Within Europe, the Netherlands is currently one of the front runners in quantum technology. Right from the development of silicon qubits and a quantum processor to the launch of Quantum Inspire, Dutch researchers have contributed a lot.
In addition, the Netherlands has the most quantum startups per capita and is a global top 3 player when it comes to scientific output.
LightSpeed programme
In this regard, Quantum Delta NL has launched LightSpeed, a programme that can connect Dutch quantum startups with €13.6B in investment capital, managed by European and US funds, under the guidance of Quantum Delta NL’s Investor in Residence Ton van ‘t Noordende.
Ton van ‘t Noordende, Investor in Residence Quantum Delta NL: “Our goal is to make the Netherlands the number one quantum technology startup ecosystem in the world. That’s why LightSpeed is all about the builders. The founders will make the quantum leap. We are there to facilitate their journey and provide the best possible, personalised support and access to top investors worldwide. We take a reverse approach to classic acceleration processes. It is not the stage they are in that counts, but the potential. With our network and support, we make sure they go from zero to 100 quickly.”
Quantum Delta NL is the public-private partnership of global tech companies, government agencies, and all major quantum research centres in the Netherlands.
Why this programme?
According to Quantum Delta NL, with LightSpeed, quantum startups will receive personalised, tailored assistance to scale their businesses and optimise their attractiveness to investors. Specifically for the project, contact has been made with European and American funds, totalling up to €13.6 billion in investment capital.
With this program, quantum startups will receive personalised, tailored assistance to scale their businesses’ rapid scenario planning, cap table assessment, and finding investors. Currently, the country has sevenofficial quantum startups.
Quantum Delta NL aims to increase the number of successful quantum startups founded in the Netherlands to 100 by 2028.
This program is built for Dutch quantum startups in all phases, ranging from pre-foundation to series B and everything in between, with a focus on market validation and investment, says Quantum Delta.
Helped startup raise €2M
In fact, Delft-based quantum modem startup QphoX raised €2M in funding, right out of stealth through this program.
The funding round was led by a European syndicate of top deeptech investors, Quantonation, Speedinvest, and High-Tech Gründerfonds, with participation from TU Delft University.
Received €615M
Last month, Quantum Delta NL was awarded €615M from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to power the advancement of quantum technology.
According to McKinsey, the programme will lead to a contribution to the gross domestic product of 5 to 7 billion euros and 30,000 high-quality jobs in the Netherlands.
Freeke Heijman, director Quantum Delta NL: “Building a business ecosystem is an important pillar of the Quantum Delta NL programme. We want the scientific knowledge which is developed in our quantum labs, to also lead to new business activity within the Netherlands and Europe. Because of LightSpeed, promising initiatives receive an unprecedented acceleration to scale their idea into a startup or scale-up. Central to our guidance is the startup team’s specific needs.”
