Quantum Leap: How UbiQD's $20M Raise Signals a New Era in Agri-Solar Innovation

Courtesy: UbiQD

In a bold stride toward redefining how industries harness light, UbiQD®, the Los Alamos-based pioneer in quantum dot technology, has closed a $20 million Series B financing round. Led by Phoenix Venture Partners and backed by a diverse group of investors including Builders VC, Builders Vision, and Scout Ventures, the raise marks a pivotal moment not just for the company, but for the broader application of quantum nanotechnology across sectors—especially in agriculture and energy.

At the core of UbiQD’s mission is an elegantly simple yet technically profound idea: re-engineering light to work smarter. Their proprietary quantum dot (QD) technology, developed with contributions from a Nobel laureate, alters the properties of light at the nanoscale to improve efficiency, sustainability, and durability across a range of critical uses. These tiny crystals, capable of converting and tailoring light spectra, are being put to work in greenhouses, solar panels, and security systems, representing a rare case where deep science directly translates to visible, market-ready outcomes.

For the food system, the implications are immediate and significant. In greenhouse agriculture, UbiQD’s QD films adjust sunlight to a spectrum more optimal for plant growth. The result is a low-energy, high-impact solution that boosts crop yields and quality without demanding more from already overextended natural resources. In an era where climate volatility is challenging the predictability of outdoor farming, this technology opens new avenues for controlled-environment agriculture to thrive, making year-round, local food production more scalable and resilient.

"From agriculture to solar to security, they've built real traction with major industry players, turning scientific innovation into commercial success," noted Dr. Sheng Peng, Partner at Phoenix Venture Partners. "What impressed us about UbiQD is the diversity of end-markets they are serving and the ease with which their technology scales."

That scalability is now set to accelerate. The fresh round of funding will enable UbiQD to ramp up manufacturing, double down on research and development, and solidify its intellectual property portfolio. The company is also expanding its footprint in New Mexico with facility upgrades and plans to establish what it hopes will become the globe’s largest and most efficient QD supply chain. This move is as strategic as it is symbolic, positioning the U.S.—and New Mexico in particular—as a nucleus for next-generation quantum materials manufacturing.

“Every major advancement in human history has been underpinned by materials innovation but unlocked by manufacturing scale,” said UbiQD CEO Hunter McDaniel. “Quantum dots are now part of a new industrial revolution—smaller, smarter, and more sustainable.”

UbiQD’s strategic acquisition of Blue Dot Photonics earlier this year further underscores its solar ambitions. By integrating perovskite-based quantum-cutting materials into its offerings, the company aims to significantly reduce the cost-per-watt of solar energy, potentially reshaping global solar adoption curves. For food producers, this translates to more affordable energy for vertical farms and hydroponic systems—critical components in the shift to low-emission, decentralized food systems.

“This is far more than a scientific milestone—it’s a material breakthrough with transformative commercial potential,” said Jim Kim, General Partner at Builders VC. “With accelerating customer adoption and industrial-scale production on the horizon, the outlook is incredibly bright.”

UbiQD's rise is a reminder that some of the most impactful innovations don’t always arrive with fanfare, but with quiet persistence and scientific rigor. As the climate crisis continues to reshape global agriculture and energy systems, solutions like UbiQD’s, built at the intersection of physics and practicality, may well define how we adapt—and thrive—in the decades ahead.