EeroQ Named The 2025 MSU Startup Of The Year

While major corporations such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and IBM pursue quantum advancements using traditional models, EeroQ, which was co-founded by Cowen Distinguished Chair of Experimental Physics & MSU Associate Professor Johannes Pollanen, builds upon research pioneered over two decades ago at MSU and Bell Labs. The company's unique method involves a patented quantum computing chip design that uses individual electrons floating on superfluid helium, and EeroQ's quantum computers can be made using existing chip fabrication technology – a critical differentiator in the market.

"Winning Startup of the Year is a special honor for EeroQ that recognizes a long journey that started at MSU," said Nick Farina, EeroQ's co-founder and CEO. "An MSU professor co-developed the theory; now Professor Pollanen and the EeroQ team are conducting the engineering and physics needed to bring it to life. We are so grateful to all the people at MSU, Red Cedar Ventures, and the MSU Research Foundation who helped us along the way, and are excited for what promises to be a momentous next few years as we get even closer to commercialization."

Since its 2017 launch, EeroQ has made significant progress in bringing theory to reality, most notably by working with a standard fabrication facility (like the ones that manufacture cell phones) to build out the largest scaling architecture for a quantum computer to date, capable of holding and controlling 2,432 electrons. EeroQ's leadership in scaling, control of single electrons, and compatibility with standard fabrication will allow the company to scale much more rapidly than others. Ultimately, EeroQ will fit up to a million qubits on a single chip, making its method much easier and more capital-efficient to design than methods requiring complex interconnects and larger sizes.  

"EeroQ's quantum computing technology has the potential to revolutionize industries by enabling faster, more complex problem-solving in fields like biomedical research, climate modeling, and materials science," said Brad Fingland, Director of Venture Creation for the MSU Research Foundation. "With its unique design, strong leadership, and technical expertise found at MSU, EeroQ could accelerate the commercialization of quantum computing hardware and drive breakthroughs with global impact."

About EeroQ
EeroQ is a Chicago-based quantum computing company building a quantum computer (QC) using electrons on helium. Founded in 2017, EeroQ's unique approach to building a QC leverages today's existing chip fabrication technology (CMOS), allowing the company to scale rapidly using a fraction of the resources most companies require. EeroQ is also helping to create early ethical and policy guidelines to maximize the positive impact of QC. The company's core technology is patented and developed in partnership with Michigan State University. For more information, visit www.eeroq.com.

About the MSU Innovation Center
The Michigan State University Innovation Center is the hub for innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship at MSU. As the university's collaborative engine for bringing ideas to life, the Innovation Center connects academic research with industry partners, supports startup creation, and helps move discoveries from lab to market. Through its integrated units—MSU Technologies, Business Connect, and Spartan Innovations—the Center supports faculty, students, and partners in transforming cutting-edge research into products, services, and businesses that make a global impact. Learn more at innovationcenter.msu.edu.

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SOURCE EeroQ