QustomDot is a Belgian company that produces customised quantum dot nanoparticle inks. Their cadmium-free quantum dots are made for display applications, including smartwatches, AR/VR devices, phones, and various screens found in homes and public spaces. QustomDot is a member of the EIC Scaling Club’s Next-Gen Computing Market Group.

Using quantum dots to revolutionise microLED displays

QustomDot focuses on enhancing microLED display technology, a distinct approach from the widespread LCD and OLED screens. MicroLED displays utilise individual red, green, and blue LEDs for each pixel, offering better performance, higher brightness levels and superior contrast compared to other display technologies. However, the technology is not yet commercially viable. QustomDot’s co-founder and CEO Kim de Nolf, explains: 

“MicroLED screens are not commercialised because they are too expensive. And we are an enabler to make this great technology commercially viable.”

MicroLED screens present manufacturing challenges due to the intricate placement of their tiny components. QustomDot's technology addresses this by leveraging its quantum dot inks' ability to convert blue light. Instead of individually placing red, green, and blue LEDs, a screen can be constructed using only blue LEDs, which are cheaper and more efficient than other colour LEDs. QustomDot's green and red inks are then applied on the blue LED, transforming the blue light into the desired colours and creating a full-colour display. 

Utilising QustomDot's quantum dot technology reduces overall production costs compared to traditional non-quantum dot solutions, as its inks can be applied in ambient conditions. In addition, this technology can increase red light efficiency from 5% to approximately 18%, resulting in more energy-efficient displays.

QustomDot's final product is an ink, similar in concept to ink cartridges used in home or office printers, but designed for specialised, large-scale printers. These printers then directly deposit the ink onto the LEDs. As this ink can be used in ambient conditions, the materials do not require protection from oxygen and water during the printing process. This is a significant advantage, as the need for such protection substantially increases production costs.

Gaining traction: QustomDot's journey towards commercialisation

QustomDot is currently in a pre-commercialisation phase but already has a fully equipped chemistry laboratory and pilot-scale production facilities. The company already has about eight patent families covering a broad range of topics in the field. 

QustomDot is focused on demonstrating traction within the display manufacturing market to validate the viability and worth of its technology. They have observed significant interest in their solution from potential partners – in fact, some of the world’s leaders in advanced display manufacturing are currently sampling QustomDot’s solution. 

QustomDot's next steps involve customer product validation, followed by pilot-scale prototyping. Ultimately, the startup aims to achieve volume production of displays incorporating their quantum dot technology for commercial sale. 

From PhDs to industry veterans: QustomDot's leadership team

Every member of QustomDot’s team plays an essential role. Kim de Nolf holds a PhD in chemistry, specialising in quantum dots. Despite lacking a formal business background, her deep scientific expertise in the field led her to establish the company with Igor Nakonechnyi, now the CTO. Nakonechnyi is a scientist who has been working with Kim and the wider research group to bridge the gap between quantum dot research and practical application.

Other QustomDot leaders include CFO Bart Catrysse and Chief Commercial Officer Jan Vandesande, who contributes his extensive strategic experience from companies like IMEC, Intel, and Alcatel as well as startup experience.

Kim expresses particular pride in QustomDot’s team. She says: “Despite facing technical challenges, the team always keeps moving ahead. Even when it becomes really difficult, they keep their focus. It's really thanks to these people that our company has come this far.”

Support and funding fueling QustomDot's path to future success

In late 2023, QustomDot shifted its focus from quantum dot synthesis to product development centered on surface modification and ink formulation. This strategic change leveraged their unique ability to create surface-modified quantum dot inks that function in ambient conditions, a key factor for cost-effective industrial applications.

Investments and grants have further solidified the value of their solutions. At the end of 2024, QustomDot secured a €2.7 million investment from Noshaq, QBIC, Vigo Ventures, and PMV. In addition, the company received a € 2.5 million EIC accelerator grant. Kim points out:

"Securing the EIC accelerator grant is a major achievement for us and a testament to our technology. The competition was incredibly tough – I think only around 5% of applicants were successful. As the grant package includes both funding and equity, this is a huge boost. We're very pleased to have received it."

The company hopes to find significant value in the mentorship provided by the EIC Scaling Club, particularly regarding fundraising. Given the inherent challenges of securing funding for high-risk, deep tech startups, the guidance provided by the Club is invaluable. “We are very thankful to the EIC Scaling Club for giving us opportunities that we otherwise would not have,” Kim sums up.

About the EIC Scaling Club

The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.

The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.

The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.

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