2023-11-07 08:05:27
The promises of the quantum computer are increasingly reflected in the numbers. Quandela, one of the French start-ups involved in the manufacturing of these new generation supercomputers, announced on Tuesday November 7 that it had secured 50 million euros in financing. A sum which is added to the first 15 million collected in 2021. This amount, which makes the operation one of the fifteen largest fundraising of the year for a French start-up, confirms the growing appeal of quantum for investors: in January, Pasqal, one of Quandela’s competitors, had raised 100 million euros for its second round of financing, only a year and a half following an initial round of 25 million.
Of this amount, 9.5 million euros, from the “First factory” system of the France 2030 plan, will pay for the Quelle factory in Massy (Essonne), inaugurated in June, from which the very first computer has just been released. European quantum delivered to a private industrial customer. It was installed in a data center of the French group OVHcloud, which will then be able to rent its computing capacity to its own customers.
The balance of 50 million euros was contributed by the four historic shareholders of Quellela: Bpifrance and the Quantonation, Omnes and Serena funds. Crédit Mutuel Innovation took advantage of the operation to acquire a stake. Finally, Europe, through the European Innovation Council fund, made its contribution, “which gives Quandela an international dimension”appreciates Niccolo Somaschi, one of the three founders of Quellela and current technological director.
Strategies oriented towards abroad
Because, in addition to financing the ramp-up of production at the Massy factory (Quandela plans to assemble three new machines in 2024), the objective of this second fundraising since the creation of the company, in 2017 , also aims to gain a foothold abroad, in countries like South Korea or Canada, where national quantum plans have been launched.
Secondly, Quandela does not refrain from looking at what she might do in the United States. “The barrier to entry is high but we think there is a card to play. We will start working on a dedicated strategy”, explains Mr. Somaschi. According to him, “France has a quality ecosystem in quantum, with excellent researchers and entrepreneurs. You shouldn’t have any complexes. » The international aura of Alain Aspect, Nobel Prize in Physics 2022 for his work on quantum physics, also lends credibility to French know-how in this field. He is one of the co-founders of Pasqal and a member of the scientific council of Quandela.
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