Coherence Quantum has raised €2.78 million in a seed round to develop cryogenic signalling and control infrastructure aimed at scaling solid-state quantum computers. The Aalto University spinout plans to use the funding to establish a lab in Espoo, build product prototypes and manufacturing processes, continue R&D, and grow its team.
The round was led by Helsinki-based early-stage investor Lifeline Ventures, with participation from technology entrepreneur Mårten Mickos. The company says its work focuses on signal conditioning and higher-density interfaces to manage wiring, heat and noise as qubit counts increase.
Cryogenic signalling and control platform
Coherence Quantum is developing an integrated cryogenic signalling and control platform that begins with cryogenic signal conditioning to protect the qubit environment from thermal noise and other disturbances. From there, the company is working on higher-density signal interfaces and moving more control functionality inside the cryostat and closer to the quantum processing unit (QPU).
“Quantum computers won’t scale by adding qubits alone. The infrastructure around them has to scale too,” said Aashish Sah, CEO and co-founder of Coherence Quantum. “We’re starting with signal conditioning and building towards higher-density interfaces and, ultimately, more integrated cryogenic control. Our aim is to give quantum-computer builders an architecture that can support larger systems without wiring, cooling requirements, and complexity growing at the same rate.”
The technology builds on research from Aalto University’s Quantum Computing and Devices (QCD) group. Coherence Quantum’s team combines expertise in quantum physics, cryogenics, RF and microwave engineering, electronics and product development. The company reports more than two years of focused research and experimental development, with multiple generations of cryogenic prototypes designed, fabricated and tested, including validation in dilution refrigerators using qubit systems.
Coherence Quantum’s founding team includes Sah; CTO Suman Kundu, an experimental quantum physicist who helped build and set up Aalto University’s 20-qubit Q20 quantum computer; and CPO Erkki Soininen, who previously held a product leadership role at cryogenics company Bluefors. The company is also supported by founding advisor Mikko Möttönen, a professor of quantum technology at Aalto University.
“The quantum industry has proved that increasingly capable processors can be built. The next challenge is building the infrastructure that allows them to scale. Coherence Quantum is going after a fundamental part of that problem,” said Petteri Koponen of Lifeline Ventures. “They have an exceptional technical team with a clear view of where the industry is heading and the ambition to build far more than a single component. If quantum computers are going to scale, the architecture around the qubits has to scale with them, and we’re backing them to become a key part of how larger quantum computers are built.”
The €2.78 million will fund an Espoo laboratory, product prototypes and manufacturing development, continued research, and hiring. “Coherence Quantum is addressing a pressing need in quantum computing, supporting large numbers of qubits while managing the growing challenges of heat, noise and complexity,” said Mårten Mickos. “This type of sophisticated technology is needed to turn quantum computing into practical and scalable systems. The team behind Coherence Quantum is impressive, and I am delighted to be an investor and supporter.”
Longer term, Coherence Quantum aims to help establish a standardised blueprint for the cryogenic signalling and control stack by combining its technologies with complementary solutions across the quantum ecosystem.
