We recently had the opportunity to speak with Marta Pascual Estrellas and Clàudia Huix from Qilimanjaro, the winners of the 4YFN Awards in 2024, and asked them about their challenges, dreams, and experiences at 4YFN 2024.
- For those who might not be familiar with Qilimanjaro, could you explain what your company does? What sets your company apart in your industry?
Qilimanjaro is a full-stack quantum computing company based in Barcelona established in 2019. We develop analog quantum computers, with high-quality superconducting flux qubits, to build app-specific quantum devices (QASIC), in a co-design approach that brings the design of the quantum chip closer to the use-case and that's what sets us apart. Our main product is an exclusive Quantum as
a Service (QaaS) that allows for remote access to the distinctive quantum computing platforms and a boutique service for deployment and integration of in-premises quantum computers.
- Can you share with us what has been your biggest challenge in the past year and what you've learned from it?
In the pursuit of developing quantum computers with widespread practical advantage the main technological challenges at the moment are at the hardware side, specially in scaling the chips whilst maintaining robustness to errors. This is and will keep being for the next year one of the main technology challenges for us and the rest of the quantum computing industry. In the last years, it has also been hard for us to find talent with extensive experience in quantum computing, due to the short life that the field still has and especially within the most experimental field, which often implies international talent. However as we grow we are getting more traction and more senior experts are willing to relocate to Barcelona, as well as we have found ways to collaborate with the local academia ecosystem via Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate programs to train experts in-house.
- Congratulations on winning the 4YFN Awards at Barcelona 2024! What has been the most exciting aspect of your experience at 4YFN 2024?
Thank you so much! We are still amazed with the results of winning the 4YFN Best Startup Award, and very grateful to the entire organisation and the GSMA foundry, as this event has significantly amplified our visibility so much and has drawn attention from potential clients, partners, and investors, leading us to a lot of conversations and opportunities that we are sure that will extend into the future. We invested the cash prize into the renovation of our new office and lab space in Barcelona, making it more comfortable and appealing as a few months ago we promised our team that we would create a comfortable space and a productive environment.
- Could you tell us more about the most recent project you're working on and how participating in 4YFN has helped, or how you believe it can help, you achieve your goals?
This year, Qilimanjaro is excited to release the beta version of our main product, Quantum-as-a-Service, to the public. With this we are building a unique quantum data center in the heart of Barcelona. This center will host our wide range of quantum solutions, all available through the cloud, and support our ongoing developments. We're focused on continuous growth and innovation, supported by our upcoming Series A fundraising later this year.
Participating in 4YFN has been very helpful for us. The pitch competition has allowed us to connect with and be noticed by several investors who are interested in supporting Qilimanjaro's journey towards achieving quantum advantage. By improving our technology, we aim to solve more complex problems and make our solutions useful in various industries, from science simulation to AI and optimisation. Our ultimate goal is to provide real value through custom quantum solutions that tackle real-world issues, making Qilimanjaro a leader in the quantum computing field.
- What advice would you give to startups that are just beginning their journey?
We would encourage them to go for it with full motivation, find a great idea, an unstoppable team and try to take every single opportunity such as the 4YFN to show the world what you can do.
- How do you envision the world 4 years from now?
While quantum computing is still in its early stages, it is advancing rapidly. Though predicting its exact evolution is challenging, we believe that four years from now, quantum technologies will have transformed significantly and will start having a big and increasing impact on the world. We will likely see the emergence of the first practical applications of quantum computing and related technologies, starting to deliver substantial value to several key industries, especially in the AI, optimisation and scientific sectors.
We expect to keep being part of this journey, continuing to be pioneers in our field and leading the way into quantum innovation.
The applications for the prestigious 4YFN25 Awards are now closed. Stay tuned to find out which companies will become finalists and which will have the chance of receiving a €20,000 cash prize, along with numerous other benefits designed to accelerate their business growth and visibility. For more information, see more here.