HQS Quantum Simulations brings in 12 million euros in series A

January 25, 2022

• Quantonation VC fund, specialising in quantum computing, is leading a financing round. Capital investors UVC Partners, btov Industrial Technologies and High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), who already hold a stake in the company, are once again investing.
• As part of the Q-Exa consortium, HQS Quantum Simulations supplies software for the first quantum computer manufactured in Germany.
• With the new injection of capital, HQS Quantum Simulations is looking to enhance its HQS Quantum Assisted Design cloud platform while expanding its open-source library, called Active Space Finder.

HQS Quantum Simulations, Europe’s leading startup for complex quantum simulations, has concluded a series-A financing round and secured more than 12 million euros together with new research funding. As a new investor, the French quantum VC fund Quantonation is leading the financing round; with already-invested VC funds, UVC Partners, btov Industrial Technologies, and HTGF are underlining their commitment with new investment.

For some years now, the market for quantum technology has seen rapid growth, posting record highs last year. In Germany, HQS Quantum Simulations has been driving forward the key technology as part of the Q-Exa consortium. The aim of this interdisciplinary project is to install in the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre the first quantum computer manufactured in Germany, by the end of this year. Like most supercomputing centres, the High Performance Computing Centre at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities uses significant parts of its computing power to solve problems relating to quantum mechanics, while sourcing the necessary software from HQS Quantum Simulations.

Thanks to the capital obtained from the new financing round, HQS Quantum Simulations will seek to further strengthen its position as the leading European software provider in the field of quantum simulation. The startup, created by four quantum physicists, has been developing efficient quantum algorithms for material, chemical and pharmaceutical research since 2017. This new financing round will enable HQS Quantum Simulations to continue development of its Quantum Assisted Design cloud platform, and to expand the Active Space Finder open-source library.

With a view to enhancing its Quantum Assisted Design cloud platform, HQS Quantum Simulations is in the process of developing a unique piece of software which is optimised for use on current quantum computers. The hope is that in due course it can also be used by research groups and companies that do not have access to their own quantum hardware, to carry out the same quantum simulations as performed by HQS Quantum Simulations with its software in the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre. With its Active Space Finder open-source library, HQS Quantum Simulations is the only company worldwide currently working on a solution to the active space problem. Only by solving this problem will we see practical use of quantum computers for material simulation.

The new financing round provides us with the resources we need to continue growing our team, strengthen our base, and find even more efficient ways of meeting the demands of our customers. Our investors’ reaffirmed confidence in us and the fact that Quantonation, the best regarded VC fund in the industry, is now on board, shows that we’re on the right path.

Michael Marthaler, CEO at HQS Quantum Simulations

The huge potential involved, alongside new technological advances, continues to attract capital.

Quantum Simulation is on the verge of delivering substantial commercial value in industrial applications and HQS Quantum Simulations is best positioned to deliver on that promise.

Yann Fiebig, Principal at HTGF

We believe HQS Quantum Simulations will become the leading European player in quantum simulations and bring large benefits to our society.

Benjamin Erhart from UVC Partners

Quantonation, the first VC fund worldwide to specialise in quantum technology, is leading the financing round.

Quantonation is committed to the development of quantum technologies and to their transition into commercially viable products. High performance computing is an exciting market for this, and we believe that HQS Quantum Simulations is developing the right products for chemical and physical simulations on a quantum level – products that will have a tremendous impact on these industries.

Christophe Jurczak of Quantonation

btov Industrial Technologies also remains committed to investment.

We are looking forward to further supporting the HQS Quantum Simulations team in its quest to make near term available quantum computers really useful to the material sciences and pharmaceutical communities.

Christian Reitberger, Partner at btov

The co-founder and COO of HQS Quantum Simulations, Iris Schwenk, strongly believes that this goal is within reach following the new financing round.

When we started out in 2017, we were just four quantum computing scientists who wanted to build bridges between the academic world and industry. Today, with more than 30 talented scientists from a range of disciplines, we are the leading quantum startup in Europe. But this is just the start of our journey.

Co-founder and COO of HQS Quantum Simulations, Iris Schwenk

About HQS Quantum Simulations
HQS Quantum Simulations was formed in 2017 as a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), and develops software for the simulation of quantum systems. The startup’s software works on conventional computers, but can be easily transferred to quantum computers. HQS Quantum Simulations uses this approach to pursue its goal of putting companies and scientists in a position to quickly and efficiently switch their simulation workflows over to quantum computers once they are available.

Press contact
Michael Marthaler
press@quantumsimulations.de

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven start-ups. With around EUR 900 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge more than 650 start-ups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial technology, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected more than EUR 3.5 billion into the HTGF portfolio via more than 1,800 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 150 companies.
Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., as well as the companies ALTANA, BASF, BAYER, B.Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, 1+1 AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, FOND OF, Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Gruppe, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER and Wilh. Werhahn KG.

Media Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Grüter, Head of Marketing & Communications
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 188
s.grueter@htgf.de

Investor Contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Yann Fiebig, Principal
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 144
y.fiebig@htgf.de