Qunnect, a New York-based quantum networking startup, has successfully closed a $10 million Series A funding round, a significant step forward in building the backbone of future quantum internet infrastructure. The round was led by Airbus Ventures, Cisco Investments, and Quantonation, with continued support from deep-tech and strategic investors who share the vision of a global quantum-secure network.

At the helm is Noel Goddard, a seasoned physicist and entrepreneur with years of experience in translating advanced science into scalable business models. With this new funding, Qunnect is now poised to accelerate the commercialization of its quantum memory and entanglement distribution technologies, paving the way for ultra-secure communications and a new frontier in cybersecurity resilience.

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Engineering the Quantum Internet

Qunnect focuses on quantum networking - a specialized domain of quantum information science that goes beyond computing to build the infrastructure that connects quantum devices. The company’s technology enables long-distance entanglement distribution and quantum memory solutions, which are foundational for establishing quantum repeaters, the quantum equivalent of today’s internet routers.

These components are essential for overcoming the loss and noise challenges of transmitting quantum states over fiber-optic cables. By making quantum communication viable over metropolitan and even continental distances, Qunnect is helping to realize one of the most ambitious visions in emerging tech: a quantum internet where security is governed not by algorithms, but by the unbreakable laws of quantum mechanics.

The startup is already collaborating with academic institutions and industry partners through the Long Island Quantum Network (LIQN), and it’s one of the few players deploying hardware directly in field environments - a testament to how close the technology is to commercial readiness.

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Why This Matters Now

Quantum networking is no longer theoretical. In fact, according to a report by McKinsey, the global quantum technology market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2040, with quantum communication and networking forming a significant share of this growth. Governments in the U.S., EU, and China are investing heavily in quantum-safe infrastructure, while major corporations are proactively exploring partnerships with startups like Qunnect to prepare for the quantum shift.

As cyber threats evolve - especially those driven by artificial intelligence and state-level actors - traditional encryption protocols are becoming increasingly obsolete. Quantum-safe communication isn’t just another layer of defense; it’s a redefinition of security itself, one governed by the immutable laws of physics instead of algorithms.

Here’s the ultra value drop for founders: if you're building in a deep-tech space, the advantage doesn't lie in being loud or first - it lies in being essential to the ecosystem’s evolution. Qunnect isn’t trying to dominate every vertical of quantum innovation. Instead, they’re locking in as the core infrastructure enabler - the rails other quantum solutions will depend on. That’s the leverage point every founder should be aiming for: become the unavoidable piece others must build around.

If your product enables scalability, compliance, or interoperability for an emerging ecosystem, you don’t need a spotlight - you need resilience, focus, and a clear read on where the industry pain points will converge. The startups that quietly embed themselves into the technical backbone of a rising wave are the ones that endure - and define the standard.

As cyber threats evolve, particularly those driven by AI and state-level actors, traditional encryption protocols are increasingly vulnerable. Quantum-safe communication offers a paradigm shift - security rooted in physics, not computation.

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The Ultra Value Drop for Founders

The quantum gold rush won’t be won by those who only build computers - it will be won by those who connect them.

While the media spotlight often shines on quantum processors, the true infrastructure moat lies in how those processors communicate, synchronize, and scale. Founders in frontier tech should take note - hardware-based networking layers often go underfunded and underappreciated but are absolutely essential to making distributed systems functional at scale.

Qunnect’s move to build first in networking is not just strategic - it’s foundational. Their roadmap aligns with a future where quantum networks enable secure cloud computing, trusted device authentication, financial trading security, and inter-lab quantum collaboration. The company’s deep-tech-first approach means it's building long-term trust with governments and critical infrastructure providers, setting up defensible network effects in one of the most security-sensitive industries of all.

For other deep-tech founders, the lesson is simple: if you can solve the bottleneck that enables others to scale, you don’t need to dominate every layer - you just need to become indispensable at the right one.

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Market Opportunity and Outlook

The quantum networking industry is rapidly gaining traction. According to BIS Research, the quantum communication market alone is expected to grow from $500 million in 2022 to $5.5 billion by 2032, driven by demand from finance, defense, and national infrastructure sectors.

The U.S. Department of Energy has already unveiled a $625 million National Quantum Initiative, and companies like Amazon, Google, and IBM are investing billions into quantum R&D. Yet, few startups have the hardware maturity and deployment readiness that Qunnect demonstrates. With the trust of investors like Airbus Ventures and Cisco - key players in aerospace and global infrastructure - the company is uniquely positioned to lead the charge.

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What’s Next for Qunnect

With this new injection of capital, Qunnect will expand its team, scale manufacturing, and roll out its quantum networking products to key metropolitan areas across the U.S. The company is also eyeing international partnerships, aiming to lay the groundwork for intercontinental quantum-secure communication.

Their next big milestone? Deploying a quantum repeater network across multiple testbeds and validating it for enterprise and government clients.

As the global race toward quantum-secure communication heats up, Qunnect is emerging not just as a participant, but as a pioneer in the infrastructure stack that will define digital trust for decades to come.

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