Dutch Quantum Startup Groove Quantum Raises $17.3 Million for Chip Scale-Up

Jan de Vries · 2026-04-30

Dutch quantum computing startup Groove Quantum has pulled in a hefty $17.3 million (€16 million) in combined funding. The Delft-based company also just unveiled an 18-qubit semiconductor spin-qubit processor, which they say is the largest of its kind ever built. Let's break down where that money came from. About $10.8 million (€10 million) came from equity investments led by Innovation Industries and 55 North, with help from Verve Ventures and the European Innovation Council Fund. The remaining $6.5 million (€6 million) came through grants from the EIC Accelerator program and the EU Chips Act funding program. ### Why This Matters for Quantum Computing "Quantum computing will only have real impact if it can be engineered and manufactured at scale," says Dr. Anne-Marije Zwerver, CEO and Co-founder of Groove Quantum. "With this funding and our 18-qubit prototype, we've shown that semiconductor spin qubits are not just a promising idea. They are ready to scale rapidly, and we believe our approach gives us the best shot at reaching the million-qubit systems that will change the world." She adds, "We are building technology to be produced and deployed at global commercial scale, just as every substantial semiconductor technology before us." ### A Quick Look at 2026 Quantum Funding Groove's raise is part of a bigger wave. Here are some comparable quantum and deep-tech funding announcements from 2026: - Orange Quantum Systems (also in Delft) raised $16.2 million for quantum chip testing infrastructure - Equal1 in Dublin closed a $55.1 million round for silicon-based quantum computing - IQM Quantum Computers in Espoo secured $54.0 million for tech development and market expansion In adjacent quantum-enabling hardware: - Pixel Photonics in Münster raised $14.6 million for superconducting single-photon detectors - Rhonexum in Lausanne raised $937,000 for cryogenic electronics - Vexlum in Tampere raised $10.8 million for semiconductor laser manufacturing - Alice & Bob (Paris and Boston) secured $3.7 million for rare-earth-free magnet research - Optalysys in Leeds raised $28.5 million for photonic chip technology Together, these EU-Startups 2026 announcements represent over $183 million in disclosed funding. ### The Delft Connection The same-country comparison is especially clear in Delft, where OrangeQS is also building infrastructure for quantum chip development and validation. Larger rounds for Equal1 and IQM Quantum Computers show continued investor interest in scalable quantum computing platforms. Meanwhile, smaller specialist financings for Rhonexum, Pixel Photonics, and Vexlum point to funding for enabling hardware. Groove's germanium spin-qubit approach fits neatly into this broader European funding picture. It's not just about quantum computing systems themselves, but also the industrial infrastructure needed to test, manufacture, and scale them. "The quantum industry remains in its early innings, focusing on short term monetization opportunities for very specific use-cases," notes Vincent Kamphorst, Investment Director at Innovation Industries. "Groove has the potential to leapfrog the competition, scaling quantum computing to the level where it unlocks meaningful real-world applications across health, energy, security and beyond." ### The Team Behind the Tech Founded in 2024 as a QuTech spin-out, Groove Quantum is led by Dr. Anne-Marije Zwerver and Dr. Nico Hendrickx. Zwerver previously pioneered the first quantum dot qubits manufactured in Intel's industrial cleanroom. Hendrickx is an innovator in germanium quantum computing and the primary architect behind Groove's foundational technology. The company builds on research by Prof. Menno Veldhorst, Dr. Giordano Scappucci, and Prof. Lieven Vandersypen, who remain involved as scientific advisors. ### What's Next Groove Quantum is betting big on germanium spin qubits as the path to million-qubit systems. With this fresh capital and their record-breaking 18-qubit processor, they're positioning themselves to compete with silicon-based approaches from companies like Equal1 and IQM. The next few years will tell us whether their bet pays off, but for now, the European quantum ecosystem is buzzing with activity.