In the business of looking underground, the best tool is often the one that can see the faintest signal. For a construction crew trying to avoid an unmapped gas line, or a mining geologist hunting a thin ore vein, the difference between a clear picture and a costly guess is measured in nanoteslas. ZaviQ, a Sherbrooke startup, is betting that the best way to find those signals is with a sensor that must be kept colder than deep space.
A colder, quieter way to listen
ZaviQ's core product is a time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) system built around a Superconducting Quantum Interference Device, or SQUID. It is, essentially, a quantum magnetometer. Where conventional copper-coil sensors struggle with electrical noise or lose sensitivity in highly conductive ground, a SQUID sensor, operating at superconducting temperatures near 4 Kelvin (-269°C), can detect magnetic fields orders of magnitude weaker. The company's pitch is straightforward: this lets you see deeper and with higher resolution, reducing the risk of hitting something unexpected during excavation or missing a valuable deposit [ZaviQ website, retrieved 2026]. The technology isn't new to physics labs, but ZaviQ's founders, Dr. Mehdi Biderang and Dr. Mahsa Abdetedal, are packaging it for field use in infrastructure, environmental assessment, and mineral exploration.
The team bridging lab and field
The company's structure reflects the dual nature of the challenge. CEO Mehdi Biderang is a quantum hardware scientist whose public work focuses on superconducting devices and Josephson junctions [ZaviQ team, retrieved 2026]. He is also an active media presence, hosting podcasts and speaking at conferences, which has helped raise ZaviQ's profile in deep-tech circles [Mehdi Unfiltered Spotify, retrieved 2026]; [VIEW Conference, Oct 2026]. COO Mahsa Abdetedal brings the applied side, with a background in mining engineering, geophysics, and field operations [ZaviQ team, retrieved 2026]. This combination is critical. A SQUID is a finicky piece of lab equipment; making it work reliably in a muddy trench or on a rocky outcrop is an engineering marathon.
Their early progress is supported by a C$450,000 pre-seed round closed in May 2026, led by quantum-focused investors QV Studio and Quantacet [Biderang LinkedIn post, May 2026]. The capital is earmarked for field validation and pilot projects. A notable early partnership involves the Université de Sherbrooke, aiming to develop a new generation of these ultrasensitive sensors [Prompt, November 2025].
| Role | Name | Background Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Founder & CEO | Dr. Mehdi Biderang | Quantum hardware, superconducting sensors, SQUIDs |
| Co-Founder & COO | Dr. Mahsa Abdetedal | Mining engineering, applied geophysics, field operations |
The crowded field of subsurface sensing
ZaviQ is not proposing to invent a new market, but to enter a competitive one with a superior tool. The landscape for high-end geophysical sensors includes established players like Germany's Supracon AG and Canada's Dias Geophysical, which also offer SQUID-based systems. Others, like Quantum Design Inc. and Tristan Technologies, supply SQUID sensors for research and industrial applications. ZaviQ's wedge is a fully integrated TDEM system designed for commercial field work, not just the sensor component. The bet is that their specific integration and focus on end-user workflows,from data acquisition to interpretation,will carve out a niche.
The risks here are practical and commercial. The technology is inherently complex and expensive. Liquid helium or cryocoolers are not cheap, and field crews are not quantum physicists. The company must prove its systems are not just sensitive, but also rugged, operable, and cost-effective compared to incumbent methods. Furthermore, the sales cycle in industries like mining and major infrastructure is long and relationship-driven. ZaviQ's current team of 1-10 employees will need to scale both its technical and its commercial muscle substantially [ZaviQ LinkedIn, retrieved 2026].
The unit economics of a nanotesla
The real test will be in the dirt. If a standard TDEM survey for a construction site costs $50,000 and still carries a 10% risk of a costly surprise, what premium would a developer pay to cut that risk to 2%? If ZaviQ's system can identify a mineral deposit 50 meters deeper than a competitor's, what is that extra depth worth per hectare of exploration lease? The back-of-the-envelope math favors them only if the value of reduced uncertainty or discovered resources significantly outweighs their hardware and operational costs. For a multi-billion-dollar mine or a subway extension, the answer could be yes. For a small housing development, probably not.
ZaviQ's path to relevance runs directly through Sherbrooke neighbor Dias Geophysical, a well-established provider of SQUID-TDEM systems for mining. To win, ZaviQ must convince customers that its next-generation integration offers a tangible step-change in data quality, usability, or total cost of discovery where Dias and others have already set a high bar.
Sources
- [ZaviQ website, retrieved 2026] About - ZaviQ | https://zaviq.ca/about/
- [ZaviQ website, retrieved 2026] Team - ZaviQ | https://zaviq.ca/team/
- [Biderang LinkedIn post, May 2026] Official declaration of ZaviQ | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mehdi-biderang-152814204_official-declaration-of-zaviq-we-will-make-activity-7458181949665411073-N7TY
- [Prompt, November 2025] Prompt and QV Studio join forces to power tomorrow’s quantum startups | https://promptinnov.com/en/news/prompt-and-qv-studio-join-forces-to-power-tomorrows-quantum-startups/
- [ZaviQ LinkedIn, retrieved 2026] ZaviQ LinkedIn Company Page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/zaviq
- [Mehdi Unfiltered Spotify, retrieved 2026] Mehdi Unfiltered | Podcast on Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6W9dEVZKRgYTfyWgYJbMlP
- [VIEW Conference, Oct 2026] Fireside Chat Keynote | VIEW Conference 2026 | https://www.viewconference.it/article/1273/fireside-chat-keynote