UK quantum startup QFX raises €2.2 million funding to increase its {hardware} platform

Oxford-based QFX, a spin-out from the College of Oxford, has raised €2.2 million in a Seed funding spherical to develop modular {hardware} for quantum applied sciences, with functions spanning computing, sensing, and safe communications.

The spherical was led by Silicon Valley heavyweight and Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham.

“With robust investor backing and a management workforce rooted in deep technical and industrial experience,” stated Dr Timothy Ballance, CEO of QFX, “I’m thrilled to be main QFX, delivering quantum {hardware} which is able to allow the subsequent era of quantum methods.”

The Seed funding in QFX situates the Oxford-based spin-out inside a broader European surge of exercise in quantum {hardware} and enabling applied sciences throughout 2025.

Within the Netherlands, QuantWare raised €20 million to scale superconducting quantum-chip fabrication, whereas QuiX Quantum secured €15 million to develop a common photonic quantum laptop. Sweden’s FirstQFM AB closed a €1.2 million pre-Seed spherical to boost NISQ-era {hardware} by means of foundation-model optimisation, whereas the UK’s Phasecraft raised €29 million for its quantum-algorithm platform.

Though QFX’s €2.2 million Seed spherical is smaller in scale, it displays a complementary strategy — constructing modular, interoperable {hardware} to underpin scalable quantum methods. The corporate’s give attention to cross-platform integration aligns with the cross-disciplinary “DeepTech second” highlighted by EU-Startups in its 2025 DeepTech function on Europe’s quantum and photonics innovators.

Included in 2024 and headquartered at Begbroke Science Park, QFX already has a commercially obtainable product: a compact, high-performance atomic supply designed to assist integration throughout quantum platforms. This displays the startup’s modular philosophy n- constructing scalable parts that may plug into broader methods, whether or not for computation, navigation, or ultra-secure communication.

QFX was based by Dr Joe Goodwin, Dr Laurent Stephenson, and Dr Peter Drmota.

Constructed on cutting-edge analysis in trapped ion and impartial atom quantum computing, QFX is pursuing a imaginative and prescient of scalable, networked quantum methods. Its distinctive modular engineering strategy targets one of many area’s largest bottlenecks – scaling up from remoted quantum experiments to sturdy, interconnected applied sciences with real-world utility.

With the recent capital injection, the startup plans to speed up growth of its foundational {hardware} merchandise and increase its operational footprint.

Alongside the funding, QFX has made strategic government hires to bolster its management. Dr Timothy Ballance, beforehand President – UK at Infleqtion, has joined as Chief Government Officer. Ballance brings deep tutorial roots in networked trapped ion analysis from Cambridge and Oxford, in addition to a confirmed industrial observe report scaling Infleqtion UK from a one-person setup to a 50-person quantum tech operation delivering merchandise like atomic clocks and chilly atom sources.

Becoming a member of him is Sadie Mansell, additionally previously of Infleqtion, who takes the position of Chief Working Officer. Mansell has in depth expertise in operational technique and scaling complicated R&D ventures.

With nationwide curiosity in quantum defence, navigation, and encryption on the rise, QFX is nicely positioned to offer the {hardware} spine to what might grow to be Europe’s next-generation quantum infrastructure.