Why we invested in xNova
Leading xNova's Seed Round to unlock global trade with frontier market intelligence software
Global trade remains one of the largest economic drivers, accounting for $25 trillion annually. Yet, exporting companies still face daunting challenges when navigating international markets due to highly fragmented and unstructured data that hinders decision-making. That’s where xNova comes in—a Valencia-based SaaS platform reshaping how exporters identify opportunities, assess competition, and streamline decision-making through market intelligence.
xNova’s infrastructure brings superior AI capabilities to ensure exporters maximize the ROI of their global efforts, enabling them to expand with confidence and precision. The platform consolidates multiple unstructured data sources in real-time, providing a seamless user experience. By addressing critical inefficiencies and creating measurable value for its clients, xNova has already gained traction among leading industry exporters. We’re thrilled to lead xNova’s seed round, supporting their growth and commitment to reshaping global trade intelligence.
The challenge: Overcoming inefficiencies in international expansion
Expanding into international markets is fraught with inefficiencies for exporters. However, doing so successfully is key to building resilient high-growth economies. While most of global growth will originate outside the EU in the coming years, only 600k SMEs export goods outside the region. This constitutes a tremendous loss of value capture for European companies. For further context, a staggering 61% of Spanish SMEs fail to sustain long-term export success.
Internationalization challenges are mostly due to:
Lack of actionable insights into global buyer trends.
Limited understanding of competitors’ strategies.
Outdated, fragmented, and non-standardized data sources.
These pain points are compounded by resource constraints, leaving even ambitious exporters unable to confidently scale globally.
See BCG’s International Trade Report (January 2025) to explore how global trade dynamics are shifting over the next decade. As geopolitical factors reshape trade routes and market access, new growth opportunities emerge across regions - opportunities that xNova is uniquely positioned to capitalize on.
The solution: Empowering exporters with market intelligence by structuring fragmented data
xNova’s SaaS platform addresses these challenges head-on, consolidating data from public and private sources to deliver actionable insights. Its infrastructure manages large unstructured data sets and transforms them into intelligence. The platform offers:
Buyer Discovery: Identifying potential overseas clients through enriched datasets.
Competitor Analysis: Monitoring rivals to adapt sales strategies effectively.
Market Trend Insights: Offering granular views of global trade flows to inform strategic decisions.
Powered by a scalable data infrastructure, xNova currently covers all trade data in North and South America. In fact, the company is on track to reach 80%+ global data coverage by 2026. This ambitious roadmap includes AI-driven recommendations that will enhance product stickiness and increase xNova’s ARPU.
To date, xNova’s clients are registering a 22% increase in the number of international clients and a 36% topline growth.
Take a European company planning to expand into the US market. Before allocating resources and focusing its sales efforts, the company needs to address critical questions:
Which regions are experiencing the fastest growth in their product category?
How fragmented is the market at the state level, and where are the biggest opportunities?
Which importers align best with its pricing and sourcing strategies?
Which importers are already working with competitors, and where could it capitalise on gaps in competitors’ catalogues?
Manually answering these questions is often a time-intensive, resource-heavy process that leaves room for error. That’s where xNova steps in. By consolidating and analyzing vast datasets, xNova delivers clear, actionable insights tailored to its clients' needs. This allows companies to focus on what truly matters: connecting with potential clients and closing deals. With xNova, exporters can prioritize their sales efforts with confidence and precision, maximizing their chances of success.
Check out this interactive guide to navigate xNova’s platform! To experience the power of xNova first hand, book a demo here or reach out to Amado (xNova’s CEO).
The founders: Experienced leaders building a robust data infrastructure
xNova’s leadership is a powerful combination of technical and market expertise.
Amado Villar, CEO: A former trade advisor at the Spain-US Chamber of Commerce, Amado brings firsthand knowledge of exporters' struggles and strategic insights into market expansion.
Miguel Ortega, CTO: An MSc graduate in Computer Science from UPenn with prior experience in fintech, Miguel's technical acumen ensures xNova’s data architecture remains cutting-edge.
Amado and Miguel first crossed paths during their undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina. A few years later, they reunited in Miami, where their shared experiences and insights into global trade challenges sparked the idea for xNova.
Their shared vision and complementary skills have already translated into impressive traction. xNova currently services 90+ clients, including industry leaders like Grupo Pamesa, Peronda, Actiu, and J. García Carrion.
Our Investment: Leading xNova’s round to scale platforms that transform unstructured data into economic value
Our lead investment in xNova reflects our commitment to scaling software technology capable of transforming fragmented, unstructured data into actionable intelligence. Beyond the technology, this investment aligns with our vision to strengthen the EU economy by equipping exporters with the tools they need to compete and thrive globally. We are thrilled to lead the company’s Seed Round alongside Angels, BStartup, and leading BAs in the industry.
Our investment will enable xNova to deepen its footprint in Spain and Italy while accelerating expansion to other key European markets. The funds will also accelerate their tech and product roadmap, increasing global data coverage to 80%+ by 2026 and introducing advanced AI-driven features to enhance user experience.
To learn more about xNova’s mission and technology, visit their website at xnovainternational.com.
Abac Nest Ventures Team
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