ZNEXT launches expansion into Spain, appoints Marco Parente as Head of M&A

ZNEXT, the industrial platform created by Zanichelli to build and accelerate technology companies in education, work and wellbeing, has begun its international expansion, choosing Spain as the first foreign market. The company appointed Marco Parente as Head of M&A to lead the full transaction cycle—from scouting and negotiation to integration—and to coordinate the international development plan.

Parente, who previously built the M&A function at Growth Capital and worked on notable deals such as Cosmico, Radical Storage’s $7 million Series A, and Cubbit’s $12.5 million late‑seed round, holds dual master’s degrees in finance from Bocconi University and the Stockholm School of Economics. CEO Elena Lavezzi said the move reflects a “new stage for ZNEXT” and highlighted Spain’s dynamic ecosystem and the need for a stable Italian presence.

The expansion is already underway with new collaborations and investment opportunities in the Spanish market.