The investment round has been led by ACT Venture Partners with participation from Axon Partners Group, Abac Nest Venture Capital and GROW Venture Partners
Nextmol, a pioneering spin-off company from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center which provides computational chemistry solutions to accelerate the R&D of sustainable specialty chemicals, has announced the successful closure of its first funding round. This round will boost its product development and sales efforts to better support the chemical industry in its green and digital transition.
Nextmol drives forward R&D teams in the specialty chemicals industry with cutting-edge deep technology, empowering their customers to excel in launching new products into the market. Already collaborating with top-tier customers, with this funding round Nextmol will continue to invest in the high-quality technology they have been developing, which is based on molecular modeling and AI.
Traditionally, the chemical industry has relied on time-consuming and inefficient experimental methods for R&D. However, experimental trial-and-error approaches are too slow to meet the demands of the transitioning chemicals sector. Nextmol’s Software-as-a-Service computational lab addresses this demand in specialty chemicals and stands out for its focus on complex polymer and surfactant chemistries. The solution significantly reduces both time and cost associated with R&D processes. By offering molecular characterization without the need for chemical synthesis, Nextmol delivers up to 9 times cost savings and 5 times faster R&D timelines.
The startup not only contributes to the digitalization of the chemical industry by making accessible the most advanced computational solutions to companies of all sizes, but also supports customers’ Green Deal goals by helping them to design more sustainable chemicals. Today, the industry consumes 14% of all oil and 8% of all gas supply as feedstock and fuel while also impacting other industries, as more than 95% of all manufactured goods involve chemical products.
Gokhan Guner, Managing Partner at ACT Venture Partners, sees Nextmol “as an accelerator in the chemical industry’s green and digital transition. Behind our decision to invest, there is Nextmol’s unique approach to addressing critical needs for accelerated and sustainable innovation in the chemical industry, its strong team with deep expertise, and its significant potential for growth and environmental impact. We are excited to collaborate with Nextmol and support their vision to lead in computational chemistry and sustainable chemical design on a global scale“.
Luis Castañeda, partner at Axon Partners Group, comments “The chemicals industry is one of the largest consumers of fossil carbon supply for material use. We are confident that Nextmol will be a catalyst in driving the industry shift towards sustainability and digitization with its pioneer approach to computational chemistry“.
Francisco Badia, partner at GROW Venture Partners, emphasizes “not only the technical capacity of the team but also its human dimension. We are delighted to support Monica and Stephan in this new challenge of scaling up their technology to make it accessible to a wider number of companies”.
Joan Pina, partner at Abac Nest Venture Capital, says “Nextmol is boosting R&D teams to find excellence. The multinational clients already using Nextmol are taking advantage of their deep tech capabilities to be more competitive in launching new products into the market. For Abac Nest Venture Capital, it is a privilege to have the opportunity to join Nextmol on the path to transform the specialty chemicals industry”.
With a customer base that includes reputable chemical companies and corporates, Nextmol is ready to drive impactful change within the industry. The latest investment led by ACT Venture Partners will fuel product development and growth, determining Nextmol’s position as a leader in the green and digital transformation of the chemical sector. “We are pleased to be backed by these strong investors, which are fully aligned with our goals and values. We look forward to this growth path together”, says Dr. Monica de Mier, CEO of Nextmol.
About ACT Venture Partners:
A Venture Capital fund that invests in early-stage deep-tech companies. It has a proven track record in identifying start-ups that develop technologies with clearly defined disruptive innovations and deep-tech start-ups with products resting on significant scientific and engineering bodies of knowledge. ACT’s portfolio includes over 23 start-ups that take advantage of emerging digital technologies, such as AI/ML, advanced data analytics, and cybersecurity, that focus on early diagnostics, treatment, and prevention of adverse health conditions, as well as quality-of-life improvement and longevity, and that mitigate the impact of human activities on the environment, increase the efficiency of resource utilization, and support sustainable economic development. Having offices in London, Amsterdam, and Istanbul, ACT’s investment team backs deep-tech start-ups throughout Europe.
About Axon:
Axon is a global company focused on technology and innovation with a two-dimensional approach: investment and consulting. It has established itself as a leader in identifying high-impact investments that promote energy transition and sustainability in the utility technology sector and energy efficiency-related technologies. Axon manages more than EUR 120 million in assets dedicated exclusively to this strategy. The company has around 90 experienced professionals covering Europe, the Americas and MENA. It is listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange [BME: APG].
About GROW Venture Partners:
A venture vapital fund specialized in technology transfer that invests in early-stage companies from universities and research centres mainly in the Deep Tech, MedTech and Sustainability sectors. The purpose of its diverse and committed team, who works with a service mindset, is to shape better Founders and with them create sustainable wealth and jobs with a positive impact in the world.
About Abac Nest:
A venture capital fund managed by Abac Capital. Abac Nest invests in early-stage tech based companies, with a strategy focused on SaaS with potential in development of an AI value proposition. Abac Nest has built a deep expertise in investing in technology that enables and accelerates the digital and technological transformation of the mid-market industry in Southern Europe. Abac Capital manages more than €600m from private and institutional investors and has invested in 25 start-ups from Abac Nest, backing some of the most promising companies in the industry.
About Barcelona Supercomputing Center:
Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) is the Spanish national supercomputing facility. Created in 2005, it has established itself as one of the main research centres in High Performance Computing in Europe. BSC houses MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, and is a Tier-0 hosting member of the PRACE distributed supercomputing infrastructure. The mission of BSC is to research, develop and manage information technologies in order to facilitate scientific progress.
See press release: https://www.openpr.com/news/3514266/nextmol-successfully-completes-funding-round-to-drive-green