3/27 SPIN #10 : How Investors Evaluate AI Startup PMF
Presented by Elev X!
Join us for an exclusive, high-impact gathering designed for early-stage tech founders, active investors, and industry leaders who are shaping the future of tech innovation. This is not just another networking event - it’s a strategic platform to pitch, connect, and accelerate meaningful conversations with investors who are actively seeking their next great investment opportunity.
💡 In partnership with JETRO San Francisco.
🎖️Special Guest: Naoki Shibata
Partner at NSV Wolf Capital | Entrepreneur & Investor
Notable Achievements:
✅ Investor – Invested in 40+ Bay Area startups before joining NSV Wolf Capital as a VC.
✅ Founder – Built AppGrooves, a 500 Startups company, raising $6.5M.
✅ Author & Educator – Created a financial literacy newsletter that became a bestseller and was later acquired.
✅ Former Youngest Executive Officer at Rakuten – Led investments and M&As directly under the CEO.
✅ Academia – Ph.D, Technology Management for Innovation, and served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tokyo.
🔥 Fireside Chat: How Investors Evaluate AI Startup PMF - Spotting the Winners in a Crowded AI Market
With the explosive growth of AI startups, investors must distinguish between those with true Product-Market Fit and those simply riding the AI hype. But what key factors do investors look at? What red flags signal trouble?
Join us for an exclusive conversation with Naoki Shibata, a seasoned investor and AI industry analyst, as he shares insider insights on how VCs assess AI startups and pick the winners.
🗣 Speaker: Naoki Shibata (Partner at NSV Wolf Capital)
🎙 Moderator: Naoto Mizuguchi (NEC X)
🫱🫲 Connect with Angel Investors & VCs!
At this event, you’ll have the opportunity to pitch, interact, and build relationships with:
✅ Seasoned Angel Investors – Individuals with deep domain expertise in AI, SaaS, and deep tech
✅ Early-Stage VCs – Investors looking for their next AI unicorn
🔥 If you’re an AI startup, this is a rare chance to secure the right investors and partnerships!
✨ This Event Offers You 4 Key Opportunities - S, P, I & N!
🔹 Startup-Centric
Engage with fellow founders, gain valuable insights from seasoned investors, and connect with industry experts from leading companies.
🔹 Pitch Your Startup
Present your startup to active investors and receive immediate feedback from experienced angels and VCs who are looking for their next investment.
🔹 Investment
Discuss your funding opportunities with Elev X! and other investors. Connect with angel investors and early-stage VCs who are actively scouting startups.
🔹 Networking
Build meaningful relationships with highly curated participants, including investors, mentors, and fellow founders, fostering potential collaborations and investments.
🎤 Pitching Startups
🌟Metapyxl - Elevating digital rights management by empowering creators and businesses to secure content, embed links for direct purchases in images, and leverage analytics for superior engagement and reach
🌟Positon AI - Positon AI automates the mundane out of the M&A process from deal origination, to bulk NDA management, outreach and deal-specific CRMs, to post-close
🌟OwlVision - AI/ML-driven co-pilot using machine vision to enhance situational awareness, reduce collision risk and mitigate the effects of understaffed aviation infrastructure
🗓️ Agenda
4:30pm~4:45pm Registration & Networking
4:45pm~4:50pm Welcome
4:50pm~5:10pm Pitch
5:10pm~5:30pm Fireside Chat
5:30pm~6:30pm Networking
🔥 Important: Entry is not permitted during the pitch and the fireside chat (4:50pm - 5:30pm).
📢 About Elev X!
Elev X! is NEC X’s venture studio program, dedicated to investing in and scaling early-stage tech startups. Backed by NEC, a global tech giant with over $20B in revenue, presence in 50+ countries, and 250+ subsidiaries, Elev X! provides hands-on support with world-class resources to propel startups from idea to impact.
💡 Why choose Elev X!?
🔹 Backed by NEC: 125 years of tech innovation, $8B in R&D, and 45,000+ patents
🔹 Hands-On Support: Beyond funding, we provide deep collaboration with NEC engineers and business experts
🔹 AI & Deep Tech Focused: Elev X! invests in AI-driven startups pushing the boundaries of innovation
🚀 Since inception, Elev X! has partnered with top ecosystem players, including:
🌟 Sand Hill Angels – Leading Silicon Valley angel investors
🌟 Carbide Ventures – Early-stage VC led by entrepreneurs who built multiple unicorns
🌟 Alchemist Accelerator – A top accelerator for enterprise startups
🌟 SVG Ventures | THRIVE – The leading Agri-Food Tech ecosystem
🌟 ERA (Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator) – One of NYC’s top startup accelerators
🌟 Translink Capital – A top-tier VC with deep global networks
and more!
🫱🫲 Event Partner: JETRO San Francisco
JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) is a government-related organization with over 70 offices worldwide that leverages its extensive experience to provide comprehensive support in trade promotion, investment facilitation, research and studies, and human resource development. It assists Japanese companies in expanding internationally through detailed market information and business matching, while also supporting foreign companies entering the Japanese market.