Quantum-imaging Startup Diffraqtion Emerges From Stealth

Quantum-imaging Startup Diffraqtion Emerges From Stealth with $4.2M Pre-Seed Round

Diffraqtion, an MIT and University of Maryland spinout, has secured $4.2M in pre-seed funding to build ultra-high-resolution satellite and telescope constellations using its breakthrough quantum camera technology.

Led by QDNL Participations with participation from milemark•capital, Aether VC, ADIN, Offline Ventures, and bolstered by a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Direct-to-Phase-2 SBIR contract, the round supports Diffraqtion’s development of a first-of-its-kind quantum camera delivering up to 20x higher resolution and 1,000x faster processing than traditional imaging systems.

The company’s approach enables large constellations of low-cost, precision satellites for space domain awareness, defense, and Earth observation applications, ranging from orbital safety and intelligence to agriculture, disaster response, and environmental monitoring.

Diffraqtion has recently earned several high-profile recognitions, including first place at SLUSH 100 with a $1.1M equity prize and TechConnect’s “2025 Best Space Innovation” award. 

The team is currently engaged with the U.S. Space Force’s Apollo Accelerator and will conduct on-sky demonstrations with the University of California Observatories in early 2026. 

Additional space-based demonstrations focused on orbital tracking and situational awareness are planned.

Led by co-founders Johannes Galatsanos, Christine Yi-Ting Wang, and Saikat Guha, supported by former Kepler Communications CTO Mark Michael, the company blends deep quantum research, photonics engineering, and space operations expertise.

Image Credits: Diffraqtion