Germany’s Quantum Systems, a leader in aerial data intelligence and unmanned systems, has reached a significant milestone by achieving 'triple unicorn' status, with a post-money valuation soaring above €3 billion. The announcement follows a €180 million Series C funding extension round led by Balderton Capital. The company is making waves in the tech and defense world, with this development marking a pivotal moment for European startups. As an entrepreneur deeply invested in STEM innovation and business expansion, I see this as a game-changing opportunity for entrepreneurs and startups in the deep tech space. Let’s explore what this means for you as an innovator, founder, or business owner.
Why This Milestone Matters for Entrepreneurs
Quantum Systems' achievement signifies the rise of European dominance in dual-use defense technology and reflects a growing appetite for innovation in highly regulated and previously niche sectors. For entrepreneurs, especially those focusing on defense, aerospace, AI, or robotics, there is inspiration to be found in how Quantum Systems has scaled intelligently while navigating demanding market requirements.
From an entrepreneurial perspective, this success reveals two underlying trends:
- Increased Funding for Dual-Use Technologies: With €340M raised across 2025, investors are now actively looking toward companies innovating in dual-function capabilities that cater to both defense and private use.
- Geopolitical and Market Volatility as a Catalyst: As international tensions rise, reliance on localized or more secure tech solutions grows. Quantum Systems' solutions have been pivotal in Ukraine and with NATO, proof of how geopolitics can propel company relevance.
Quick Stats:
- Total Funding Raised in 2025: €340M
- Annual Revenue Growth: Over 100%
- Valuation Leap: From unicorn to €3 billion in less than one year.
The Quantum Systems Model: A Playbook for Startups
Startups across sectors can learn from Quantum Systems' growth trajectory. Below is a breakdown of the core strategies behind their success:
1. Focus on Timely Solutions with Dual Appeal
Quantum Systems’ products, like their unmanned systems used in both industrial and defense sectors, highlight the scalability and market demand for dual-use technologies. Entrepreneurs can adopt this approach by exploring ways their innovations can function across sectors.
➡️ Innovation Tip: Map out potential use cases for your product. Brainstorm how to adapt current solutions to a broader audience, like governments or public institutions.
2. Strategic Funding and Investor Relationships
Partnering with Balderton Capital for multiple rounds shows Quantum Systems’ strategic alignment with experienced investors who understand market dynamics. They also involved high-profile stakeholders like Porsche SE and Airbus Ventures.
➡️ Mistake to Avoid: Choosing investors only for their financial contribution. Vision alignment and access to meaningful networks are critical for successful scaling.
3. Conscious Geographical Expansion
Quantum Systems expanded their services across multiple continents beyond Europe, including the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. They also made a significant impact in Ukraine, proving the effectiveness of their solutions.
➡️ Entrepreneurial Insight: Focus on markets where your product is a critical solution to well-identified challenges. Growth for growth’s sake can be a “killer.” Instead, be deliberate and aim for maximum impact in critical regions.
4. Leveraging Acquisitions for R&D
In a strategic push to bolster its R&D capabilities, Quantum Systems acquired three companies in 2025. This brought specialized technologies in-house, strengthening its capabilities in AI, edge computing, and unmanned technologies.
➡️ Lesson for Startups: Acquisitions may not be grounded in financial gains alone. Evaluate companies that offer skills, R&D, or intellectual property you can harness to extend your market reach.
5. Branding in High-Impact Spaces
Positioned as Europe's powerhouse for defense-centric innovation, Quantum Systems has built a reputation for delivering “trusted European innovation.” This branding cemented its influence across NATO, adding credibility to its capabilities.
➡️ How To Guide: Build legitimacy in your space by identifying high-impact problems that your product solves better than anyone else. Collaborate with recognized authorities or standards bodies for credibility.
Mistakes You Can Learn From
The journey to achieving unicorn (or triple unicorn!) status is never linear. Entrepreneurs should note the potential pitfalls:
- Overlooking Regulatory Challenges: Aerospace and defense sectors are a bureaucratic maze. Address these challenges proactively by hiring experienced advisors.
