Zuriq
ZuriQ is a Zürich-based quantum computing hardware startup spun out of ETH Zürich in 2024, developing a Penning micro-trap ion-trap architecture that enables 3D reconfigurable qubits. It targets pharmaceutical, chemical, financial, and logistics enterprise customers via planned direct system sales and cloud access.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Zuriq does
ZuriQ is a Zürich-based quantum computing hardware company incorporated as ZuriQ AG and spun out of ETH Zürich in 2024 by Pavel Hrmo (CEO), Tobias Sägesser, and Shreyans Jain. The company is developing a trapped-ion quantum computer based on a proprietary Penning micro-trap array architecture, in which static electric and homogeneous magnetic fields confine ions instead of the radio-frequency oscillating fields used by conventional RF-trap systems from competitors such as Quantinuum and IonQ. This architectural choice enables ions to move freely in three dimensions rather than being constrained to one-dimensional chains, supporting a reconfigurable 2D grid of qubits, parallel gate operations, and a CMOS-compatible path to silicon chip fabrication. The foundational single-ion demonstration was published in Nature in April 2024 (Jain, Sägesser, Hrmo et al.), and the company is working toward a prototype with dozens of ions in a reconfigurable 2D grid, with a longer-term roadmap targeting thousands of qubits for industrially useful quantum computing.
ZuriQ's planned product offering is delivered through two channels: direct quantum computing system sales to enterprise customers and cloud-based access to the platform. Target use cases include molecular simulation and drug design in the pharmaceutical and chemistry sectors, portfolio optimization and risk analysis for financial services with high data privacy requirements, logistics and supply-chain optimization, and quantum algorithm development for researchers and developers. The go-to-market motion is enterprise field sales focused on long-term scalability rather than competing on near-term few-qubit toy systems, and ZuriQ positions itself as a potential flagship quantum provider and a strategic national priority for Switzerland.
The company is pre-commercial with 1-10 employees, no disclosed customers, and no public pricing. ZuriQ closed a $4.2 million (3.8M CHF) seed round in January 2025 led by Founderful, with participation from SquareOne, First Momentum Ventures, OnSight Ventures, and QAI Ventures. Strategic partnerships anchor the technology stack: Infineon Technologies AG (May 2025) provides semiconductor fabrication for ion-trap chips, QC Design (September 2025) supplies fault-tolerance simulation via its Plaquette platform, and the ETH Quantum Center (December 2024) connects the company to over 600 scientists across 38 research groups.
Zuriq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zuriq
- Legal name
- ZuriQ AG
- Website
- https://zuriq.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ZuriQ is a Zürich-based quantum computing hardware startup spun out of ETH Zürich in 2024, developing a Penning micro-trap ion-trap architecture that enables 3D reconfigurable qubits. It targets pharmaceutical, chemical, financial, and logistics enterprise customers via planned direct system sales and cloud access.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zuriq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantum Computing Hardware
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electronic Computers (3571)
- akta.pro primary industry
- QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals (HDAGAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fault-Tolerant Architectures & Resource Estimation (overhead, layout, scheduling) (HDAGAJAF), Quantum Cloud APIs, Billing & Metering (HDAGAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Zuriq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zuriq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Quantum Computing Systems (Direct Sales): Sale of quantum computing hardware systems to enterprise customers, particularly those requiring high data privacy applications such as financial portfolio optimization and drug design.
- Cloud Access / Quantum Computing Services: Providing cloud-based access to quantum computing capabilities, enabling customers to use the platform without purchasing hardware outright. Systems will be continuously upgraded as hardware matures.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Zuriq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZuriQ develops scalable quantum computing hardware based on a micro-fabricated Penning ion-trap architecture that uses static electric and magnetic fields to confine ions. This enables qubits to be repositioned in three dimensions above the chip, allowing 2D reconfigurable grids that overcome the scaling bottlenecks of traditional 1D trapped-ion designs. The systems are delivered via direct hardware sales and cloud access, targeting industrial applications in pharmaceutics, chemistry, finance, and logistics.
Product overview
ZuriQ offers a single unified product: the ZuriQ Quantum Computer based on their proprietary Penning micro-trap array architecture. This core hardware product uses trapped-ion qubits with unprecedented freedom to move and connect in three dimensions, overcoming the scaling barriers of traditional 1D ion trap systems. The company delivers this quantum computing system through two channels: direct hardware sales and cloud-based access, targeting industrial applications in pharmaceutics, chemistry, and logistics that require high data privacy such as financial portfolio optimization or drug design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ZuriQ Quantum Computer (Penning Micro-Trap Array) A trapped-ion quantum computer using micro-fabricated Penning traps with static electromagnetic fields to confine ions, enabling arbitrary 3D placement and full reconfigurability of qubits above the chip. It overcomes the scaling limitations of traditional 1D ion-trap systems by supporting 2D grids with dynamic connectivity and parallel gate operations. Sold to enterprise customers in pharma, chemistry, finance, and logistics.
- Quantum Cloud Access Cloud-based access to ZuriQ's quantum computing capabilities, allowing customers to run quantum workloads remotely without purchasing hardware outright. Systems are continuously upgraded as hardware matures. Targets enterprise customers who need quantum compute on demand.
