The Mello Millionaire with Tommy Mello

Episode: This $6B Industry Will Change Everything: Jim Rabeau Breaks Down Quantum Technology
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Guest: Dr. Jim Rabeau, CEO and Co-Founder of Detect

Overview

In this episode, Tommy Mello hosts Dr. Jim Rabeau—physicist, quantum technology leader, and CEO of Detect—to explore the revolution underway in quantum technology. They demystify how quantum advancements, especially in sensing magnetic fields, can impact everything from global navigation and mineral exploration to medical diagnostics. Dr. Rabeau shares insights on what’s next for this $6B industry and what it really takes to turn deep-tech innovation into usable, world-changing products.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Quantum Technology: The Next Industry Revolution

• Quantum as a Breakthrough Tool:
  Quantum tech isn’t just about building faster computers; it is “a set of tools to tap into the world around us in ways we haven’t been able to before” (A, 09:37).
• Industry Projections:
  “Quantum technology could reshape the world...tools that could solve massive optimization and simulation challenges in seconds...projected to be valued in the hundreds of billions by 2040.” (B, 00:27)
• Three Pillars of Quantum:
  Dr. Rabeau highlights computing, sensing, and communication as quantum’s main fronts (A, 09:45).

2. Dr. Jim Rabeau’s Journey: From Physics to Entrepreneurship

• Started his career “growing diamond films in a lab” (A, 02:27), which became a gateway into quantum research.
• Shifted from academic science to consulting at Deloitte, then eventually launched Detect to focus on practical commercial quantum sensing (A, 07:26).

3. Quantum Sensing – Seeing the Invisible

• Biological Inspiration:
  “Birds and turtles have this ability to navigate with magnetic fields...imagine being able to open some sensory mechanism and see magnetic fields.” (A, 04:14)
• Technology in Practice:
  Using diamond crystal structures with nitrogen atoms as magnetic field sensors, Detect creates hardware capable of “measuring fields we haven’t been able to see before—whether in the human body or underground.” (A, 08:56)
• From Lab to Market:
  “We’re making quantum mainstream by connecting it with these semiconductor Superhighways...out of the lab, into commercial opportunities.” (A, 01:14–01:45)

4. Applications: Navigation, Mining, and Medical Diagnostics

• Navigation Without GPS:
  Critical for military, underground, underwater, or GPS-denied environments (tunnels, jamming).
  “Our device currently...measures the magnetic field...you can then navigate without GPS and that’s hugely valuable.” (A, 12:27)
• Mining & Exploration:
  Mapping underground magnetic anomalies could revolutionize mineral discovery (A, 14:41).
• Medical Diagnostics:
  Potential to make “magnetic field intelligence” commonplace, enabling new non-invasive ways to diagnose and understand health (A, 21:40, 22:31).

5. Challenges and the Road to Scalability

• The Hardware and Scaling Bottleneck:
  Detect is focused on “designing and testing a millimeter scale chip...solving scalability at a reasonable price point, which is the biggest challenge in quantum tech.” (A, 13:18)
• Talent and Culture:
  The hardest challenge is “recruiting the best people and having the culture that enables you to be a magnet for great talent” (A, 19:33). Early-stage leadership means tough calls on hires.

6. Personal Reflections and Advice

• On Entrepreneurship:
  “You’re not alone in making mistakes...it can be isolating, but you need to embrace failure and know everyone faces this” (A, 15:35).
• Defining Success:
  For the company: widespread adoption of Detect’s sensors; for Jim: “looking back and saying I made the right decisions when it mattered” and not sacrificing family for the business (A, 16:32–18:19).
  • Memorable moment: Going to an AC/DC concert with his son instead of working late before realizing, “it was just the best thing...so glad this happened” (A, 18:19).

7. Emerging Markets First Impacted by Quantum Sensing

• Navigation and Mining:
  The earliest and most immediate applications (A, 21:40).
• Later, Medical Diagnostics:
  “If we can push the boundary of what you can measure a little bit further...it opens up new information, more rapid diagnosis” (A, 22:31).

