UPDATED 12:40 EDT / AUGUST 15 2024

EMERGING TECH

Quantum Circuits raises $60M to build scalable error-correcting quantum platform

Quantum Circuits Inc., a spinout from Yale University building a novel quantum computing platform, today announced it has raised more than $60 million in an early-stage funding round that will allow the company to commercialize its scalable solution with built-in error correction.

The Series B investment was led by ARCH Venture Partners, F-Prime Capital, Sequoia Capital and Hither Creek Ventures. The round also brought participation from Canaan Partners, Fitz Gate Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Osage University Partners, Connecticut Innovations, Tao Capital Partners and Tribeca Venture Partners.

Quantum computing is a rapidly evolving field that uses quantum mechanics to perform operations that would be nearly impossible or extremely slow for classical computers. The computers use qubits, which can be one or zero at the same time. They can also use quantum effects such as entanglement, which allow qubits to have an impact on the state of other qubits.

However, quantum computers are notoriously error-prone. Traditionally, quantum computing platforms have worked to scale up and then correct for errors afterward. The company said it’s working on resolving this problem at the qubit level with error detection and correction.

Based on the work of Quantum Circuits founder and Chief Scientist Rob Schoelkopf, Sterling professor of applied physics at Yale, the company uses a powerful quantum bit unit with built-in error correction called dual-rail qubits. The company says that allows the quantum computing architecture to scale up and benefit from error detection capabilities from the ground up.

“The founding goal for Quantum Circuits has always been to focus on the biggest challenge for quantum computing – to deliver reliable fault-tolerant and scalable quantum computers,” said Schoelkopf.

The company currently offers a cloud service for developers to deploy quantum applications on the company’s error-detecting hardware using the company’s software development kit and a cloud portal for monitoring applications running on the platform. Developers can also use a quantum hardware simulator that allows them to prototype algorithms for the company’s platform that behaves exactly as if they were running on the actual hardware. That makes it easier for them to test their software before deploying it onto the actual system.

Major companies, including IBM Corp., Intel Corp. and Google LLC, have been developing quantum computing platforms alongside startups such as IonQ Inc. and Quantinuum Ltd. Quantum Circuits is not the only company working on a commercially viable quantum technology. It will join other promising quantum projects, including one from D-Wave Quantum Inc., which has launched a practical commercial service for grocery delivery applications and other use cases.

The closing of this funding round follows the appointment of President and Chief Executive Ray Smets, who previously led large-scale cloud operations, sales, marketing and product execution roles at companies such as Cisco Systems Inc., Motorola and AT&T Inc.

“By putting the power of error detection and real-time control into the hands of algorithm developers, we will accelerate their ability to create new solutions and achieve better results needed for commercial applications,” said Smets.

Image: Pixabay

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