SILENT WAVES
Silent Waves is a Grenoble-based spin-out of CNRS Institut Néel that designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-low-noise traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) for high-fidelity qubit readout in superconducting quantum computers. It serves quantum hardware vendors and research laboratories in 15+ countries through direct sales and channel partners.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersGrenoble, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SILENT WAVES does
Silent Waves SAS is a Grenoble-based deep-technology hardware company founded in 2022 as a spin-out of CNRS Institut Néel. It designs, manufactures, and commercializes ultra-low-noise traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) built from Josephson-junction superconducting circuits. Its flagship products — the Argo (photonic-crystal TWPA), Carthago (Kerr-reversal TWPA), Zephyr (integrated TWPA plus on-chip pump coupler), and Dreadnought (plug-and-play cryogenic readout module) — provide near-quantum-limited noise performance, wide bandwidth, and high saturation power for qubit readout in superconducting quantum computers. Each unit is individually cryogenically characterized at 20mK before shipment, with installation documentation and post-deployment technical support included.
The company sells to a small global pool of superconducting quantum computer builders and premier research laboratories, with named customers including Rigetti, Alice & Bob, and the UK National Quantum Computing Centre. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales in Europe, exclusive channel distribution through Quantum Microwave in the USA and Canada and Devoteself in Japan, and consortium participation in the EU-funded SUPREME superconducting-quantum program. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Marketing is anchored on peer-reviewed publications (Nature Electronics, Nature Communications, Physical Review X), industry conferences (SQA, IEEE Quantum Week), and customer testimonials.
Silent Waves operates as a privately held SAS with three co-founders (Luca Planat as CEO, Nicolas Roch as CSO, Baptiste Planat as CFO), a CRO, and four functional heads (Manufacturing, Research, Products, Marketing & Communications) leading a 20-plus-person team. The company has no disclosed external funding rounds and a stated share capital of €10,000, suggesting lean capitalization offset by French Tech 2030 program selection, Bpifrance partnership, and SUPREME consortium funding. Its intellectual property includes a registered TWPAI patent and a portfolio of peer-reviewed foundational publications.
SILENT WAVES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SILENT WAVES
- Legal name
- Silent Waves SAS
- Website
- https://silent-waves.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Silent Waves is a Grenoble-based spin-out of CNRS Institut Néel that designs, manufactures, and sells ultra-low-noise traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) for high-fidelity qubit readout in superconducting quantum computers. It serves quantum hardware vendors and research laboratories in 15+ countries through direct sales and channel partners.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SILENT WAVES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Quantum Computing Hardware — Cryogenic Microwave Amplifiers
- NAICS
- Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)
- SIC
- Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Readout Electronics (Amplifiers, Digitizers, Parametric Amplifiers) (HDAGABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Low-Noise & Cryogenic Amplification (HEMT/LNA) (HDAGABAI)
Keywords
Where SILENT WAVES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grenoble
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
SILENT WAVES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- TWPA Hardware Sales: Silent Waves designs, manufactures, and commercializes traveling-wave parametric amplifiers. The company sells physical cryogenic amplifier products including the Argo, Carthago, Zephyr, and Dreadnought. Each product is individually characterized at cryogenic temperatures before delivery.
- Cryogenic Testing and Support Services: Technical support remains available after deployment to ensure continued system performance. Installation is documented and designed to be straightforward. After-sales support for quantum amplifier systems.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
SILENT WAVES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Silent Waves designs, manufactures, and commercializes ultra-low-noise Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifiers (TWPAs) based on Josephson junction superconducting technology. The amplifiers provide near-quantum-limited noise performance for high-fidelity, multiplexed qubit readout inside the cryostat of superconducting quantum computers. The product line comprises four cryogenic amplifier solutions: The Argo, The Carthago, The Zephyr, and The Dreadnought, each individually characterized at 20 mK before shipment.
Product overview
Silent Waves designs, manufactures, and commercializes ultra-low-noise traveling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs) for high-fidelity qubit readout in superconducting quantum computers. The product portfolio includes four TWPA products: The Argo (flagship photonic crystal TWPA), The Carthago (reversed-Kerr TWPA for flexible experimental setups), The Zephyr (compact integrated TWPA and pump coupler), and The Dreadnought (plug-and-play integrated readout module). All products are manufactured in France with key fabrication steps in Grenoble, cryogenically characterized before shipment, and supported by technical documentation and after-sales service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Argo Photonic crystal traveling-wave parametric amplifier for high-fidelity qubit readout in superconducting quantum computers. Provides high bandwidth exceeding 1.5 GHz, low added noise, flux-insensitive operation, and high saturation power, powered by a microwave source without requiring a DC current source.
- The Carthago Reversed-Kerr traveling-wave parametric amplifier delivering continuous high gain over a 3 GHz bandwidth with near quantum-limited noise below 1 K and high saturation power of -105 dBm at 20 dB gain. Features in-situ tunability for experimental flexibility.
- The Zephyr Compact integrated TWPA and pump coupler solution for space-constrained cryostats. Combines Argo TWPA technology with an on-chip low-loss pump coupler in a single device, halving footprint while maintaining >15 dB gain, 2 GHz bandwidth, and -100 dBm saturation.
- The Dreadnought Plug-and-play single-shot readout module integrating the entire cryogenic microwave electronics chain with a TWPA (available with Argo or Carthago models). Features magnetic shielding and easy stacking for simplified installation and reduced system complexity.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1.12–1.26× increase in overall quantum efficiency with Zephyr integration
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SILENT WAVES
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SILENT WAVES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
SILENT WAVES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SUPREME Consortiumcore23-member European consortium developing superconducting quantum technologies. Silent Waves' TWPA technology plays a critical role in scaling superconducting computers. The EU approved €25M funding (matched by national governments for €50M total) for 3.5 years starting early 2026.
