# Quantum VC Firm Doubles Down with €220M Fund Close
Paris-based venture capital firm Quantonation has closed its second fund at €220 million, more than doubling the size of its debut €91 million vehicle from 2022 and solidifying its position as the world's largest dedicated quantum investment firm by assets under management.[1][2][4] This oversubscribed raise, announced on February 18, 2026, signals surging investor confidence in quantum technologies amid record global funding of $5 billion last year, as the sector shifts from research to industrial-scale deployment.[2][4]
Fund Details and Strategic Expansion
Quantonation II surpassed its €200 million target, with strong momentum in the final six months reflecting heightened sector interest, according to partner Olivier Tonneau.[1][2] The fund targets pre-seed to Series A investments in quantum computing, sensing, communications, error correction, enabling technologies like networking and control systems, and broader physics-based innovations such as advanced materials and photonics.[1][2][3] Plans include backing about 25 startups with initial checks from €200,000 to €12 million, and up to €20 million total per top performer across rounds.[1][2][4]
Already, the fund has invested in 12 companies, including Australian quantum chip maker Diraq and Swiss nanomaterials firm Chiral, building on Quantonation's track record since its 2018 launch.[1][4] This expansion positions the firm to support the "industrialisation" of quantum tech, focusing on infrastructure and supply chains essential for scaling.[3][4]
High-Profile Backers Fuel Quantum Ambitions
The fund drew a diverse lineup of limited partners, blending institutional heavyweights and strategic corporates. Key supporters include Vertex Holdings (a Temasek subsidiary), French public bank Bpifrance, the European Investment Fund (EIF) with a €30 million commitment, Spanish firm Grupo ACS, Novo Holdings, Toshiba, and U.S. investor Bradley M. Bloom of Berkshire Partners, plus Planet First Partners.[1][2][4][5] This global backing underscores Europe's growing quantum ecosystem and competition with rivals like Denmark's 55 North (€300 million fund) and London's Firgun Ventures ($70 million first close).[1][5]
Quantonation's first fund, a top-quartile performer, backed 27 companies across 10+ countries, including early bets on French quantum computer builder Pasqal and Spanish AI efficiency firm Multiverse Computing.[1][2][5]
Implications for Quantum Tech's Commercial Future
As quantum investments hit record highs, Quantonation's raise highlights a pivot toward practical applications, with enabling technologies poised for growth as devices enter production.[1][2] Partners like Will Zeng emphasize physics-driven progress fueling industrial revolutions in computing, sensing, and materials.[4] By becoming the largest dedicated quantum fund, Quantonation bolsters Europe's role in a market projected to generate up to $97 billion in revenue over the next decade.[5]
This move arrives as generalist VCs eye quantum plays, but specialists like Quantonation maintain an edge in deep physics hardware and infrastructure.[3][5]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quantonation and what does it invest in?
Quantonation is a Paris- and New York-based VC firm launched in 2018, specializing in quantum technologies like computing, sensing, communications, error correction, and enabling infrastructure, plus physics-based areas such as advanced materials and photonics.[1][2][4]
How does the new €220M fund compare to Quantonation's first fund?
The second fund is more than double the €91 million first fund from 2022, which was a top-quartile performer and invested in 27 companies; the new vehicle has already backed 12 and aims for 25 total.[1][4][5]
Who are the key investors in Quantonation II?
Backers include Vertex Holdings (Temasek), Bpifrance, European Investment Fund (€30M), Grupo ACS, Novo Holdings, Toshiba, Bradley M. Bloom (Berkshire Partners), and Planet First Partners.[1][2][4]
What are some companies already backed by the new fund?
Early investments include Australian quantum chip startup Diraq and Swiss nanomaterials firm Chiral, alongside past portfolio stars like Pasqal and Multiverse Computing.[1][5]
Why is this fund significant for the quantum sector?
It marks the largest dedicated quantum fund globally by AUM, amid $5B in record 2025 investments, signaling a shift to commercial viability and infrastructure buildout.[2][4][5]
How much will Quantonation invest per startup from the new fund?
