What SB Quantum does

SBQuantum is a Sherbrooke, Quebec-based quantum sensing company founded in 2017 that develops Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamond magnetometer technology for defense, space, public safety, and commercial navigation applications. Its core product, the SBQDM quantum diamond magnetic sensor, is a compact device (roughly the size of a quart of milk in its space-qualified variant) that uses engineered diamonds and lasers to measure fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field with sub-100 Picotesla sensitivity. The hardware is paired with the ZeroDrift data visualization and interpretation platform, together marketed as "Magnetic Intelligence," and is sold across three application modules: Magnetic Navigation (GPS-independent positioning for Arctic and contested environments), Weapons Detection (non-intrusive, stand-off threat detection), and Mapping & Data Collection (high-resolution geomagnetic data for the World Magnetic Model).

The company's go-to-market is enterprise field sales directed at government and defense customers, with no consumer or self-serve channel. Revenue is generated primarily through long-term, non-dilutive R&D and procurement contracts with agencies including the Canadian Department of National Defence (~$3M in 2026 contracts, including IDEaS program), the European Space Agency (FutureEO Programme, ~$1M in 2025), the Canadian Space Agency (STRATOS), the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (MagQuest Challenge, $1.55M Phase 4a prize), and NASA Goddard (testing). Cumulative R&D contract value exceeds US$15 million. The company has been cash-efficient, operating for nearly a decade without outside equity before closing an oversubscribed US$4 million seed round in April 2026 co-led by Quantonation and Quantacet. In parallel, it established a US sister corporation (Zero Drift Technologies) in Cambridge, Massachusetts to serve US defense primes, and transitioned to a new CEO (Eric Giroux, ex-RaySecur) to scale commercial operations. The technology has been validated in orbit via SpaceX's Transporter-16 mission (March 2026) and is positioned in the broader quantum sensing market that BCG estimates will reach US$3-5 billion by 2030.

Name

SB Quantum

Legal name

SBQuantum

Website

https://sbquantum.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SBQuantum is a Canadian quantum sensing company that develops Nitrogen Vacancy diamond magnetometers and the ZeroDrift data platform for GPS-independent navigation, weapons detection, and geomagnetic mapping, serving defense, space agency, and public safety customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Magnetic Sensors

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Magnetometry (SQUID/OPM/NV and related) (HDAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Magnetic Sensors (Hall/Magnetoresistive/Compass) (HDAHALAC)

Keywords

• Quantum magnetometry sensors
• Diamond magnetic sensors
• GPS-independent navigation
• Magnetic field mapping
• Quantum sensing technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherbrooke

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales (Quantum Diamond Magnetometers): Sells quantum diamond magnetic sensor hardware (SBQDM devices) and magnetic mapping solutions to government and defense customers; hardware is deployable on small cube satellites and unmanned vehicles for a range of use cases.
2. Government R&D Contracts: Long-term non-dilutive R&D and procurement contracts with government agencies including the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (MagQuest Challenge), Canadian Department of National Defence, European Space Agency (ESA FutureEO Programme), and Canadian Space Agency (STRATOS Program). The company has secured over $15 million in R&D contracts cumulatively.
3. Defense Procurement Contracts: Awarded contracts (~US$3 million) from Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) including a $1.05 million contract through DND's Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program to field-test portable sensor systems for GPS-independent navigation in defence applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SBQuantum develops and manufactures field-proven Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamond quantum magnetometers (SBQDM hardware) and an integrated ZeroDrift magnetic data visualization platform that detects, interprets, and visualizes changes in Earth's magnetic field. Its products are deployed on small cube satellites and unmanned vehicles to provide GPS-independent navigation, stand-off weapons detection, and continuous geomagnetic mapping for defense, space, public safety, and commercial navigation customers.

Product overview

SBQuantum offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture anchored on its core Quantum Diamond Magnetic Sensor (SBQDM) — a Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamond magnetometer developed in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The SBQDM hardware is paired with the ZeroDrift magnetic data visualization and interpretation platform to form an end-to-end product that detects and analyzes changes in magnetic resonance lines. This integrated offering is commercialized in three application modules: Magnetic Navigation (GPS-independent positioning for Arctic and contested environments), Weapons Detection (non-intrusive stand-off threat detection), and Mapping & Data Collection (high-resolution geomagnetic maps for the World Magnetic Model and other uses). The combined sensor-plus-algorithms product line is also marketed under the "Magnetic Intelligence" name for security and defense applications. SBQuantum's US subsidiary, Zero Drift Technologies (Cambridge, Massachusetts), channels US government and defense prime contractor sales alongside the Canadian parent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Magnetic Intelligence: SBQuantum's branded product combining its high-accuracy quantum magnetometer sensor with advanced interpretation algorithms to deliver magnetic mapping and security applications.
• SBQDM
• Zero Drift Technologies

