Falqon Systems secured €2.5 million in a funding round led by Ground State Ventures and Cottonwood Technology Fund, with participation from InnovationQuarter. The investment will accelerate growth of the company’s Falqon quantum security technology in a rapidly evolving market; Falqon Systems was formerly known as Q*Bird and rebranded this month.
“We commend Q*Bird for their groundbreaking quantum secure networking technology,” said Ton van ‘t Noordende, General Partner at Ground State Ventures, noting the increasing recognition that current digital information transfer is not definitively secure. The company is currently trialing its technology at the Port of Rotterdam and has already secured a launch customer.
Falqon System Secures €2.5 Million for Quantum Network Expansion
Falqon Systems secured a €2.5 million funding round in May 2024 intended to expand its quantum security network capabilities, signaling confidence in the emerging market for provably secure communications. This financial injection arrives as the company transitions from Q*Bird, a rebranding reflecting its broadened focus on complete Quantum Secure Networks (QSN) rather than solely quantum key distribution technology.
The company’s patented technology, based on Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD), offers a distinct advantage in scalability and upgradability compared to competitors, providing a lower cost per user after initial deployment. This cost-effectiveness supports wider adoption, particularly as organizations seek to protect sensitive data from the looming threat of quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption standards.
According to Alain le Loux, General Partner at Cottonwood Technology Fund, “We are thrilled to back this quantum cybersecurity company that is developing solutions to safeguard data and systems against emerging threats. The solution of Q*Bird will dramatically change the cybersecurity world,” referring to Q*Bird itself.
This confidence stems from the inherent security offered by MDI-QKD, which removes detector-side vulnerabilities and enables secure key distribution across multi-user network architectures, making it suitable for building resilient communication infrastructure. The company’s strategy now extends beyond standalone quantum communication technologies, aiming to deliver fully operational QSNs capable of securing communications across diverse networks and applications.
Ingrid Romijn, co-founder and CEO of Falqon Systems, outlined the company’s ambitious vision, Q*Bird says. “My vision for Q*Bird is to become the largest supplier of quantum networking equipment in Europe, US, and beyond,” she said.
“Today, we build devices for quantum-secured data communications. In the future, we will enable general purpose quantum connectivity, by providing new products and seamlessly integrating those with our already existing quantum cryptography network.” This future connectivity relies on a broader infrastructure capable of managing cryptographic keys, orchestrating network operations, and ensuring interoperability, areas where Falqon Systems intends to differentiate itself.
Erik van der Zant, Head of Investments at InnovationQuarter, emphasized the regional impact of this development. “Q*Bird not only builds up critical IP in quantum communication in the region of South Holland, but the company will also further help strengthen the cyber resilience of some of the most critical infrastructure in the Netherlands and Europe such as the Port of Rotterdam.” The transition to Falqon Systems, while a rebrand, represents a strategic evolution, aligning the company’s identity with its long-term strategy and international growth ambitions, rather than a fundamental shift in direction.
We commend Q*Bird for their groundbreaking quantum secure networking technology. There is growing recognition in today’s world that digital information transfer is not definitely secure, particularly in a post-quantum era.
Ton van ‘t Noordende, General Partner at lead investor Ground State Ventures
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