Arq Quantum Technologies

arqtech.eu ↗ ·Barcelona ·Pre-seed

Arq Quantum Technologies is a Barcelona-based deep-tech startup building hardware for the quantum internet — highly multiplexed quantum repeater nodes combining solid-state quantum memories in rare-earth-doped crystals with telecom-compatible entangled photon-pair sources, packaged as rack-integrated nodes for real-world telecom networks. An ICFO spinoff incorporated in September 2025 and publicly launched in March 2026, it raised a $1.4M pre-seed in July 2026 led by Ground State Ventures with Big Sur Ventures, and won the 2026 Photonics21 Innovation Award.

Founded

2025

Founders

Total funds raised

$1.4M

SectorsQuantum Technology, Quantum Networking, Photonics, Deeptech & Hardware, Telecommunications Start-up MapDeeptech & Hardware › Semiconductors, compute & AI infrastructure

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Founders

Emanuele Distante

Co-founder

Samuele Grandi

Co-founder & CEO

Global models 5

Nu Quantum

United Kingdom · www.nu-quantum.com ↗

Builds quantum networking hardware (photonic interconnect units) that entangles distributed quantum nodes, sold to quantum computing and network operators.

$70MComparable

Qunnect

United States · www.qunnect.com ↗

Sells rack-mounted, telecom-compatible quantum networking hardware, including quantum memories and entangled photon sources, for deployment over existing fibre networks.

$20MComparable

Welinq

France · welinq.fr ↗

Develops neutral-atom quantum memories and network interconnect hardware to link quantum processors and build quantum repeater networks.

$15MComparable

Qubitekk

United States · qubitekk.com ↗

Sells entangled photon-pair sources and quantum network hardware to telecom operators, utilities and research networks building quantum-secure links.

$10MComparable

memQ

United States · www.memq.tech ↗

Builds rare-earth-ion quantum memory and repeater hardware for telecom-wavelength quantum networks, the model closest to Arq's.

$5MComparable

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Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech

Barcelona

Series A · €30.6M

Wooptix

San Cristóbal de La Laguna

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Notes: Most funded first

Investors 2

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Big Sur Ventures

www.bigsurventures.vc

Pre-seed 2026 Spain

Ground State Ventures

gsv.vc ↗

Led Pre-seed 2026 Netherlands

Funding rounds 1

Date	Round	Amount	Lead
2026-07-16	Pre-seed	$1.4M	Ground State Ventures +1 more

News 5

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Published	Article
2026-07-30	ICFO's newest spinoff company wins Photonics21 Innovation Prize ↗ BIST (Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology) 2026-07-30
2026-07-17	Arq Quantum Technologies cierra una ronda de $1,4m liderada por Ground State Ventures. Participa Big Sur ↗ Webcapitalriesgo 2026-07-17
2026-07-16	Arq secures $1.4M pre-seed for quantum internet technology ↗ Tech.eu 2026-07-16
2026-03-11	EU showcases its quantum technology talent at MWC Barcelona 2026 ↗ Quantum Flagship 2026-03-11
2026-03-03	Arq Quantum Technologies Launches To Develop Quantum Repeater Hardware ↗ Quantum Zeitgeist 2026-03-03