Q*Bird
Q*Bird is a Dutch quantum-secure communication company and the world's only commercial provider of Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD), selling Falqon® hardware and Quantum Domain Controller software to governments, critical infrastructure operators, banks, and healthcare organizations across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersDelft, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Q*Bird does
Q*Bird BV is a Dutch quantum-secure communication company headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, founded in 2022 and operating with 11–50 employees. The company builds hardware and software solutions for quantum key distribution (QKD), specifically commercializing Measurement-Device-Independent QKD (MDI-QKD), a protocol that eliminates detector-side vulnerabilities and enables multi-node networks without trusted intermediate nodes. Q*Bird describes itself as the world's only commercial provider of MDI-QKD technology.
The company's product portfolio consists of two core offerings. The Falqon® 4000 Series is the MDI-QKD hardware line, integrating with existing telecom and data communications infrastructure and supporting metropolitan-scale deployments over 30–50 km fiber links. The Quantum Domain Controller (QDC) is a web-based software platform providing centralized control, configuration, management, and monitoring of Q*Bird QKD networks. Together, the products form a hardware-plus-software stack targeting protection against "harvest now, decrypt later" threats and future quantum-enabled attacks on critical infrastructure.
Q*Bird generates revenue through hardware sales (Falqon devices), recurring software (QDC platform), and managed QKD services delivered through channel partners such as Eurofiber. The go-to-market is enterprise-focused, targeting critical infrastructure operators (ports, energy), government and public authorities, banking, healthcare, and research institutions. Sales are conducted through direct enterprise engagement and consortium partnerships (notably the QCFR fieldlab with Cisco, Eurofiber, CGI, and INSPIR8ION). Operational deployments have been completed in the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and the company has secured approximately €8.5M in grants and subsidies plus €5M equity from the EIC Accelerator (€7.5M total) and a €1M QUEST subsidy, alongside earlier seed equity of roughly $2.7M from Cottonwood Technology Fund, InnovationQuarter, and Ground State Ventures.
Q*Bird firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Q*Bird
- Legal name
- Q*Bird BV
- Website
- https://q-bird.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Q*Bird is a Dutch quantum-secure communication company and the world's only commercial provider of Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD), selling Falqon® hardware and Quantum Domain Controller software to governments, critical infrastructure operators, banks, and healthcare organizations across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Q*Bird industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantum Secure Communications Hardware
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Systems & Networks (HDAGAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Systems & Networks (HDAGAGAA), Quantum Network Control, Routing & Orchestration (SDN/NFV for Quantum) (HDAGAFAD), Quantum-Safe Network Infrastructure & Migration (PQC-enabled Networking) (HDAGAFAG)
Keywords
Where Q*Bird is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delft
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Q*Bird business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Quantum Hardware Sales: Q*Bird sells hardware devices including the Falqon 4000 series for quantum key distribution. These are sold to critical infrastructure operators, governments, and enterprises requiring quantum-secure communication solutions.
- Network Orchestration Software: The Quantum Domain Controller (QDC) provides software for centralized management of QKD networks, likely sold as part of a solution package or as a separate software component.
- QKD Services via Partners: Commercial QKD services available to customers through partnerships with infrastructure providers like Eurofiber, enabling access to quantum-secured services over fiber networks.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Q*Bird product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Q*Bird builds hardware devices and software for quantum-secured data communications based on Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD). Its Falqon® 4000 Series is hardware that integrates with existing telecom and data communications infrastructure, and the Quantum Domain Controller (QDC) is a web-based platform for centralized configuration, management and monitoring of QKD networks. The products protect critical infrastructure, governments, banking, and healthcare organizations against present and future quantum-enabled cyber threats.
Product overview
Q*Bird is a Dutch quantum-secure communication company offering a two-product portfolio: the Falqon® 4000 Series (hardware for MDI-QKD) and the Quantum Domain Controller (QDC, network management software). The hardware enables quantum-protected data communications while the software provides centralized control and monitoring of QKD networks. The company focuses on protecting critical infrastructure against quantum computing threats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Falqon® Series: Q*Bird's product line integrating seamlessly with telecom and data communications for quantum key distribution.
- Quantum Domain Controller (QDC)
Products and services
- Falqon® 4000 Series Hardware device for Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD) that integrates with telecom and data communications infrastructure. Provides scalable, detector-secure quantum key distribution for metropolitan-scale deployments over 30-50 km fiber links, used by critical infrastructure operators, governments, banks, and healthcare organizations requiring long-term cryptographic protection against present and future quantum-enabled threats.
- Quantum Domain Controller (QDC) Web-based software platform for centralized control, configuration, management and monitoring of Q*Bird Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) networks. Used by network operators to orchestrate QKD infrastructure across multiple sites.
Quantifiable outcome
- First scalable quantum internet connection at Port of Rotterdam
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Q*Bird
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Q*Bird technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Q*Bird partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- CiscocoreFounding partner of the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam (QCFR). Cisco collaborates with Q*Bird and other consortium members to validate quantum-secure technologies and prepare trusted deployment across banking, healthcare, government, ports, and energy systems.
- CGIcoreFounding partner of the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam (QCFR). CGI contributes to validating quantum-secure technologies and assessing interoperability for deployment across critical infrastructure sectors.
- INSPIR8IONcoreFounding partner of the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam (QCFR). INSPIR8ION serves as a founding consortium partner driving the transition from pilot programs to operational testing of quantum-secure communication.
