Andrei Dragomir is the co-founder and CEO of Aquark Technologies, a Southampton-based quantum startup developing a high-performance cold atom clock.
Founded in 2020 by Dragomir and Alexander Jantzen as a spinout from the University of Southampton, Aquark is working towards what it says will be the UK’s first commercially available cold atom clock.
Cold atom clocks can precisely measure time by cooling atoms to near absolute zero. The stability of atomic frequencies means it can theoretically operate for millions of years without losing a second.
In May this year, Aquark secured a £3.4m contract from government agency Innovate UK to make its technology commercially ready.
In this week’s Founder in Five Q&A, Dragomir explains why founders shouldn’t oversell their vision, how a lab mistake sparked the creation of his startup, and why he’s excited by green technologies.
1.Which company’s growth story are you most impressed with?
Andrei Dragomir: In the early stages of building Aquark, the story behind the creation of Gore-Tex really stuck with me. Two people working in their basement led to an accidental discovery which led to building a massive company.
I also admire how the Gore family runs their business. They would meet every single person and keep their team units below 230 people (the upper limit for a cohesive community, according to Dunbar’s number). It’s a family business that really values its people.
2. What’s a common mistake that you see founders make?
AD: Something I see a lot is founders overselling their vision to the extent that it becomes unrealistic or unattainable. When it comes to deeptech, the hype has a limit.
Yes, the founder has to sell that 1% world-changing vision but only when it is presented next to what is realistic. You have to have an open mind to listen and change according to advisors and customers, and when you’ve spent sometimes years creating a business, it can be hard to be adaptable, but it’s essential.
3. Tell us about a time you screwed up?
AD: One of my favourite things to do is screw up. From small mistakes in the lab to life decisions – screwing up is unavoidable and I know I do it all the time so it’s hard to pick one!
But the one I always go back to is not mounting a mirror correctly in the lab, it falling out, and that leading to an accidental discovery which sparked the creation of my startup. I think making mistakes is written into our way of existing, but screwing up is great. It’s when you can learn the most.
4. Excluding your sector, which nascent technology holds the most promise?
AD: With the exception of quantum technology, I am very excited about the advancement in green energy. With the pressing need to address climate change, innovation in this sector has increased massively and there are so many up-and-coming concepts both in terms of energy generation and storage solutions that hold a lot of promise.
The potential of this field is vast, and the adoption and improvement of these technologies will be pivotal in years to come. The world needs them, and we need to deliver them to ensure a sustainable future.
5. What’s the most misunderstood technology?
AD: Without a doubt, it is the technology we are using today. So few of us understand the work that goes behind using maps on your smartphone or the vast number of components that are needed to make them work. Or how we have the internet, and we can access it from almost anywhere.
Even making a simple phone call. There is magic behind that and we should take a moment to be grateful for everything we have and think of how we can build on it and use it as a positive force.
Founder in Five – a UKTN Q&A series with the entrepreneurs behind the UK’s innovative tech startups, scaleups and unicorns – is published every Friday.
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