Arq Raises $1.4 Million to Build Quantum Internet Hardware
Updated
Updated · Tech.eu · Jul 16
Arq Raises $1.4 Million to Build Quantum Internet Hardware
2 articles · Updated · Tech.eu · Jul 16
Summary
$1.4 million in pre-seed funding will help UK startup Arq speed development of quantum communication hardware and set up a state-of-the-art lab.
Ground State Ventures led the round, with Big Sur Ventures participating, as Arq pushes quantum repeaters meant to link quantum computers over long distances.
Arq’s design combines rare-earth crystal quantum memories with photon-pair sources and multiplexing, aiming to store and transmit multiple photons at once across fibre networks.
Founded in 2025 by Samuele Grandi and Emanuele Distante, the company says the approach could deliver faster, cheaper quantum networking for sectors including telecoms, finance, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.
As nations build state-funded quantum networks, can a venture-backed UK startup realistically compete in the global quantum internet race?
Can fragile quantum signals survive the noisy chaos of our existing internet, or is a new network infrastructure inevitable?
Quantum Internet Milestones: Arq Quantum Technologies’ Rare-Earth Repeaters and Europe’s Push for Secure, Scalable Networks
Overview
Arq Quantum Technologies, founded in September 2025 in Barcelona, has quickly become a key player in building the quantum internet. The company’s mission is to create faster and more affordable quantum connections by developing massively multiplexed quantum network nodes. This work is based on advanced research from ICFO’s Hugues de Riedmatten group, focusing on rare-earth-based quantum repeater technology. By combining expertise in solid-state quantum memories and entangled photon sources, Arq is turning scientific breakthroughs into practical hardware, helping to lay the foundation for secure and scalable quantum communication networks across Europe.