Products and services

• Quantum Diamond Magnetic Sensor (SBQDM) SBQuantum's flagship field-proven quantum sensor built on Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamond magnetometry. The compact device (roughly the size of a quart of milk in its space-qualified variant) uses engineered diamonds and lasers to measure fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field, providing GPS-independent navigation, magnetic object detection, and continuous high-precision magnetic field monitoring for defense, homeland security, public safety, and commercial navigation customers.
• ZeroDrift Magnetic Data Visualization and Interpretation Platform SBQuantum's end-to-end customizable visualization and interpretation platform. The integrated product first detects and understands changes in magnetic resonance lines, then visualizes the output, processing raw quantum magnetometer output into high-resolution magnetic maps and actionable insights for commercial and government customers.
• ESA FutureEO Space-Optimized Quantum Magnetometer Prototype Upgraded space-optimized quantum magnetometer prototype designed for Earth Observation missions under the European Space Agency's FutureEO Programme, with sub-100 Picotesla sensitivity, 400 Hz bandwidth, and 200 Picotesla accuracy at the same compact form factor and weight as prior versions.
• Magnetic Intelligence SBQuantum's combined product line that fuses its highly accurate quantum diamond magnetometer hardware with advanced interpretation algorithms to deliver magnetic mapping and security applications for contested and disrupted environments.
• Magnetic Navigation Application module enabling precise positioning in the Arctic and GPS-denied environments. Uses Earth's magnetic field to deliver navigation that resists jamming, spoofing, and tracking, supporting defense forces and operations in conflict zones and remote areas where GPS signals are unreliable, degraded, or unavailable above 70°N latitude.
• Weapons Detection Application module providing non-intrusive, stand-off threat detection and classification using quantum diamond magnetometry. Targeted at security screening around controlled-access facilities such as schools, sports venues, and government buildings, as well as SWAT and public safety operations.
• Mapping and Data Collection Application module producing high-resolution magnetic maps and continuous geomagnetic data for both commercial and government applications. Underpins the World Magnetic Model (WMM) that billions of smartphone users, commercial airlines, and militaries rely on for navigation; sensors can be mounted on small cube satellites for cost-effective orbital deployment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sub-100 Picotesla sensitivity, 400 Hz bandwidth, 200 Picotesla accuracy for space-optimized EO prototype
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Northrop Grumman: Major US defense prime with active quantum sensing and atomic physics programs for navigation and ISR applications. Comparable as a buyer/integrator of quantum sensing technology for defense and intelligence customers; represents both a potential customer channel and a potential competitive threat.
• Lockheed Martin: Global defense prime contractor actively investing in quantum sensing for GPS-denied navigation, magnetic anomaly detection, and resilient PNT (positioning, navigation, timing). Broad incumbent that could acquire, partner with, or disintermediate quantum sensing startups in defense procurement.
• SandboxAQ: AI/quantum sensing company (Alphabet spinout) offering magnetic anomaly detection and quantum sensor-based navigation solutions to defense and enterprise customers. Comparable quantum-sensing capability and government customer base, but operates as a much larger, broader-quantum-and-AI platform rather than a focused magnetometry company.

Emerging players

• QZabre AG: ETH Zurich spinout developing nitrogen-vacancy diamond magnetometers and scanning probe systems for nanoscale magnetic imaging. Comparable NV-diamond core technology, though focused on microscopy/nanoscale rather than SBQuantum's space/defense positioning.

Direct peers

• GEM Systems: Canadian magnetometer manufacturer producing high-sensitivity scalar magnetometers for geophysical surveys, defense, and space applications. Direct competitor in the magnetometer hardware market, particularly for geomagnetic survey and airborne/spaceborne use cases that overlap with SBQuantum's mapping segment.
• Q-CTRL (Qnity): Quantum sensing and quantum infrastructure company with a dedicated quantum sensing division that develops magnetic and inertial sensors for defense and aerospace. Directly comparable in quantum sensor modality mix, defense customer base, and use cases including GPS-denied navigation.
• Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta): US-based quantum technology company building quantum sensors (clocks, magnetometers, RF receivers) for defense, aerospace, and infrastructure applications. Direct peer in quantum sensing modality and defense/government commercial motion.
• Vector Atomic: US-based quantum sensing company developing atom-based inertial sensors, clocks, and magnetometers for GPS-denied navigation and defense applications. Highly comparable to SBQuantum in target customer (US DoD/intelligence agencies), product category (quantum sensors for navigation), and business model (government R&D contracts transitioning to procurement).
• Geometrics (a Pheonix Geophysics company): Established US manufacturer of magnetometers and geomagnetic survey equipment for defense, mineral exploration, and geophysics applications. Comparable in the magnetometer hardware product category, though uses traditional optically-pumped / fluxgate technologies rather than quantum diamond.
• Exail (formerly iXblue / Muquans): French quantum sensor company (Muquans brand) producing cold-atom-based quantum sensors including magnetometers and accelerometers for defense, space, and geophysics applications. Direct competitor in quantum magnetometry with similar European space-agency customer profile.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sb-quantum
• Xx.com/sbquantum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SB Quantum