ZuriQ
Category: AI Chips / Semiconductors
A quantum hardware startup developing a scalable 2D trapped-ion quantum computing platform based on novel Penning trap technology to overcome current scaling limitations. ZuriQ was founded in 2024. The company is led by Pavel Hrmo. Based in Zurich, Switzerland. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $29.7M. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include Quantonation, Forward.one, Extantia, Firgun Ventures, Founderful, SquareOne, First Momentum Ventures, OnSight Ventures, QAI Ventures.
- Founded
- 2024
- Headquarters
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $29.7M
Value proposition
Bypasses the 'scaling wall' of quantum computing by utilizing a 2D architecture that allows for thousands of qubits with high connectivity, avoiding the noise and heat issues of traditional 1D ion chains.
Products and solutions
Scalable 2D Trapped-Ion Quantum Processor, Penning Trap-based Hardware Architecture, Microfabricated Ion Trap Chips, Quantum Hardware Control Systems
Unique value
ZuriQ utilizes Penning traps (static electric and magnetic fields) instead of the industry-standard Radio Frequency (RF) Paul traps, enabling the creation of stable 2D ion arrays rather than limited 1D chains.
Target customer
High-performance computing (HPC) centers, pharmaceutical companies, materials science researchers, and financial institutions requiring large-scale optimization.
Industries served
Quantum Computing, Pharmaceuticals & Drug Discovery, Materials Science, Finance & Optimization, AI Infrastructure
Technology advantage
Eliminates 'RF heating'—a primary source of decoherence in other trapped-ion systems—allowing for a more dense and scalable qubit architecture that functions as the 'Nvidia-style' hardware backbone for quantum applications.
How they differentiate
ZuriQ utilizes Penning traps (static electric and magnetic fields) instead of the industry-standard Radio Frequency (RF) Paul traps. This eliminates 'RF heating,' a major source of decoherence, allowing for stable 2D ion arrays and superior scaling compared to the 1D chains used by most competitors.
Main competitors
IonQ, Quantinuum, Oxford Ionics, Alpine Quantum Technologies (AQT)
Key partnerships
ETH Zurich (Academic Spinoff & Research Partner), Infineon Technologies AG (Ion-trap chip fabrication), Quantonation (Lead Investor, Seed), Founderful (Lead Investor, Pre-Seed), SquareOne, First Momentum Ventures, OnSight Ventures, QAI Ventures, Forward.one, Extantia, Firgun Ventures
Notable customers
ETH Zurich (Research Partner), High-Performance Computing (HPC) centers (Target)
Major milestones
Spinoff from ETH Zurich's Trapped Ion Quantum Information Group in 2024, Closed $4.2M Pre-Seed funding (Founderful-led) in January 2025, Partnership with Infineon Technologies for ion-trap chip fabrication (May 2025), Working 3×3 nine-ion 2D demonstrator (largest of its kind) built with ETH Zurich; chips on Infineon lines, Closed $25.5M Seed funding led by Quantonation in July 2026; team grown to ~18
Growth metrics
Post-$29.7M total capital ($4.2M pre-seed + $25.5M seed); team grown from 4 to ~18 (hires from IonQ, Xanadu, Hamamatsu); working 3×3 ion-array demonstrator; scaling toward hundreds of qubits per chip with Infineon fab partner.
Market positioning
Quantum hardware infrastructure provider (the 'Nvidia of Quantum') focusing on the scalable hardware layer for high-performance computing.
Geographic focus
Europe (Switzerland), North America
Patents and IP
Proprietary IP developed over a decade at ETH Zurich's Trapped Ion Quantum Information Group, including novel 2D micro-trap designs and ion manipulation techniques.
About Pavel Hrmo
Dr. Pavel Hrmo is a leading expert in trapped-ion quantum computing with over a decade of research experience. Before founding ZuriQ, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich (2020–2024) within the Trapped Ion Quantum Information Group. He earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Innsbruck, focusing on quantum simulation, and holds an MSci in Physics from Imperial College London.
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Official website: https://zuriq.com/
