planqc
planqc builds full-stack neutral-atom quantum computers using strontium atoms in optical lattices, serving European government agencies and industrial customers in aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, and materials science via on-premise hardware, cloud access, and custom quantum algorithms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersMunich, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What planqc does
planqc is a German full-stack quantum computing company founded in April 2022 as the first spin-off from the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics within the Munich Quantum Valley initiative. The company builds quantum computers using individual neutral strontium atoms trapped in optical lattices as qubits, an approach it positions as more scalable than superconducting or trapped-ion alternatives due to long coherence times and high gate fidelity. Its product portfolio centers on the MAQCS (Multicore Atomic Quantum Computing System) platform — a multi-core, 1,000-qubit-class architecture with two independent cores — alongside a full-stack offering that integrates hardware, a quantum operating system, cloud-based 'Quantum as a Service' access, and tailored application software for materials simulation, climate modeling, logistics optimization, and quality control.
The company generates revenue through three streams: on-premise quantum hardware sales (anchored by a €29M DLR contract for Europe's first digital neutral-atom quantum computer installed in Ulm, and a €20M MAQCS deployment at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre), cloud-based usage-based access, and software/algorithm licensing for industrial use cases. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting European government agencies, research institutes, and large industrial customers in aerospace (Airbus, ESA), automotive (BMW), semiconductor (Infineon), and applied research (Fraunhofer). Pricing is non-public and bespoke, consistent with capital-intensive hardware sales and milestone-based R&D contracts.
planqc has scaled to 100+ employees across 30+ nationalities, operates from a 1,400 m² headquarters in Garching near Munich with an additional R&D lab at the DLR Innovation Center in Ulm, and has raised or contracted over €80 million cumulatively, including a €50M Series A in July 2024 led by CATRON Holding and DTCF. Its board and scientific advisory lineup (J. Ignacio Cirac, Immanuel Bloch, Artur Ekert, Hermann Hauser) reflect deep ties to the European quantum research ecosystem and provide a talent and ecosystem moat that is unusual at this stage of company maturity.
planqc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- planqc
- Legal name
- PlanQC GmbH
- Website
- https://planqc.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- planqc builds full-stack neutral-atom quantum computers using strontium atoms in optical lattices, serving European government agencies and industrial customers in aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, and materials science via on-premise hardware, cloud access, and custom quantum algorithms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
planqc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantum Computing Hardware
- NAICS
- Electronic Computer Manufacturing (334111), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)
- SIC
- Electronic Computers (3571), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals (HDAGAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Managed Quantum Services & Enterprise Support (HDAGAIAI), Quantum Job Scheduling, Queuing & Resource Management (HDAGAIAE), Quantum Cloud APIs, Billing & Metering (HDAGAIAJ), Quantum Cloud Infrastructure & QPU Hosting (HDAGAIAA), QEC-Aware Control, Calibration & Feedback (active reset, adaptive control) (HDAGAJAG)
Keywords
Where planqc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Munich
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
planqc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Quantum Computing Hardware Sales: Sale of quantum computing hardware systems including the MAQCS platform for on-premise installations.
- Cloud-Based Quantum Computing Services: Quantum computing access delivered via cloud infrastructure, enabling customers to access quantum resources remotely.
- Quantum Software Development: Development and licensing of quantum software solutions including applications and algorithms.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
planqc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
planqc develops and manufactures digital neutral-atom quantum computers that use strontium atoms trapped in optical lattices as qubits. Its flagship MAQCS system delivers a 1,000-qubit, multi-core quantum computer deployable on-premise, via cloud, or coupled with HPC infrastructure. The company offers a full-stack quantum platform including hardware, a quantum operating system, and tailored algorithms targeting optimization, simulation, and machine learning workloads for industrial and government customers.
Product overview
planqc is a full-stack quantum technology provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of quantum computing products and services. The core offering includes MAQCS (Multicore Atomic Quantum Computing System), a 1,000-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer, supported by a full-stack quantum platform that integrates hardware, quantum operating system, and tailored applications. The company provides quantum cloud services for remote access, quantum algorithms for materials simulation and climate modeling, and quantum-inspired software for industrial quality control applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- MAQCS: Multicore Atomic Quantum Computing System - a €20 million project to build and deploy a fully-digital, 1,000-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ).
- Quantum as a Service
Products and services
- MAQCS (Multicore Atomic Quantum Computing System) A 1,000-qubit universally programmable neutral-atom quantum computer featuring a multi-core architecture with two independent cores, enabling parallelization and latency-hiding techniques for increased operational efficiency. Deployed at LRZ and integrated into HPC ecosystem. Targeted at government research centers and HPC infrastructure programs.
- Digital Neutral-Atom Quantum Computer (DLR Installation) Quantum computer using individual neutral atoms confined in optical lattices as qubits, stored in electronic states of strontium atoms, offering long coherence times and high gate fidelity for scalable quantum processing. Installed at DLR Innovation Center Ulm.
- Full Stack Quantum Platform A comprehensive full-stack quantum solution integrating scalable, high-fidelity neutral-atom hardware with optimized software and tailored quantum applications, deployable on-premises, in the cloud, or coupled with HPC systems.
