Aquark Technologies: building post-seed momentum
Following a successful seed fundraise in September 2024, quantum sensing company Aquark Technologies sought to build on the momentum from its initial PR campaign and drive visibility with key stakeholders by engaging national and business media.
However, the space in which Aquark operates is a complex one, with many mainstream journalists viewing quantum as a difficult and frequently inaccessible topic. Added to the challenge are swathes of hype surrounding quantum, with companies purporting to have achieved breakthroughs on an almost daily basis.
Despite this, TFD saw an opportunity to put this pioneering company at the forefront of the quantum conversation.
Our Approach
Aquark needed to punch above its weight to compete with larger counterparts that benefit from access to wider resources. That’s why we developed a strategic approach focused on elevating creative strategy and diversifying our PR tactics. We also drafted a company messaging framework and initiated a website refresh project to ensure consistency in messaging across both media and Aquark’s owned channels, enabling the company to engage partners, journalists, and prospects alike.
As a young, homegrown UK company, Aquark is continually proving its quantum technology is ready to leave the lab and operate in real-world environments. The technology speaks for itself, but with so many other companies making bold claims, we needed to think outside the box and leverage a variety of approaches to make the company’s achievements stand out.
Key Activities Included:
- Taking a creative approach to company announcements, including focusing on Aquark’s use of the autonomous submersible, affectionately named by the British public as ‘Boaty McBoatface’, in its underwater trial to give the press a ‘fun’ and positive story to write about;
- Leveraging key industry days/events such as IYQ25 and World Quantum Day to create media roundtables, bringing TFD’s quantum clients and industry experts together to offer a comprehensive view of the industry. This approach was instrumental in building a thought leadership platform for Aquark and engaging with media effectively and efficiently;
- Developing tailored offerings for key journalists, including offering a news exclusive to The Telegraph and hosting a ‘Quantum Q&A’ with trade journalists to support their industry understanding;
- Continuing to publish quality content across Aquark & its key executives’ social channels to keep engagement high, amplify community growth, and demonstrate the credibility of its spokespeople;
- Holding a messaging workshop focused on engaging customers, partners, and talent; drafting a company messaging framework, and using this to inform the new website copy for the refresh.
The Results
Media Impact (Nov 2024 - Oct 2025):
- 84 editorial articles featuring Aquark in 11 months
- Exclusive Telegraph coverage (22M UVPM) of Aquark’s second Royal Navy AQlock trial, syndicated by Yahoo! with a further 9 pieces of trade coverage
- 11 pieces of coverage secured for undersea trial partnership with ‘Boaty McBoatface’, including Financial Times-backed The Next Web (567K UVPM), The Quantum Insider (582K UVPM), and Tech.eu (268K UVPM)
- 2 mentions in Financial Times-backed European startup publication, Sifted, including a feature in its "European startups to watch" list
- Increase in organic media opportunities, growth in share of voice vs competitors in the European market
- Exclusive media roundtables and webinars with business and national journalists, including The Guardian, The Financial Times, the BBC, and Sifted briefings.
Digital Growth (Nov 2024 - Oct 2025):
- 66% increase in Aquark Technologies' LinkedIn followers
- 44% increase in CEO Andrei Dragomir's LinkedIn following
- 36% increase in COO Alexander Jantzen's LinkedIn following.
The Impact
The campaign successfully positioned Aquark at the forefront of practical quantum applications. The strategic focus on trials and partnerships generated sustained media attention while building credibility with key stakeholders in the quantum industry, laying the groundwork for further amplification as the company continues its exciting growth journey.
Tier 1 media breakthrough established Aquark as a serious player in the European quantum technology ecosystem. Meanwhile, significant growth in digital community engagement is enabling ongoing stakeholder communication.
By utilising a diverse number of channels and opportunities, a range of PR tactics, and focusing on creative strategy, TFD was able to elevate Aquark’s voice in an increasingly crowded market, where many competing companies have far greater resources.