Paris, July 11, 2022 – Quantonation Ventures announces the final closing of its first fund dedicated to Quantum Technologies at € 91 million, exceeding its initial target of €50 million. Within three years, Quantonation has been able to put on a launch pad the most promising Quantum Tech companies in the world and establish itself as the largest investor in the field.

Three years and a half ago, we founded Quantonation with the fierce conviction that the 2^nd Quantum Revolution was finally coming: the Science that had been elaborated over the last 100 years with success could at last be turned into devices and applications in the fields of sensing, communications, and computing. A key challenge we’ve identified from the start is the huge entry barrier resulting from the complexity of the concepts and the relative immaturity of the sector, leading sometimes to claims that are unfounded.

We’ve been successful at internalizing a deep expertise, leveraging a network of experts, building connections with the leading ecosystems worldwide to source the best companies, and making sound investment decisions, with 20 companies in the portfolio and 2 exits already. We have invested in spinouts from the most recognized universities all over the world like MIT, Ecole Polytechnique, Ecole Normale Supérieure, l’Institut d’Optique, Oxford University, Waterloo University, University of Sherbrooke etc…. We monitored more than 400 startups developing Quantum Technologies, constituting the largest deal flow in the field.

Thanks to this successful Final Closing beyond our own ambitious target, we will be able to pursue scouting for the best quantum companies in the world and supports a fantastic roster of founders in their entrepreneurial journey, in the long term. This will be also a great opportunity to expand the team and deepen our scientific expertise beyond our current focus. This amazing journey is only starting.

Christophe Jurczak, Managing Partner

As a first step, and because investing in Quantum a few years ago was not as obvious a value proposition as it is now, we made our first investments from an ad-hoc holding company before raising for a new more ambitious investment vehicle, our fund Quantonation 1, last year. Quantonation 1 invests in early-stage companies, from Seed to Series A and holds all the participations the team has invested in since 2018. The multiplier effect of our first tickets is amazing: the portfolio companies raised in total more than 200m€, materializing a strong appetite from co-investors (x3 on Quantonation’s ticket), and the strategic support from governments via non-dilutive fundings. This led to the creation of more than 300 jobs during the last 3 years, and we’re especially proud that this provides new opportunities for young PhD to express themselves after their academic training.

We’ve been blessed to be joined in our journey to materializing the impact of quantum science into the public’s life with a list of trailblazing innovators, corporates, funds of funds, family offices, with the strong support of the Fonds National d’Amorçage 2 (the French Seed Fund) which is managed by Bpifrance on behalf of the French State and Audacia.

Quantonation is a great example of what we seek when investing in an emerging GP: subject matter experts able to seize the value of an emerging industry. Deep tech companies are the long-term drivers of massive change, we must nurture these companies to help them achieve their potential. We’re convinced by Quantonation’s vision and ability to incubate the next generation of leading deep tech companies.

Jonathan Sibilia, Partner Molten Ventures

Quantonation will also support companies at later stage through another vehicle dedicated to companies raising larger financing rounds. Olivier Tonneau, Partner Quantonation, explains “After the success of Quantonation 1, there is a fantastic opportunity for Quantonation Ventures to complete its offering of investment vehicles to LPs and consolidate its position as the leading investor for the emerging quantum economy. That’s why we are launching Quantonation Ventures’ Quantum Opportunity Fund to support scale-ups of European Quantum startups.”

Quantum computing can have a significant impact on many industries, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, aerospace, and finance. Quantonation has demonstrated a strong track record in deep tech companies focusing on industrial applications. We are proud to join this important investor in Quantum technologies to support young up-and-coming companies in this exciting field

Markus Solibieda, Managing Director of BASF Venture Capital GmbH

The fund Quantonation 1 is managed by Quantonation Ventures, headquartered in Paris, investing globally, and counts on the expertise of its team composed of Christophe Jurczak, PhD, Charles Beigbeder, Olivier Tonneau and Jean-Gabriel Boinot-Tramoni. We welcome unique backgrounds and are very focused on the diversity within our portfolio.

About Quantonation Ventures

Quantonation Ventures is the leading VC dedicated to Quantum Technologies, managing €91m via its first vehicle Quantonation 1 with more than 30 transactions realized already. We invest globally, targeting pre-seed/seed companies in Quantum Computing, Quantum Communication, Quantum Sensing and Deep physics and are always looking for disruptive companies.

Fields such as molecular design, high performance calculation, cybersecurity, or ultra-precise sensing are now driven by innovation based on Deep Physics and Quantum Technologies. Thanks to its scientific expertise Quantonation aims at supporting the transition of these technologies into commercially available products for industry. Our portfolio companies are finding alternatives to unsustainable computing paradigm, curing seemingly incurable diseases, and providing the tools and systems to massively accelerate human innovation while consuming less energy.

Audacia, Paris based alternative Investment Management firm with a recognized expertise in deeptech, is an early backer of Quantonation Ventures and has incubated and supported Quantonation Ventures since its inception.

Press contact :
Eléonore de Rose
06 62 64 40 53
Eleonore.derose@audacia.fr