Germany’s prestigious start-up award recognizes planqc’s role in shaping the future of quantum computing.
Berlin, September 9, 2025 – Quantum computer manufacturer planqc has won the German Entrepreneur Award 2025 in Berlin in the “StartUp” category. The jury thereby recognized the company’s strong cooperation with science and industry, its scalable business model, and the future potential of “quantum computing made in Germany.” The clear scalability—based on three pillars: hardware sales, cloud-based Quantum Computing as a Service, and software development—was thus acknowledged as a particular strength.
“This award is an enormous validation for us. It shows that with our technology we can convince not only scientifically but also entrepreneurially,” said Dr. Alexander Glätzle, CEO and co-founder of planqc. “We want to bring quantum computing into practical use with strong partners from both industry and academia, and help Germany and Europe secure a leading position in this future-defining industry. That is exactly what this prize recognizes.”
“This success is the achievement of the entire team,” added Dr. Sebastian Blatt, CTO and co-founder of planqc. “We want to prove that in Germany it is possible to turn cutting-edge research into successful companies. The Entrepreneur Award gives us momentum to roll out our technology internationally and open up entirely new opportunities for industry and society.”
Founded in 2022 as the first spin-off of the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics within the Munich Quantum Valley, planqc is now among the pioneers of digital quantum computers “Made in Germany.” The company is developing a 1,000-qubit quantum computer for the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, a 100-qubit system for the German Aerospace Center, and collaborates on software projects with partners such as Airbus, ESA, and Fraunhofer. In 2024, the start-up secured €50 million in Series A funding.
The German Entrepreneur Award was presented for the 23rd time in 2025. It is one of the most prestigious awards for entrepreneurial achievement in Germany and is supported by Sparkasse, ZDF, Porsche, and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
