Seasoned entrepreneur and tech investor Niels Nielsen brings his expertise in the quantum technology industry to Sparrow Quantum to help accelerate growth and strategic initiatives.
Sparrow Quantum, a Danish quantum technology company renowned for its world-leading expertise in foundational quantum photonic devices, particularly single-photon sources, is thrilled to announce the addition of Niels Nielsen from 2xN to its Board of Directors.
Niels, a serial entrepreneur and tech investor, is the co-founder of the investment firm 2xN. 2xN backs the founders having the greatest impacts on society, e.g., in the quantum technology sector. In May 2023, Sparrow Quantum proudly joined the 2xN portfolio as Sparrow’s seed funding round was led by 2xN. The seed round featured co-investment from LIFTT and the European Innovation Council (EIC) and raised 31 million DKK.
Niels is mainly focusing on 2xN’s efforts within quantum technology, and as an investor and board member in several quantum technology companies (e.g., Quantinuum, one of the world’s largest quantum computing companies formed by the merger of Cambridge Quantum and Honeywell Quantum Solutions), he is set to bring valuable perspectives from the broader quantum tech industry. His unique insights will aim to be a contributing factor in driving Sparrow’s continued success, growth, and strategic vision forward. Moreover, adding Niels to the board underscores Sparrow’s dedication to assembling an experienced leadership team that will be pivotal in enabling the company’s vision of becoming a market leader in light-matter interfaces for quantum technologies.
Sparrow’s Board Chairperson, Niels Christian Nielsen, a seasoned board director who serves on boards such as Prophet, Unumed, and the Wikimedia Endowment, welcomes Niels to the team with enthusiasm. “We are delighted to welcome Niels Nielsen to our board. His expertise and insights in the broader quantum industry will be instrumental as we continue to drive growth, foster innovation, and pursue our mission to develop the world’s best single-photon components. Niels brings a wealth of knowledge from the quantum tech world, a strategic mindset, and a passion for excellence that aligns perfectly with Sparrow’s values and vision.”
Niels Nielsen shared his excitement about joining the Sparrow team, saying, “Quantum is gaining momentum with significant recent scientific breakthroughs as well as increasing public and private funding. We believe that Denmark has strong potential in the sector thanks to its academic traditions, political support, and world-leading companies becoming end users of quantum technology. Sparrow Quantum is a good example of a promising Danish company, with technology being the result of over two decades of pioneering research by the founder, Prof. Peter Lodahl. With their exceptional team, I see clear potential to emerge as the market leader, and I am looking forward to working closely with this team to shape the future of light-matter interfaces for quantum tech.”
About Sparrow Quantum
Sparrow Quantum is a Danish quantum technology company dedicated to advancing light-matter interfaces for quantum technologies. The company is widely recognized as a leader in single-photon sources, demonstrating the world’s highest light-matter coupling efficiency.
The unparalleled technology of Sparrow Quantum offers researchers and developers of quantum technology systems access to essential building blocks for scaling up advanced quantum technology applications in information processing and communication. Application areas include secure quantum communication, photonic quantum computing, and quantum repeaters for the quantum internet.
Sparrow Quantum’s technology results from the research by founder Prof. Peter Lodahl and his Hybrid Quantum Networks Hy-Q Center of Excellence at the prestigious Niels Bohr Institute (NBI) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
About 2xN
2xN is a London-based investment firm focused on early-stage investments, e.g., in quantum technology. The firm was founded by Niels Nielsen, a Danish entrepreneur, tech investor, and pioneer investor in quantum (Quantinuum board member and early investor) and Lars Fjeldsoe-Nielsen, a Silicon Valley operator turned investor.
The investment in Sparrow Quantum is its second investment into a Danish Quantum business and is made by 2xN Venture Fund I, SCSp, in which the Danish sovereign wealth fund, Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund, is the cornerstone investor. The other investors include Nordic institutions and large family offices. Learn more by visiting www.2xn.vc