QuantumDiamonds, a quantum sensing startup based in Munich, has announced to have secured €7 million in seed funding. UK-based VC IQ Capital and pan-European VC Earlybird, recognised for investments in N26 and UiPath, led the funding with €3 million. Additional contributions came from Onsight Ventures, First Momentum, Creator Fund, UnternehmerTUM, and several angel investors from the semiconductor industry.
The remaining €4 million was provided by the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator and the Bavarian state in grant funding.
According to the company press release, QuantumDiamonds already has a working prototype and will use the investment to hire more quantum engineers as it moves towards building its first commercial product. Further, the company is said to be currently testing with four of the world’s top 10 semiconductor manufacturers.
Develops atom-sized quantum sensors in diamonds
Founded by graduates from the Technical University of Munich – Kevin Berghoff, Fleming Bruckmaier, and Kristina Liu in 2022, QuantumDiamonds basically develops sensors that enable non-destructive, nano-scale imaging of magnetic fields, among others.
The company says it makes its main technology using flaws in man-made synthetic diamonds called nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers. These defects are then changed to find and measure physical properties very precisely. This approach opens up a new field of sensing technology, enabling extremely sensitive measurements at the smallest levels of atoms and molecules. This technology can be used in various industries, such as making semiconductors and medical diagnostics.
Kevin Berghoff, Co-Founder and CEO at QuantumDiamonds, said: “We are at the forefront of revolutionising sensing technology through our work at QuantumDiamonds, advancing both semiconductor manufacturing and breakthroughs in other critical fields such as biology and chemistry on a global scale. The funding will enable us to move towards the launch of our first commercial product, supported by the expansion of our quantum engineering team. Our ultimate goal is to build a robust global quantum sensing platform that transcends boundaries and catalyses transformative advancements in various scientific disciplines.”
Mason Sinclair, Principal at IQ Capital, said: “With its ground-breaking developments in quantum sensors, QuantumDiamonds is redefining quality assurance standards within the semiconductor industry. Their breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionise semiconductor manufacturing processes. We are excited about the prospect of supporting QuantumDiamonds in achieving widespread adoption and success in this transformative field.”
Philipp Semmer, Partner at Earlybird-X, said, “We are thrilled to announce our investment in QuantumDiamonds, an innovative startup poised to emerge as a global leader. In partnership with exceptional investors spanning Europe, we are forging a united front to bolster the company, enabling it to rival counterparts in the US and Asia on an equal playing field. We are steadfast in our belief that this collaborative approach is essential to sustain Europe’s innovation and uphold its technological supremacy.”
