. Here are just a few highlights from […]

07/15/24

NEC X: Pioneering AgTech Innovation with Elev X! Programs

NEC X, a Silicon Valley-based innovation accelerator and venture studio, is revolutionizing AgTech innovation through its Elev X! programs. Backed by NEC Corporation’s extensive IT and networking expertise, NEC X offers two main programs: Elev X! Ignite and Elev X! Boost. These initiatives aim to transform visionary ideas into successful commercial ventures by providing startups […]

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there specific industries or technologies that NEC X focuses on in its Elev X! programs?
We focus on B2B/Enterprise SaaS startups. While we work with a wide range of companies, Elev X! is especially keen to support startups in the fields of AI/ML, climate and agriculture, public safety, digital health, and marketing.
Does NEC X provide funding to startups, and if so, under what terms?
Yes! For startups in Elev X! Ignite, we offer up to $200K in equity funding in addition to support, services, and tools worth thousands of dollars. We also offer flexible funding options to help our Elev X! Boost startups scale rapidly. Additionally, seed-stage startups have access to NEC’s $150M CVC fund.
What are the specific benefits of participating in NEC X compared to other accelerators?
Unlike other accelerators or venture studios, NEC X is corporate backed. However, NEC X embraces a startup-first approach to transform visionary ideas into commercial successes. Leveraging NEC corporation’s 125+ years of IT and networking expertise, NEC X provides a unique blend of collaboration, funding, engineering expertise, extensive R&D resources, and comprehensive business support that have been proven successful.