Sydney-based quantum sensing startup Deteqt has successfully raised AUD $5 million in a seed funding round led by Main Sequence. In addition, several notable investors—including ATP Fund, BOKA Capital, Beaten Zone Venture Partners, Uniseed, and the University of Sydney—participated in the funding round, highlighting strong confidence in the company’s vision.
With this new capital, Deteqt plans to accelerate the development of its field-ready quantum sensing product. Furthermore, the company aims to scale its diamond chip manufacturing capabilities and expand its workforce to support ongoing innovation.
At the core of Deteqt’s innovation lies a chip-scale quantum magnetometer, which uses diamond crystal technology combined with a custom semiconductor chip to detect magnetic fields. Notably, this compact design enables broader applications, including deployment in drones, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. As a result, the technology could revolutionize how machines navigate and interpret their surroundings.
Initially, Deteqt is focusing on defence navigation systems, particularly in scenarios where GPS signals are either unavailable or compromised. This approach aligns with growing global interest in alternatives to satellite-based positioning, especially in contested or high-risk environments. Moreover, recent developments in the United States suggest that quantum magnetometry devices are already being explored in military operations, such as detecting human heartbeats remotely through magnetic signatures.
Expanding on its potential, Deteqt emphasizes that its technology simplifies how machines process magnetic field data. Beyond defence, applications could extend into geological surveying and medical imaging—fields where magnetic sensing already plays a critical role.
“Magnetic fields permeate everything around us – every object, every geological formation, every living body,” said Dr Jim Rabeau, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Deteqt.
“When we have been able to access these signals at all, the results have been profound – MRI, mineral exploration, brain imaging. But these are isolated breakthroughs built on systems too large and expensive to deploy beyond a handful of controlled environments. Our chip-scale integration changes that entirely. We are bringing that same sensitivity into completely new environments and form factors, and when you can do that at scale, you unlock an entire layer of intelligence about the physical world – not just measuring it, but making it usable for machines to navigate, interpret and act on in real time,” Rabeau said.
Meanwhile, Main Sequence highlighted Deteqt’s rapid progress in both product innovation and commercial traction. The firm pointed out that miniaturization and scalability remain key challenges in quantum sensing.
“Deteqt is tackling one of the hardest problems in quantum technology: building sensors that are simultaneously sensitive enough to be useful and small enough to deploy at scale,” said Alejandra Romero, Investment Manager at Main Sequence.
“What sets Deteqt apart is the combination of a chip-scale manufacturing path and the commercial traction they’ve built in less than eighteen months. The partner pipeline and the speed of execution are exceptional for a company at this stage,” Romero said.
Additionally, investor BOKA Capital emphasized the increasing urgency for GPS-independent navigation solutions.
“The demand signal for GPS-independent navigation is no longer theoretical; it’s operational and urgent,” said Erik Thoresen, Partner at BOKA Capital.
“What drew us to Deteqt is that this isn’t a single-application company. The same chip-scale platform that solves positioning for defence opens entirely new categories across industries. Genuine dual-use technology with a credible manufacturing path is rare, and Deteqt has it,” Thoresen said.
Overall, this funding round reflects rising momentum in defence-focused quantum technologies across Australia. With leadership from Dr Rabeau, COO Rupal Ismin, and Professor Omid Kavehei, Deteqt is now positioned to move toward commercial deployment of its breakthrough quantum magnetometer.
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