This is the story of a start-up, Quandela, which last week opened the first quantum computer factory in the European Union. Quantum computers are tools capable of performing calculations very quickly. Behind this project, an untold story. There is a teacher and her two students. An eco portrait by Arthur Poncelet.
Yes, there are three of them: Valérian Gièse, Niccolo Somasski and Pascale Senellart. Ten years that these engineers have worked together. It was at Paris-Saclay University that they met. Pascale Senellart, research director at the CNRS nanotechnology center was also the thesis director of the two men.
Together, they manipulate photons, particles of light that allow calculations to be carried out very quickly. Pascale Senellart was already working on the subject, but the arrival of these two new students changed everything.
We are then in 2017. Together, they founded the start-up Quandela
Objective: to develop a quantum computer, understand: a tool capable of performing operations extremely quickly. A revolution in the computer world, since Quandela’s computer is the size of a refrigerator.
Niccolo Somasski, nicknamed “magic finger” for his technological skill, becomes technical director of the start-up. Pascale Senellart is in charge of strategy.
And then there is Valérian Gièse, 34, the CEO of this small company. Trained as an engineer, he takes the helm of Quandela for his interpersonal skills. Joining this adventure was obvious for Valérian Gièse.
Since 2017, this start-up has continued to develop. To the point of attracting the attention of large industrial groups…
Thales, ONERA, OVH… In total, Quandela has nearly 300 customers. Among them, there is for example EDF: thanks to Quandela, they have developed algorithms to better study the behavior of hydroelectric dams. Objective: to anticipate maintenance operations.
But all this development comes at a cost. So much so that Quandela and its teams have managed to raise 15 million euros since its creation…
Public funding, in particular from the French Public Investment Bank. But also private funds. Like Omnes capital, which has invested several million euros in the start-up. Fabien Collangettes was immediately seduced by the trio.
But those investments pale in comparison to the hundreds of millions of dollars spent by Quandela’s competitors. However, the small start-up manages to be very competitive. Proof that his technology is effective and that founding a start-up with his teacher is not such a bad idea.