SBQuantum, a Sherbrooke-based developer of quantum diamond magnetometers, has announced the closing of an oversubscribed $4 million USD seed round. The financing, led by Quantonation and Quantacet with participation from Investissement Québec, represents the first private investment in the company since its founding in 2017. The funding follows the successful deployment of the company’s sensors in space and aims to accelerate the commercialization of quantum sensing for navigation, defense, and public safety.
The company also announced the appointment of Eric Giroux as Chief Executive Officer. Giroux, formerly the founder of RaySecur Inc., brings over a decade of experience in scaling sensor technologies within the security and defense sectors. Founder David Roy-Guay will continue to lead the technical vision as the company transitions from R&D-heavy operations to aggressive market growth. To date, SBQuantum has secured over $15 million in R&D contracts, including partnerships with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Department of National Defence.
Strategic US Expansion via Zero Drift Technologies
To serve the growing demand for GPS-alternative navigation among American government agencies and defense contractors, SBQuantum has established Zero Drift Technologies, a sister corporation headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This dual-structure approach is designed to:
- Preserve Canadian IP: Maintain the engineering core and intellectual property at the Sherbrooke headquarters.
- Access US Markets: Create a dedicated entity to work directly with US defense primes and federal customers.
- Parallel Operations: Enable both companies to scale simultaneously in their respective regional markets without the need for consolidation.
Quantum Magnetometry for GPS-Denied Navigation
SBQuantum’s hardware utilizes quantum diamond magnetometry—a technique that leverages the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamonds to detect minuscule magnetic field fluctuations. These sensors provide a critical alternative to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS, which can be easily jammed or spoofed in contested environments. By mapping the Earth’s magnetic field with high precision, the sensors allow for resilient navigation for unmanned vehicles and aircraft.
In addition to navigation, the company is targeting the public safety sector, using the high sensitivity of its magnetometers to improve security screening and threat detection at schools, sports venues, and government buildings. With the global quantum sensing market projected by BCG to reach $3 billion to $5 billion by 2030, SBQuantum intends to use the new capital to fast-track its product roadmap and expand its miniaturized sensor offerings for industrial use cases.
For the official announcement regarding SBQuantum’s seed funding and expansion, visit the company’s newsroom here. Our previous coverage on the MagQuest Challenge and the company’s involvement with NASA can be found here.
April 16, 2026
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