Elev X! Ignite Batch 17

About

A three-phase NEC X venture studio program helps early-stage B2B/B2G founders validate customer demand and build toward fundable growth, with equity-free Phase 1 support, a $20K SAFE in Phase 2, and up to $200K for teams advancing to Phase 3; applications close 11 December 2026 at 11:59 PM PT.

Benefits

• 🧪Equity-free Phase 1
  Selected teams in Phase 1 participate equity-free in a four-week online program with structured group and individual sessions, Lean Startup, Design Thinking, LOI/POC design, and mentoring.
• 💰$20,000 SAFE in Phase 2
  Selected teams advancing to Phase 2 receive a $20,000 SAFE investment.
• 📈Up to $200,000 in Phase 3
  Startups that advance to Phase 3 can receive up to $200,000 in equity funding.
• 🏢NEC technology and network access
  Access to NEC's frontier technologies, global R&D resources, business network, corporate partners, engineering depth, and product development support.
• 🤝Mentorship and investor readiness
  Guidance from experienced founders, engineers, and GTM operators, investor introductions, fundraising readiness support, exclusive workshops, and founder-focused learning content.
• 🚀Customer discovery and validation
  Support to validate customer-problem fit, run rapid build-measure-learn iterations with real customer pilots, validate pricing and go-to-market, and pursue lighthouse customer acquisition.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: early-stage B2B/B2G founders or founding teams at the idea or prototype stage, with no revenue required (traction is a bonus, not a prerequisite)
• Mandatory: ambitious, hands-on founders ready to explore bold ideas and rapidly test early-stage B2B/B2G solutions
• Mandatory: able to build and test prototypes by writing code, using no-code tools, or creating functional demos independently
• Mandatory: US-based or willing to incorporate, and must be a US entity before Phase 2 begins in March 2027; international startups are welcome if they are or will be incorporated in the US
• Mandatory: able to participate in both in-person and virtual sessions, including full-time week-long in-person sprints during the first 3-4 months, with certain restrictions on outside work
• Preferred: at least one co-founder or core collaborator, though solo founders are welcome
• Preferred: ideas in the listed focus areas that create meaningful value through technology, although the program is sector-agnostic

Participation Commitments

• Applications are open from 5 October to 11 December 2026, with rolling review and a deadline of 11 December 2026 at 11:59 PM PT
• Selected participants must establish a US entity before Phase 2 begins in March 2027
• Participants must be able to participate in both in-person and virtual sessions, including full-time week-long in-person sprints during the first 3-4 months, with certain restrictions on outside work during the program
• Phase 1: Venture Design starts 1 February 2027, runs 4 weeks online, and is equity-free
• Phase 2: Demand Validation starts 22 March 2027, runs 8 weeks in a hybrid format in Silicon Valley, and includes a $20K SAFE for selected teams
• Phase 3: Value Delivery starts 1 June 2027, runs hybrid until fundraising readiness (about 9 months), and offers up to $200K for startups that advance
• Pitch sessions are scheduled from 1 December 2026 to 15 January 2027 as 15-minute live online pitches
• Acceptance notifications are scheduled for 22 January 2027

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

The program is described as for early-stage B2B founders in North America; applicants may be US-based or international, but international startups are welcome only if they are or will be incorporated in the US and can participate in both in-person and virtual sessions; a US entity is required before Phase 2 begins in March 2027.