Orange Quantum Systems (OrangeQS), a deep-tech startup spun out of TNO, has announced a groundbreaking €12 million (US $13.7 million) seed round, the largest ever in the Dutch quantum sector. The round was led by Icecat Capital, alongside Cottonwood Technology Fund, QDNL Participations, InnovationQuarter Capital, and QBeat Ventures. This investment positions OrangeQS to solve one of the biggest bottlenecks in quantum computing: reliable, scalable chip testing.

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Closing the Quantum Production Gap

While quantum computing is often seen as the future of computing power, most companies struggle to move beyond lab prototypes. Building stable, error-corrected quantum chips at scale requires extensive, precise testing - a process that traditionally took weeks or even months.

OrangeQS tackles this challenge with its automated test equipment portfolio, including the MAX system for volume production, FLEX for versatile R&D work, and Juice, an open-source software control platform. These solutions allow manufacturers and labs to reduce characterization cycles from weeks to days, accelerating the pace at which new qubits can be iterated and refined.

Already, top institutions like IQM in Finland, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, and Berkeley Lab in the US have integrated OrangeQS systems into their workflows, dramatically improving their speed to innovation.

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Infrastructure Thinking: The Hidden Engine of Scale

A major reason for OrangeQS's momentum lies not just in their technical sophistication but in how they approached market strategy. Instead of trying to build quantum chips themselves or sell to end users, OrangeQS chose to focus on essential infrastructure - providing the testing backbone that all quantum hardware players depend on.

This decision reflects a strategic insight many founders overlook: the most powerful growth often happens when you become invisible but indispensable. By embedding themselves deep into the supply chain as a critical enabler, OrangeQS ensures their value is felt at every stage of quantum development, from the R&D lab to large-scale manufacturing lines.

For founders, this is an ultra-valuable reminder that success isn't always about being in the spotlight. Sometimes, the biggest impact (and most defensible business model) is achieved when your product quietly empowers other innovators to succeed faster. By being the infrastructure instead of the final product, you create natural stickiness, stronger partnerships, and high switching costs - all while benefiting from the growth of your entire ecosystem rather than fighting to dominate one niche.

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Fueling Quantum Moore’s Law

With this new capital, OrangeQS plans to push its vision of a "Quantum Moore’s Law" - a concept where qubit counts double every few years, similar to the transistor revolution in classical chips. The company aims to halve the testing and characterization times each year, making rapid iteration and scale possible for quantum manufacturers.

Investors see this as a critical milestone for European quantum leadership. InnovationQuarter emphasized that OrangeQS not only advances Dutch technological sovereignty but also makes Europe a more attractive region for global quantum investment and talent.

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Plans for Expansion and Development

Founded in 2020, OrangeQS spun out of Dutch research institute TNO and now employs around 35 people at its Delft headquarters. The new funding will support:

• Expanding commercial operations across Europe and North America.
  
• Growing the engineering team to accelerate software and hardware development.
  
• Integrating more advanced automation, including AI-driven data analysis and predictive diagnostics, to make quantum chip testing even faster and more scalable.
  

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Strengthening Global Quantum Networks

By supplying high-quality test systems to multiple research labs and commercial manufacturers, OrangeQS builds crucial trust and technical standardization in a field that often lacks it. These partnerships don’t just deliver hardware - they create a feedback loop of data and insights, helping improve future test systems and enabling quantum companies to refine their chips faster.

The ripple effects of this strategy are huge. As labs and startups push to build more qubits and reduce error rates, OrangeQS stands at the center, quietly driving an entire industry's acceleration.

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The Largest Dutch Quantum Seed Round

This €12 million seed round marks a record for Dutch quantum startups, reflecting investor confidence in OrangeQS’s roadmap and the broader appetite for scalable quantum solutions. By laying the foundation for mass production, OrangeQS is a cornerstone in the effort to transform quantum computing from academic experiment to commercial reality.

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Final Thoughts

Orange Quantum Systems’ €12 million seed raise isn’t just a funding milestone; it’s a signal that quantum computing is finally moving from theory to large-scale production. By focusing on the critical infrastructure layer, OrangeQS has secured its position as an essential enabler of the quantum future.

For founders, the core lesson couldn’t be clearer: if you want to achieve exponential impact and defensible growth, think like an infrastructure provider. Empower your ecosystem, become invisible but indispensable, and watch your growth multiply as your partners scale with you.