Why we invested in Nextmol
Computational chemistry to unlock the future of molecular R&D
At Abac Nest Ventures, we back transformative solutions that solve real industry challenges and drive efficiency. Nextmol is precisely that—a computational chemistry SaaS platform poised to reshape R&D processes in the specialty chemicals industry. With its roots in the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Nextmol empowers R&D teams to innovate faster, reduce costs, and develop sustainable solutions at scale.
We believe Nextmol will catalyze the transition of a $738B specialty chemicals market towards efficiency and sustainability, enabling companies to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
The challenge: Inefficient R&D, slow innovation
The specialty chemicals industry is a cornerstone of global manufacturing, powering sectors from personal care to advanced coatings. Yet, traditional R&D teams are losing competitiveness compared to those embracing the potential of simulation and AI. This is because conventional R&D is painfully slow to launch improved products as well as costly:
Long and costly cycles: Lab experimentation is iterative, resource-intensive, and requires multiple rounds of synthesis and testing, stretching timelines and budgets.
Limited capacity for discovery: Physical and financial constraints hinder the exploration of potential molecules.
Pressure for sustainable alternatives: The specialty chemicals industry is undergoing a profound transformation with increasing demand and regulation for greener, high-performing solutions. This context adds complexity to R&D departments which must not only work on launching new products but on updating their existing ones as well. Meeting new sustainability requirements while maintaining products’ key properties is a significant challenge that Nextmol helps customers reach more efficiently than their competitors.
These inefficiencies generate innovation bottlenecks that hinder profitability and competitiveness, leaving companies vulnerable to disruption as customers demand faster solutions tailored to their needs.
The solution: Computational chemistry tools that accelerate R&D
Nextmol’s cloud-based SaaS platform transforms traditional R&D by enabling digitalized, physics-based, and data-driven workflows for molecule development. It combines molecular modeling and artificial intelligence to streamline and enhance R&D processes.
Molecular Modeling: This module enables high-accuracy simulations of molecular behaviour in specific conditions. Researchers can test thousands of candidates virtually, identifying the most promising ones for synthesis. This approach drastically reduces dependency on lab experiments, saving time and resources. Moreover, it allows an understanding of the underlying factors behind experimental outcomes, enriching intellectual property (IP).
Example: Testing molecular adsorption onto a fabric in a product like detergent, Nextmol’s platform can evaluate hundreds of molecule candidates virtually, narrowing the list to the top-performing options for lab validation.
Artificial Intelligence for Predictive Insights: Nextmol’s AI capabilities leverage machine learning to predict physico-chemical properties, enabling smarter experimentation and improved IP generation. By analyzing past experiments, synthetic data generated with molecular modeling, and proprietary datasets, Nextmol generates actionable insights, helping researchers:
Understand the relevant chemical space.
Identify structure-activity relationships.
Prioritize molecules with a higher likelihood of success.
The result? Nextmol’s clients are achieving a 5x reduction in development time and 9x cost savings, enabling companies to deliver high-performing, sustainable molecules faster than ever before.
The Founders: Proven leaders in computational chemistry and industrial innovation
Led by Dr. Monica de Mier (CEO) and Dr. Stephan Mohr (CSO), Nextmol’s leadership brings a unique combination of scientific rigour, deep technical expertise, and business acumen:
Dr. Monica de Mier (CEO): PhD in Computational Fluid Dynamics with an Executive MBA at Esade, blending technical expertise at BSC with strategic leadership.
Dr. Stephan Mohr: PhD in Physics, previously at BSC and CEA, with a track record in molecular dynamics and computational research.
Their shared vision, supported by a highly specialized team (70% PhDs), is to democratize computational chemistry and embed sustainability in molecule design.
Our investment: Building the Future of Digital R&D
Abac Nest Ventures invested in Nextmol's seed round, alongside leading deep-tech investors ACT Venture Partners, Axon Partners, and Grow Venture Partners to scale its sales and technology teams and expand machine learning capabilities for deeper molecular insights.
Our thesis is clear:
The market opportunity is vast with over $40B annually spent on specialty chemicals R&D. The industry stands at the nexus of two critical trends: the digitalization of R&D processes (with the introduction of AI) and the push for sustainability.
In this context, traditional players are dependent on inefficient manual processes and risk falling behind. By contrast, companies that embrace scalable, AI-driven computational tools have the opportunity to increase their competitiveness and lead the transformation of this critical industry.
Nextmol is positioned to redefine the innovation landscape for the specialty chemicals industry with a superior platform that accelerates time-to-market, enables greener chemistry, and drives profitability.
To learn more about Nextmol’s mission and technology, visit their website at nextmol.com or see the official announcement from TechEU here.
Abac Nest Ventures Team,
 | A guest post by
|