From Quantum to Orbit: Quantum Software, Robot Vision, Sovereign Satellites - 3 Signals I’m Watching
Your Weekly Shortcut to Deeptech Investing — Trends, Startup Intel & Investor Playbooks for VCs & Angels in 5 Minutes or Less
Deeptech Edge Weekly
This week’s top deeptech investment trends.
📅 Tuesday, July 15, 2025 | Your 3‑minute shortcut to $1B deeptech plays
My Note
This week, I’ve been tracking three quiet but powerful shifts most headlines are missing. Picture software that makes quantum computers useful now, a robotics vision team stepping out from Intel’s shadow, and radar satellites becoming must-haves for national security. These are the moves smart investors are watching long before they hit the front page.
Signal #1: Quantum’s “Bicycle Tires” Problem
Imagine you bought a Formula 1 race car…but it came with bicycle tires. You know it could be world-class, but right now it’s just spinning its wheels.
That’s been the story of quantum computers: huge potential, not enough stability to do real work.
This month, things started to change. IBM and other investors put $26 million into QEDMA, a startup from Israel. QEDMA makes special software that acts like swapping out those bicycle tires for racing slicks. Their tools make quantum machines work 10 times better, today, not years from now.
Why It Matters:
Enterprises don’t want to wait for perfect hardware. They want results now.
💡 What I’d Do:
Watch companies building this kind of “adapter layer” for quantum and AI. They usually grow faster than hardware companies and often win big customers early.
Signal #2: The Robot Vision Breakaway
Sometimes the next breakout doesn’t come from a garage, it walks out the door of a giant.
Intel had a division called RealSense that makes 3D cameras and sensors so robots can “see” like people. These eyes are already in 60% of robots moving through warehouses and factories.
This month, RealSense spun out on its own and raised $50 million to move faster.
Why It Matters:
RealSense already has working products, patents, and a head start. Now, it can innovate without big-company red tape.
💡 What I’d Do:
Keep an eye on spin-out companies like this. They often have proven technology and clean ownership, two big advantages.
Signal #3: Satellites That Never Blink
While the headlines were full of space tourism, another revolution was happening overhead.
ICEYE, a Finnish startup, built satellites with radar that can see everything, day or night, rain or shine.
This month, ICEYE signed a €200 million deal with Poland to deliver radar satellites that help track military activity and protect borders.
Why It Matters:
Governments now see this tech as essential. ICEYE already has 44 satellites in orbit and works with NATO countries.
💡 What I’d Do:
Follow startups building tools that governments must have. Defense and disaster response are becoming some of the fastest-growing markets, with long contracts and reliable funding.
✅ Your Next Step as an Investor:
These signals show where the world is moving:
Quantum software making hardware useful now
Robotics vision tech breaking away from giants
Satellites becoming geopolitical must-haves
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🔮 Coming This Thursday
Here’s what I’m breaking down on Thursday inside the premium edition, designed for serious investors tracking the next wave of deeptech breakthroughs:
• Quantum Middleware – IBM just co-led a $26M bet on QEDMA, solving noisy quantum hardware with software.
• Robot Vision Reboot – Intel’s RealSense spun out and raised $50M. This isn’t new tech. It’s a new infrastructure bet.
• Sovereign Radar – ICEYE’s €200M satellite deal shows how defense is now a deeptech startup game.
• AI FOMO – 57.9% of all VC money is going to AI. But where exactly? I’ll show you where the smart money’s really flowing.
• Europe’s Deeptech Edge – 28% of EU VC is now deeptech. Photonics, quantum, and defense are in the lead.
• $91.5B VC Rebound – The IPO window is re-opening. But insiders are placing early bets in biotech, compute, and more.
• Bonus Drop – I’m also giving you my “Top 10 Signals for Spotting Scientific AI Startups” (perfect for pre-seed filters).
If you’re not already on the premium list, you’ll want in before this one hits.
[👉 Subscribe now to unlock my Thursday’s full edition!]
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See you on Thursday,
—
Eden Djanashvili
Author, Invest Deeptech
🛑 This newsletter is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice.