New €60m build-and-acquire fund ZNEXT launches, focusing on EdTech, future of work, lifelong learning and wellbeing tech
Leading Italian publishing house Zanichelli Editore has launched ZNEXT, a €60 million build-and-acquire initiative aiming to develop technology businesses.
ZNEXT will work with entrepreneurs in Italy and across the world through a venture builder model. It will also launch a M&A vehicle to buy majority stakes in start-ups and established businesses with high growth potential.
ZNEXT’s investments will focus on EdTech, the future of work, lifelong learning and wellbeing technology. It will invest up to €150,000 in initial pre-seed funding, with the opportunity to follow on. It will also offer operational support, expertise and access to its network. Each potential investment will be subject to a data-driven evaluation to better understand market opportunity and technical validity.
"Zanichelli Editore has an incredible history, including being the first to translate Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species into Italian in 1864. Darwin understood that humans are constantly changing, and it is neither the strongest nor the most intelligent that survive, but those most responsive to changing environments," explains Elena Lavezzi, CEO at ZNEXT.
Before joining ZNEXT, Lavezzi previously held senior roles at technology unicorns Uber, Circle and Revolut.
"Diversification is key, and the core Zanichelli business has continuously innovated, harnessing the potential of evolving markets for over 150 years. ZNEXT, alongside the existing VC fund Zanichelli Venture, represents the next branch in the company's evolutionary tree. Having directly observed the impact of industry-defining change at Uber and Revolut, I am now excited to channel that same energy and ambition into unlocking the boundless potential within individuals through world-class technology," Lavezzi adds.
"The accelerating pace of technological change, globalisation, and evolving societal needs underscore the critical importance of human adaptability," adds Ferrante Enriques, a major shareholder in Zanichelli Editore and ZNEXT, who spearheaded ZNEXT's launch.
"Whilst we are, and will always continue to be, vocal advocates for traditional education, there is no doubt that the world is changing and innovative technology is unlocking human potential. We are committed to investing in this evolution, enabling citizens across the world to adapt the way they live, work and learn."
