Espoo-based quantum hardware startup Coherence Quantum has raised €2.78 million in a seed funding round led by Helsinki-based Lifeline Ventures, with participation from technology entrepreneur Mårten Mickos. Spun out of Aalto University’s Quantum Computing and Devices group, the company is developing an integrated cryogenic signalling and control platform designed to help quantum computers scale by reducing the wiring, cooling demands and complexity associated with controlling larger numbers of qubits. The funding will support the establishment of a research and development laboratory in Espoo, the development of initial product prototypes and manufacturing processes, continued research and development, and team expansion.
Coherence Quantum develops cryogenic signalling and control technology for quantum processors. Its platform is designed to bring more control functions closer to the quantum processing unit (QPU), potentially reducing the extensive wiring and system complexity involved in operating quantum computers as they grow in size.
“Quantum computers won’t scale by adding qubits alone. The infrastructure around them has to scale too,” said Aashish Sah, CEO and co-founder of Coherence Quantum. “We’re starting with signal conditioning and building towards higher-density interfaces and, ultimately, more integrated cryogenic control. Our aim is to give quantum-computer builders an architecture that can support larger systems without wiring, cooling requirements, and complexity growing at the same rate.”
Quantum processors require precise control signals to operate their qubits, the basic units of quantum information. As the number of qubits increases, the systems needed to connect and control them become more complex. Conventional approaches can require substantial wiring between room-temperature electronics and processors operating at extremely low temperatures, creating challenges for system design, cooling and scalability.
Coherence Quantum is developing technology to integrate signalling and control functions within cryogenic environments. By reducing the complexity of these connections, the company aims to address some of the hardware challenges involved in scaling quantum processors.
The startup emerged from research conducted at Aalto University’s Quantum Computing and Devices group, which focuses on quantum technologies and the devices needed to implement them.
The €2.78 million seed round will help Coherence Quantum establish an R&D laboratory in Espoo, develop its first product prototypes and manufacturing processes, and expand its team.
“Coherence Quantum is addressing a pressing need in quantum computing, supporting large numbers of qubits while managing the growing challenges of heat, noise and complexity,” said Mårten Mickos, technology entrepreneur and investor in Coherence Quantum. “This type of sophisticated technology is needed to turn quantum computing into practical and scalable systems. The team behind Coherence Quantum is impressive, and I am delighted to be an investor and supporter.”
The investment will also support continued development of its cryogenic control technology as the company works towards turning its research into hardware products for quantum computing systems.
“The quantum industry has proved that increasingly capable processors can be built. The next challenge is building the infrastructure that allows them to scale. Coherence Quantum is going after a fundamental part of that problem,” said Petteri Koponen, Founding Partner of Lifeline Ventures. “They have an exceptional technical team with a clear view of where the industry is heading and the ambition to build far more than a single component. If quantum computers are going to scale, the architecture around the qubits has to scale with them, and we’re backing them to become a key part of how larger quantum computers are built.”
Lifeline Ventures, the round’s lead investor, is a Helsinki-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies. Mårten Mickos, who also participated in the round, is a technology entrepreneur known for leadership roles in technology companies, including MySQL and HackerOne.
Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/coherence-quantum-raises-e2-78m-seed/
