Meet Venture Leader Mathieu Munsch’s quantum technologies startup

12.03.2019 14:08, Guillaume Tinsel

Ten Venture Leaders will represent Switzerland in Silicon Valley in March. Meet Mathieu Munsch, co-founder of Qnami. Learn more about quantum technologies and Mathieu’s expectations for the roadshow in Silicon Valley.

Can you introduce yourself, how your company started and what your project is?
Qnami grew over the past three years from four founders. It combines multiple, deep competences in materials science, software, and quantum technologies into one dream: exchange lab-problems for people-problems, and develop a technology that’s capable of disrupting several markets.

What attracted you to Silicon Valley as a business development destination?
Our first market is related to the semiconductor industry. We offer a solution for metrology – failure analysis – with unprecedented spatial resolution. It allows our customers to understand new chip designs better and accelerate their development process. As Silicon Valley is the birthplace of the semiconductor industry, it’s the natural place to start developing our business.

What do you hope to achieve from the trip? What are your expectations and goals?
Qnami has an ambitious vision and aims to be an important player in the new quantum industry. Our focus is on sensor technology and diagnostics applications. The Venture Leader Technology roadshow will be a unique opportunity to be challenged and develop a solid business concept. We’ll also look for opportunities to acquire new competences and add all types of resources.

Why is Venture Leaders Technology beneficial for your startup?
Venture Leaders Technology offers a unique program and has become a brand on its own. It's an honour to be selected and we look forward to being part of the Swiss team this year.



What is pushing you towards international expansion?
99 percent of our market is outside Switzerland!

What do you foresee as the largest hurdles towards expansion into the U.S. market?
America has a culture of innovation: people there are very receptive to new ideas and new technologies. It's also a big country. A side effect of these two points is that it is sometimes a bit conservative on closing deals with partners from outside their frontiers.

What makes you most nervous or excited about the trip?
We’ll have the privilege of meeting highly recognized VCs. I'm very grateful for the opportunity and look forward to intense discussions!

Do you have a “funny/best day” anecdote about being an entrepreneur?
Well, having pitched our idea tens and tens and tens of times – and despite the nice warning in every startup book – my battery once ran-out in the middle of a presentation, with absolutely no back-up.

Read about the Startup Champions kick-off event and follow the trip on Twitter using the hashtag #VLeadersTech

Venture Leaders Technology is sponsored by Rothschild & Co Bank, Kellerhals Carrard, DPD, Swisscom, Canton de Vaud, ETH Zürich and EPF Lausanne.