- Quantum Cloud Service (Quantum as a Service) Cloud-based remote access to planqc's full-stack quantum technology stack, hosted at planqc's headquarters for maximum flexibility and accessibility to quantum computing resources. Targeted at enterprise and research customers needing scalable access without on-premise hardware.
Quantifiable outcome
- Europe's first 1,200-atomic qubit array
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use planqc
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
planqc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Feature6 records
planqc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.
- DLR (German Aerospace Center)flagshipMajor €29 million contract for quantum computing development. Strategic partner for national quantum computing infrastructure and research programs.
- LRZ (Leibniz Supercomputing Centre)flagshipStrategic partner in the MAQCS project for quantum computing integration with supercomputing infrastructure in Munich.
- Max Planck Institute of Quantum OpticscoreResearch partnership with leading quantum optics research institution for technology development.
- Menlo SystemscoreTechnology partner providing advanced laser systems required for neutral atom quantum computing operations.
- ParityQCcoreTechnology partner providing software architecture for quantum computing operations and algorithm development.
- d-finesupportingConsulting partner with multiple project engagements for quantum computing implementation and analysis.
- nebumindsupportingTechnology partner for ESA project involving quantum computing applications.
- MT AerospacesupportingIndustry partner for ESA projects involving aerospace applications of quantum computing.
- TUM (Technical University of Munich)coreResearch partnership with leading technical university for quantum computing research and talent development.
- ENGYSsupportingTechnology partner for computational fluid dynamics and simulation applications.
- ExoMattersupportingTechnology partner for materials science and quantum computing applications.
- European Photonic Pilot P4QsupportingEuropean photonics initiative for quantum technology development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
planqc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pasqal: French neutral-atom quantum computing company building quantum processors from arrays of neutral atoms trapped in optical tweezers. Most direct competitor to planqc in neutral-atom modality, serving similar enterprise and government customers with cloud access to quantum hardware.
- QuEra Computing: US-based neutral-atom quantum computing company using Rydberg atom arrays, with comparable qubit modality to planqc. Targets enterprise and research customers with cloud-accessible quantum hardware, making it a direct competitor in the same technological approach.
- Atom Computing: US neutral-atom quantum computing company using optically trapped neutral atoms. Competes directly with planqc in the neutral-atom modality and serves similar enterprise, government, and research customers with cloud and on-premise deployments.
Broad incumbents
- Quantinuum: Leading trapped-ion quantum computing company formed from Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum. Operates a full-stack quantum platform with H-series hardware and provides enterprise quantum software solutions, competing with planqc across modalities.
- IonQ: Public, US-based trapped-ion quantum computing company offering cloud-accessible quantum systems. Competes with planqc in the broader full-stack quantum computing market, particularly for enterprise cloud access to quantum hardware.
- IBM Quantum: Industry incumbent offering superconducting quantum computing systems via the IBM Quantum Network and Qiskit ecosystem. Massive scale, deep enterprise and government relationships, and significant R&D budget make it planqc's largest indirect competitor across modalities.
- PsiQuantum: Photonic quantum computing company pursuing fault-tolerant systems using silicon photonics. Well-capitalized private competitor pursuing a different modality but targeting the same enterprise and government quantum computing market as planqc.
- Rigetti Computing: Public US-based superconducting quantum computing company offering cloud-accessible quantum systems via its QCS platform. Competes with planqc in the full-stack quantum computing category, particularly for enterprise cloud access.
- D-Wave Quantum: Public quantum computing company focused on annealing quantum systems for optimization problems. Serves enterprise and government customers with a different but complementary modality to planqc's gate-based neutral-atom systems.
- Google Quantum AI: Industry leader in superconducting quantum computing research and systems, including Sycamore processor. Massive R&D resources and demonstrated technical milestones make it a significant indirect competitor to planqc in pursuing fault-tolerant quantum advantage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
planqc social profiles
Digital presenceplanqc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
planqc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
planqc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
planqc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about planqc
What does planqc do?
planqc develops and manufactures digital neutral-atom quantum computers that use strontium atoms trapped in optical lattices as qubits. Its flagship MAQCS system delivers a 1,000-qubit, multi-core quantum computer deployable on-premise, via cloud, or coupled with HPC infrastructure. The company offers a full-stack quantum platform including hardware, a quantum operating system, and tailored algorithms targeting optimization, simulation, and machine learning workloads for industrial and government customers.
Is planqc a public or private company?
planqc is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was planqc founded?
planqc was founded in 2022. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is planqc based?
planqc is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does planqc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Quantum Computing Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are cloud-Based Quantum Computing Services and quantum Software Development.
Who are planqc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pasqal, QuEra Computing and Atom Computing. Broad incumbents are Quantinuum, IonQ, IBM Quantum, PsiQuantum, Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum and Google Quantum AI.
Does planqc have an API?
No public API is recorded for planqc.
What industry is planqc in?
planqc's product category is Quantum Computing Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGAIAB, QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals, with a secondary code of HDAGAIAI, Managed Quantum Services & Enterprise Support. Its NAICS code is 334111 and its SIC code is 3571.