- Quantum MicrowavecoreExclusive distributor for USA and Canada markets, handling sales and support for Silent Waves TWPA products in North America.
- Devoteself CorporationcoreDistributor for Japan market, managing sales and customer support for Silent Waves products in Japan.
- RigettimajorLeading superconducting quantum computing company. Rigetti has provided testimonial praising Silent Waves' strong technical understanding, responsive collaboration, and commitment to supporting high-performance superconducting quantum systems.
- Alice & BobmajorFrench quantum computing company using Silent Waves Argo TWPA in their research on squeezed cat qubits, achieving 160× improvement in bit-flip times.
- CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)coreFrench Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. Partner in SUPREME consortium. Silent Waves originated from research at Institut Néel, affiliated with CNRS and CEA ecosystem.
- CNRS Institut NéelcoreResearch institution in Grenoble where Silent Waves founders Nicolas Roch and Luca Planat conducted early research on superconducting systems and parametric amplifiers. Silent Waves is a spin-out from this institution.
- QphoXminorDutch quantum technology company. Partner in SUPREME consortium and listed as trusted partner.
- Qilimanjaro Quantum TechminorSpanish quantum technology company. Partner in SUPREME consortium and listed as trusted partner.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SILENT WAVES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Montana Instruments: US-based manufacturer of cryogenic optical and quantum measurement systems. Adjacent enabling supplier of cryostats used in the superconducting quantum research environments where TWPAs are deployed.
- Oxford Instruments NanoScience: UK-based division providing cryogenic systems and instruments for quantum technology research. Adjacent to Silent Waves as the cryogenic platform provider whose systems host the TWPAs, with shared UK customer base (e.g., NQCC).
- Bluefors: Finnish manufacturer of cryogenic dilution refrigerator systems used to host superconducting quantum processors. Adjacent rather than competitive: Bluefors provides the cryostat environment where Silent Waves' TWPAs operate, making it a complementary ecosystem enabler and channel-aware partner.
- attocube systems: German manufacturer of cryogenic measurement instrumentation and low-temperature components for quantum research. Adjacent as a supplier of cryogenic positioning and readout tools that sit alongside TWPAs in the quantum measurement stack.
- Quantum Design: US-based manufacturer of physical property measurement systems and cryogenic platforms (parent of attocube). Provides enabling cryogenic infrastructure for quantum research customers that overlap with Silent Waves' installed base.
Direct peers
- Star Cryoelectronics: US-based manufacturer of cryogenic RF components and low-noise amplifiers for quantum computing and physics research. Direct competitor in cryogenic RF amplification for superconducting qubits, addressing the same readout signal chain as Silent Waves.
- Zurich Instruments: Swiss manufacturer of measurement and control electronics for quantum computing and physics research. Closely comparable in serving superconducting quantum labs with high-performance signal generation, readout, and locking electronics that interface with the cryogenic amplification chain where TWPAs sit.
- Quantum Machines: Israeli company providing quantum control systems and readout electronics for superconducting quantum computers. Direct overlap with Silent Waves in the qubit readout and control electronics stack, with Quantum Machines operating at a broader system level while Silent Waves specializes in parametric amplification.
- Low Noise Factory: Swedish manufacturer of cryogenic low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) used in qubit readout chains. Highly comparable as a direct alternative or complement to TWPAs in the cryogenic amplification stage, targeting the same superconducting quantum customer base.
Emerging players
- QphoX: Dutch startup developing quantum transducers and microwave-optical interfaces for superconducting quantum systems. A co-developer alongside Silent Waves in the SUPREME consortium, addressing adjacent points in the quantum signal chain with complementary rather than overlapping technology.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SILENT WAVES social profiles
Digital presenceSILENT WAVES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SILENT WAVES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
SILENT WAVES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SILENT WAVES 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 SILENT WAVES
What does SILENT WAVES do?
Silent Waves designs, manufactures, and commercializes ultra-low-noise Traveling-Wave Parametric Amplifiers (TWPAs) based on Josephson junction superconducting technology. The amplifiers provide near-quantum-limited noise performance for high-fidelity, multiplexed qubit readout inside the cryostat of superconducting quantum computers. The product line comprises four cryogenic amplifier solutions: The Argo, The Carthago, The Zephyr, and The Dreadnought, each individually characterized at 20 mK before shipment.
Is SILENT WAVES a public or private company?
SILENT WAVES is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SILENT WAVES founded?
SILENT WAVES was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SILENT WAVES based?
SILENT WAVES is headquartered in Grenoble, France, in the Europe region.
How does SILENT WAVES make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. TWPA Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are cryogenic Testing and Support Services.
Who are SILENT WAVES's main competitors?
Others on record are Montana Instruments, Oxford Instruments NanoScience, Bluefors, attocube systems and Quantum Design. Direct peers are Star Cryoelectronics, Zurich Instruments, Quantum Machines and Low Noise Factory. QphoX is listed as an emerging player.
Does SILENT WAVES have an API?
No public API is recorded for SILENT WAVES.
What industry is SILENT WAVES in?
SILENT WAVES's product category is Quantum Computing Hardware — Cryogenic Microwave Amplifiers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAGABAH, Readout Electronics (Amplifiers, Digitizers, Parametric Amplifiers), with a secondary code of HDAGABAI, Low-Noise & Cryogenic Amplification (HEMT/LNA). Its NAICS code is 334515 and its SIC code is 3825.