Danish VC 55 North starts one of the largest quantum funds in the world

The Danish VC 55 North has launched one of the world's largest funds that only invests in quanta startups. Why do they have such a momentum? GP Owen Lozman explains it.

What was artificial intelligence a few years ago – big, but far from, potentially extremely powerful but still the future – is now quantum computing. But here too there are first signs: it is no longer a vision.

Until recently, quantum computing stocks were a bold bet, in the past few weeks some values ​​have been steeply up. Ionq (NYSE: IONQ), for example: The US company increased massively through cooperation with large cloud providers and impressive sales growth of almost 70 %. Or D-Wave Quantum (NYSE: QBTS): With a gross margin of over 80 %, D-Wave surprised the markets with a sales jump to $ 15 million.

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“Quantum computing is no longer a scientific experiment, but a strategic need,” said Dr. Owen Lozman, Managing Partner of 55 North, the Danish VC who is only committed to this topic. “Conventional computers come into
Areas of application such as drug research and AI to their physical and arithmetic limits. ” Which will soon only help: quantum computing.

The UN declared “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology” in 2025 because quantum research celebrates its 100th birthday. Among other things, this goes back to physicists such as Max Planck, Werner Heisenberg, Max Born and Erwin Schrödinger, but in 2025, according to a Research and Market Report, the global investments in quantum research rose to over one billion euros for the first time in just one quarter.

Now 55 North has launched one of the world's largest quantum funds: 300 million euros are the goal of 134 million euros after the first closing sing. Ankinvestors of the VC sitting in Copenhagen are the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) and Novo Holdings, the investment arm of the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The Münchner Deep-Tech-VC Vsquared Ventures is also involved and initiated the fund.

Why quantum, why now?

Quantum technology has been on the road for a long time. It was always relatively slow – and now you have the feeling that there has been a real jerk for a few weeks or a maximum of months. You might think as a observer. But don't quite be so, explains Owen Lozman, GP of 55 North, to the founder scene. “The momentum around quantum technologies has built up over the years. What now looks like a sudden thrust is actually the result of enormous investments in science, governments and industry.” The combination of significant technological advances and more resources means that the technologies were able to develop rapidly and get real breakthroughs closer.

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Which areas of application are the focus?

“There are already many quantum technologies that are enormous and in which huge opportunities open up- for example in communication as well as in time and sensor technologies,” explains the investor. The big goal is very clear: quantum computing. “However, the path to a stage in which quantum computing real social and economic added value creates something. But the progress in the technologies that will enable this – for example in cooling, packaging, software and manufacturing technologies – are already very impressive.” In his opinion, the greatest value creation potential is there.

Europe as a quantum pioneer?

With companies such as IQM or PlanQ, Germany is at the forefront in terms of quantum technology. However, this also raises certain memories of the very early days of the AI. Germany was always very far ahead in research. When implementing research into commercial companies, Germany quickly lost its connection. History Repeats Itself? “If we follow the same paradigms as with the AI, there is actually a risk that Europe will fall back when transferred its worldwide leading technological foundations,” says Lozman. “But there is a clear difference in the current development in the quantum sector: there is a clear security and sovereignty-political motive that weighs even more than in the AI. Nevertheless, Europe has to occur with a common voice to drive technological progress as effectively as our global competitors.”