Aqarios

What Aqarios does

Aqarios GmbH is a Munich-based quantum software company founded in 2021 as a spin-off from the QAR-Lab at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, with three LMU professors among its co-founders. The company develops the Luna platform, a cloud-based quantum optimization product that provides access to classical, AI-based, and quantum algorithms through a single interface, integrating with major quantum hardware providers (IBM Quantum, D-Wave, IonQ, IQM, Rigetti via Amazon Braket), GPU-accelerated simulation via NVIDIA CUDA-Q, error suppression through Q-CTRL Fire Opal, and classical solvers such as SCIP, Gurobi, and NVIDIA cuOpt. The platform is modularized into Luna Solve (execution), Luna Model/AqModels (Python-native modeling), Luna Bench (benchmarking), and Luna Usecases (40+ pre-built optimization scenarios), and incorporates proprietary in-house algorithms including FlexQAOA, IF-QAOA, and AqAOA.

Aqarios serves industrial enterprises primarily in manufacturing, logistics, energy, aerospace, and finance that face planning, scheduling, and optimization problems exceeding the capability of standard tools. Named customers include E.ON (energy grid optimization, collaboration since 2022), BASF (logistics, scheduling and forecasting, 2+ years), MTU Aero Engines (aerospace operations and turbine balancing), and SAP. The company delivers tailored solutions through a 4-8 week initial proof-of-concept engagement model.

The revenue model combines recurring SaaS subscriptions (Free, Commercial, Academic, and Individual tiers) with professional services for enterprise PoC delivery. Distribution is primarily direct enterprise field sales supplemented by self-serve access through the Luna platform, the Amazon Braket marketplace, and co-marketing with NVIDIA, Microsoft, QBN, and BITKOM. The company has approximately 30 team members and has not disclosed external institutional funding.

Name

Aqarios

Legal name

Aqarios GmbH

Website

https://aqarios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aqarios builds the Luna quantum optimization platform, serving manufacturing, logistics, energy, aerospace, and finance enterprises with combined classical, AI, and quantum algorithms for complex planning and scheduling problems via a hardware-agnostic cloud interface.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Optimization Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Software Publishers (5132), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Provider Quantum Aggregators & Marketplaces (HDAGAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Optimization (Combinatorial & Continuous) (HDAGADAB), Quantum Application Engineering & Solution Delivery Services (HDAGALAD), Managed Quantum Services & Enterprise Support (HDAGAIAI)

Keywords

• Quantum optimization software
• Combinatorial optimization platform
• Quantum computing algorithms
• Planning scheduling software
• AI optimization tools

Headquarters

HQ city

München

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Luna Platform Subscriptions: SaaS subscription revenue from Luna platform tiers (Free, Commercial, Academic, Individual). Commercial tier offers full suite of tools, premium enterprise support, and customized quantum training program. Academic tier includes full feature set with premium support and early access to new features. Individual tier provides flexible access for independent developers.
2. Professional Services: Tailored solutions working hands-on with client teams to understand problems, design approaches, and deliver working solutions, typically in 4-8 weeks for initial proof of concept.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Aqarios develops and sells the Luna quantum optimization platform, a cloud-based SaaS providing end-to-end access to classical, AI-based, and quantum algorithms through a single interface for solving complex planning, scheduling, and optimization problems. The company also delivers tailored professional services, working hands-on with client teams to design approaches and deliver initial proofs of concept in 4-8 weeks for enterprise clients in manufacturing, logistics, energy, and aerospace.

Product overview

Aqarios offers a unified quantum optimization platform called Luna, which serves as the core product for building and deploying optimization solutions. Luna provides end-to-end access to the world's best classical, AI-based, and quantum algorithms through a single interface, eliminating the need for quantum expertise. The platform is built around several interconnected modules: Luna Solve (optimization execution), Luna Model/AqModels (model building), Luna Bench (benchmarking), and Luna Usecases (pre-built scenarios). Aqarios has also developed proprietary quantum algorithms including FlexQAOA, IF-QAOA, and AqAOA, and participates in the collaborative QuCUN project to create a central quantum computing hub. The platform integrates with multiple QPU backends (D-Wave, IBM Quantum, IonQ, IQM, Rigetti), cloud services (Amazon Braket), and classical solvers (SCIP, NVIDIA cuOpt), and offers its capabilities in free, commercial, academic, and individual subscription tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Luna: Aqarios' flagship software platform for building and deploying optimization solutions using classical, AI-based, and quantum algorithms. Provides end-to-end solutions through a single interface with no technical expertise required.
• FlexQAOA
• IF-QAOA
• AqModels
• QuCUN