8. IQ vs EQ in Deep Tech Startups

• Balancing Brilliance and Leadership:
  “My IQ is not anywhere near the quantum physicists I’ve worked with...but EQ—communication—is often what’s missing. As a founder, you need both” (A, 23:26).

9. AI and Quantum: Symbiotic Futures

• AI in Quantum Tech:
  “We’re using it to interpret sensor data and solve tech and business problems...leverage it as much as possible” (A, 24:57).

10. Expanding Horizons and Staying Present

• Stargazing and Perspective:
  Dr. Rabeau reflects on “the cusp of just learning so much more...sometimes you get a sense of how insignificant your own world is, but it’s so important to yourself” (A, 26:36).
• Book Recommendations:
  • A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle—on presence and consciousness (A, 28:14)
  • Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss—negotiation strategies (A, 29:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Opportunity
  “What new opportunities can come about if we were able to, you know, open the eyes and see magnetic fields rather than seeing light?”
  (A, 00:00/04:14)
• On Quantum’s Potential
  “Quantum is just a kind of a tool that enables us to tap into the world around us in ways that we haven’t been able to before.”
  (A, 09:37)
• On GPS-Independent Navigation
  “You can actually have something in your hand...it measures the magnetic field. If I have a map and my sensor, and I can link it to the map, you can then navigate without GPS.”
  (A, 12:27)
• On Leadership Lessons
  “Where you’re not alone in making mistakes...embrace it and understand that you’re not the only one.”
  (A, 15:35)
• On Defining Success
  “I don't want to end up in 30 years saying, damn, I wasted 15 of those years not having the time that I really would have loved to have with the kids.”
  (A, 18:19)
• On Culture and Talent
  “Number one challenge in building the company is recruiting the best people and having the culture that enables you to be a magnet for great talent.”
  (A, 19:33)
• On Market Impact
  “Navigation is probably the earliest one where we’re seeing the most traction...and mining...as we push further, medical diagnostics is a huge market opportunity.”
  (A, 21:40)
• On EQ vs IQ
  “The EQ...is more lacking. Like, you know, it's communication. How do you like communicating a hard topic, right?”
  (A, 23:26–24:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:27] – Industry overview: Market size and impact
• [02:27] – Jim’s background and passion for quantum tech
• [08:56] – Explaining quantum mechanics and sensing
• [10:13] – Navigation use case (military, GPS-denied environments)
• [13:18] – Challenges: Hardware, scaling, and Detect’s approach
• [15:35] – Personal advice to younger self, resilience in entrepreneurship
• [16:32] – Success metrics: Company, family, and personal balance
• [19:33] – Talent, recruiting, and company culture
• [21:40] – Quantum tech’s early market impact: Navigation, mining, medical
• [23:26] – Balancing deep technical IQ and emotional intelligence
• [24:57] – Using AI to enhance quantum tech research and operations
• [26:36] – Big-picture reflections and the importance of perspective
• [28:14] – Book recommendation: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
• [29:04] – Book recommendation: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
• [31:11] – Memorable closing exchange on “building roads where none exist” (Back to the Future/DeLorean anecdote)

Tone & Language

The episode blends scientific clarity, entrepreneurial grit, and personal warmth. Dr. Rabeau is approachable yet deeply insightful, often illustrating complex ideas with vivid analogies. Tommy Mello brings curiosity and a business-minded perspective, keeping the conversation engaging for both tech-savvy entrepreneurs and general listeners.

Summary

This episode offers an accessible yet rich dive into how quantum technology is moving from the theoretical to the practical—enabling new applications that could soon transform entire industries. Dr. Jim Rabeau walks listeners through his journey from diamond physics to startup leadership, explains quantum tech’s mechanics and promise, and candidly shares the real-world challenges of building a company at the frontier of science. For anyone seeking to understand where the next groundbreaking opportunities may lie—and what it takes to seize them—this conversation delivers thought-provoking perspectives, actionable wisdom, and genuine inspiration.