LQUOM

What LQUOM does

LQUOM is a Japanese deep-tech startup founded in January 2020 as a spinout from Yokohama National University's Horikiri Laboratory, focused on building the hardware layer of the quantum internet. The company develops quantum repeaters and quantum communication systems, and uniquely holds all three core elemental technologies required for a functional quantum repeater: quantum entangled photon sources, Pr:YSO (praseodymium-doped yttrium orthosilicate) quantum memory, and frequency stabilization. This vertical integration across the hardest physical layers is the basis of its technical positioning and its role in joint research programs with major Japanese industrial and global quantum partners.

LQUOM monetizes primarily through a combination of R&D and joint-development contracts with strategic partners, government grants (notably NEDO), and early commercial sales of its LQ-PS-100 quantum photonic source product. The company serves customers and collaborators across telecommunications (Toshiba, SoftBank), industrial equipment (Mitsubishi Electric, SCREEN Holdings), and quantum computing (Quantinuum), with stated target end-markets including finance, healthcare, and defense. Strategic equity has been raised from Toshiba and MPower Partners, with cumulative funding exceeding ¥1.5 billion across the Series A and Series B rounds.

The company's go-to-market is partner-led and standards-oriented: its participation in a seven-party consortium alongside Quantinuum and SoftBank for distributed quantum computing, combined with NEDO-backed national program participation, signals that long-term commercial leverage depends on its technology becoming embedded in the architectural choices for the quantum internet rather than on high-volume standalone hardware sales in the near term.

Name

LQUOM

Legal name

LQUOM株式会社

Website

https://lquom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LQUOM is a Japanese deep-tech startup spun out of Yokohama National University that develops quantum repeaters and quantum communication systems for the quantum internet, holding proprietary entangled photon source, Pr:YSO quantum memory, and frequency stabilization technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Communication Hardware

NAICS

Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Repeaters & Entanglement Distribution (HDAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Transceivers, Modems & Photonic Interfaces (HDAGAFAE), Quantum Control, Cryogenics & Measurement Research (HDAGAMAC), Quantum Standards, Testbeds & Open Research Infrastructure (HDAGAMAL), Quantum Application Engineering & Solution Delivery Services (HDAGALAD)

Keywords

• Quantum repeater systems
• Quantum communication technology
• Entangled photon sources
• Quantum memory devices
• Quantum internet infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. LQ-PS-100 Product Sales: Sale of the commercial resonator-integrated quantum entangled light source LQ-PS-100, a key component of quantum repeater systems. Custom configurations are available. Product is already commercialized with sales track record.
2. R&D Services and Joint Research Contracts: Revenue from collaborative R&D agreements with corporations, universities, and government agencies (e.g., Toshiba joint research, 7-party consortium, NEDO projects). Services include quantum repeater system development, demonstration experiments, and technology consulting.
3. Quantum Communication System Development: Custom development of quantum communication systems and related technologies for realizing the quantum internet, potentially including licensing of core technologies to partners.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LQUOM develops and commercializes quantum communication systems, quantum repeaters, and related technologies essential for realizing the quantum internet. The company sells the LQ-PS-100 cavity-integrated quantum entangled light source as a commercial hardware product, while also providing custom quantum repeater R&D, joint research, and system development services to corporations, telecom operators, government agencies, and research institutions. The company holds all three core elemental technologies required for quantum repeater development: quantum light sources, quantum memory (Pr:YSO), and frequency stabilization.

Product overview

LQUOM offers a focused portfolio centered on quantum communication infrastructure hardware. The primary product is the LQ-PS-100, a cavity-integrated two-photon entangled light source. This product serves as a critical component within quantum repeater systems, which are essential building blocks for the quantum internet. The company also develops quantum repeater technology and related systems for long-distance quantum communication, positioning its product as part of an integrated hardware ecosystem for secure quantum networking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LQ-PS-100 Cavity-Integrated Quantum Entangled Light Source A cavity-enhanced two-photon (quantum entangled light) source optimized for quantum repeater systems with Pr:YSO quantum memory compatibility. Generates entangled photon pairs at 606 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths with frequency linewidth under 5 MHz, free spectral range of 120 ± 20 MHz, integrated servo controller, and frequency multimode output supporting up to 83 frequency modes (123 MHz spacing). Class 1 laser safety compliant (DHHS 21 CFR Subchapter J, IEC 60825-1, EN 60825-1, JIS C6802). Custom configurations available. Sold to research institutions, quantum technology companies, and telecom operators.
• Quantum Repeater System Development and Joint Research Services Custom development of quantum communication systems, quantum repeaters, and related technologies for realizing the quantum internet. Includes collaborative R&D agreements, demonstration experiments (e.g., field studies transmitting entangled photons through metropolitan commercial fiber), and technology consulting for corporate partners (Toshiba QKD joint research, SoftBank field demonstration, Mitsubishi Electric quantum computer interconnection), government agencies (NEDO-funded projects), and academic institutions (Yokohama National University, Keio University).

Quantifiable outcome

• LQ-PS-100 achieves frequency linewidth of less than 5 MHz at 606 nm, enabling efficient coupling with Pr:YSO quantum memory
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Toshiba CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2026Joint research agreement (March 2026 to March 2027) to study long-distance QKD using quantum repeater technology. Toshiba focuses on QKD protocols and architectures; LQUOM leads on quantum repeater system architectures. Toshiba invested in LQUOM via CVC in 2023. Toshiba has been conducting QKD R&D since 1999.
• Mitsubishi Electric CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 August 2025NEDO Post-5G R&D project partner for theme (g5) 'Acceleration of development toward industrialization of quantum computers.' LQUOM contributing quantum repeater technology for quantum computer interconnection. Mitsubishi Electric developing quantum control systems and contributing to project with proven high-precision optical control technologies.
• Seven-Party Consortium (Quantinuum, Keio University, SoftBank, Mitsui, Mitsubishi Electric, Yokohama National University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025Multi-institutional joint research agreement for scalable quantum information processing. LQUOM developing quantum repeater devices. Partners include quantum computer maker (Quantinuum), university (Keio), telecom (SoftBank), trading company (Mitsui), electronics (Mitsubishi Electric), and academic institution (YNU). Aims for practical quantum device connectivity by ~2030. Operating from Kawasaki Quantum Innovation Park.
• Optage Inc. (株式会社オプテージ)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2024Joint field demonstration of space-division multiplexed phase compensation for long-distance quantum communication in Osaka metropolitan commercial fiber network. Optage provided commercial fiber infrastructure; LQUOM contributed quantum communication technology. World's first demonstration of space-division multiplexed phase compensation technique.
• SoftBank Corp.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2023Joint field study to transmit entangled photons through commercial fiber in Tokyo metropolitan area (link between SoftBank HQ and data center, ~16km). Aims to realize hybrid network combining existing internet and quantum internet technologies. SoftBank contributing network infrastructure and deployment expertise.
• NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2023Deep-Tech Startups Support Program (STS phase, September 2023 to September 2025, up to ¥402 million for 2 years). Grant for quantum repeater system development. Also selected for PCA phase (December 2025 to December 2027) and Post-5G R&D project (theme g5) with Mitsubishi Electric.
• Kaga CityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2022Collaboration agreement for social implementation of quantum internet. Joint activities include quantum communication demonstration experiments using quantum entanglement for secure health/medical information transmission, and human resource development.
• OXIDE Corporation (株式会社オキサイド)coreTechnology or Integration · 18 May 2022Capital and business partnership. OXIDE is a world-leading optical single crystal and optical device manufacturer. Provides high-quality wavelength conversion elements and optical single crystals for quantum entangled light sources and quantum repeaters. OXIDE's crystal growth, microfabrication, and wavelength conversion technologies are highly compatible with LQUOM's systems.
• Yokohama National UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2021Spin-off origin and ongoing R&D partner. LQUOM originated from YNU Horikiri Laboratory. Researchers hold positions at YNU's Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences. Collaborative research on quantum repeater technologies, entanglement distribution, and quantum memory. CEO Niizeki is YNU alumnus (BS 2017, MS 2019, PhD 2022). CSO Horikiri is Professor at YNU Faculty of Engineering.
• Quantum Internet Task Force (QITF)strategicOthers · 17 May 2019LQUOM's Technical Advisor Tomoyuki Horikiri serves as board member of QITF, a cross-industry organization promoting quantum internet development in Japan.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Qunnect: US startup building quantum networking hardware including quantum memory and entanglement sources for the quantum internet. Closest direct peer in developing quantum memory and network-enabling components outside Japan; differs by being US-based and earlier-stage commercially.
• SpeQtral: Singapore-based startup building quantum communication systems including satellite QKD and entanglement-based links. Comparable to LQUOM in stage and mission (commercial quantum networking); differs by focusing on satellite rather than repeater-based fiber approaches.
• QuintessenceLabs: Australian quantum cybersecurity company combining QKD with quantum random number generation. Adjacent to LQUOM's telecom/defense customer segments; weaker direct overlap on hardware repeaters.
• MagiQ Technologies: US pioneer in commercial QKD products (QPN security gateways) serving defense and government. Comparable target verticals (defense, government secure comms); much longer-tenured but smaller-scale than LQUOM's repeater ambitions.
• Aliro Quantum: US company providing quantum network simulation, orchestration, and entanglement-based networking platforms. Comparable in pursuing the broader quantum internet vision; software/network layer rather than repeater hardware.
• LuxQuanta: Spanish startup developing continuous-variable QKD systems for telecom networks. Comparable as a European emerging quantum communication vendor; narrower product focus (CV-QKD) versus LQUOM's full repeater stack.

Direct peers

• QuantumCTek: China's leading quantum communication company, operating the Beijing-Shanghai quantum backbone and QKD products. Most direct global peer in commercializing quantum communication infrastructure; differs in scale, geography, and government backing.
• Toshiba Digital Solutions: Toshiba's QKD unit (researching quantum cryptography since 1999) and a strategic partner/investor in LQUOM. Operates in the same quantum-secure communication space and competes for long-distance QKD system contracts while complementing LQUOM's repeater roadmap.
• ID Quantique: Swiss pioneer in quantum key distribution and quantum-safe networking, the most established commercial player in quantum communications. Directly comparable to LQUOM in targeting the quantum communication infrastructure market; differs by being more mature and QKD-focused rather than quantum-repeater-focused.

Others

• OXIDE Corporation: Japanese optical single-crystal and wavelength-conversion component manufacturer that is a capital-and-business partner to LQUOM. Adjacent supplier enabling LQUOM's quantum light sources; not a competitor but a critical ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lquom_Inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lquom

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors16 records

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about LQUOM