Products and services

• Luna Platform Cloud-based quantum optimization SaaS platform that enables enterprises to build and deploy optimization solutions using quantum computing, AI, and classical algorithms through a single interface without requiring quantum expertise. Includes modeling, solving, benchmarking, and a pre-built scenario library.
• Professional Services Tailored quantum optimization consulting and implementation services for enterprise clients. The Aqarios team works directly with client teams to scope optimization problems, design solutions, and deliver initial proofs of concept that demonstrate measurable impact.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of tested Knapsack instances solved faster with IF-QAOA compared to penalty methods
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Amazon BraketcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 November 2024Luna integrates with Amazon Braket, a fully managed quantum computing service, providing access to multiple quantum processors including IonQ, IQM, Rigetti, and QuEra.
• IBM QuantumcoreTechnology or IntegrationLuna platform integrates with IBM Quantum, enabling users to solve optimization problems on IBM's quantum computers. Access to IBM's quantum processors and simulators through Luna platform.
• Q-CTRL (Fire Opal)coreTechnology or IntegrationLuna integrates with Q-CTRL's Fire Opal package, an automated error suppression software that allows users to run valuable quantum applications by abstracting hardware, reducing errors, and boosting algorithmic success.
• NVIDIA (CUDA-Q, cuQuantum)coreTechnology or IntegrationLuna Platform integrates NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform and cuQuantum for GPU-accelerated quantum computing simulations, delivering enhanced performance for quantum optimization.
• D-WavecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with D-Wave quantum annealers including Leap Hybrid solvers, enabling access to quantum annealing hardware and hybrid quantum-classical solvers.
• LMU Munich (QAR-Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAqarios was founded as a spin-off from QAR-Lab at LMU Munich, a globally renowned hub for quantum computing research. Three professors from LMU are among the co-founders.
• RWTH Aachen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership indicated by logo on website, collaboration in quantum computing research and education.
• Technical University of Munich (TUM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership indicated by logo on website, collaboration in quantum computing research and education.
• DeloitteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services partnership indicated by logo on website, collaboration in quantum computing consulting and implementation.
• E.ONflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration since 2022 to develop quantum algorithms for energy grid optimization. Part of E.ON's broader effort to transition to sustainable energy practices, including Q-GRID project and prosumer problem research.
• BASFflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for more than two years on quantum models in logistics sector for scheduling, forecasting, and task assignment. Working to advance quantum computing initiatives.
• MTU Aero EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploration of quantum computing implications on aerospace operations including proof of concept for daily operations use case and quantum-inspired algorithm development.
• QBN (Quantum Business Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuantum business network partnership indicated by logo on website for ecosystem collaboration and market development.
• BITKOMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman digital industry association membership indicated by logo on website.
• Leibniz Rechenzentrum (LRZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with LRZ indicated by logo on website, collaboration in computational infrastructure and research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Multiverse Computing: Spain-based quantum software company building quantum and quantum-inspired optimization and AI products for finance, energy, and manufacturing. Directly comparable to Aqarios as an enterprise-focused quantum optimization software vendor with a hardware-agnostic stance and named industrial customers.
• Classiq: Israel-based quantum software platform that abstracts quantum algorithm development across multiple hardware backends. Closely parallels Aqarios' Luna model of hiding hardware complexity behind a higher-level modeling and solve interface for enterprise users.
• Quantinuum: Quantum computing company combining H-Series trapped-ion hardware with a software stack (InQuanto, TKET) targeting chemistry, materials, and optimization. Directly competes in quantum software for industrial applications, though backed by its own hardware.
• 1QBit: Canadian quantum software company focused on enterprise applications in finance, optimization, and materials. Directly comparable in building domain-specific quantum software for enterprise rather than selling hardware.
• Zapata Computing: Quantum+AI software company offering Orquestra, a platform for building quantum and classical workflows across multiple backends. Comparable hardware-agnostic platform positioning aimed at enterprise R&D teams.
• Strangeworks: Quantum computing platform company offering multi-vendor access to quantum hardware and software tools via a unified interface. Closely matches Aqarios' aggregator model across IBM, IonQ, Rigetti, and others.
• QC Ware: Quantum software company focused on enterprise applications in chemistry, finance, and optimization with a hardware-agnostic SaaS offering. Comparable in building quantum algorithms for named enterprise customers and exposing them via cloud interfaces.

Emerging players

• Q-CTRL: Australia-based quantum control software company whose Fire Opal product is integrated with Aqarios' Luna. Partial overlap as a quantum software vendor with a focus on error suppression and performance optimization for enterprise quantum users.

Broad incumbents

• D-Wave Systems: Quantum annealing hardware company offering Leap cloud service and hybrid solvers. A key upstream partner for Aqarios and a broader incumbent in quantum optimization with both hardware and software offerings.
• IBM Quantum: IBM's quantum computing division offering hardware, Qiskit SDK, and an enterprise cloud platform. A core integration partner for Aqarios and the dominant broad incumbent in quantum software for enterprise.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aqarios-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Aqarios