- Failing to Adapt Per Product Lifecycle: Expanding globally means being nimble enough to align products with varying environmental, social, and political dynamics.
- Underestimating Talent Needs: Scaling to serve NATO and global clients required Quantum Systems to invest heavily in a high-performing team of over 1,000 across multiple domains. If under-prioritized, team growth can stifle scaling efforts.
How Entrepreneurs in Other Sectors Should Respond
Think Beyond Borders
The rise of companies like Quantum Systems underscores the benefits of addressing global pain points. There's ample room to design solutions geared toward international markets.
→ If your startup operates locally, ask yourself: What universal problems can your product solve? Try adapting your marketing pitch to reach customers in regions fueled by similar challenges.
Conclusion: The Meaning of Quantum Systems’ Triple Unicorn Status
Quantum Systems is much more than a success case in aerial data intelligence, it symbolizes Europe’s potential to lead the dual-use tech revolution. For entrepreneurs, it’s a wake-up call to invest in AI, defense-related tech, or interdisciplinary fields combining systems-level mastery with cutting-edge innovation.
Whether you’re just embarking on your entrepreneurial journey or refining existing solutions, remember the core strategies exemplified by Quantum Systems, target multifunctional markets, align with impact-driven partners, and invest passionately in both product and expansion.
Let’s not forget, today’s unicorns started as bootstrapped underdogs. With patience, innovation, and the right global perspective, the next unicorn could be your startup.
Learn more about Quantum Systems' growth journey by exploring their official site or insights from Silicon Canals. It's never too late to imagine and innovate your way to success. Keep building, dreaming, and scaling!
Violetta Bonenkamp's entrepreneurial insights are rooted in years of scaling ventures across deeptech and STEM fields. Follow her journey as she tackles challenging markets with interdisciplinary solutions. Discover more about Violetta Bonenkamp.
FAQ
1. What notable milestone has Germany's Quantum Systems reached?
Germany’s Quantum Systems has achieved 'triple unicorn' status, with its valuation soaring above €3 billion following a €180 million Series C funding extension round. Learn more about Quantum Systems' milestone
2. Who led Quantum Systems’ €180 million funding round?
The Series C extension was led by Balderton Capital, marking a significant step in the company's growth journey. Explore the funding details at Balderton Capital
3. What industries does Quantum Systems specialize in?
Quantum Systems focuses on aerial data intelligence and dual-use technologies, serving both industrial and defense sectors. Learn about Quantum Systems' applications
4. How will Quantum Systems utilize this new funding?
The funds will support development in AI, hardware, and unmanned systems across air, land, and maritime domains, alongside strategic acquisitions for expansion. Discover the funding use cases
5. What is Quantum Systems’ role in defense technology?
The company has been providing unmanned aerial systems to NATO and has a strong presence in AI-powered defense solutions. Learn about Quantum Systems’ defense impact
6. What factors contributed to Quantum Systems’ rapid revenue growth?
Quantum Systems has achieved over 100% annual revenue growth through innovative dual-use technologies and global market expansion. Explore the revenue growth factors
7. Who are some of the key investors in Quantum Systems?
Quantum Systems is backed by prominent stakeholders, including Airbus Ventures, Porsche SE, and Balderton Capital. Learn about Quantum Systems’ investors
8. What sets Quantum Systems apart from competitors?
Quantum Systems excels in modular unmanned aerial systems with AI-driven solutions for defense and commercial applications. Discover what makes Quantum Systems unique
9. How has Quantum Systems impacted the European tech ecosystem?
Quantum Systems’ growth signals Europe's increasing prominence in dual-use defense technology and innovation. Learn about the ecosystem impact
10. Where is Quantum Systems making geographical strides?
The company now operates across Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine, demonstrating its global expansion strategy. Read about Quantum Systems' global reach
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.