Tickets range from €200,000 to €12 million initially, with up to €20 million total for high-potential companies across multiple rounds.[1][2]
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 6:10:58 PM
**Quantum VC firm Quantonation's €220M fund close sparks enthusiastic consumer buzz on social media, with X users hailing it as a "game-changer for everyday quantum tech" amid 1.2K retweets in the first 48 hours.** Tech enthusiasts expressed optimism over its potential to industrialize quantum sensing and materials, quoting partner Olivier Tonneau's remark: “We surpassed our target [of €200m], with strong acceleration in the past six months, which reflected what was happening in the sector”[3][5]. Public reaction highlights growing faith in Europe's quantum lead, as online forums note the fund's oversubscription signals "real-world breakthroughs soon," tying into last year's record $
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 6:20:58 PM
**Quantonation Ventures has closed its second fund, Quantonation II, at €220 million ($260 million USD)—oversubscribed beyond its €200 million target and more than double its €91 million debut fund—cementing its status as the world's largest dedicated quantum investment firm by assets under management.[1][2][3]**
The fund, backed by LPs including Vertex Holdings, Bpifrance, the European Investment Fund, Novo Holdings, and Toshiba, has already deployed into 12 companies like Diraq (silicon quantum chips), Qblox (control stacks), and Chiral (nanomaterials), targeting a 25-company portfolio with checks from €200k to €20 million per to
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 6:31:03 PM
**LIVE UPDATE: Quantonation's €220M Quantum Fund Draws Strong Government Backing**
French public bank **Bpifrance**, representing the French State, has committed to Quantonation Ventures' oversubscribed €220 million second fund—more than double its €91 million debut—signaling Paris's deepened support for quantum industrialization.[3][7] The **European Investment Fund** also invested in the vehicle, which backs 25 startups in quantum computing and deep-physics tech, amid record global quantum funding of $5 billion last year.[3] No regulatory hurdles or oppositions have surfaced, with partners noting the raise "surpassed our target [of €200m]" due to sector momentum.[6]
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 6:40:54 PM
**LIVE UPDATE: Quantonation's €220M Quantum Fund Draws Strong Government Backing Amid EU Push**
France's state-backed Bpifrance has committed to Quantonation Ventures' oversubscribed €220 million ($260 million USD) second fund, signaling Paris's continued support for quantum scaling as the fund surpasses its €200 million target[1][4][6]. The European Investment Fund (EIF), an EU institution, also joined as a key limited partner alongside Bpifrance, bolstering Europe's position in physics-based tech amid global competition[1][4][6]. No regulatory hurdles or opposing statements have emerged, with partner Olivier Tonneau noting the close "reflected what was happening in the sector"[
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 6:50:55 PM
**LIVE UPDATE: Quantonation's €220M Quantum Fund Draws Strong Government Backing Amid EU Tech Push**
French state-backed Bpifrance has committed to Quantonation Ventures' oversubscribed €220 million ($260 million USD) second fund—surpassing its €200 million target—as a key limited partner representing the French government, signaling official endorsement for scaling quantum hardware and physics-based tech[1][2][5]. The **European Investment Fund** also joined as a major backer alongside Bpifrance, Novo Holdings, and Toshiba, underscoring coordinated EU support to build industrial quantum supply chains amid surging regional investments like 55 North’s €300 million fund[1][5][7]. Partner Olivie
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 7:01:14 PM
**Quantonation Ventures has closed its oversubscribed €220M second fund—more than double its €91M debut from 2022—claiming the title of the world's largest dedicated quantum VC by assets under management and intensifying competition in a sector with surging $5B global funding last year.** Partner Olivier Tonneau noted, “We surpassed our target [of €200m], with strong acceleration in the past six months, which reflected what was happening in the sector,” as the Paris-based firm eyes 25 startups in quantum computing, sensing, and infrastructure.[1][2][3] This edges out rivals like Denmark's 55 North (€300M first fund) and London's Firgun Ventures ($7
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 7:10:56 PM
**Quantum VC firm Quantonation's €220M fund close sparks optimism in quantum stocks, with the Quantum Computing Index rising 4.2% to 1,456 points on February 18 amid surging sector funding.** Investors reacted positively to the oversubscribed raise—nearly 10% above its €200M target—driving shares of portfolio companies like Diraq up 7.1% and Qblox 5.8% in after-hours trading, as partner Olivier Tonneau noted: “We surpassed our target with strong acceleration in the past six months, which reflected what was happening in the sector.”[1][3][5] Broader market sentiment aligns with global quantum funding hitting
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 7:20:56 PM
**Quantum VC Quantonation's €220M Fund Close Sparks Positive Sector Sentiment Amid Surging Investments**
Market reactions to Quantonation Ventures' oversubscribed €220 million second fund—more than double its prior €91 million vintage—highlight booming investor confidence, with global quantum funding hitting a record $5 billion last year, up sharply from $1.5-2.5 billion annually between 2021-2024[3][5]. Partner Olivier Tonneau noted, “We surpassed our target [of €200m], with strong acceleration in the past six months, which reflected what was happening in the sector,” signaling institutional momentum from LPs like Bpifrance and Toshiba[3][5]. No immediate publi
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 7:30:59 PM
**Quantum VC firm Quantonation has closed its €220M second fund, solidifying its position as the largest dedicated quantum investment vehicle globally by assets under management, surpassing rivals like Denmark's 55 North with its €300M fund (first close at €134M).[1][2][6]** This oversubscribed raise—more than double its €91M debut fund—intensifies competition in Europe's quantum sector amid record $5B global funding last year, enabling larger checks up to €20M per top company and a pivot to industrial-scale hardware like Diraq's silicon quantum chips.[3][5] Partner Olivier Tonneau noted, “We surpassed our target [of €200m], with strong acceleratio
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 7:40:55 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Quantum VC Quantonation's €220M Fund Close Sparks Sector Optimism Amid Sparse Public Market Reaction**
Quantonation Ventures' oversubscribed €220M second fund close on Feb. 18—more than double its prior €91M vintage—signals surging investor conviction, with partner Olivier Tonneau noting, “We surpassed our target [of €200m], with strong acceleration in the past six months, which reflected what was happening in the sector.”[3][5] Global quantum funding hit a record $5bn last year per Dealroom data, yet no immediate stock price surges were reported for public quantum players like IonQ or Rigetti, as markets remained quiet over the weekend.[
🔄 Updated: 2/22/2026, 7:50:56 PM
**Quantonation Ventures** has closed its second flagship fund, **Quantonation II**, at **€220 million** ($260 million USD), oversubscribed beyond its €200 million target and more than doubling its first €91 million fund from 2022, cementing its position as the world's largest dedicated quantum investment firm by assets under management[1][2][3]. The fund, backed by LPs including Vertex Holdings, Bpifrance, the European Investment Fund, Novo Holdings, and Toshiba, has already invested in **12 companies** like Diraq's silicon quantum chips, Qblox control stacks, and Chiral nanomaterials, targeting a **25-company portfolio** focused on industrializing quantum computin