Quantum Software Startup is a venture-backed quantum computing software startup based in Silicon Valley. The startup targets innovation lab directors and CTOs at Fortune 500 companies (finance, pharma, aerospace) looking to explore quantum algorithms and simulations.
Challenges
Emerging technology in a nascent market, prospects often lacked understanding of quantum computing’s business impact, making outreach education-heavy.
Limited credibility and brand recognition as a young startup, struggling to get attention from Fortune 500 innovation executives.
Small founding sales team with no bandwidth for systematic outbound prospecting or multi-touch follow-ups.
Narrow initial targeting hypothesis: , the client was unsure which industries or use cases would resonate most with their quantum software solution.
"We needed meetings with people who ‘get’ quantum, but we had no inroads. PrompX’s team made those introductions happen faster than we imagined. Their approach not only set meetings, it taught us which markets are truly ready for our tech."
- Co founder and CEO, Quantum Software Startup
Our Approach
1. Persona & industry testing
PrompX designed parallel outreach campaigns across three verticals (financial services, pharmaceuticals, aerospace) to gauge interest, with tailored messaging highlighting relevant quantum use cases (e.g., risk modeling for finance, molecule simulation for pharma).
2. Educational content outreach
Incorporated bite-sized educational content into emails and LinkedIn messages, like a one-page “Quantum ROI” brief or webinar invite, to help prospects envision real business value rather than just tech novelty.
3. Credibility building
Leveraged the startup’s reputable advisors and investors as credibility markers in messaging (e.g., mentioning “backed by XYZ Ventures”), and shared a brief pilot success story to build trust with enterprise prospects.
4. High-touch sequencing
Used a mix of highly personalized emails (referencing each target’s innovation initiatives), targeted LinkedIn InMails, and timely phone calls to executive assistants to get on busy calendars.
5. Data-driven iteration
Tracked response rates by industry. For example, when pharma prospects showed higher engagement, we quickly doubled down and refined the value proposition around drug discovery acceleration.
6. Seamless SDR extension
PrompX acted as an extension of their team, syncing regularly with the founders to fine-tune messaging and rapidly iterate on feedback from initial meetings.
Key Metrics
→ 42 meetings scheduled with senior innovation and technology executives across target Fortune 500 companies in the first 4 months.
→ 8 Fortune 500 companies entered pilot discussions (proof-of-concept projects) as a direct outcome, fast-tracking the client’s enterprise validation.
→ Achieved a 40% positive reply rate across email and LinkedIn, significantly above the typical 10% rate for cold outreach in new tech sectors.
→ Discovered that pharmaceutical and financial services verticals yielded 2× higher engagement than other industries, allowing the client to focus its sales efforts where traction was strongest.
→ The sales cycle for engaged prospects was shortened by an estimated 30% by engaging educated, high-intent stakeholders from the start.
Key Takeaways
1. In emerging tech, combining education with outreach is critical, giving prospects context for a new solution greatly boosts engagement.
2. Rapid testing across multiple verticals helped pinpoint where product-market fit was strongest, saving the startup time and resources.
3. Even without a big name, a thoughtful, credibility-rich campaign can engage Fortune 500 executives and accelerate a startup’s go-to-market traction.
Ready to Get Started?
Looking to fast-track enterprise traction for your advanced technology? PrompX provides the outreach muscle and strategic insight to open doors in new markets.
PrompX Team
Quantum Software Success Story