Aledia, InjectPower, Mag4Health, Microoled, Quobly​: five CEA-Leti incubated startups that raised funds in 2023. ​

“It was a good year, said Sylvain Colomb, in charge of CEA-Leti’s startup program, especially in a context where startup funding is increasingly more difficult. Not counting the Aledia operation, which alone accounts for €120 million, our startups raised 15% more than in 2022.”

​

​There are two reasons for this success. First, these highly deep-tech startups are supported on a solid foundation of patents and have barriers to entry to reassure investors, such as quantum computing, microbatteries, microscreens, micoLEDs, medical imagery.​ 

Next, four of the startups have reached the industrialization stage of their technology, or are increasing their production capacities. ​

“This removes major development uncertainties,” added Sylvain Colomb. “The next challenge for these startups will involve mass production.”  

​

It will mean building or acquiring premises, installing equipment, recruiting staff, all of which mobilizes substantial budgets.​

Created in 2022, only Quobly is an exception, since its silicon-based quantum system is still under development. But it is promising enough to have convinced investors to contribute €19 million. ​ 

“Never before had the first fundraising round of a CEA-Leti incubated startup been so high,” highlighted Sylvain Colomb.“In the vast majority of cases, they tend to stay below €10 million.”

​

The five operations​

• Aledia: €120 million to industrialize MicroLEDs​

With highly competitive luminosity, costs, and energy efficiency, Aledia’s MicroLEDs will soon be lighting up smartwatch screens, tablets, smartphones, widescreen TVs, etc. Aledia has already built a factory to manufacture them. Having raised €120 million, it can now set up facilities and production lines. Ultimately, the site will employ more than 500 collaborators.​

• InjectPower: €6.5 million to produce microbatteries

InjectPower has developed ultra-miniaturized microbatteries capable of powering up implanted medical devices. First application: systems for measuring intraocular pressure, used to monitor glaucoma and in neurosurgery. The 2023 round will fund the final phase of development, clinical trials, and the initial purchasing of equipment required for production. In 2024, a second fundraising round will go toward building the factory that will begin producing the microbatteries in the Grenoble region by 2026. ​

• Mag4Health: €5.3 million to start serving clients​

Mag4Health is democratizing magnetoencephalographs (MEG), imagers that can continuously record neuronal activity in order to diagnose cerebral commotions and degenerative dementia. The round will fund the production of 12 units for initial clients, as well as clinical trials for European certification.​

• Microoled: €21 million to triple production capacities

Augmented reality is opening colossal markets for Microleed’s high-performance display microscreens. Fundraising will enable the startup to build its own production tool, tripling its capacity. It will simultaneously continue optimizing its technology, including in terms of energy efficiency.​

• Quobly: €19 million to double R&D efforts

Quobly is developing a quantum computer based on silicon spin qubit technology, with the advantage of being manufacturable in standard semiconductor fabs. 

The goal of this seed funding round – the largest seed funding round for a European quantum startup - was to establish links with industry-stakeholders in the microelectronics industry and to continue to make scientific and technological progress with the support of the CEA & CNRS. 

Launched in 2022, the startup plans to be 40-people strong by late 2024. ​