Published by Sue Johns-Chapman
Published Date 24.03.2025 
Author: Shintaro Matsumoto, President & CEO, NEC X
Innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. It thrives in ecosystems where bold ideas receive the right support, mentorship and resources to grow. NEC X was founded with this very mission: to empower entrepreneurs, accelerate startups and bridge the gap between groundbreaking technologies and real-world applications.
Being named Best Tech Incubator/Accelerator at the 2025 Global Business Tech Awards is a milestone that reaffirms our unwavering commitment to innovation.
A Journey Rooted in Evolution
When NEC X launched in 2018, the goal was clear: to commercialize NEC’s world-class technology and bring impactful solutions to market. Initially, our approach followed the “inside-out” model, leveraging NEC’s internal technologies and business ideas, and seeking entrepreneurs to build businesses around them. While this model and the creation of NEC X coincided with early successes, like dotData, which highlighted the potential of bringing NEC R&D technology to market, it soon became clear that a more dynamic, startup-first strategy was necessary.
Recognizing this, we transformed our approach in 2023 with the launch of Elev X!, a redefined venture studio model designed to provide deeper, more meaningful support for startups. Instead of simply offering NEC technologies, we shifted our focus to identifying the most pressing industry challenges and collaborating with entrepreneurs to solve them – whether through NEC’s innovations or new, external technologies.
How Elev X! is Redefining Startup Acceleration
The Elev X! Venture Studio consists of two core programs, each tailored to meet startups at different stages of their journey:
- Elev X! Ignite: A six-to-nine-month program focused on early-stage founders, guiding them through customer discovery, validation and market entry. With up to $200K in funding and hands-on support, Ignite helps founders refine their ideas into scalable ventures
- Elev X! Boost: A customized accelerator for startups at the seed stage, offering access to NEC X’s global network, industry partnerships and commercialization strategies to prepare them for Series A funding and rapid expansion.
What sets Elev X! apart is our co-founder mentality. We don’t just mentor startups; we actively partner with them – embedding NEC X’s technological expertise, resources and market access directly into their growth strategy. This deep engagement has led to an increasing number of successful alumni and high-impact ventures.
Expanding Our Impact: Key Milestones
As we evolve, NEC X continues to expand its impact through strategic investments, partnerships, and initiatives. Here are some of the latest milestones shaping our journey:
- Reveleum: A pioneer in automating medical record management, Reveleum’s AI-driven platform streamlines documentation, reducing administrative burden for healthcare professionals. NEC X’s investment will accelerate its expansion into major hospital networks. Read more
- Clikr: A MarTech innovator, Clikr is transforming influencer marketing and digital content creation with AI-powered campaign automation, enabling brands to optimize performance in real-time. As an Elev X! Ignite graduate, Clikr secured funding from NEC X to accelerate its go-to-market strategy. Read more
- Carbide Ventures: NEC X joined forces with Carbide Ventures to expand investment and mentorship opportunities for early-stage startups, reinforcing our commitment to fueling next-gen innovation. Read more
- The Growth of SPIN: Our monthly SPIN (Startup, Pitch, Invest, Network!) events have rapidly grown into a must-attend gathering for entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders. These events provide a platform for early-stage startups to connect with potential investors and partners, strengthening the innovation ecosystem. Join us at the next SPIN event
- Elev X! Ignite Batch 13 Selection & Batch 14 Applications: We will soon announce the selected startups for Elev X! Ignite Cohort Batch 13, showcasing a new wave of promising entrepreneurs. Looking ahead, applications for Batch 14 will open this spring, offering another opportunity for ambitious founders to join our growing ecosystem. Stay tuned for updates
The Future: Expanding Our Global Reach and Impact
The recognition from the Global Business Tech Awards is not just a milestone – it’s motivation to push forward. Looking ahead, NEC X is focused on several key initiatives:
- Expanding Elev X!’s Global Reach: We aim to expand our network of partners, startups and investors across North America, Europe and Asia to create a truly international innovation hub.
- Global Growth: NEC just announced the launch of NEC X Tokyo this summer, further strengthening our global presence and commitment to fostering innovation worldwide.
- Deepening Industry Partnerships: By aligning with corporations, VCs and research institutions, we continue to strengthen our ecosystem, offering startups an even greater competitive edge
- Investing in Future-Forward Sectors: Our focus remains on high-impact areas such as AI, healthcare, climate tech and public safety, where NEC’s technologies can drive meaningful change
Join Us in Shaping the Future
NEC X’s journey has been one of constant learning, evolution and impact. As we celebrate this award, we remain committed to supporting the next generation of visionary founders – providing them with the tools, expertise and network needed to turn bold ideas into game-changing businesses.
If you’re a founder with a breakthrough idea or an investor or partner looking to support transformative innovation, we invite you to be part of our journey.
Visit NEC X and Elev X! and follow us on LinkedIn to stay connected.