Quantifiable outcome
- Faster growth in qubit numbers compared to competitors through 2D grid scaling
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Zuriq
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Zuriq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Zuriq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- QC DesigncorePilot project using QC Design's Plaquette software, a quantum design-automation platform for fault-tolerant quantum computing. The software enables ZuriQ to simulate, analyze, and optimize fault-tolerance designs for its micro-fabricated Penning ion-trap architecture ahead of hardware fabrication. Plaquette supports 20+ real-world hardware imperfections and provides extensive libraries of error-correction codes and decoders.
- Infineon Technologies AGcorePartnership to develop novel trapped-ion chips for quantum computing. Infineon, a leading German semiconductor manufacturer, provides rigorous, reproducible, and reliable fabrication processes for micro-Penning trap technology. The collaboration leverages Infineon's expertise in using semiconductor fabrication to make trapped ion chips, with synergies around CMOS compatibility enabling integration into standardized industrial processes.
- ETH Quantum CentercoreCorporate partnership with ETH Quantum Center, a central hub coordinating scientific and industrial activities across quantum research. The Center has over 600 scientists and 38 research groups. The partnership provides access to potential collaborators, events, colloquia, symposiums, and networking opportunities with prospective graduates and international connections.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Zuriq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Quantinuum: Quantinuum is the leading trapped-ion quantum computing company (Honeywell/Cambridge Quantum merger), using RF-based linear Paul traps. It is the most direct commercial competitor ZuriQ cites and the benchmark for trapped-ion QC performance and scale.
- IonQ: IonQ is a publicly-traded trapped-ion quantum computing company using RF Paul traps, offering cloud access and direct systems to enterprise customers in pharma, finance, and logistics — the same segments ZuriQ targets.
Emerging players
- Universal Quantum: Universal Quantum is a UK-based trapped-ion quantum computing startup using a different architectural approach (microwave-controlled Penning-like traps / scalable ion-trap modules). Closely comparable on technology category and target use cases, with similar pre-commercial stage.
- QuEra Computing: QuEra is a neutral-atom quantum computing company spun out of Harvard/MIT. While the qubit modality differs from ZuriQ's trapped ions, it targets the same enterprise use cases (optimization, chemistry, finance) with a competing scaling approach.
- Pasqal: Pasqal is a French neutral-atom quantum computing company pursuing scalable enterprise quantum computing via 2D/3D Rydberg atom arrays. Direct overlap with ZuriQ in target customers (pharma, finance, logistics) and GTM motion (direct + cloud).
- Quantum Art: Quantum Art is an Israeli trapped-ion quantum computing startup using a novel multi-ion architecture for scaling. Closely comparable to ZuriQ on modality and pre-commercial stage.
Broad incumbents
- IBM Quantum: IBM Quantum is the largest incumbent in quantum computing with superconducting hardware and a mature cloud platform (Qiskit). It is not a direct trapped-ion peer but defines the enterprise quantum buying market ZuriQ is targeting.
- Google Quantum AI: Google Quantum AI operates a major superconducting qubit program with extensive cloud access. As a broad incumbent it competes for the same enterprise and research customer budget ZuriQ is pursuing.
Others
- QC Design: QC Design is a quantum design-automation software company whose Plaquette platform is already partnered with ZuriQ. It is an enabling ecosystem participant rather than a competitor, but is highly relevant for fault-tolerant QC design benchmarking.
- Infineon Technologies: Infineon is a tier-1 semiconductor manufacturer and ZuriQ's announced industrial partner for ion-trap chip fabrication. It is not a competitor but a strategic supplier and ecosystem enabler critical to ZuriQ's scaling pathway.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zuriq social profiles
Digital presenceZuriq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zuriq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Zuriq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zuriq 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 Zuriq
What does Zuriq do?
ZuriQ develops scalable quantum computing hardware based on a micro-fabricated Penning ion-trap architecture that uses static electric and magnetic fields to confine ions. This enables qubits to be repositioned in three dimensions above the chip, allowing 2D reconfigurable grids that overcome the scaling bottlenecks of traditional 1D trapped-ion designs. The systems are delivered via direct hardware sales and cloud access, targeting industrial applications in pharmaceutics, chemistry, finance, and logistics.
Is Zuriq a public or private company?
Zuriq is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Zuriq founded?
Zuriq was founded in 2024. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zuriq based?
Zuriq is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Zuriq make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Quantum Computing Systems (Direct Sales) is the primary driver. The others are cloud Access / Quantum Computing Services.
Who are Zuriq's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Quantinuum and IonQ. Emerging players are Universal Quantum, QuEra Computing, Pasqal and Quantum Art. Broad incumbents are IBM Quantum and Google Quantum AI. Others are QC Design and Infineon Technologies.
Does Zuriq have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zuriq.
What industry is Zuriq in?
Zuriq's product category is Quantum Computing Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGAIAB, QCaaS Platforms & Developer Portals, with a secondary code of HDAGAJAF, Fault-Tolerant Architectures & Resource Estimation (overhead, layout, scheduling). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.