- Port of Rotterdam AuthoritysupportingSupported the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam launch. Previously partnered on the world's first scalable quantum network connection at the Port of Rotterdam in May 2024, piloting quantum-secured fiber-optic network.
- InnovationQuartersupportingRegional development agency supporting the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam, contributing to the transition of quantum-secure communication from pilot to operational use in the Rotterdam region.
- Walton Institute at SETUcoreDeployed Ireland's first multi-node, entanglement-based MDI-QKD network as part of the IrelandQCI project. The network connects four end nodes across Dublin data centres, Dublin City University, and Trinity College Dublin to a central hub at Asiera, operating over existing fibre infrastructure.
- Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)coreDeployed Spain's first operational multi-node MDI-QKD network connecting three end nodes at high-security government sites in Madrid over 30-50 km fiber links. The deployment demonstrates operational MDI-QKD networks are technically feasible, resilient, and scalable.
- EurofibercoreJoint development of QKD technology with €1M QUEST project funding from Kansen voor West European Regional Development Fund. Eurofiber and Q*Bird are enabling Quantum Key Distribution across Eurofiber's main datacenters in the Randstad region, connecting quantum communication networks in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
- Single QuantumsupportingTechnology partner in the €1M QUEST project alongside Eurofiber and Q*Bird, contributing to the development of quantum key distribution technology in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
- Eurofiber (QKD Integration)corePartnership to integrate QKD into fiber optic infrastructure for quantum-secured communications. This enables commercial QKD services over Eurofiber's fiber network.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Q*Bird competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ID Quantique: Geneva-based pioneer and global market leader in commercial QKD systems and quantum-safe network solutions. Directly competes with Q*Bird for European EuroQCI deployments and offers overlapping hardware (Cerberis) plus software products targeting the same critical-infrastructure and government customers.
- LuxQuanta: Spanish QKD hardware vendor spun out of ICFO, offering CV-QKD systems for telecom networks. Directly competes with Q*Bird in Iberian and broader European markets and has overlapping customer focus on government and telco infrastructure operators.
- Toshiba Europe (QKD Division): Toshiba's Cambridge Research Laboratory pioneered long-distance QKD and field trials across the UK, US, and Japan. Competes head-to-head with Q*Bird in European and global QKD tenders and brings a much larger corporate balance sheet to multi-year network deployments.
- KETS Quantum Security: UK-based developer of chip-based QKD hardware targeting telecom and enterprise customers. Competes with Q*Bird in metropolitan-scale QKD deployments across Europe with an integrated photonic-chip roadmap that overlaps with Q*Bird's P4Q participation.
- Quantum Telecommunications Italy (QTI): Italian QKD vendor deploying national quantum networks in partnership with TIM and other telcos. Directly comparable to Q*Bird in scale, geographic focus, and product positioning within the EuroQCI framework.
- QuantumCTek: China's largest commercial QKD provider and operator of the Beijing-Shanghai backbone. Most direct global peer to Q*Bird in terms of product portfolio (QKD hardware + network management), although primarily focused on the Chinese market.
Emerging players
- QuintessenceLabs: Australian quantum-safe cybersecurity company with both QKD and QRNG product lines, plus a quantum key management software platform. Partial overlap with Q*Bird in quantum-safe networking and addresses similar critical-infrastructure segments in the Asia-Pacific region.
- MagiQ Technologies: US-based early commercial QKD vendor offering QPN security gateways. Smaller-scale peer in the QKD hardware market with comparable enterprise and government target customers, though with a much narrower product footprint than Q*Bird.
Broad incumbents
- Cisco: Global networking incumbent and Q*Bird consortium partner in the Quantum Communication Fieldlab Rotterdam. While Cisco is a strategic partner, its broader networking portfolio and emerging quantum networking initiatives make it a potential incumbent competitor or acquirer in the long run.
Others
- Single Quantum: Dutch single-photon detector company and QUEST project partner of Q*Bird. Acts as an enabling supplier/ecosystem participant rather than competitor, providing detector technology that can complement or substitute for components in QKD systems.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Q*Bird social profiles
Digital presenceQ*Bird financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Q*Bird leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Q*Bird funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Q*Bird 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 Q*Bird
What does Q*Bird do?
Q*Bird builds hardware devices and software for quantum-secured data communications based on Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Key Distribution (MDI-QKD). Its Falqon® 4000 Series is hardware that integrates with existing telecom and data communications infrastructure, and the Quantum Domain Controller (QDC) is a web-based platform for centralized configuration, management and monitoring of QKD networks. The products protect critical infrastructure, governments, banking, and healthcare organizations against present and future quantum-enabled cyber threats.
Is Q*Bird a public or private company?
Q*Bird is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Q*Bird founded?
Q*Bird was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Q*Bird based?
Q*Bird is headquartered in Delft, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Q*Bird make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Quantum Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are network Orchestration Software and QKD Services via Partners.
Who are Q*Bird's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ID Quantique, LuxQuanta, Toshiba Europe (QKD Division), KETS Quantum Security, Quantum Telecommunications Italy (QTI) and QuantumCTek. Emerging players are QuintessenceLabs and MagiQ Technologies. Cisco is listed as a broad incumbent. Single Quantum is listed as an others.
Does Q*Bird have an API?
No public API is recorded for Q*Bird.
What industry is Q*Bird in?
Q*Bird's product category is Quantum Secure Communications Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGAFAA, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Systems & Networks, with a secondary code of HDAGAGAA, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Systems & Networks. Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 3576.