How ventureLAB is Boosting a Chilean Quantum Tech Startup's Entry into Canada
Introducing New Market Entry, presented by VentureLab, will highlight international deep-tech startups making their way into the Canadian market.
For many deep-tech startups, landing that crucial first customer is often the toughest challenge. This is particularly true for qScire, a quantum software company from Santiago, Chile, aiming to get the attention of tech giants like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm. Realizing the need to broaden their horizons, Claudio Fernando Arenas, CEO of qScire, looked northward to Canada.
"Chile isn’t really on the map for chip design and manufacturing, so we knew we had to move to where the industry is more prominent," explained Arenas. "This sector is so guarded that without a proper introduction, the major players just overlook you."
qScire, established in 2019 by a group of friends passionate about material science, tackles big problems. They apply quantum physics to create software that helps analyze and reduce parasitics—those pesky electrical resistances and unwanted effects in chips—efficiently and accurately.
Canada, with its thriving quantum computing and advanced electronics sectors, seemed like the perfect place. Home to innovative startups like D-Wave, Xanadu, and Photonic, and hosting major chip developers like AMD and Intel, Canada is a hotspot for this industry. However, breaking into the market and getting noticed by big buyers remains a hurdle for startups like qScire.
"The players in this field rarely switch to new technologies unless they've seen proven results elsewhere, so cold emails or LinkedIn messages don’t usually cut it," Arenas pointed out. "These industry giants are so vast that the office dealing with our specific solution might not be the first one we reach."
Geographical proximity to these companies piqued qScire’s interest in Canada, but they needed more than just being nearby to make an impact. That’s where ventureLAB’s Soft Landing program came in.
This three-month initiative is part of ventureLAB’s Canada Catalyst program, designed to help international, growth-stage companies establish themselves in the Canadian market. The program offers access to crucial resources, such as ventureLAB’s Innovation Space and the impressive $11-million Hardware Lab. Arenas described these facilities as "dream labs" compared to what’s available in Chile.
Even more vital, the Soft Landing program provides a strong support network to help make key connections with potential customers. For qScire, this was a game-changer. "The biggest benefit of the program for us is the contact networks," said Arenas. "These are trusted people with the networks and experience to facilitate those connections."
Arenas is optimistic that ventureLAB will enhance qScire’s visibility among their target customers and help them connect with major industry players like AMD. He anticipates establishing a physical presence in Canada within the next year.
"It’s clear that Canada is investing in new technologies to maintain its status in this sector," he noted. "For us, that’s crucial."
With ventureLAB’s support, qScire is not just getting closer to potential customers geographically but also strategically positioning itself within the network of industry giants. As Canada continues to solidify its place as a leader in quantum computing and advanced electronics, programs like Soft Landing are essential for startups looking to break into this competitive market. For qScire, the journey from Santiago to Canada might just be the key to unlocking the doors of the tech world's biggest players.
