Agnikul raises fresh funding, smaller coolers for quantum chips, and more

Moin SPM and Srinath Ravichandran, Co-founders of Agnikul Cosmos, are pioneering India’s private small satellite launch vehicles with 3D printed engines.(00:20) Swiss quantum startup shrinks cooling systems for scalable processorsYQuantum has raised CHF 150,000 ($186,000) from Venture Kick to commercialize miniaturized cryogenic hardware for quantum computers. The startup’s compact components address a critical bottleneck: scaling superconducting qubits reliably. By replacing bulky cooling systems with high-performance alternatives, YQuantum brings quantum computing closer to practical deployment.The engineering team, drawn from UC Berkeley and ETH Zurich, targets a rapidly expanding quantum hardware market projected to reach billions in the coming years. Its first commercial units are expected by mid-2026.Listen to the episodeSpotifyYouTube(01:10) AI genomics platform launches to scale safer gene therapiesCassidy Bio has unveiled its AI-driven genomic foundation model with an $8 million seed round, backed by Ahren Innovation Capital. The platform combines proprietary lab data, population genetics, and machine learning to design gene-editing therapies at scale. By replacing trial-and-error with predictive engineering, Cassidy addresses persistent challenges: target selection, delivery, and off-target effects.The founding team unites CRISPR pioneers and AI leaders with the aim of moving genome editing from isolated successes to reliable, scalable medical solutions for millions of patients worldwide.(01:56) Swedish chipmaker secures €15 million for advanced etching techAlixLabs has closed a €15 million Series A investment led by Navigare Ventures to accelerate Atomic Layer Etching Pitch Splitting (APS) technology. The breakthrough enables cost-effective production of advanced chips without expensive multi-patterning or exclusive EUV reliance. By slashing process complexity and energy consumption per wafer, APS addresses a critical challenge in chip economics.Beta testing with foundry partners begins in 2026, targeting full manufacturing deployment by 2027. The innovation could reshape semiconductor accessibility globally, lowering barriers for advanced chip production.(02:47) Agnikul secures $17 million in fresh funding for its space rocketsAgnikul Cosmos, a Chennai-based space-tech startup, has secured Rs. 150 crore ($17 million) in fresh funding, bringing its valuation to $500 million. The capital will support its next orbital launch mission featuring barge-based booster recovery — a global first for small launch vehicles.Agnikul, which is pioneering India’s private small launch vehicles with 3D printed engines, will expand manufacturing, launch frequency, and establish a 350-acre campus in Tamil Nadu, targeting customers in Europe, Asia, and the US.(03:30) Cambridge team enables LEDs from ‘un-powerable’ nanoparticlesResearchers at the University of Cambridge in Britain have achieved a breakthrough by powering electrically insulating lanthanide-doped nanoparticles using organic molecular antennas. The new approach, discovered by a Cavendish Laboratory-led team, enables highly pure near-infrared LEDs, promising advances in biomedical imaging and optical communications. and published the findings in Nature.