OrangeQS Extends Seed Round to €15 Million And Partners With Rigetti, QuantWare And Peak Quantum
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Insider Brief Orange Quantum Systems raised €15 million in a second seed round closing, backed in part by the European Innovation Council Fund, to scale its quantum chip testing technology and strengthen its position in the emerging quantum manufacturing stack. The company will use the funding to advance its OrangeQS MAX automated testing system and launched a partnership program with Rigetti Computing, QuantWare, and Peak Quantum to align testing capabilities with next-generation chip architectures while protecting partner IP. OrangeQS is positioning quantum chip testing as a critical bottleneck in scaling the industry, outlining a longer-term vision for “dark quantum foundries” and utility-grade validation systems to support high-volume production. PRESS RELEASE — Orange Quantum Systems (OrangeQS), an industry leader in quantum chip testing has announced the second closing of its seed round at €15 million. This follows the first closing in summer 2025, at €12 million. The additional funds come in the form of investment from the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) Fund, which supports European deep tech innovation with venture capital investment. The new funding will be used to accelerate development of key technologies to further enhance the OrangeQS MAX product line, a turn-key, automated, and fast quantum chip testing system. To coincide with the funding, EIC Fund investor Zeina Chebli is joining the OrangeQS board. Introducing the OrangeQS MAX Partnership Program The new funding news comes as OrangeQS announces a significant new program to enhance the OrangeQS MAX product line and accelerate quantum chip testing across the industry. Quantum computing is a rapidly developing field. As the chips that underpin many of these advances become more complex, a significant challenge has emerged: the need for scalable, precise, and cost-effective quantum chip testing. The new OrangeQS MAX Partnership Program aligns the company’s exponential development roadmap with key quantum chip manufacturers. The first companies to join the program are Rigetti Computing, QuantWare, and Peak Quantum. The program will see each partner company work independently with OrangeQS to influence specific parts of the OrangeQS MAX technology and product roadmaps, depending on their needs and level of commitment. This allows them to keep their IP protected, while ensuring the next generation of test solutions supports their quantum chip architectures and production processes. The program will ensure that the OrangeQS MAX quantum chip testing system remains future-proof and fit-for-purpose. Future upgrades will allow for faster cryogenic quantum chip testing, aligned with the roadmaps of major quantum chip manufacturers. The OrangeQS MAX Partnership Program will initially focus on parallel and non-destructive testing technology developments. The future of quantum chip production Creating quantum chips efficiently will require approaches that go beyond what is being developed in the OrangeQS MAX partnership program. OrangeQS has published a new white paper [link] ahead of the ISIG Quantum Computing Infra Summit 2026 on 23 April. In this document, the company proposes a visionary framework on utility‑grade quantum chip testing as a key enabler in future ‘dark quantum foundries’, indicating the company’s future direction. Garrelt Alberts, executive director of OrangeQS, said: “OrangeQS MAX already sets new industry benchmarks for high‑volume, automated quantum chip testing. With our new Partnership Program and support of EIC Fund, we are set to consolidate our leading position in one of the most challenging parts of the quantum computing sector as it scales towards commercial production.” Svetoslava Georgieva, Chair of the EIC Fund Board, said: “This investment reflects the EIC Fund’s commitment to backing Europe’s most ambitious deep tech innovators. By advancing quantum chip performance validation, OrangeQS is addressing a key bottleneck in scaling quantum technologies.” Matt Swayne LinkedIn With a several-decades long background in journalism and communications, Matt Swayne has worked as a science communicator for an R1 university for more than 12 years, specializing in translating high tech and deep tech for the general audience. He has served as a writer, editor and analyst at The Quantum Insider since its inception. In addition to his service as a science communicator, Matt also develops courses to improve the media and communications skills of scientists and has taught courses. matt@thequantuminsider.com Share this article: