3/26 The Future of Vertical AI & The Post-SaaS Landscape
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.
🔥 Fireside Chat 🔥 Building Defensible AI in a Post-SaaS World
AI is rapidly shifting software from tools that support work to systems that execute it. As vertical AI and agentic workflows reshape how companies operate, the foundations of traditional SaaS are being redefined.
This session brings together three perspectives at the center of this shift: a founder building for enterprise AI adoption, an investor backing early-stage AI companies, and an accelerator leader working closely with emerging founders.
Together, they will explore how enterprise software is evolving, where real defensibility in vertical AI comes from, and how startups can build durable companies in a landscape where AI capabilities are increasingly commoditized.
The conversation will focus on the shift from systems of record to systems of action, the challenge of competing with in-house AI, and how founders should think about workflow ownership and value capture in the post-SaaS era.
👥 Special Guests
Yousuf Khan | Founder @ Clario
After working with and evaluating hundreds of startups, Yousuf recognized a critical gap emerging alongside the rapid rise of AI. This led him to transition from investor to founder, building Clario AI to address the challenges enterprises face in adopting AI effectively.
Chee-We Ng | Partner @ Oakseed Ventures
A coder-turned-investor, Chee-We brings deep experience across enterprise AI and cybersecurity, with a background spanning corporate venture investing, buyouts, joint venture formation, and product development and marketing.
Moderator:
Laurent Rains | Director of Global Access @ Alchemist Accelerator
🎤 Pitching Startups
1-2 selected early-stage startups will take the stage to pitch their ventures.
Lightbringer – Agentic AI Patents for Innovation Companies
We will also feature showcase pitches from startups newly selected for the latest Elev X! cohort Batch15.
AriesView – AI-powered intelligence platform for institutional real estate investors – turning complex documents and portfolio data into faster, sharper investment decisions.
Fishlert – An automated text and email communication solution that maximizes pricing and negotiation power for fresh catch sales.
FlightSuite.ai – A universal CRM agent that lets sales teams update contacts, log deals and manage pipelines naturally via SMS or browser, eliminating manual data entry across GoHighLevel, HubSpot and Salesforce.
HumanLens – AI governance infrastructure for regulated industries. From “where is this model?” to auditable compliance – in days, not months.
Manifest Space – Space traffic coordination and satellite identification to prevent collisions, improve visibility, and grow the orbital economy.
Renna Health Inc. – A virtual clinical teammate for Emergency Rooms that engages patients early and often while they wait and autonomously acts on those conversations for risk stratification, documentation, disposition planning and more.
🕰️ Pitch Format: 3 minutes pitch per startup
⚠️ The pitch application period has now closed.
🫱🫲 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.
🗓️ Agenda
5:00pm~5:10pm Registration & Networking
5:10pm~5:15pm Welcome
5:15pm~5:40pm Fireside Chat
5:40pm~6:20pm Pitch
6:20pm~7:00pm Networking
✋ Important: Entry is not permitted during Fireside Chat and Pitch.
📢 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 (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.