From cold emails to €4.2 million: building a quantum startup without a network

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Momentum

Momentum Makers

43 episodes

4 days ago

This is… MOMENTUM! A podcast for momentum makers. Where entrepreneurs, builders, and investors take the stage to share how they’re making waves in their respective fields - creating the momentum for change and innovation. Your hosts, Erika Cola and Vlada Kiporenko, along with their guests, will dive deep into topics around entrepreneurship and emerging industries.

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From cold emails to €4.2 million: building a quantum startup without a network

Momentum

41 minutes 30 seconds

4 months ago

From cold emails to €4.2 million: building a quantum startup without a network

No Stanford. No pitchdeck army. No working product.
Just an idea, a cold email, and a team of scientists crazy enough to go all in.

In this episode, we sit down with Pavel Hrmo — physicist, founder, and the brain behind ZuriQ — a startup building quantum tech from scratch.

We talk:
- How they raised €4.2M pre-product (and what convinced investors)
- The leap from academia to entrepreneurship
- Cold outreach, imposter syndrome, and why betting on yourself is the only way
- Building deep tech with no time, no sleep, and no roadmap

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction to Quantum Computing and Zuriq

00:01:33 - FromAcademia to Entrepreneurship: The Birth of Zuriq

00:05:34 - Navigating Investor Relations and Pitching Challenges

00:11:37 - Explaining the Technology: Trapped Ions in Quantum Computing

00:18:34 - Target Industries and Future Applications of Zuriq

00:20:36 - The Unique Approach: Combining Electric and Magnetic Fields

00:26:30 - Utilizing Seed Funding for Development and Partnerships

00:32:22 - Building a Skilled Team and Overcoming Hiring Challenges

00:38:19 - Facing Doubts and Challenges in Startup Life