Description
Nex Cubed is a pre-seed venture accelerator and startup studio headquartered in the United States, focused on supporting, investing in, and scaling early-stage startups — with a strong mission to uplift underrepresented founders and underserved communities through capital, mentorship, and structured acceleration.
Nex Cubed emphasizes inclusivity in the startup ecosystem, prioritizing founder access to resources, networks, and impactful opportunities that historically underfunded groups have lacked.
Specific Funding Stage
Pre-Seed / Early Stage (Primary Focus)
- Nex Cubed operates primarily as a pre-seed accelerator, engaging founders very early in their startup journey and helping them progress toward initial traction and institutional funding readiness.
- It runs customized accelerator tracks including broader programs as well as niche offerings such as the HBCU Founders Accelerator — a 16-week program for founders tied to historically Black colleges and universities.
Investment Amount and Percentage Equity (Company-Level)
Capital Provided
- Participating startups in the HBCU Founders Accelerator receive an initial cash investment of approximately $120,000.
- Beyond that, companies are eligible for follow-on investments often ranging from ~$100,000 to $500,000 with an average across the accelerator cohort near $250,000 — subject to performance and fit.
Equity Taken
- Nex Cubed does not publicly state a fixed standard equity percentage across all deals — equity terms are negotiated on a deal-by-deal basis and reflect typical early-stage venture terms (negotiated with founders and co-investors).
- Because Nex Cubed combines capital with ecosystem access and mentorship, its stake tends to align with early-stage norms rather than a fixed accelerator slot percentage.
Equity Structure
- Investments are typically structured through early-stage investor instruments (e.g., SAFEs, convertible notes, or priced rounds) that reflect negotiation between Nex Cubed and the founding team upon joining an accelerator cohort or receiving investment.
- Nex Cubed’s model pairs capital deployment with hands-on executive support, advisor embedding, and strategic guidance rather than just a one-time accelerator package.
Application / Submission Method
Submission & Selection
- Founders can apply directly through the Nex Cubed website, where opportunities such as the HBCU Founders Accelerator are periodically open for submission.
- Application requirements typically include a pitch deck, team overview, product/traction details, and alignment with program focus (especially underrepresented founder status or targeted accelerator eligibility).
- Programs such as the HBCU track include structured interviews and vetting to select small cohorts (e.g., 8–10 startups) per cycle.
Eligibility
Sector Focus
- Nex Cubed works across technology and impact verticals, including but not limited to:
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FinTech
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HealthTech / Digital Health
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EdTech
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PropTech
- Other technology and innovation-driven markets seeking scalable solutions.
Stage
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Pre-seed / Early stage — from MVP through early customer traction and seed readiness.
Team Profile
- Early-stage founding teams with product concepts or MVPs seeking mentorship, strategic capital, and scaling support.
- Strong emphasis on underrepresented founders, especially those from groups historically excluded from mainstream venture capital.
Geography
- While headquartered in the U.S., programs are often delivered virtually or hybrid, enabling participation from founders beyond local geography.
Process
Application Submission: Startups provide company information, pitch decks, team details, and alignment with program criteria.
Initial Review: Nex Cubed evaluates founders on product viability, team strength, impact mission (especially underrepresented founder status), and strategic alignment.
Interviews / Meetings: Shortlisted founders undergo deeper conversations with program staff and mentors.
Selection & Onboarding: Selected companies join the accelerator cohort, receive initial capital, and begin structured support.
Demo & Follow-On: At program culmination, founders pitch to external investors and access follow-on capital opportunities.
What an Applicant can Obtain
Early Capital: Initial cash deployment (~$120K in structured tracks) plus eligibility for additional follow-on investment.
Mentorship & Operations Support: Hands-on guidance from mentors, industry experts, and seasoned operators embedded in the accelerator.
Network Access: Introduction to strategic investors, global mentors, corporate partners, and alumni networks.
Workshops & Resources: Tactical sessions on go-to-market strategy, fundraising, business development, and execution planning.
Perks & Discounts: Access to more than $1M of perks including technology credits, software discounts, and service partnerships.
Community & Ecosystem Benefits: Lifetime access to the Nex Cubed global ecosystem and associated accelerator networks (e.g., GAN membership benefits).
