WIQD (Women in Quantum Development)

What WIQD (Women in Quantum Development) does

WIQD (Women in Quantum Development, rebranded to We in Quantum Development in May 2025) is a Dutch non-profit foundation headquartered in Amsterdam that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within the Netherlands' quantum technology sector. Founded in 2020 by Dr. Julia Cramer and Dr. Stacey Jeffery, the organization serves a community of 1,500+ members spanning Dutch academia, industry, and policy. Following its May 2025 rebrand, WIQD extended its mandate from a women-focused scope to all underrepresented groups in quantum.

The organization's programming is anchored by an Annual Symposium attended by 100+ participants, a recurring Inspirational Talks series, a pilot Mentorship Programme launched in 2025, and member-facing hackathons. Operations are run by a 5-person core staff team supported by a volunteer organizing committee. WIQD is formally registered as a Dutch foundation (stichting) following its March 2026 establishment.

WIQD operates on a non-fee revenue model: membership is free and the organization is funded through grants, sponsorships, and institutional partnerships. Named partners and sponsors include Quantum Delta NL (a core ecosystem partner), DiviQ, MCQST, and event sponsors OrangeQS, QuantWare, and RSJ. The organization has received external recognition including the EDI Prize from Quantum Flagship (2024), a RightBrains Digital Talent Award Honourable Mention (2024), and the QDNL Prize (2024).

Name

WIQD (Women in Quantum Development)

Legal name

We in Quantum Development

Website

https://wiqd.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WIQD is a Dutch non-profit foundation promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in the quantum technology sector. Founded in 2020 and based in Amsterdam, it serves 1,500+ members through events, mentorship programmes, hackathons, and ecosystem partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation/Non-profit Operations: WIQD operates as a non-profit organization funded through grants, sponsorships, and partnerships with organizations like Quantum Delta NL. The organization was officially established as a foundation in March 2026 and relies on a combination of institutional funding and community support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

WIQD is a professional network organization that operates community programs and events to support underrepresented groups in the Dutch quantum technology sector. Its offerings include an Annual Symposium, bi-monthly Inspirational Talks, a Mentorship Programme, WIQD Awards, hackathons, a monthly newsletter, and various community networking events—all provided free of charge to members.

Product overview

WIQD (We in Quantum Development) is a professional network organization, not a product company. It offers a portfolio of community programs and events: the Annual Symposium (flagship event with 100+ participants), bi-monthly Inspirational Talks featuring role models, a pilot Mentorship Programme connecting mentors and mentees, the WIQD Awards recognizing inclusive leaders, hackathons for interdisciplinary collaboration, a monthly Newsletter, and various community networking events. These programs work together to connect, support, and retain underrepresented groups in the quantum sector in the Netherlands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Annual Symposium Flagship annual event bringing together over 100 participants from academia, industry, and policy to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion in quantum. Features workshops, networking, and the WIQD Awards ceremony.
• Inspirational Talks Bi-monthly events featuring guest role models who share personal and professional journeys in quantum, offering tips and insights for career development.
• Mentorship Programme Pilot programme pairing students and early-career professionals with experienced mentors for 6-month mentoring relationships, with cross-border connections to Germany.
• WIQD Awards Recognition initiative celebrating individuals and groups contributing to an inclusive quantum ecosystem through mentorship, advocacy, and leadership.
• Monthly Newsletter Monthly newsletter providing updates on upcoming events, community news, quantum opportunities, and organizational announcements, hosted through the Laposta email platform.
• Hackathons Inclusive hackathon events bringing together technical and non-technical participants to address challenges in the quantum ecosystem, such as DEI data collection.
• Community Events Various networking events including quiz nights, speed networking, and informal gatherings to build community connections in quantum.

Quantifiable outcome

• Built a network of over 1,500 members across the Netherlands and beyond
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Event Sponsors (OrangeQS, QuantWare, RSJ)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Companies including OrangeQS, QuantWare, and RSJ sponsor WIQD events including the Annual Symposium, providing financial and marketing support for WIQD's community-building activities.
• Quantum Employers and Academic InstitutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 20 November 2025Companies and institutions including QDNL, Delft Circuits, QphoX, Orange Quantum Systems, Groove Quantum, Delft Networks, Cosine, Microsoft, Qubion, Leiden University, TU Delft, and TU Eindhoven participated in the Quantum Needs You! career event to connect with quantum talent.
• MCQST (Munich Center for Quantum Materials and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MCQST from Munich partners with WIQD for the mentorship programme, offering optional participation in online joint webinars and enabling mentees to connect with peers from Germany for broader European quantum landscape insights.
• DiviQ (Diversity in Quantum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2024DiviQ (Diversity in Quantum) partnered with WIQD to build a more inclusive quantum ecosystem, with shared goals of attracting and retaining talent from underrepresented groups and fostering equity in quantum technology development.
• Quantum Delta NLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Quantum Delta NL led the Quantum Childcare Pilot Programme with WIQD to reduce barriers preventing women from engaging in the European quantum community by supporting childcare arrangements for conference attendance. QDNL also sponsors WIQD events and provided the QDNL Prize to WIQD founders.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DiviQ (Diversity in Quantum): DiviQ is an EDI-focused initiative in the quantum sector and is formally partnered with WIQD on shared goals of attracting and retaining underrepresented talent. It is the closest direct peer, operating in the same niche (quantum EDI) but with a different geographic and institutional base.

Broad incumbents

• Women in Tech Global: Global women's-in-tech network and advocacy organization with overlapping EDI mission; WIQD Executive Board member Marisa Monteiro Borsboom serves as Chief Legal Officer there, evidencing direct ecosystem overlap. Operates across all of tech rather than specializing in quantum.

Others

• PWN Global: Professional women's network offering mentorship, events and advocacy across industries; WIQD board member Robert Baker is a past Co-President. Comparable in operating model (membership, events, mentorship) but horizontal across sectors rather than vertical in quantum.
• RightBrains: Diversity-focused talent platform that awarded WIQD's Judith Kreukels the RightBrains Digital Talent Honourable Mention in 2024. Comparable in EDI mission and Dutch ecosystem footprint, but oriented toward general digital talent rather than quantum specifically.
• 500 Women Scientists: International organization supporting women in STEM through local pods, mentorship and advocacy. Comparably addresses the leaky pipeline problem WIQD targets, but operates across all STEM rather than quantum specifically.
• AnitaB.org: Global non-profit advancing women in computing through communities, events and programmes like the Grace Hopper Celebration. Highly comparable in operating model (community, events, recognition) and mission focus on retaining women in technical fields.
• WeAreTheCity: UK-based gender-equality organization that recognized WIQD board member Robert Baker as a Top 50 Gender Equity Trailblazer in 2023. Comparable in EDI community-building and awards programming, but horizontal across sectors.
• Girls Who Code: Non-profit focused on closing the gender gap in technology through education, mentorship and community programmes. Comparable in mission and community/event operating model, but skews younger and broader than WIQD's quantum-specific professional focus.

Regional players

• European Women in Tech: European platform hosting large conferences and community programmes for women in technology. Comparably serves the European EDI-in-tech mission WIQD is expanding into, and overlaps on event-driven community engagement.

Emerging players

• MCQST (Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology): Major German quantum research consortium that partners with WIQD on mentorship and joint webinars. Not primarily an EDI organization, but runs diversity programming that competes for the same institutional EDI partnerships and mentee pool WIQD serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/wiqd_nl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wiqd-we-in-quantum-development
• Instagraminstagram.com/wiqd_nl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 WIQD (Women in Quantum Development)